No more Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms!

By: Lily McMenemy, Asst. Opinion and Layout Editor

If you know anything about “Game of Thrones,” you probably know that the sensational series was a historic success, until it shattered its viewers dreams with a disastrous finale. The best TV show of all time had the worst TV ending of all time. 

Heartbroken fans weren’t ready to leave Westeros, and since then the spinoff prequel series “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms” has done exceptionally well, and it should, for it is one of the most perfect TV series I’ve ever seen. The short-form episodes feature fast-moving action and dialogue, actors that pack personality, charm and wit into their very short screentime, and the most addicting atmosphere I’ve ever felt. 

Though the events of the series develop to be intense and gruesome, I couldn’t help but yearn for the life of a Hedge Knight – someone sworn to honor rolling through a medieval countryside – staying in inns and sleeping in heather fields while stars shoot overhead, or dancing atop tables in a tent at a jousting tournament with a wily king indulging in food and drink while stomping to jaunty live music.

The score does nothing but intoxicate viewers into The Realm. Though the show features a different composer from “Game of Thrones,” they both cultivate phenomenal instrumentals that are instantly captivating. 

It’s been a while since a cliffhanger didn’t annoy me or dissatisfy in the worst way. The nature of the show as short, immersive and fast-paced allows its episodes to end with cliffhangers every time. And it works every time. Some of the most exciting moments were when the episode ended and I wasn’t left rolling my eyes, but gladly shocked and on the sweeter side of anticipation. The episode where the story culminates, “Seven” even briefly dethroned the highest rated episode of all time on IMDb (“Breaking Bad” season five, episode 14 “Ozymandias”) which held the sole perfect 10/10 for over 13 years.

Now, many people know, the most important part of any pursuit is follow-through. It’s hard to end things the right way – dinner parties, relationships, TV shows. It’s exactly why George R.R. Martin still hasn’t finished “The Winds Of Winter.” The beautifully crafted series ended with a succinct, heartfelt, symbolic scene that let you imagine the kinds of adventures to come without having to worry about them. Instead of “goodbye,” it was “they lived happily ever after” in a way that didn’t make you feel claustrophobic. The cherry on top? It added a small, comical moment that altered the events and left room for the story to go on. But it shouldn’t.

It allowed you to imagine what the future might be like for our Egg and Dunk, and what direction their troubles might go in, without desperately needing to know. The future of their adventures is whatever you want it to be. I ask fans to be grateful. What we got was perfect; it was everything a TV show should be. We don’t need more, we don’t need it to become rushed, overdrawn and outgrown. This happens to shows all the time – they have themes and purpose which draws people in and they get renewed because of the money made from the first time, but a good thing ends up as meaningless slop. Just look at “Stranger Things.” We need quality over quantity. If there’s one thing “Game of Thrones” fans know, it is that more episodes are not worth a bad ending. 

Why risk another HBO butchering of a great story?