There’s Only One Way To Properly Fix ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8

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The best way to address the issues with the final season of Game of Thrones isn’t through new spin-off shows – there’s really only one solution. With both A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon Season 3 scheduled for release in 2026, next year promises to be the biggest for the franchise since the controversial Season 8 aired in 2019. HBO is planning even more adaptations based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire novels, and Martin recently offered a glimpse into what’s currently in the works.

Over the last five years, news about the various Game of Thrones spinoffs has been inconsistent. At a recent festival, George R.R. Martin shared that while most of the planned shows are set in the past, several sequels are also being developed. Fans are especially intrigued by the idea of sequels, considering the negative reaction to the final season of Game of Thrones. Some hope these sequels could redeem the controversial ending, similar to how Dexter: Resurrection revitalized the original Dexter series. However, I don’t believe that’s likely to happen.

The Only Way to Fix ‘Game of Thrones’ Is a Total Reboot


HBO

A reboot of Game of Thrones seems like a lot of work, especially considering how long it takes to develop fantasy shows these days. While actors like Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, and Emilia Clarke became famous playing these characters, the original series ultimately didn’t have a satisfying conclusion. This wasn’t anyone’s fault in particular, but rather the result of overwhelming expectations pushing the show toward a disappointing finale.

No follow-up could truly save Game of Thrones because the show’s core strengths were gone well before the final season. Revisiting the first episode recently highlighted just how much the series changed. While later seasons, like Season 6’s finale, jumped quickly between dramatic moments, the pilot was deliberately slow, taking time to establish the world and build atmosphere. The demands of television and the show’s immense popularity pushed it toward a more fast-paced, blockbuster style, which ultimately didn’t suit the intricate world it had created, even if it was still enjoyable.

The issues with the show weren’t just because of lazy writing; they stemmed from significant changes to the world and story of Westeros as presented in the books. The HBO series seemed to intentionally downplay the fantastical and prophetic aspects that made A Song of Ice & Fire so compelling, aiming for a more grounded, less magical feel. While many believe the early seasons of Game of Thrones closely followed the books, this is mostly true only for the first book. By the time the series reaches A Clash of Kings, the storyline diverges considerably.

The characters in the books and the TV show have significant differences in their motivations and personalities. For example, Tyrion is portrayed as more brooding, Stannis as more honorable, and Littlefinger is actually seen as trustworthy. We also see Euron delving into dark magic, Edmure Tully being more intelligent, Jorah displaying intense desire, and Renly Baratheon closely resembling Robert. Even minor characters like Missandei are depicted differently – she’s much younger in the books, and details like Roose Bolton’s medical treatments are included. Furthermore, characters like Varys are far more cunning and frightening. These are just a few instances of how the entire character dynamic was reimagined for television.

These stories are too complex for typical TV seasons of 8-10 episodes. They require a flexible approach that prioritizes the needs of the plot and characters, something current television just can’t easily offer. The adaptation needs the freedom to fully explore the imaginative world and portray the characters authentically. I’m not suggesting HBO remake Game of Thrones immediately, but viewers shouldn’t anticipate the planned sequels retroactively fixing the issues with Season 8. That season was the culmination of problems that had been building for years, a loss of the show’s original vision.

A ‘Game of Thrones’ Reboot Can’t Happen Without George R.R. Martin’s Books


HBO

The core issue with Game of Thrones remains what it was fifteen years ago: the source material is unfinished. I still hold out hope that The Winds of Winter will eventually be released. But when adapting the story for television, it’s impossible to deliver a satisfying conclusion without knowing the full story. For instance, if the intention was always for Bran to become king, the show needed to consistently develop his storyline throughout all the seasons. A central character shouldn’t be sidelined for an entire season simply because his story wasn’t immediately needed.

Mystery writers typically plan the crime itself before anything else because a strong ending is essential for a coherent story. Everything – the atmosphere, the style – needs to build towards that conclusion. Similarly, HBO can’t deliver a truly satisfying conclusion to Game of Thrones, or create sequels that improve upon it, without a clear idea of the final outcome. While they can still tell compelling stories set in Westeros, the complete resolution fans are hoping for ultimately rests with George R.R. Martin.

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2025-12-01 00:33