Despite receiving considerable criticism for its ending, "Game of Thrones" (GOT) remains one of the most groundbreaking phenomena in television history. Like other great TV series, GOT is an epic drama that captures viewers with its rich adventure, suspense, and intrigue. The show excels on all fronts, boasting compelling characters, unpredictable plot twists, and stunning visuals that leave a lasting impression. While the series finale was controversial, there's no doubt it ranks among the greatest TV shows of all time. I could even go on to say it's the best thing ever created in cinema. I mean, why not? It is a world of fantasy like no other—Great Kingdom, Royal Households, Castles, Knights, Enormous Swords, Magic, Dragons, Zombies.
One of the things that makes it a very special show is its ability to subvert expectations. The writers kept viewers on the edge of their seats and made the show unpredictable by fearlessly killing off major characters in shocking and unexpected ways. This unpredictability was further fueled by their delight in playing against expectations, whether in plot twists, character arcs, or character development. Although not all the attempts at surprise were successful, the ones that were had a profound impact, catapulting the show's status and cementing its place as one of the most talked-about TV series in pop culture.
The gruesome death of Ned Stark is a masterclass in surprise and is quite possibly the biggest plot twist in the show.,with Sean Bean's portrayal leading viewers to assume he's the biggest character. However, his sudden demise is a shocking plot twist that has become one of the most talked-about moments in the series. I'd pay good money to see viewers' reactions to that scene for the first time.
Witnessing the unthinkable fate of Ned Stark for the first time was a jaw-dropping experience for me, I remember slamming my laptop shut, desperate to process my heartbreak. how about you? I can only imagine that you were left stunned and speechless, your shock giving way to fury. Did your mouth agape in disbelief, your mind struggling to process the insanity you had witnessed? Perhaps you felt an overwhelming urge to lash out as if smashing through the TV screen could undo the horror that had just unfolded. Whatever your reaction, one thing is certain - Game of Thrones had you in its unforgiving grip, refusing to let go.
The truth is our experiences with movies and books lead us to assume the hero will always be saved but Unbeknownst to many Ned’s character is a classic decoy protagonist. You must have probably thought "Someone will save him..." right up until the moment the executioner's blade kissed his neck. Looking back at the episodes that led to his beheading, it's like, wow, the signs were all there! I was so blinded by my love and sympathy for him that I couldn’t see the clear handwriting on the wall. His character development begs the big question— Did Ned's heroic intentions blind him to his demise, or was he just plain foolish?
To be fair, Ned Stark was no fool, but rather a well-intentioned leader blinded by his shortsightedness, naivety, and trust in others. He neglected the wise counsel to "Trust your neighbors, but lock the doors at night” and it ultimately cost him his head. Ned embodied the highest ideals in the whole of Westeros, operating on a moral compass of good, bad, respect, humility, and hierarchy. While these traits made him a great family man, they unfortunately meant little in the treacherous world of King's Landing.
You know how it goes—Ned Stark, the Warden of the North, is pulled into the Game of Thrones when he is asked to become Hand of the King. During his stay at King's Landing, he uncovers the dark secrets of the Lannisters, including incest, murder, and the fact that Robert's heirs are illegitimate. However, in his attempt to do the right thing, Cersei outmaneuvers him, and he's accused of treason. In a desperate bid to save his daughters, Ned makes a public confession, but Joffrey—the maddest king to have played on TV, driven by evil whims—has him executed, and his head is mounted on a spike as a grim warning to others.
When you play the Game of Thrones, you either win or die and Ned Stark was blind and clueless about the game. He was so wrapped up in his code of honor that he couldn't play the game. He knew the murder of innocent children was wrong, so he warned Cersei to get her children away before he told Robert about her infidelity. But he never stopped to think that he was showing all his cards to his arch-enemy, a mistake that cost him and his family dearly for the rest of the series. As the saying goes, "Starks—quick tempers, slow minds."
His honor and integrity were his greatest strengths, but also his greatest weaknesses. His inability to think strategically led to his downfall. The Starks' history away from the North is a tale of misfortune, and Ned's venture to King's Landing was no exception. His personality made him the most ill-suited character to navigate treacherous world politics, lacking the cunning and mischief needed to survive. His unwavering commitment to honor and morals, while admirable, made him a fish out of water in the Game of Thrones.
Ned's tragic fate serves as a stark reminder of the perils of honor in a world that has none (no pun intended). Playing an ethical game with unethical people is abysmal; if you can't play a ruthless game, you'll lose. Look, I get it, trying to be good in a world full of wrongs is a noble act, but it crumbles when faced with the harsh realities of a treacherous world. Your mantra is meant to be, "When you go low, I will be in hell waiting for you.” Sometimes, you need to put morals aside and match wickedness with wickedness. The peaceful and perfect world that you have visualized in your head can only work if the other players around you have a conscience and share a similar mindset. In our society today, not many people have this. Imagine trying to play a fair game against individuals who have never played by the rules in their entire lives Unfortunately, this is a luxury we can't afford in Nigeria, where corruption and deceit have become the norm. We've all experienced it in one way or another—from bribery to fraud, the list goes on. It's a harsh reality that we must confront, and it's a major reason why I fear for our collective future but that’s a story for another day.
In essence, what I am trying to say is that: when there is no rule of the game, you remove the entire board—move mad to win! I read somewhere that it is unwise to go into a knife fight armed only with prose. Are you going to play the game of life blindly, like Ned Stark, or will you play with wisdom, flexibility, and a little bit of cunning? Choose wisely.
