It’s been almost 24 hours, and I’ve kinda come to the conclusion that apart from that scene/plotline (which was executed in a horrific way and as I said, I’ll never defend it).... I actually really fucking loved that finale.
I’ve spent all day on the verge of tears, but in a good way. That final montage of the Starks, with Ramin Djawadi’s glorious score, I can’t see it or think about it without welling up. This is the show and these are the characters I fell in love with aged 15. I can honestly say I haven’t felt this emotionally affected by the end of a Game of Thrones episode since the S6 finale of Dany sailing across the Narrow Sea, which hit me so hard I was unable to think of anything for a solid fortnight afterwards.
That final montage... it was everything to me. It was Jon, the Northern boy who felt like an outsider his whole life and made a home for himself amongst the brothers of the Night’s Watch and later the Free Folk. It was Sansa, the girl who had dreams of being a Queen before the world hit her, hard, and she fought tooth and nail against everything the world flung at her to get back to where she belonged, amongst people she cared for. It was Arya, the wilful, fiesty, fierce girl who was always curious but is daughter of the North and is sailing on a big, wide, adventure but with her home and her identity proudly displayed on the sails of the ship, showing she knows where home is and she can always return to it now.
It was the Starks. It was the family we first met and I have loved for eight years. It was the best goodbye I could have.
I understand why people are upset by the finale, and heck, certain things about it upset me too. I don’t want to invalidate those feelings for anyone. Feel what and how you want to feel. But for me, personally? It was perfect. I’m emotionally a mess, but in the best way. The Wolves will come again.
