The Winds of Winter: The Genius Plot Twist That Will Redeem Game of Thrones' Biggest Blunder

Summary

The Wall's downfall in Game of Thrones involved the utilization of an undead dragon, yet the events leading up to this moment felt forced and inadequately executed. The Winds of Winter has the opportunity to enhance this aspect by discovering a more effective method to bring down the Wall.

Unlike the Game of Thrones storyline, there is no character known as the Night King in the books. Therefore, an alternative method must be employed to demolish the Wall. This can be achieved by introducing an ancient warhorn, possibly the Horn of Winter, into the narrative.

The Horn of Winter has been subtly referenced in the books and is believed to be in Sam's possession. Utilizing this artifact to bring down the Wall, after years of buildup, would result in a more fulfilling and rational plotline in The Winds of Winter.

Game of Thrones introduced a subpar method for bringing down the Wall through the Night King and wight Viserion, which stemmed from a poorly developed storyline. However, The Winds of Winter has the opportunity to rectify this. The destruction of the Wall was an eagerly awaited event in Game of Thrones, not only crucial to the plot by allowing the army of the dead to advance on Westeros, but also for its spectacle. After all, constructing a towering ice wall, 700 feet tall and 300 miles long, as a crucial defense against the series' main villains, only to ignore its ultimate demise, would be nonsensical.

The Winds of Winter is likely to follow a similar trajectory, laying the groundwork for the final conflict, much like Game of Thrones season 7. This will involve the Others, the book's equivalent of White Walkers, advancing on the realm. The destruction of the Wall could serve as a climactic climax for George R.R. Martin's sixth installment in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, setting the stage for even greater events to follow, mirroring the impact it had on Game of Thrones' conclusion. However, while the overall outcome may remain the same, the means and motivations behind it could not only differ, but potentially provide a more compelling narrative.

Game Of Thrones Bringing The Wall Down Came From Its Dumbest Story

Game of Thrones strategically utilized a spectacular dragon, the undead Viserion, as the means to bring down the Wall. This choice not only added visual grandeur to the show but also effectively conveyed the immense scale required. The idea of using a fire-breathing creature to demolish an icy structure is logically sound in itself. However, the execution of this plot development in Game of Thrones raises concerns.

The show depicted Tyrion Lannister, known for his intelligence, devising a plan to capture a wight in order to convince Cersei Lannister of the imminent White Walker threat. This plotline, although fitting with the show's overall narrative, is arguably one of the weakest ideas across all eight seasons due to its high risks and low potential rewards. Furthermore, these contrived situations were exacerbated by the episode "Beyond the Wall," which was riddled with plot holes and illogical time jumps. While there may be debates about the worst episode of Game of Thrones, it is difficult to find one that lacked a coherent internal logic as severely as this one. Ultimately, all of these narrative choices were made to deliver a dragon to the Night King, resulting in the downfall of the Wall.

Why The Winds Of Winter Will Have To Bring The Wall Down Differently To Game Of Thrones

There are several reasons why The Winds of Winter will need to approach the destruction of the Wall differently than Game of Thrones, primarily because the Night King does not exist in the books. While it is possible that the Others may have a yet unseen leader, it seems unlikely at this point. Without the Night King, the possibility of someone who could kill and control a dragon on their behalf is highly unlikely.

It is possible that the Night King's story arc from Euron Greyjoy's book could be incorporated, as there is potential for him to gain control of one of Daenerys Targaryen's dragons and potentially ally with the White Walkers. However, it seems far-fetched for him to acquire a dragon and transport it north to bring down the Wall. This is especially true when A Song of Ice and Fire already provided a method to bring down the Wall in A Storm of Swords, published in 2000.

In Game of Thrones season 2, a cache of dragonglass beyond the Wall reveals an ancient warhorn. Unlike in the show, where the horn is never mentioned again, the horn reappears multiple times in the books and significantly, it remains one of the few possessions owned by Samwell Tarly when he reaches Oldtown. This suggests that author George R.R. Martin has intentionally kept the horn relevant to the story, implying its importance.

There is a strong possibility that this old warhorn is, in fact, the legendary Horn of Winter, also known as the Horn of Joramun. According to legend, this horn has the power to bring down the Wall. Although Mance Rayder claimed to possess this horn, it was supposedly destroyed, and doubts were cast on its existence by Ygritte and Tormund Giantsbane. Consequently, if the Horn of Winter does exist, it is likely the one in Sam's possession. And if Sam has it, then it is probable that it will play a vital role in the unfolding events. By introducing the horn as a potential game-changer and considering the eventual need for the Wall to fall, Martin has created an opportunity to fulfill a narrative set up over the course of more than two decades.

The way all of this unfolds is uncertain, but there is a strong possibility. If Sam returns to the Wall, there is a chance that the horn could end up in the wrong hands or even be blown by someone unexpected, like Euron. Euron's journey is leading him toward Oldtown, so it is quite likely that he could end up possessing the horn.

Furthermore, Euron's objectives align with the destruction of the Wall. Unlike the TV series, the book version of Euron is determined to bring about the apocalypse and unleash chaos upon Westeros. It would be in line with his goals to blow the horn from Oldtown, prompting the Others to emerge and bring devastation to the living. This storyline would be more satisfying and provide a solid foundation for future developments in "The Winds of Winter" rather than relying on contrived plot twists from "Game of Thrones."