Game Of Thrones Gave Cersei The Perfect Chance To Kill Daenerys – And Highlighted Season 8’s Biggest Flaws

Game of Thrones season 8 has received many criticisms since airing in 2019, but there’s one plot hole that isn’t brought up nearly enough: Cersei could have killed Daenerys before she ever had the chance to burn King’s Landing to the ground. Both Cersei and Daenerys have controversial endings in HBO’s fantasy series, and this oversight highlights the problems with their storylines.

While Jon Snow killing Daenerys may have been the inevitable outcome of Game of Thrones — there were signs pointing to Dany’s fate long before it happened — it’s honestly surprising she made it that far. After all, her meeting with Cersei in Game of Thrones season 8 could have gone much worse. And the fact that she survives their parley actually feels like a plot hole in hindsight.

Cersei Could Have Killed Daenerys During Their Parley In Game Of Thrones Season 8

She Had Already Provoked Her Enemy By Killing Missandei

While Daenerys’ entire season 8 storyline builds to her dark turn in Game of Thrones’ most controversial episode, “The Bells,” her parley with Cersei feels like the biggest push towards this outcome. In “The Last of the Starks,” Cersei parleys with Dany at the gates of King’s Landing — and kills Missandei in front of the other queen and her army.

But as one Reddit user points out, it’s shocking Cersei doesn’t go further during this meeting. She’s unreachable atop the gates of the city, and she has a Scorpion bolt at her disposal. With Drogon nowhere to be found, the weapon could have been used to kill Daenerys before she got the opportunity to sack King’s Landing.

This could be seen as a plot hole (and yet another thing wrong with Game of Thrones season 8), even if viewers can reach for reasons Cersei wouldn’t make this move. She is more focused on Tyrion than Daenerys during this encounter, and she could fear retaliation from Dany’s army or dragon. However, she doesn’t seem too afraid to provoke her enemy by killing Missandei.

And Cersei has proven repeatedly that she’s willing to make risky and bold moves to get what she wants. Knowing that Daenerys has the power to destroy King’s Landing on the back of her dragon, it’s shocking Cersei doesn’t act during this scene. It would’ve been in character for her, which makes this wasted setup feel even more like a problem.

Shedding Blood During The Parley Wouldn’t Have Been Out Of Character For Cersei

She’s Done Equally Bold & Ruthless Things In The Past

Cersei killing Daenerys during a parley would be in character for the Lannister queen, who clearly isn’t concerned about breaking norms to achieve her ends. After all, Cersei blows up the Sept of Baelor with wildfire in Game of Thrones season 6, killing innocent people alongside the High Sparrow and his followers.

To destroy a location like the Sept of Baelor is blasphemous in Game of Thrones’ world, and killing all those people in the process only makes matters worse. But Cersei values her own life and goals over all else, so she’s willing to engage in sacrilegious behavior to secure her freedom and access to power.

The Lannisters also arrange to have the Starks killed at a wedding, which goes against the guest right in George R.R. Martin’s universe. Although the Lannisters don’t directly offer the Starks food and sanctuary, then kill them — they leave this to the Freys — they set the whole thing up.

This breaks social customs and is considered a heinous way to win a war, but for the Lannisters, it’s worthwhile. And if they’ll go to such lengths to kill the Starks, it’s surprising Cersei won’t engage in similarly frowned-upon behavior to defeat Daenerys.

Cersei’s Inaction Created A Plot Hole That Led To Her Season 8 Death

This Makes Cersei’s Underwhelming Downfall Even Worse

Cersei not killing Daenerys at their season 8 parley feels like a plot hole given her past actions, and it’s even more frustrating because it leads to her death. Cersei’s demise is frequently cited as underwhelming by Game of Thrones fans, many of whom were hoping for a confrontation with Dany or one of the Starks before she met her end.

Instead, she reunites with Jaime one last time before the Red Keep falls upon them. Cersei being killed by “rocks” has become a meme on the heels of Game of Thrones season 8, and it’s more frustrating because it was avoidable. It’s unbelievable that Cersei doesn’t put up more of a fight against Daenerys, and her refusing to resort to ruthlessness during the parley is part of that.

This Game Of Thrones Misstep Highlights Everything Wrong With Season 8’s Ending

The Show’s Major Players Were All Acting Out Of Character

Cersei not killing Dany during the parley is indicative of a bigger issue with Game of Thrones season 8: the fact that so many of the show’s major players act totally out of character during its last outing. The Lannister queen not being ruthless when given the opportunity is just one example. Jon Snow’s excessive willingness to follow Dany and Tyrion’s lack of foresight are others.

Although it’s meant to explain his Three-Eyed Raven journey, even Bran Stark finally accepting a title and power — after seasons of insisting that isn’t who he is anymore — feels out of left field. Perhaps it’s just because season 8 feels rushed at six episodes, but so many of these characters act in ways they wouldn’t have just one outing prior.

And there’s not nearly enough setup to justify many of these storylines; we certainly never see anything to make us think Cersei is less ruthless or desperate to survive. With that in mind, this Game of Thrones plot hole deserves more attention than it receives.