Game of Thrones: Season 8 Reworked
(Hello everyone, I hope everyone is doing ok during this COVID-19 time. As given, this is a rework of the last season of Game of Thrones. So many of us, not all, but most I believe were extremely disappointed in how this show fell into catastrophe with its last season. Granted, the first two episodes were tolerable despite certain flaws. Episode 3 is where it all started falling in seriously bad way. This rework will include some of the same scenes or dialogues in different scenes or contexts. This will also have more 'episodes' than season 8 had to help expand the story as it should have been with certain changes from what was displayed (which they will be placed in parts rather than all together as to help lengthen it with perhaps some episode title changes). Some things that should have been pulled from the books will be implemented in this story. I will be rewatching season 8 whilst writing this to hopefully frame and help this story flow better. I know this cannot undo what D & D did and I cannot say I'm better than them, but I hope to do justice to the story, its characters, actors, and the original creator: GRRM. Please give me any thoughts, ideas, or advice. I hope you all enjoy this story!)
Episode 1: Winterfell, Part 1-
A young boy starts running through the woods. He moves along the snow-covered ground, around trees and logs, and across a small tree. He gasps and pants as he continues to run. After a few minutes he's running through a small town, around buildings, people, and animals. He heads towards where a crowd has started to gather.
(The King's Arrival by Ramin Djawadi plays)
Men, women, and children packed in a line awaited something. The boy hears marching and see something in front of the people, but he's too short to tell what it is. The boy tries to find a way through the crowd, unable to get through though. But someone turns to him and gives him space to move. The boy runs past her and races in front of the people as the girl smiles at him then turns to look at those marching in front of her. The boy runs alongside the men marching and eventually sees a tree and races to it. He begins climbing it and when he reaches the top, he sees an army holding spears and round shields marching and wearing strange helmets. Soon two figures riding black horses come into view of the boy of the people: a beautiful young woman with silver hair wearing a white coat with a pendant of a three headed dragon and a young man with a cloak with an animal's fur draped across his shoulders and wearing leather army with the insignia of a wolf. Behind them are men on horseback with arakhs strapped to their sides wearing animal skins and furs. The girl sees the boy and smiles widely, trying to say something as he rides by, but can't say anything. He rides past her, not noticing her. But she was partially blocked by the soldiers marching by. She soon sees a carriage surrounded by the wild looking horsemen go by yet can't manage to see who is inside it. Not long after that a large man with half of his burned astride a large black horse comes into view. She stares in shock at this, having thought he was dead. After him came a young man with short dark hair astride a white horse with a gray mane wearing brown cloak. A smile appears on her face when she sees him, having thought he was dead too. Neither of these men spot her as well. The two in the carriage grunt and shiver as they get closer to their destination.
(The music lowers in volume)
"You should consider yourself lucky. At least your balls won't freeze off," the scarred dwarf joked.
"You take great offense at dwarf jokes, but love telling eunuch jokes. Why is that?" The bald man asked.
"Because I have balls, and you don't," the dwarf joked with a smirk on his face.
(The music raises in volume)
His companion rolled his eyes. Not far away a man and a woman astride two brown horses look at the nervous and suspicious staring of the people around them. They glance at one another and then look ahead, not saying anything. Ahead the woman and man leading the army look at the same people.
(The music lowers in volume)
"I told you: Northerners don't much trust outsiders," the man said.
(The music raises in volume)
Almost a few seconds after that a loud shriek is heard above in the sky. Everyone looks up. Two dragons, one black & red and one green & bronze, fly above them. The people gathered shout and gasp at the sight of the roaring beasts. The girl earlier smiles at the sight of these magnificent creatures. The woman smiles and straightens herself with pride as her children fly above and ahead. Several yards ahead the dragons fly above the great and dark castle ahead of them. A beautiful young woman with red hair wearing a very similar cloak to the young man astride the black horse stares at these beasts with shock and wonder. Down in the castle's courtyard two men on horseback each carrying a banner with a gray wolf on white field emerge first. Following them came the man and woman.
(The music ends)
The man musters his horse forward as he enters. He meets the eyes of the group gathered. He gets off his horse and hurries towards the group gathered when he sees a young man in a wheelchair. He gets off his horse and smiles as he rushes up to him and embraces him. He takes him at arms' length.
"Bran! Look at you: You're a man," the man said.
"Almost," Bran said.
The young man gives him a strange look in response. Beside him the redheaded woman smiles at him. They embrace. They then part.
"Where's Arya? And Ghost?" The young man asked.
"Arya's lurking somewhere. Ghost is resting. He hasn't slept in days. We tried to get him to sleep. He tired himself out waiting for you, Jon," she said.
