the moment Sam invented a republic was a little TOO too for me

The only reasoning I can see for it that kind of works is that that's how the Night's Watch does it. Everyone votes. So, Sam was just extrapolating from his own experience.

Heh, to Zen.

King's landing already had a Godswood, didn't it? Isn't that where Sansa met whatsisname to plan her escape back in the day? Good point about the Faith, though. They used to have a rep on the small council, didn't they? Odd lack of acknowledging the Stranger through all this, too.

I have come around to kind of hoping that Bran is secretly fully aware that he can father children and will and the Stark dynasty will last just as long and eventually be just as messed up as the Targaryens. Most of the people who were there for the "we'll select the next king" agreement will probably die before he does anyway.

Yeah, I was expecting him to mention that, Debet.

More than one person in my online and real-life circle have pointed out that Bran = Leto II. He doesn't need to father children because as the Three-Eyed Raven he has a millenia-long lifespan.

In retrospect, I am most impressed by actor-who-plays-Bran's real life agent. I mean, that kid is now a multi-millionaire for basically falling asleep in a chair for 8 years.

I always thought that Bran could get with a woman who knows how to do it and become a father.

I feel sufficiently satisfied by everyone's reactions to the finale that I never need to actually watch the show.

Same! I've enjoyed reading the reactions each week.

One small aspect I'm taking particular joy in is that of the four surviving primary female characters -- none of them ended up married, all have genuine agency. Sansa will for sure end up marrying, but she is a monarch in her own right -- her husband will be marrying into power not the other way around.

Yara Greyjoy may marry at some point as well, but once again her chosen path doesn't require it.

Arya turned down being Lady Baratheon, and wanted a life of adventure, so who knows where she'd end up lovewise.

Brienne gets the Kingsguard gig, and unless they change the rules she wouldn't be marrying ever. And as we know, she's loved and lost.

This is a pretty good outcome -- I wouldn't call it a happy ending -- for a GRRM story.

I wish we had heard her called Queen Sansa of House Stark , first of her name, or whatever, at some point. I'm a little worried that she's technically named Bolton at this point, which I do not like at all. Lady Mormont would have told us she recognizes the Queen in the North whose name is Stark, I'm sure.

Now that it's done, I think the big mistake was shortening the season.

Exactly. For example, the arc of Dany snapping and burning Kings Landing was there from the beginning, but the final path of getting to that point needed more time to be believable.

The production staff and actors did wonderful work for the entire series. I just wish they hadn't been let down by the writers.