Game of Thrones Season 8 was controversial for many reasons. One of these was the villainization and demise of fan-favorite character Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). Yet, that is not the only thing that fans objected to. Sansa Stark's (Sophie Turner) sudden desire to rule the North and to have it separated from the rest of Westeros, a kingdom her brother Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is now ruling, also surprised many fans. However, it didn't have to be this way. After all, the North is not the only part of Westeros that wanted independence. The Iron Islands and Dorne wanted it too. Especially Dorne, at least in the books. Game of Thrones Season 8 could've ended in a better way. With Westeros truly changing and developing. Instead, things have barely changed at all.
All that truly changed in Game of Thrones was the name of the family that's ruling. The actual conditions of the people being ruled don't seem to have changed at all. Yes, rulers will no longer be chosen based on their birth in one house or another. That's an improvement, supposedly. Yet what do the ordinary people of Westeros get? What about every kingdom that wanted independence besides the North? Why should they accept Bran the Broken as their ruler? There are logical reasons given for this in the show, sort of. Yet, these reasons are not compelling enough to make sense to many fans. Bran supposedly has the most compelling story of anyone.
Except fans could probably think of 10 characters who are more interesting than Bran. Including those who met their fates seasons ago at the Red Wedding or in the same episode. Bran's brother Robb had a super exciting story until he went to the lethal Red Wedding. So did his mother, Catelyn. So did Daenerys. And all these intriguing, compelling, unforgettable characters were sacrificed to make way for Bran? It doesn't make sense to a lot of Game of Thrones fans. Even Bran's sisters Sansa and Arya have more intriguing tales. So the whole "Bran has the most interesting story" logic doesn't work for many fans. However, it is possible to overlook that argument as there are, sort of, others.
Bran can't reproduce, so lords and ladies will choose future leaders; due to being the Three-Eyed Raven, he is extremely wise, and he doesn't seem to have –perhaps due to his Three-Eyed Raven wisdom – much of an ego. Choosing leaders is better than having it be an accident of birth. And having a wise ruler is always good, as is having an ego-less one. However, what about the Iron Islands and Dorne? These two kingdoms always wanted independence, and suddenly they're ok with being ruled by young Bran? Yet the North isn't even though Bran and Sansa are siblings? There are many things about the Game of Thrones finale that made no sense. Yet this one probably bothers many fans, primarily since Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) allied with Daenerys. Somehow, though she does object to Daenerys' fate, she seems ok with not ruling the Iron Islands herself.
Except, that makes no sense. Nor does it make sense that one of the final kingdoms to resist the Targaryen conquest centuries ago –Dorne– would bend the knee to Bran. This being nonsensical is not because there's anything inherently wrong with Bran as a ruler. Even though things aren't right with him either. Yet it would've made a lot more sense if Yara Greyjoy and whoever ended up in charge of Dorne had demanded independence, at least after Sansa did. Why should Bran rule six kingdoms, even if it is fantasy? Not including the one his sister wanted, of course. The ending, as it is, made it seem that Bran was doing his sister Sansa a favor. If Dorne and the Iron Islands had also been granted independence, it would've done a lot to make Bran's rule seem more legitimate.
This decision would've made Bran a wise king who can allow others to hold power as well. Instead, he seems to be a boy doing his older sister a favor. This move also might have improved the ending for some of the fans. If Bran had ruled four kingdoms instead of the original seven because he granted them independence, it would've made the ending more bittersweet – but sweeter because it would prove that Bran deserved to rule. As it is, Game of Thrones fans are very skeptical. Bran ruling four kingdoms instead of the six he got would've made a ton more sense to some fans, and it would've made him a more intelligent ruler. It is only a true leader who can accept others as having power. And can Bran do that with people who aren't his sister? Game of Thrones fans will probably never know.
Of course, not everyone will agree that this would've improved the ending. Not every fan will care about the fate of Dorne or the Iron Islands. Yet for those who do, these kingdoms consenting to Bran's rule seems forced and nonsensical. Perhaps these two kingdoms deserved more. And that more would have and should have included independence from Westeros at the end of Game of Thrones.