The final episode of Game of Thrones was polarizing, to say the least. Some felt the show was rushed while others felt the ending was amazingly close to perfect. Regardless of where you land on this spectrum, the recently released script for “The Iron Throne” is sure to provide some context to help both sides further appreciate the episode.

Throughout the entire screenplay there are stage directions, background and subtext that provides a more intimate look into some of the intricate scenes in the episode. One of the more interesting scenes is the opening of the episode where we see Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) walking through the charred streets of King’s Landing. 

Inspiration For The Impactful Opening Scene

Between the superb acting of Peter Dinklage and the disturbing imagery of the ash-laden streets of King’s Landing, the scene is stellar but the screenplay shows that writers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff wanted this scene to feel like some of the real tragedies that have taken place in our world. The script references the Holocaust film, Son of Saul in regards to the shot of Tyrion and also compares the shadows left behind by those burned in Drogon’s fire to the streets of Hiroshima. The script adds a significant amount of atmosphere to the start of the episode.

In one of the more shocking moments of the entire series where Jon Snow (Kit Harington) kills Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), the audience gets some heartbreaking subtext. 

The Real Reason Drogon Incinerated The Iron Throne

A cryptic moment of the aforementioned Danerys death sequence happens when we see Daenerys’ loyal dragon, Drogon, burn down the iron throne in a fiery rage. Many fans speculated this was a symbolic end to the main conflict of this epic tale, but Weiss and Benioff had other ideas in mind.

In describing the inner thoughts of Drogon we hear the dragon “wants to burn the world”. The screenplay also reads that Drogon didn’t intentionally melt the iron throne but rather the throne was just a “dumb bystander”. Drogon wasn’t just used as a plot device to help make a symbolic statement, but rather he reacts with raw emotion and destroys everything with reckless abandon. Despite Drogon being a dragon, this context found in the screenplay makes for one of the more touching and human moments of any Game of Thrones episode. 

Adding depth to scenes is not the only thing the screenplay provided fans in the final episode. The script also gave an inside look at the humor and personality of the two showrunners Weiss and Benioff.

How D.B. Weiss And David Benioff Gave It Their Own Personal Touch

From stage directions referring to the Dothraki army as “bad-ass”, joking about Jon and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) failing geography and even a nod to The Rolling Stones as they compare Daenerys to “Her Satanic Majesty’s Request” the personality just drips out of the screenplay. These little tidbits of information may not be groundbreaking, but they do serve two crucial purposes for viewers. One, provide fan service for hardcore admirers of the series, and two, show a behind the scenes look at how two of the best screenwriters in the business use their personality, taste, and experiences in their work. 

The screenplay for “The Iron Throne” being released is great for a Game of Thrones fan base who is already missing their favorite show. For those who felt the ending was rushed or sloppy, the script did a great job of fleshing out some scenes, and as for the fans who were pleased with the ending, the screenplay is just icing on the cake.