Despite a messy final season, the series finale of “Game Of Thrones” manages to deliver a somewhat satisfying conclusion for Westeros.

The episode still lands far from the quality and entertainment value of episodes in the previous seasons but wraps up the plot better than expected given the show’s recent trajectory. While not quite sticking the landing, the finale contains the best moments this season.

Many fans reacted with disappointment as the show’s eighth season developed, largely due to rushed storylines, shortened episode length and significant character changes. A Change.org petition to remake the series’ final season with “competent writers” reached more than a million signatures just ahead of the finale.

The risky decisions made to the character of Daenerys Targaryen split fans into those that wanted to see the mother of dragons we’ve known for over a decade and those who believed a change had been brewing for some time. If seasons seven and eight had a standard ten episode season versus a combined 13 episodes, this seemingly sudden change in character may have resonated better with audiences.

Unfortunately, the same can be said about many resolutions to character arcs. While the paths of many characters came to an enjoyable end, a feeling of empty convenience burdens the entire episode. Lazy writing and lack of build up to the big moments of the episode don’t give these moments the emotional impact it feels like they should have.

Without source material to pull from anymore, the dialogue doesn’t match the high “Game Of Thrones” standard. Characters don’t sound like themselves and frequently act without clear motivations.

The finale also isn’t a real goodbye to the world of Westeros either, with several “Game Of Thrones” spin-off series in the works for HBO. For fans left disappointed by the show’s end, two books are on the way in the series.