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
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episode count: how many episodes are on HBO and Sky?
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things season 5 volume 2
Sci-Fi Shows Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things season 5
Sci-Fi Shows Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”
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
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 With 13 million viewers per episode, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms could be HBO Max's third-biggest TV debut ever
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
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"
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 episode 6
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6: Is there a post-credits scene?
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Fantasy Shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5's IMDb score puts it in the top 5 best Game of Thrones episodes ever
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 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
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV
  3. Fantasy Shows
  4. Game of Thrones TV show

"Felt like a bad fan fiction" – The best reactions to Game of Thrones season 8, episode 5

News
By Bradley Russell published 13 May 2019

The most talked about Thrones episode ever?

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

Game of Thrones season 8
Image credit: HBO
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
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

Bloody hell. Game of Thrones season 8 gave us the series’ penultimate episode and, while certain plot points may have split fans, it’s inarguable that it gave us some of the show’s most iconic moments. From major deaths to battles seasons-in-the-making, here’s how the mild-mannered fans of Twitter treated Game of Thrones season 8, episode 5. Warning: Spoilers within!

The whispers are no more

The first, but most certainly not the last, named character to die in The Bells, Lord Varys went out on his own terms. Those terms, admittedly, were quickly jotting down a note and perishing in a blaze of fire and brimstone, but it could all be part of a long game to show just who the ruler of Westeros should be.

Varys died doing what he loved: snitching #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/TksJMZypYKMay 13, 2019

R.I.P to Lord VarysFirst of his nameKing of the Messy Bitches Who Live For DramaMaster of WhispersFather of SpidersLord of the Tea Trees and Shady PinesThe One True Protector of the Realm#GameOfThrones #TheLastWar pic.twitter.com/hLj0T0yqOwMay 13, 2019

They killed my fave this week so let me rant a bitHow the fuck does Varys, the master of whisperers, whose one job all these years was to get on top of information, died because of a basic ass gossip 😖🚮#GameOfThronesMay 13, 2019

Varys since he knew what was coming...#GoT #DemThrones pic.twitter.com/eecVelV3XxMay 13, 2019

Let it burn

Hey, speaking of fire and brimstone, Dany made good on her angry, angry facial expressions last week by, welp, burning down half of King’s Landing. Women, children, and Lannister soldiers (who had already given up. Hasn’t the Mother of Dragons read the Geneva Conventions?!) were burnt to a crisp, with the likes of Arya only getting out of harm’s way just in the nick of time. Of course, there was more than one Pikachu Face in response.

You may like
  • Game of Thrones prequel After 7 years and a controversial finale, Game of Thrones fans are celebrating the best additions not from the books
  • Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans think episode 5's brutal battle is "unlike anything we've seen in Game of Thrones"
  • Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5's IMDb score puts it in the top 5 best Game of Thrones episodes ever

#GameOfThrones Dany: Burns something every season slowly descending into the Mad QueenGoT Fans: Yaay 👏🏽Dany: Burns Kings LandingGoT Fans: pic.twitter.com/XzovDzeJtpMay 13, 2019

if u say that its shit writing to turn Dany crazy... you haven't beem paying attention #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/MXlyrOQVkVMay 13, 2019

The writers of #GameofThrones with Dany's character development like - pic.twitter.com/Tc6JdFOxuSMay 13, 2019

Dany rejoining the Starks after taking down King's Landing like pic.twitter.com/UYBxkvmhTcMay 13, 2019

Euron vs. Jaime

Maybe not the mano y mano fight we were expecting from this episode, but the two clashed nonetheless on the beaches of King’s Landing. It was a brutal, visceral scrap, too, with both getting their licks in. In the end, though, Jaime came out on top – even if he was mortally wounded in the process.

This might be the first time I've actually felt disappointed in a #GoT episode. For example, I get that Euron and Jamie had beef, but a fight to the death in that moment made absolutely no sense. #DemThronesMay 13, 2019

Pettiest award goes to Euron, clearly can see they about to die but would rather pick a fight and tell a man he fucked his chick. 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/cBZ4UccdmDMay 13, 2019

Euron Greyjoy has to be the worst character in the entire Game of Thrones run. That guy had no depth & pretty much served no real purposeMay 13, 2019

Episode 6 preview , Euron’s elephants finally arrive. #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/DYyVqXaP5vMay 13, 2019

Cleganebowl, baby

Finally. Words can’t really do this one justice; it’ll surely rank up there as one of the show’s finest moments when the dust (and ash) has settled. Not since The Viper vs. The Mountain has the audience been so enthralled by the twists and turns of a Thrones fight.