"Thank you, Sansa," Jon said.
The three look over to see the young man with a grizzled older man standing beside her. The woman approaches the group. She sees amongst them a tall woman clad in armor, a young man in dulled crimson armor beside her, and a young fierce looking teenage girl.
"Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen. My sister, Sansa Stark, the Lady of Winterfell," Jon introduced.
"Thank you for inviting us into your home, Lady Stark. The North is as beautiful as your brother claimed, as are you," Daenerys said with a smile.
"Winterfell is yours, Your Grace," Sansa said with a smile.
"We need to talk," Bran said.
(The Great Hall of Winterfell, several minutes later)
The lords and ladies of the North and the leaders of the Mother of Dragons' army gathered and sat together. Daenerys, Sansa, Jon, and Tyrion sit at the head table while Bran sits in his wheelchair beside Sansa. The other heads of the respective armies sit or stand at the long tables on either side of the hall.
"I called all our banners and the people of the countryside to Winterfell. Livestock, wheat, and all of our supplies are almost here. The rest is coming from the most southern part of the North except for The Last Hearth. Lord Umber!" Sansa explained.
A young boy stook his head out to look at Sansa.
"When can we expect your people to arrive?" Sansa asked.
Lord Umber stood up and moved to the center of the hall between the two tables.
"We need more horses and wagons, if it please my lady…and my lord…and my queen. Sorry," the boy stammered.
Jon smiled at him and Daenerys gave him a small smile.
"You'll have as many as we can spare. Hurry back to Last Hearth and bring your people here. Be safe and be quick," Sansa said.
Lord Umber bowed and exited the hall with a couple of men following him.
"What of the Night's Watch? Have any ravens come with news? Specifically, from Eastwatch by the Sea?" Jon asked.
"None so far," Maestar Luwin said.
"Send ravens and have them send word of the army gathering here. We may need them to pull back to Winterfell," Jon said.
"At once, Your Grace," Maestar Luwin said, bowing.
He stopped and looked back.
"I-I mean, my lord," he said then walked off.
Jon's eyes closed for a moment and he sighed.
"Your Grace?" Lyanna Mormont said sarcastically.
Jon opened his eyes and he looked at her. He had a solemn look. Lady Mormont stood up and moved to the space between the tables. Her face was fixed with disappointment…and perhaps sadness.
"But you're not, are you?" Lyanna rhetorically asked.
Sansa sighed and lowered her head a bit. Daenerys looked at the girl then to Jon then back to the girl.
"You left Winterfell a king and came back a…I'm not sure what you are now. A lord? Or just the Bastard of Winterfell?" Lyanna Mormont said
Those gathered murmured, mostly in agreement with what she had to say. Tyrion looked from her to Jon, sadness in his eyes and perhaps guilt.
"It's not important," Jon said.
"Not important? We named you: King in the North!" Lyanna scoffed.
Those of the North called out in agreement. Jon couldn't meet her gaze for a few moments. He looked to Sansa, who just stared back at him. Jon knew she agreed with their people, she didn't have to say anything. Soon the hall quieted down.
"You did, my lady. It was the honor of my life. I'll always be grateful for your faith," Jon said.
"And what now? Do you think we have faith in you now after everything the North, our people have suffered? That we named you King in the North to lead us into a better future only for you to bend the knee?" Lyanna growled.
"My lady, I know this is hard. But he bent the knee to save you. If it wasn't for him—" Daenerys said.
"I wasn't talking to you," Lyanna growled in interjection.
Daenerys looked at this girl with surprise. Some of the Mother of Dragons' followers looked at one another in shock and others in anger, but shock was their main reaction.
"When Stannis Baratheon demanded for my house's support, do you remember what I sent to him in reply?" Lyanna said.
Daenerys looked to Jon.
"I do," Jon said.
"Then say it," Lyanna replied.
"My lady, we don't have time for this," Jon said.
"Say it. If you have any respect or love for the North, say it," Lyanna said.
"*Sighs* Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark," Jon quoted.
The people of the North called out on this.
"My lady, as our queen was saying –" Tyrion interjected.
"I wasn't talking to you either," Lyanna said.
Jon sighed and he stood up. Lyanna turned back to look at him.
"My lady, I know you believe I betrayed you, that I went back on my word. Perhaps I did. But this war is not about this 'game of thrones'…it's about the living and the dead. If my people are to survive and that requires giving up my crown, I would and did do it," Jon said.
"If it doesn't matter, then why the need to give it up? You could have kept your crown and the dragon queen would come up to aid us. A King in the North saving the North and all the living after the North and its people had suffered at the hands of the South," Lyanna said.
