‘Game of Thrones’ Failed the Direwolves in More Than One Way

Considering the direction the franchise has taken, Game of Throneshas become known for its dragons. In the original series, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) hatches the only three in the world at the end of Season 1, and they grow in size and importance as the story goes on. However, the dragons are not the only magical creatures in Game of Thrones. Second only to the Targaryens' fire-breathing weapons are the Starks' direwolves. In the very first episode, Ned (Sean Bean) and his sons find a dead direwolf with six pups, one for each Stark child, including the bastard, Jon Snow (Kit Harington). Rescuing them, the Starks raise the direwolf pups. However, as the series went on, the direwolves were grossly mistreated.