Game of Thrones‘ controversial ending left Westeros in peace, but weaker for it. The war for the Iron Throne culminated with the deaths of the most dangerous would-be rulers of Westeros, including Queens Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), who was murdered by the exiled Jon Snow (Kit Harington).
The Great Council at the end of Game of Thrones named Brandon Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) King Bran the Broken. The new monarch then allowed the North, now ruled by Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), to secede from the Seven Kingdoms. Encouragingly, the seats of power across Westeros were most likely taken by good and honorable members of the remaining Great Houses.
Game of Thrones‘ franchise on HBO is thriving, thanks to the hit prequels House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It seems inevitable, however, that the forward movement of the Game of Thrones saga will one day continue, perhaps in the still-in-development Jon Snow spinoff that may now include Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).
The Six Kingdoms Of Westeros & The North Are Weaker After Game Of Thrones’ Ending
If and when Game of Thrones‘ story picks up after the original series’ season 8 finale, Westeros will be in a peaceful age that could be easy prey for potential enemies who will inevitably rise up against the Six Kingdoms. Game of Thrones ended in 2019, so many fans may have forgotten just who is in charge of Westeros’ regions. This image on the Internet is a helpful refresher:
Along with Sansa Stark ruling the North, the people in control of Game of Thrones‘ Great Houses are as follows:
- The Iron Islands – Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan)
- The Westerlands – Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)
- The Riverlands – Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies)
- The Vale – Robin Arryn (Lino Facioli)
- The Stormlands – Gendry Baratheon (Joe Dempsie)
- The Reach – Bronn (Jerome Flynn)
- Dorne – The New Prince of Dorne (Toby Osmund)
Some of the Six Kingdoms are in strong, loyal, reliable hands, like Yara Greyjoy’s Pyke and the Iron Fleet, and Gendry Baratheon’s Storm’s End. However, the lords of some of the other Kingdoms are suspect, like Edmure Tully in charge of Riverrun and Robin Arryn in The Vale. Who knows anything about the ‘new Prince of Dorne?’
Westeros’ biggest advantage is that King Bran is also the Three-Eyed Raven, capable of seeing the past and forecasting the future. Tyrion Lannister is also a more effective Hand of the King at peacetime than when he was plotting Daenerys Targaryen’s war campaign to take Westeros. Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) is a reliable Master of Ships, as is Samwell Tarley (John Bradley) as Grand Maester.
Unfortunately, Bronn and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Lady Brienne Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), notwithstanding, most of Westeros’ greatest fighters are now dead, while Jon Snow is banished beyond the Wall and Arya Stark has left to explore what’s west of Westeros. The Six Kingdoms and the North are not so secure that they could easily withstand a new threat to Westeros.
Westeros Will Eventually Have New Enemies
At the end of Game of Thrones, Westeros was able to breathe a well-deserved sigh of relief. The realm’s greatest threats: the Night King and the White Walkers, Cersei Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen were gone. Drogon, the last dragon, took Daenerys’ corpse across the Narrow Sea. Westeros was at peace under King Bran.
However long peace lasts in the Six Kingdoms and the North, new enemies will eventually rear their heads. Westeros’ worst threats usually come from within. Who can say which offspring or relatives of great lords and ladies in power or smallfolk will grasp for power? There may be no more Iron Throne to fight for, but power is its own prize.
There are also going to always be rivals from across the Narrow Sea, especially if Westeros grows prosperous under King Bran. The Golden Company may be gone, but the Iron Bank of Braavos has a long memory. An unforeseen power would rise up from the great cities of Essos and covetingly gaze west towards the Six Kingdoms and the North.
If and when Game of Thrones eventually returns, the next chapter won’t be about Westeros at peace. The unity of the Six Kingdoms and the North seen in Game of Thrones‘ finale was likely a temporary measure post-war for the Iron Throne. Westeros isn’t what it once was, and King Bran’s realm could be easy pickings for the next great enemy that comes along.
