Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner is totally happy with Sansa’s end fate in the HBO series. Joining the show when she was just 14 years old, Turner grew up in the public at the same time as her character. Throughout Sansa’s journey in the fantastical show based on on George R.R. Martin’s novel series titled A Song of Ice and Fire, she suffered tremendous loss and tragedy which in turn made her a stronger and wiser person. Given this, fans were rooting for her to be the person ruling Westeros since it slowly became clear that Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) won’t be sitting on the Iron Throne especially after the penultimate episode. That didn’t happen, but the actress says that she’s content with where the narrative leaves her character.
During the back half of the final 80 minutes of Game of Thrones following the death of Dany in the hands of Jon Snow (Kit Harington), fans saw the remaining characters convene about what their plan of action will be moving forward. With no clear ruler since the rightful heir to the throne remains repulsive of the idea to become king, the Westeros powers had no choice but to pick a new ruler - Bran the Broken (Isaac Hempstead-Wright). While the decision didn’t get much push back, Sansa insisted that the North remains independent, paving the way for her to become their queen. His brother agreed, and the show ended with a shot of her coronation.
While a significant chunk of the Game of Thrones fandom rooting for Sansa to be on the Iron Throne, Turner told EW that it’s really not what she’s aiming for. Her character was always particularly invested in the people in the North, and that’s the place she wants to govern. That doesn’t mean, however, that she doesn’t have the ability to preside over the whole Westeros, it was just a matter of personal preference for her.
Turner is not wrong about Sansa more likely being able to handle the responsibilities of becoming the queen of Westeros. She’s pragmatic in her approach in things. She leaned a thing or two during her time with Little Finger (Aidan Gillen) and Cersei (Lena Headey) in terms of being a clever tactician. But unlike them, she genuinely cares for her people - a trait that’s essential to becoming a good leader, much more so after the recent devastating events of Dany’s burning King’s Landing. Out of all the creative decisions in the final episode of Game of Thrones, Sansa’s fate is arguably the best received.
“I wasn’t bummed at all. Because ever since the end of season 1, Sansa has not been about the capital or being queen. She doesn’t believe she could rule and doesn’t want to. She knows her place is in the North and she can rule the people of the North and rule Winterfell. She’d probably be capable [of being queen of the Seven Kingdoms] with the help of her family and advisors like Tyrion. But she has no desire to be ruler of all of the Seven Kingdoms.”
So was it a bummer that Sansa didn’t end up on the Iron Throne? Yes, and fans’ negative response to Bran, who barely did anything in the last couple of seasons becomes the King of Westeros, makes this much more difficult to accept for viewers. But looking at it from Sansa’s perspective, if that’s her choice, then it’s great for the character. It’s best knowing that she got what she truly wanted in time for Game of Thrones’ end, no more and no less.
More: Sophie Turner Slams Game of Thrones Critics for Being Disrespectful
Source: EW
