Game of Thrones’ final showdown comes down to what it means to be a good ruler
What makes a good ruler? The question has haunted Game of Thrones for years, and with just one episode left, it seems the writers are determined to reach an answer. Or, as Niccolò Machiavelli phrases the problem, Game of Thrones wants to know whether it’s better for a ruler to “be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved?”
Spoilers ahead for Game of Thrones in general, but especially season 8, episode 5, “The Bells.”
The two sides here are easy to see — Game of Thrones hasn’t been subtle in arranging the chessboard for the final conflict. On the one hand, there’s Jon Snow, who we’ve been told time and again is beloved by the people who serve him, even though he’s basically never made a smart...