The Winds of Winter will continue George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, revealing how closely the next two books align with Game of Thrones’ ending — and I’ll be devastated if the sixth ASOIAF novel doesn’t include one of season 8’s most satisfying scenes. The Winds of Winter has a lot of ground to cover before reaching the battle between the living and the dead, though the book’s title suggests the Others will reach Winterfell at some point during its story.
This means a lot of Martin’s characters will come together at long last, and we may see some of the interactions featured in Game of Thrones season 8. The books have yet to bring major players like Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and Tyrion Lannister together, so there will likely be a smaller focus on the supporting characters than there is in Game of Thrones seasons 7 and 8 to leave room for these grander meetings. Even so, Martin should keep one great moment from the show’s final season: Brienne of Tarth being knighted.
The Winds Of Winter Needs To Include Jaime Knighting Brienne Of Tarth
This Is One Part Of The Battle Of Winterfell The Books Should Keep
There are a lot of valid complaints about Game of Thrones season 8, but the progression of Brienne’s character arc is one of my favorite things about this outing. Game of Thrones season 8, episode 2 sees Jaime Lannister knighting Brienne before the Battle of Winterfell, and it’s a powerful moment for both characters. While there are things about this conflict that The Winds of Winter should change — from Jon not facing the Night King to its too-quick resolution — Brienne becoming a knight isn’t one of them.
In fact, I’d be pretty disappointed if Martin didn’t go this route with the character — and if it didn’t play out similarly to Game of Thrones. Both A Song of Ice and Fire and its TV adaptation spend a lot of time building Jaime and Brienne’s relationship, and this feels like the perfect culmination of it. While there are disappointments throughout Game of Thrones season 8, this is a highlight of the season. The entire episode leading up to the Battle of Winterfell is strong, and I hope Martin’s take on it proves just as memorable.
Brienne Becoming A Knight Was A Highlight Of Game Of Thrones Season 8
It Was Exactly What Her Character Deserved
Alongside Sansa Stark being crowned Queen in the North, Brienne becoming a knight is a highlight of Game of Thrones season 8. Brienne’s aspirations are clear from her introduction during Game of Thrones season 2, but thanks to the misogynistic structures of Westeros, it seems unlikely she’ll ever obtain knighthood. She clearly believes it isn’t possible, right up to the point when Jaime offers to knight her. Despite thinking this goal is out of reach, Brienne continuously proves herself worthy of being a knight, keeping her vows to Catelyn Stark and Renly Baratheon and consistently doing the right thing.
Her realization that Jaime is willing to make her a knight is such a refreshing moment, and it’s fitting that she’s surrounded by characters who don’t really care that she’s a woman.
Her realization that Jaime is willing to make her a knight is such a refreshing moment, and it’s fitting that she’s surrounded by characters who don’t really care that she’s a woman. Davos, Tyrion, and even Podrick are willing to forgo the status quo. After all, they’ve all done it before. And Tormund is accustomed to the wildlings’ ways, which don’t bar women from becoming prized fighters. His shock that Brienne isn’t already a knight is comically relatable, highlighting how obvious it is that she’s meant to be one.
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10 Game Of Thrones Mistakes That The Winds Of Winter Will Fix
Game of Thrones may have botched these characters and storylines, leaving The Winds of Winter to clean up the mess. Whenever it comes out, that is.
Brienne is one of the Game of Thrones characters who gets what she deserves in season 8, and her being knighted feels like an appropriate outcome after her story. While A Song of Ice and Fire isn’t on the same page as Game of Thrones, it also appears to be building to this conclusion. I’m hopeful that The Winds of Winter will finally deliver on it, though it’s got a ways to go before reaching that point.
Knighthood Is The Obvious Conclusion Of Brienne’s Song Of Ice And Fire Story
The Books Seem To Be Building To This Outcome
Brienne becoming a knight makes perfect sense for her Game of Thrones story, and while Martin’s books aren’t caught up to the adaptation, this ending is equally fitting for her Song of Ice and Fire arc. Although Brienne hasn’t saved Sansa or avenged Renly in Martin’s books, she’s steadfastly searching for Sansa when A Dance With Dragons comes to a close. Her book counterpart showcases the same dedication to Catelyn Stark as Gwendoline Christie’s take on the character. And I’m sure she’ll save Sansa, even if it’s from Littlefinger instead of Ramsay Bolton.
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The wait for The Winds of Winter continues well after Game of Thrones ended, but there are clear reasons why George R.R. Martin has taken so long.
Brienne’s journey thus far has also seen her bucking against the expectations of ladies in Westeros, and she has repeatedly chosen to do the right thing, even when it puts her in difficult situations. There’s perhaps no character in A Song of Ice and Fire more worthy of or ready for knighthood than Brienne. This is why she must get this honor in The Winds of Winter — or at the very least, ASOIAF‘s final book, A Dream of Spring.
I’ll Be Devastated If The Winds Of Winter Changes Brienne’s Game Of Thrones Ending
Brienne Leading The Kingsguard Makes Her Knighthood Even Better
The Winds of Winter needs to make Brienne a knight, and not just because it’s a satisfying moment for her character. It’s also the only way to achieve the same ending as Game of Thrones, which sees her becoming Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in the finale. I’m convinced that’s the only way her narrative can end, especially with The Winds of Winter likely to prove Game of Thrones right about Jaime Lannister. If he perishes during the last two books, it feels right that Brienne should continue his legacy and record it in The Book of the Brothers.
Forgoing this ending would feel like an affront to both Brienne’s and Jaime’s characters, and it would be disappointing after Game of Thrones delivered such a perfect conclusion for them.
Forgoing this ending would feel like an affront to both Brienne’s and Jaime’s characters, and it would be disappointing after Game of Thrones delivered such a perfect conclusion for both of them. I can’t think of a better place for Brienne to end up, especially in a fantasy series that’s all about altering power dynamics. I fully expect that The Winds of Winter will change some characters’ fates from Game of Thrones, but Brienne’s is too perfect to alter. Martin may change how she gets to the point of being knighted, but I hope he leaves that development as-is.
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Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
- Cast
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Emilia Clarke
, Peter Dinklage
, Sophie Turner
, Kit Harington
, Lena Headey
, Maisie Williams
, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
, Iain Glen
, John Bradley
, Alfie Allen
, Conleth Hill
, Liam Cunningham
, Gwendoline Christie
, Aidan Gillen
, Isaac Hempstead-Wright
, Rory McCann
, Nathalie Emmanuel
, Jerome Flynn
, Rhys Ifans
, Matt Smith
, Graham McTavish
, Fabien Frankel
, Steve Toussaint
, Eve Best
, Emma D’Arcy
, Matthew Needham
, Olivia Cooke
, Milly Alcock
, Emily Carey
