Game of Thrones came to an end (on-screen at least) almost a year ago and many (if not most) fans are still struggling with the loss. While the end of any beloved show always leaves a hole in the hearts of its fan base, Game of Thrones may have left a larger hole due to its divisive final season in particular.
While many wanted certain characters to last longer, or more scenes with dragons, a lot of complaints stemmed from the changes season eight seemed to make to beloved characters for no discernible reason, except that the show was coming to a close. Here are a few inconsistencies that both confused and dismayed fans.
Melisandre
Melisandre, the Red Woman, the resurrector of kings. She troubled a lot of people (Ser Davos in particular). She was always changing sides and using her incredible magic, even as her allegiance bounced from one monarch to another.
However, it was Melisandre's long life that seemed to confuse fans as well as the writers. Every viewer re watching Melisandre take off her ruby choker and appear, in her real form, as an ancient hag. However, in season four Melisandre also takes off her choker, to take a bath. There is no change in her appearance then.
Tywin Lannister
The Lannister patriarch is as cunning as his daughter and his smart as his youngest son. He has kept his house prosperous and in power from the days of the Mad King through the rebellion, and into the reign of his own house. It takes quite some brain-power and perception to stay ahead of every obstacle.
And yet, when Tywin comes across a Northern girl in service to him at Harrenhal, a Northerner obviously disguised and from a noble house, he doesn't look into it. He doesn't consider that the one Stark girl on the run from his family very well might be right beside him.
Tyrion
Tyrion shoots his father for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is trying to get Tyrion killed for a murder he didn't commit. Tyrion doesn't let threats linger. He lets Varys know about Jon Snow's ancestry, so that he will have a second option if Daenerys doesn't work out.
Yet, despite the fact that Littlefinger framed him for the attempted murder of Bran Stark, saying the Valyrian dagger belonged to Tyrion himself, Tyrion never, not once, goes after Littlefinger himself, even after the crafty Master of Coin absconds with Tyrion's lawfully wedded wife, Sansa.
Sansa
Sansa learns a lot under Littlefinger. First and foremost, after he leaves her in the hands of Ramsay Bolton, she learns not to trust him. This is why, in season seven, it was so confusing and out of character for fans to watch Sansa again take in Littlefinger's words and suspect her own returned sister, Arya, of duplicity.
Fans didn't buy the competition between the Stark girls because they didn't buy that Sansa had slipped so far back into her naive trusting ways.
Jaime Lannister
Jaime Lannister had, perhaps, one of the greatest character arcs on the entire Game of Thrones show. He went from selfish, sister loving Kingslayer to redeemed knight and hero of the Long Night.
That's why, watching Jaime not only return to King's Landing after battling the Night King, but also forgive his sister (who threatened to have him killed at their last meeting) and die in her arms was so confusing. Jaime had spent the previous seven seasons being built up only to plunge back to the exact same place he started in his final moments on Game of Thrones.
Jorah
Book Jorah, rather than show Jorah, is riddled with slightly conflicting behavior. For one, the ever-vigilant Jorah, who (in the book as well as in the show) wants nothing more than to protect his Khaleesi and hide his secret betrayal, does not recognize Ser Barristan when he appears at Dany's side in the novels.
Barristan, one of the most famous knights in all of Westeros, grew a beard, and suddenly Jorah doesn't recognize him. It's a little bit hard to believe on the page.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow, or, Aegon Targaryen, goes from bastard of Winterfell, to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, to heir to Iron Throne. The boy who always wanted a family, always wanted to know where he came from. He tried to leave the watch not once, but twice, and in the end decides to go back to the wall and beyond it an exile in the frozen north beyond his homeland instead of claiming his right to the throne.
Some can argue Jon was right, he was tired, and wanted to get as far from the politics of the Seven Kingdoms as possible, but really? Your family is finally back at your side (your cousins and your new aunt) and you decide to just go to the wall again? You know nothing, Jon Snow.
Missandei
On the show, Missandei takes on the role of the closest confidant of Queen Daenerys Targaryen. As part of her duties, and as part of their friendship, Missandei takes on the duty of helping Daenerys do her hair.
There's quite a lot of a silver Targaryen mane to be going on with. And yet, after Missandei is murdered in front of her Queen's eyes by Cersei Lannister, Daenerys remains well-styled throughout the rest of season eight. It's not terribly important, it just raises some questions.
Bran
Bran, the second youngest child of Ned and Catelyn Stark, the climber, the boy who wanted to be a knight, fight for the small folk, protect the innocent, instead becomes the Three-Eyed-Raven. It can be argued that by season eight Bran is dead, the Three-Eyed-Raven is all that's left, but he can Bran, he can being Bran.
It is hard to believe that small piece of Bran would allow himself to sit in the Godswood during the battle of the Long Night, literally knowing in advance who would perish and just letting it all happen around him.
Daenerys
Daenerys of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.
That's right, breaker of chains, Mhysa. The woman who did not want to "Queen of the ashes," burned down King's Landing. If that's not inconsistent then the word has lost all meaning.