Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones
Fantasy Shows Upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV spin-offs in 2026 and beyond
Game of Thrones prequel
Fantasy Movies A new Game of Thrones movie from the writer of the best Star Wars show is on the way
Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 3
Fantasy Shows House of the Dragon season 3 release date speculation, cast, plot, and more news
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones.
Fantasy Shows The Winds of Winter release date speculation, plot, and everything else we know about George R.R. Martin's new book
Drama Shows Breaking Bad masterpiece Ozymandias loses 10/10 IMDb score – thanks to salty Game of Thrones fans
Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon
Fantasy Shows The Aegon's Conquest Game of Thrones spin-off is being developed as a HBO TV show and as a "Dune-sized feature film"
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 reviews, plot, and everything there is to know about the Game of Thrones show
Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 3
Fantasy Shows First House of the Dragon season 3 trailer teases the Battle of the Gullet and heartbreak, as the Targaryen war heats up
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner thinks George R.R. Martin's preference" wanted the show to be a 2-hour movie
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6: Is there a post-credits scene?
Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg talking in the rain in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1
Fantasy Shows Knight of the Seven Kingdoms blooper reel proves no better stars could have brought the George R.R. Martin story to life
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 ending explained: what happens to Dunk and Egg? Will there be a season 2?
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 will also only be 6 episodes and may even be "smaller" in scope than season 1
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Egg actor accidentally lets slip huge A Song of Ice and Fire spoiler
Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones
Fantasy Shows The scrapped Jon Snow Game of Thrones spin-off is reportedly back in development, this time involving Arya Stark
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV
  3. Fantasy Shows
  4. Game of Thrones TV show

George R.R. Martin says his A Song of Ice and Fire ending won't be as "happy" as the HBO show's, and it's especially bad news for Tyrion and Sansa fans

News
By Amy West published 15 January 2026

Daenerys enthusiasts may wind up preferring the books' conclusion over Game of Thrones's, though...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones
(Image credit: HBO)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Ask almost any Game of Thrones fan, and they'll tell you that things didn't end particularly well for their favorite character. Those who loved Sansa were pleased to see her crowned Queen of the North, sure, and Davos lovers might have been satisfied with him heading off on a sea-faring adventure. The less said about Jon and Daenerys' divisive send-offs, though, the better.

Creator George R.R. Martin, however, says he was planning to conclude things in even bleaker ways in the long-awaited last books in his A Song of Ice and Fire series.

"I was going to kill more people," the author revealed in a candid new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Not the ones they killed [in the show]. They made it more of a happy ending. I don't see a happy ending for Tyrion. His whole arc has been tragic from the first. I was going to have Sansa die, but she's been so appealing in the show, maybe I'll let her live …"

You may like
  • Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones Sansa Stark star Sophie Turner says she's the only Game of Thrones actor happy with their ending
  • George R. R. Martin in Dark Winds season 3 George R.R. Martin says giving up on final Game of Thrones book The Winds of Winter would "feel like a total failure"
  • Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 3 George R.R. Martin says his relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner is "abysmal"

While Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) was the only character killed in the finale, Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) met their maker in the penultimate chapter, having been crushed by debris as Daenerys and Drogon attacked King's Landing and the Red Keep collapsed.

The siblings' (and lovers) brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) lived, and was reinstated as the Hand of the King, but many viewers saw this as bittersweet because his personal success ultimately came at the cost of his family and its legacy, as well as his other personal relationships.

It's been 15 since Ice and Fire readers were treated to a new book, with A Dance with Dragons having been published in 2011. Despite the delay in the next installment, titled The Winds of Winter, though, Martin insisted that he still intends to wrap things up. In fact, he'd feel like "a total failure" if he were to leave things open-ended...

"I would hate that. I want to finish," he stated. "If I wound up doing everything in my head, this could be the longest book in the series."

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Game of Thrones is streaming now on HBO. For more, check out our guide to the most exciting new TV shows heading our way or our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review.

CATEGORIES
HBO Streaming Services
Amy West
Amy West
Social Links Navigation
Entertainment Writer

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones
Sansa Stark star Sophie Turner says she's the only Game of Thrones actor happy with their ending
 
 
George R. R. Martin in Dark Winds season 3
George R.R. Martin says giving up on final Game of Thrones book The Winds of Winter would "feel like a total failure"
 
 
Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 3
George R.R. Martin says his relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner is "abysmal"
 
 
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones.
The Winds of Winter release date speculation, plot, and everything else we know about George R.R. Martin's new book
 
 
Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner reveals George R.R. Martin's favorite changes from the novella
 
 
Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans are wondering if a line in the finale could be a dig at George R.R. Martin
 
 
Latest in Fantasy Shows
Lucy Boynton as Marie Antoinette in Chevalier
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 officially adds Lucy Boynton as Dunk's unconventional love interest
 
 
Ryan Hurst's Kratos crouching near Atreus (Callum Vinson) in first look at God of War series
God of War show casts four new Norse gods with important connections to Odin and Thor
 
 
Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy "categorically" denies rumors he's playing Voldemort in the HBO Harry Potter show
 
 
Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg talking in the rain in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms blooper reel proves no better stars could have brought the George R.R. Martin story to life
 
 
Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans are wondering if a line in the finale could be a dig at George R.R. Martin
 
 
Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms star says Egg's dad Prince Maekar Targaryen will not return for season 2
 
 
Latest in News
Atsu looks out across the surroundings of Mount Yotei in Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei almost had Breath of the Wild's rock climbing, but found it's not "a core aspect of being a ronin"
 
 
A hand poses Lego Luigi's head
Lego Luigi kit lets you recreate the iconic Mario Kart death stare
 
 
Arc Raiders player in heavy rain with shield shorting out
Arc Raiders turns down storm lightning, and Embark promises compensation for folks impacted by recent server issues
 
 
Yuta getting ready to attack in Jujutsu Kaisen season 3
Jujutsu Kaisen actor offers perfect response to why AI should stay out of anime
 
 
Pickmon
Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs"
 
 
Life is Strange
Join Chloe and Max on a "fiery weekend" for a better glimpse into Life is Strange: Reunion at the Future Games Show this week
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Arc Raiders player in heavy rain with shield shorting out
    1
    Arc Raiders turns down electromagnetic storm lightning despite some players preferring the chaos, as Embark promises compensation for folks impacted by recent server issues
  2. 2
    Game of Thrones creators' beleaguered, big-budget Netflix sci-fi show reportedly getting a reduced episode count for seasons 2 and 3
  3. 3
    Ghost of Yotei devs tried to add Zelda: Breath of the Wild-style rock climbing, but discovered "rock climbing is not a core aspect of being a wandering ronin"
  4. 4
    The future of RPGs is isometric
  5. 5
    Lego Luigi kit lets you recreate the iconic Mario Kart death stare

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...