When you realize the poetic justice wherein The Hound takes The Mountain into the Fire to end it all.#CleganeBowl #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/mCq4oIPOpYMay 13, 2019

Cersei walking past Sandor & Gregor during #CleganeBowl #GameofThones pic.twitter.com/qj8K3vIndgMay 13, 2019

I don’t care about anyone’s opinion on the episode, this scene was outrageous #GameofThrones #CleganeBowl pic.twitter.com/MIhy2zEeWBMay 13, 2019

The mountain finally taking off his helmet #GameofThrones #CLEGANEBOWL pic.twitter.com/DXwjyNhF5WMay 13, 2019

Bricking it

Is this Game of Thrones season 8’s most divisive scene? Almost definitely. Cersei and Jaime seemingly met their ends as the walls collapsed around them. No Arya revenge kill, no Jaime mercy kill, just Cersei hugging her brother and the world falling on top of her. Ouch.

Cersei died from bricks fam. The night king died in ep.3 so Cersei could die from bricks.May 13, 2019

Those bricks got their revenge on Cersei for what she did to the septs bricks pic.twitter.com/HFjNUDK5AnMay 13, 2019

all that Cersei buildup and she died from poor infrastructureMay 13, 2019

#gameofthrones Fans, writing theories: Arya should use the skills she learned from the Many-Faced God to kill Cersei while wearing Jamie’s faceDirectors writing about her long awaited death being caused by fucking ROCKS: pic.twitter.com/PrYQck50nJMay 13, 2019

A bad taste in the mouth

For some, this season feels a lot different to what came before. Maybe it’s the six-episode runtime, or how everything is packed full of Moments and Cool Stuff That Happened, yet a lot of Thrones fans aren’t too happy and the tide is turning on Game of Thrones season 8.

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.

I guess these dudes are good at adaptations but horrible at actual writing? Way to ruin a great series. Felt like bad fan fiction. #GameofThrones #got pic.twitter.com/zpzw5MIAMJMay 13, 2019

I never thought I would put #GameofThrones in the same category as Lost and Dexter in terms of terrible last seasons, but I think it's too late now. This is awful, lazy writing and whoever the fuck directed that should never direct anything ever again.May 13, 2019

Disappointed! Confused! Crushed! What were the writers thinking?!?!?😱🤦🏻‍♀️😡 #GameofThronesMay 13, 2019

Game of Thrones deserved more than eight seasons and squeezing everything in like this makes me question the writing. It feels rushed, inconsistent and not up to standard relative to previous seasons. A lot of character development thrown out the window.May 6, 2019

Discover if the majority of our Game of Thrones theories have gone up in smoke after this episode, along with half of King's Landing.

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
Game of Thrones prequel
After 7 years and a controversial finale, Game of Thrones fans are celebrating the best additions not from the books
 
 
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans think episode 5's brutal battle is "unlike anything we've seen in Game of Thrones"
 
 
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5's IMDb score puts it in the top 5 best Game of Thrones episodes ever
 
 
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington was "genuinely angered" by petition to remake season 8
 
 
Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 becomes one of the highest rated Game of Thrones episodes ever
 
 
Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms opens with a graphic joke, and Game of Thrones fans aren't sure how they feel about it
 
 
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
Palworld Pal with shocked expression
"I wouldn't rule out a Palworld 2.0," says Pocketpair publishing head, but don't expect a "No Man's Sky situation"
 
 
Dafne Keen brandishing her claws as Laura/X-23 in Deadpool and Wolverine
Marvel fans are debating whether Dafne Keen should become Wolverine or stay as X-23, and I've already chosen a side
 
 
Peak mesa biome
Peak came about after a bet between Content Warning and Another Crab's Treasure leads to see whose game would sell more
 
 
Jin, Mugen, and Fuu standing in a row
Samurai Champloo is getting a live-action Netflix series from One Piece studio, and the original creator is on board
 
 
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It: Welcome to Derry finale
It: Welcome to Derry season 2 is officially in the works, as showrunner promises "something greater" than season 1
 
 
Mass Effect
"F***ing Colonel Shepard dies in Mass Effect 3, and that makes us the Worst Company in America," former EA exec laments
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Dafne Keen brandishing her claws as Laura/X-23 in Deadpool and Wolverine
    1
    Marvel fans are debating whether Dafne Keen should become Wolverine or stay as X-23, and I've already chosen a side
  2. 2
    "I wouldn't rule out a Palworld 2.0," says Pocketpair publishing head, but don't expect a "No Man's Sky situation" with a "decade of continuous, massive updates"
  3. 3
    "Whoever sells more copies pays for the other's therapy": Peak came about after a bet between Content Warning and Another Crab's Treasure leads, and ironically the friendslop collab that followed sold more than both games combined
  4. 4
    Samurai Champloo is returning as a live-action Netflix series from One Piece adaptation team, and the original creator is on board: "We've learned" after Cowboy Bebop
  5. 5
    It: Welcome to Derry season 2 is definitely in the works, as showrunner promises to "deliver something that is greater" than season 1

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...