In a sentiment that may resonate throughout the annals of media history, the final season of Game of Thrones left behind a devastating aftermath. Every character suffered from questionable writing choices, with some meeting lackluster endings while others had their storylines utterly ruined. The unfortunate truth is that Cersei Lannister, portrayed by the talented Lena Headey, fell victim to both these fates simultaneously. There are numerous reasons why this villainess deserved a more satisfying conclusion and why she stood as a formidable presence in the television landscape. Her psychological complexity, Shakespearean-level performance, and the threat she posed to all continents make her demise by falling rocks an unsatisfying resolution. This ending left crucial aspects of Cersei’s character unresolved, including her intelligence, malevolence, and vulnerable side.
Cersei Lannister, throughout the series, showcased a remarkable depth and range, thanks to Headey’s exceptional acting. She embodied the intricacies demanded of such a complex character, exuding both grace and menace in her gaze, dripping nuance from her fingertips, and conveying an entire monologue through subtle shifts in her body language. Cersei would transition effortlessly from a predatory figure calculating her next move to a caged creature tormented within her confines. She displayed regret, fear, regality, pitifulness, and a primal force, all within minutes. From the very beginning of the series, Cersei was a reserved and cunning woman engaged in an incestuous relationship with her twin brother. She was likely plotting a coup while maintaining a facade of respectability. Game of Thrones offered viewers early insight into Cersei’s inner world, a departure from George R.R. Martin’s original books, where her point of view was only revealed in the fourth installment. HBO explored Cersei’s character without hesitation, revealing her complex interiority to the audience.
The women of Westeros were depicted as emotionally sophisticated and multifaceted, a rarity in fictional portrayals. Cersei, like other women in this world, despised the limitations placed on her ambitions by structural misogyny. In her mind, as the eldest child and rightful Lannister heir, she deserved Casterly Rock and her father’s respect. Tyrion famously described her as driven by greed for power, honor, and love—a trait both tragic and a product of her circumstances. While Cersei might have had villainous traits inherently, there’s little doubt that her environment and familial upbringing fed her insatiable thirst for power and validation. Everything she desired centered around this single point. Martin’s pen skillfully captures this aspect of Cersei’s character in the following quote: “She had played the dutiful daughter, the blushing bride, the pliant wife. She had suffered Robert’s drunken groping, Jaime’s jealousy, Renly’s mockery, Varys with his titters, Stannis endlessly grinding his teeth. She had contended with Jon Arryn, Ned Stark, and her vile, treacherous, murderous dwarf brother, all the while promising herself that one day it would be her turn.”
One of Cersei’s most intriguing and subversive qualities is her unconscious and aimless desire for control. Her goals extend beyond simply securing the throne and maintaining it, yet she fails to possess the cleverness of her father, Tywin. Cersei’s impulsive nature and her tendency to hold grudges prove to be her downfall, and her internalized misogyny is nearly deliberate. She resembles a wildfire, unpredictable and lacking in common sense, making her more dangerous than those who rely solely on logic. Thanks to the diverse representation of women in Westeros, Cersei’s desperate need for control and her smoldering narcissism doesn’t come across as a sexist portrayal of women. Women are multifaceted, just like Cersei. If Sansa desires love from her subjects, Cersei believes fear is the only shield she has. Her actions were shaped by the world she lived in, leaving little room for other alternatives.
Cersei’s contradictory humanity adds depth to her character. Her craving for control often leads her down a path of unpredictability. She emulates Tywin without fully comprehending the complexities behind his strategic moves. As a result, Cersei’s impulsiveness and grudge-holding tendencies prove detrimental. Her internalized misogyny becomes almost intentional. Unlike a lithe predator, Cersei is driven by wildfire and instinct rather than logic, making her more dangerous than those driven by rationality. The various female characters in Westeros challenge the notion that women are either foolish or reckless. Cersei’s need for control and her narcissistic tendencies stem from a complex mix of ambition and circumstance, where captivity and the games she’s forced to play shape her character. Her infamous walk of atonement symbolizes her degradation, violation, and her eventual crawl towards survival.
However, Seasons 7 and 8 of Game of Thrones failed to honor the complexity and significance of Cersei’s character. After building up Cersei as Daenerys Targaryen’s main adversary for the Iron Throne, the show reduced her to drinking wine, smirking, and staring into the distance. While she occasionally delivered impactful lines, she mostly lurked in the shadows. Using innocent civilians as shields against Daenerys showcased Cersei’s quintessential nature but ultimately led to her demise. However, her death by falling debris while in the arms of her brother Jaime was unsatisfying. From a narrative standpoint, there was no true contest for the throne, resulting in minimal tension. If one examines basic narrative structures and the art of foreshadowing, Game of Thrones had set the stage for Cersei to become the Mad Queen, embodying her emotional and literal wildfire. Cersei was meant to exact her revenge by burning King’s Landing to the ground. Jaime, her former lover, would have transformed from Kingslayer to Queenslayer. Instead, their demise was reduced to mere rocks falling on them. All of Cersei’s contributions to the series, her character development, and her importance to the story vanished. Her story remained unresolved, leaving fans disappointed.
To make matters worse, Cersei was one of the primary female characters in the series. In a show that often mishandled the endings of its female characters, Cersei’s unsatisfying demise added to the troubling pattern. Her complex characterization, cultural impact, and significance warranted a death that respected her legacy. Game of Thrones missed an opportunity to provide Cersei with a conclusion that honored her complexity and importance to the story.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
