When I previewed season 8 of “Game of Thrones,” I wrote about the sense of dread that many fans had over the final season of the sprawling fantasy show. The previous season left many fans feeling frustrated that key plot points were rushed, and characters made foolish decisions just to reach certain plot points. With one fewer episode in the final season, fans feared their favorite characters and plot threads would get similar treatment.

Given that more than a million fans have signed a petition to “Remake Game of Thrones Season 8 with Competent Writers,” it’s safe to say many of those worst fears have been realized.