Her Watch Has Ended: Sansa Stark
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark.
Game of Thrones has entered its final season and that means it’s time to take stock of the show as a whole. But rather than do a set of episode reviews, we decided to take a little inspiration from the books for our post-mortem. George R.R. Martin’s still unfinished series features chapters based on the point of view of its characters, so each of these posts will review their individual journeys in the show as they come to their end, whether peacefully or violently - this is Thrones, after all.
We’ll ask the same set of questions for each character, reflect on where they came from, where the events of the series took them, and where we leave them. How effective was the show’s approach to the character, and is their ending satisfying? What purpose did each character serve throughout the series?
If it isn’t already obvious, this is MEGA-SPOILER territory, so beware if you’re not fully caught up on the show.
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Sansa Stark
Where Did She Come From?
Sansa (Sophie Turner) is the eldest daughter of House Stark. She’s introduced in the premiere episode as being stuck-up and spoiled, wanting nothing more than to marry a wealthy lord and mingle with high society in King’s Landing. But Sansa’s fate is much more tragic. She’s unwillingly betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon, and undergoes years of abuse and terror at the hands of Cersei Lannister and numerous other characters. It’s not until she escapes the capital in Season 4 that she begins to have some agency, but even then she faces more humiliation and tragedy.
Where Did The Show Take Her?
For the first few seasons, Sansa is basically imprisoned at King’s Landing, and even after escaping, she’s locked in a poisonous relationship with Petyr Baelish, who eventually sells her to House Bolton as part of a grander scheme. However, her experiences cause her to develop and change - she becomes more confident and skillful in statecraft and leadership - and becomes the Lady of Winterfell by the time the eighth season rolls around. This development, while interesting to watch, has been viciously critiqued by certain groups of viewers, who feel that the systemic abuse of Sansa should not be seen as the cause or justification for her newfound skills.
Where Does Her Story End?
Sansa survives all the battles in the final season (even a nail-biting sequence in the crypts below Winterfell, as they’re overrun by wights) and is present at King’s Landing for the decision over who will become king in the wake of Daenerys’ death at the hands of Jon Snow. When it becomes clear that Bran is the chosen candidate, we might expect Sansa to unquestioningly support her brother, but instead she declares that the North will return to being an independent kingdom, with her as its queen.
Does The Character Redeem Herself?
Like Jon, Sansa hasn’t done much to require redemption. For most of the show, she’s a victim of other characters, and we spend much of our time as viewers hoping she’ll find peace of some sort. Her transformation, however from the snobby child that left for King’s Landing in Season 1 has been one of the show’s best arcs, even if it didn’t require Sansa to atone for some crime.
Is Sansa’s Ending Satisfying?
Definitely. After the shock and anger prompted by the penultimate episode of the show, “The Bells”, a lot of viewers clamoured for Sansa to claim the Iron Throne by some means. She doesn’t get quite that far, but she does ascend to a position that’s just as good (and arguably, one that’s a better outcome for the Northern peoples). It wouldn’t surprise me if some people demanded a Sansa-centric spinoff about her years as Queen in the North.
What Role Did This Character Play In The Overall Storytelling?
Sansa spends much of the show as an example of the sort of people in Westeros who are used and abused to further other characters’ schemes. She’s shunted around from one place to the next, a potent symbol of the patriarchal society. But she slowly morphs into a feminist archetype: a woman who has transcended the crimes perpetrated against her and carved out a leadership role for herself against the odds. Questionable writing choices aside, Sansa’s story is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy and cynical show.
Best Moment On The Show
Sansa’s best moments largely come in the last few seasons of the show, as she gains more agency. But for my money, her greatest moment is her final one in the final episode: being crowned Queen in the North.