"This isn't about the 'game of thrones', this about the living and the dead. This about the survival of all of the living. My lady, if it came to sacrifice my crown to gain the queen's support then that's what I had to do even if I feel personal shame. But now we must prepare with our allies for the battle that comes despite what we may feel about one another," Jon said.
Lyanna didn't say anything, she just glared at him.
"My lords and ladies, I know this is the past repeating itself with the former King in the North and the last King in the North surrendering to Targaryen rule is something that the North hates…but I assure you that I have come to save the North and its people unlike my ancestor. I promise you this is how it needs to be," Daenerys said.
For once, the Great Hall was silent. All of those of the North and their allies, especially Sansa and Lyanna's faces were painted with rage.
"You didn't tell her? Neither of you told her?" Sansa hissed.
Daenerys looked at all of them, confusion plain on her face. Jon and Tyrion couldn't say anything, their eyes were closed in sorrow. Sansa looked to Davos.
"You remained silent?" Sansa growled.
"My lady, at the time it didn't-" Davos tried to say.
Sansa then switched her gaze to Varys.
"You didn't either?" Sansa snarled.
"My lady, it wasn't the time for—" Varys said.
Sansa silenced both of them with a glare. Davos and Varys looked back at her with sorrow. Sansa turned to look at Daenerys, who looked back at her.
"The last King in the North wasn't Torrhen Stark. It was our brother: Robb Stark," Sansa said.
Some of those of the North started to weep.
"I am sorry my lady, I wasn't aware," Daenerys sighed.
"Perhaps you weren't. But there were four men with you that knew," Sansa said.
The Northerners called out in agreement.
"The conversation was…regrettable. I miss Robb, I miss him as much as any of you! The last time I saw him was when I was leaving for the Night's Watch! He, his direwolf, his mother, and many of his loyal bannerman were murdered at that wedding by cowards and traitors! I wish I could have been there. I don't know if I could have saved him…but I loved him. He was my brother and that will never change! So, don't you dare say I have forgotten him!" Jon cried and growled.
The Northerners were silent at this, except one.
"And what would he think of you now?" Lyanna said then sat down.
Jon looked hurt at this. His anger shifting into sadness. He wasn't sure what Robb would have thought about his bending the knee. They had both grown up hearing about the Targaryen history and specifically recent history regarding the Mad King and his rule. Their father was enraged and heartbroken when he learned his father and brother were murdered by the Mad King. This isn't even counting his sister being taken away by Rhaegar. Daenerys looked at the Northerners, not sure what to say. She knew of her father's madness and what it had done to the North. She wanted to rule the Seven Kingdoms peacefully, but the North was an injured animal whose pride, and body had been scarred by the Targaryen family. She didn't want to do the same and she realized too late making Jon bend the knee made the possibly healing wounds to be opened up again. Tyrion sighed and stood up and walked in front of the table.
"My lords and ladies…for thousands of years the Great Houses of Westeros warred against one another, and thousands of people died back of it. Targaryen rule while it cost many more lives brought peace to the realm for a time. Robert's Rebellion took had a cost to it even with the peace that came after it. The War of the Five Kings is over and despite the bloodshed…Jon Snow's warnings and what laid North of the Wall…perhaps had we not fought over the means of who rules…maybe this situation would be different. But still, this is where we're here now and while we are all unhappy about something with this current political situation…we must put aside our differences now. Jon Snow risked his life again to show us the truth and we're here now. We will soon have the greatest army in history to fight the Army of the Dead. Unsullied, Dothraki, Dragons, the North, the Knights of the Vale…and the Lannister army will soon be here to join us," Tyrion said.
The Great Hall burst into yelling and swearing. Jon sighed and closed his eyes.
"Enough!" Sansa called out.
The Great Hall quieted down after a few moments. Everyone's eyes were on her.
"You heard my brother: we must prepare. Back to your posts!" Sansa commanded.
Those under the Starks' command sighed and left the hall, with many muttering under their breaths, except for Brienne.
"Thank you, Sansa," Jon said.
Sansa looked at him, her face with a mix of emotions and left with Brienne behind her. Jon sighed at this. He turned to look at Daenerys.
"Your Grace," then left.
Daenerys looked to her followers, uncertain of what was to come.
To be continued…
(Thus, begins the retelling of Season 8. I hope this was good and I hope the rest turns out well as well. RIP To Chadwick Boseman, he had the heart/spirit of a panther, and RBG, champion of women's rights. And congrats to Kit Harrington and Rose Leslie on their (well, Rose's) pregnancy along with Hafbór Júlíus Björnsson and Kelsey Henson's son's birth. And once again I hope everyone is do ok during this COVID-19 time, be safe.)