I do wish John had to choose not to be king.
He continually chose duty over love throughout his life and died once and killed his lover twice.
Him walking out of Castle Black was him throwing off that mantel of duty. However it would have been more powerful if he’d been brought to the council in the dragon pit and refused to be king. Giving the characters Agency in their decisions is much more powerful than others forcing them.
I think the book ends with Bran on the throne and John killing Dany and Jon going north. How they get to that point will be different and better constructed but it’s hard to see Martin allowing Dany or Jon to win in the conventional way.
|