Meaning: What I Discovered as Game of Thrones Lost its Way
Years ago, if anyone had ever asked, I could have easily said I’d tasted this before, the flavorlessness of a good story that’s shriveled into something unpalatable and died. However, as I watch season 8 of the world’s most talked about show, those past disappointments fade to black. What’s left is a sentiment that goes beyond anger or disappointment. There’s a hollowness instead of the bittersweet finality I might have felt in realizing there won’t be another season.
Because what I’m talking about surpasses the ordinary. There are good stories out there. Some set the heart aflame, others inspire, few make their way into the soul. There are stories that inspire and frighten, ones that bring moments of immeasurable laughter or joy. And then there’s Game of Thrones; it is not a good story, it’s a great one–or at least it used to be.
I won’t reiterate what others have—the faulty scenes, character breakdowns, and poor dialogue that narrate this show’s graying demise. But what Game of Thrones no longer has can be summed up in one word—meaning.
The creative scenes of a foreign medieval world aren’t what made the show compelling. The great acting, battles, or scheming for the throne isn’t what captured our imaginations. What made the show great was the complexity of human nature when dedicated to a higher purpose. It’s about the beauty or destruction we create, the sacrifices we endure, the decisions we make, and the people we become. It’s the journey we go on when we follow a meaning greater than ourselves.
Human beings have always had God, gods, or ideals. For some of us it was greed or glory, for others it was romantic love, or a future better than today. This is why Game of Thrones is set in a different time and place, it’s escapism into a world filled with meaning. It was kind and often cruel, but it showed us that even a monster could find redemption and even a hero wasn’t above reproach.
This is the beauty of having several character arcs. We get to see humanity on individual paths, handicapped or emboldened by the things they possess and lack. Tyrion’s intelligence and wit rival the strength of the strongest knight. Daenery’s is an orphan but her pride and birthright give her the strength to forge her way home.
From time immemorial, stories have always been meant to capture our attention as they conveyed meaning. The Allegory of the Cave, Grimm’s fairy tales, Greek mythology, and the Parables of Jesus awe, teach, and inspire. Game of Thrones’ final season strikes a sad chord because it’s another reminder of the meaning we’ve lost in current times. A world where we’ve all become the stars of our very own Truman Shows. We post selfies and memes to illicit forgettable likes and everything is interchangeable and gluttonously devoured in an ever-increasing number of swipes.
And so in understanding what we’ve lost, we should do the only thing that makes sense—get it back. Fill your life with meaning, so much that it overflows. It’s only then that we have a life truly worth living.
