It’s no secret thatGame of Thronescame to a rather divisive and often controversial end withGame of ThronesSeason 8. However, despite the hardships that some audiences may have when it comes to the final season ofGame of Thrones, it’s hard to deny that the famed HBO show did do things well, whether in performance, visuals, or otherwise.

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the hound vs the mountain cleganebowl

Despite many of the critical failings that people had withGame of Thrones’ final season, the work cannot be denied that there are at least some diamonds in the rough, and fans might even look back fondly to the last season with a smile or two.

8Cleganebowl

The feud between The Mountain and The Hound had been teased since the very first episodes ofGame of Thrones. It was inevitable that these two brothers would face off in a fight that would take one, or both of their lives. Fans dubbed this event “Cleganebowl”, and they finally received their wish to see thesetwo giants clash swordsin the final episodes ofGame of Thrones.

The fight between the two brothers was spectacular. It was nail-bitingly tense, with many fans glued to the screen as they watched each punch, each clash of swords between these two tragic and violent brothers. One is a monster, and the other is hateful. It was a fitting fight years in the making.

queen danaerys with her dragon dragon behind her like she has wings

7Brilliant Cinematography

On the topic of the screen, the cinematography forGame of ThronesSeason 8 was also of a great degree. There was an innate professionalism in each shot, and there was some iconic imagery spliced into the show. Although some complained about certain scenes being too dark, or even a Starbucks cup in one shot, it does not deter from the camera work in general.

Game of ThronesSeason 8 had some stunning scenes thanks to the talent of the crew, ensuring the immersion within each costume, prop, and building. The lighting and camera angles also helped to make some iconic shots throughout the entire series.

danaerys becomes the mad queen

6The Soundtrack Helped Build Emotion And Tension

The original score created forGame of Throneshas become iconic. So much so, that it was even reused for the prequel series, House of the Dragon. Season 8 was composed by Ramin Djawadi, and not only does the main title piece evoke strong fears as to what’s to come, but the other pieces amass some strong feelings.

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jon snow and danaerys targaryen

The music that was created forGame of ThronesSeason 8 was beautiful in some parts, and emotionally tragic in others. The artistry with each note and instrument spills through the audio, adding more flair and flavor to the tension andemotion on screen.

5Tragedy Of Jon Snow And Daenerys

Relationships are always dangerous in Westeros, and perhaps the most dangerous of them all came from the King in the North and the Mother of Dragons, Jon Snow, and Daenerys Targaryen. The two fell in love rather quickly, and their relationship could have been perfect as the new King and Queen of King’s Landing and all of Westeros.

However, their relationship befell to tragedy, as Daenerys soon lost her mind to rage and madness, and it wasup to Jon Snow to kill his love. It was heartbreaking to see these two characters end what they had and proves the brilliance of their performances.

jon snow in the dark

4Unpredictability

At the start of every new episode, fans were biting their nails as they watch what unfolds before them.Game of ThronesSeason 8 was like no other, as the show was going off in its own direction, with no book to look to for spoilers and clues as to what was next. There was a fearful excitement withinGame of ThronesSeason 8, as each new episode couldtake a turn for better or worse.

As much as fans might not approve of some of the choices made in the show, the fact that it was unpredictable is what made it work. Whether those decisions were in favor of the character, or the audience, the unpredictable nature of each action and scene made for some tense first viewings.

danaerys and her drogon

3Incredible CGI

For decades, television was not known as the place where CGI was perfect. Visual effects were often an afterthought when it came to TV shows, especially with shows on the CW. However, with each new season ofGame of Thrones, the budget increased, and the demand for better special effects came, andtruly shows in each scene.

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the stark siblings bran, arya and sansa

The CGI for the dragons is breathtaking, and the fact that this wasn’t exactly a blockbuster movie, but instead a TV series, was all the more impressive. Despite what people think of the series as a whole, they can’t deny that the visual effects team put everything they had into making it work.

2Character Closure

With countless characters inGame of Thrones, it was rather easy to get lost in their stories. There were so many characters,each with a unique goalfor their place in Westeros. ManyGame of Thronesfans wondered about the fates of these characters, going into the closing chapter of the series. However, there was an ending, fitting or otherwise.

Although some viewers may have disagreed with the decisions of the characters, it cannot be denied that all of the characters received closure, and there was no plot hole regarding the fate of the important characters of the show. Whether through death or otherwise, characters received an ending that fans may not want but need.

queen danaerys looking at her army

1Emmy Worthy Performances

Actors may have not read the lines they wanted to say, but no one can deny the performances inGame of ThronesSeason 8. Regardless of the decision of these characters, the actors never phoned in their performances, never once seemed bored of the material or as if they did not want to be there. The performances inGame of ThronesSeason 8 were incredible,deserving of their masterclass.

The actors involved inGame of ThronesSeason 8 provided audiences with some great performances worthy of acclaim and award. Whether it was emotional, brave, or heroic, the emotions ranged throughout each scene and remained captivating to watch.