The Chainsaw man manga had an eerily similar trajectory with the game of thrones TV series and I CAN PROVE IT!!!
So yesterday while I'm trying to sleep, my brain neurons connected some dots and I came to the conclusion that what happened to the CSM fandom now is exactly what happened to the GOT fandom back in 2019, and after looking back and thinking about it, what happened to the series is beat for beat almost the same, with minor differences ofc, it's genuinely hilarious.
Both series came with high expectations from the creators' fandom.
> Fujimoto's reputation in the industry from Fire Punch
> Game of Thrones is an acclaimed gritty fantasy series in the literary circle by George RR Martin (GRRM)
Both series received acclaim almost immediately and became a pop culture icon.
> CSM being insanely popular even before an anime is out
> Game of Thrones is taking HBO's top spot as its most popular show (at the time)
Both series started out and stayed strong throughout the first "half" of the story and are cited as the best in their respective field.
> CSM Part 1 received high praise and managed to nail a widely recognised perfect ending to such a character-heavy shonen story
> Game of Thrones seasons 1 - 4 are considered one of the best-written fantasy TV shows at that point with excellent screenwriting and balance between fantasy and gritty realism.
Both series received and maintained further popularity and hype due to companion works associated with them during its entire run.
> CSM with a highly ambitious anime series and a most excellent standalone film.
> Game of Thrones next book (still hasn't been released btw), Winds of Winter having early chapter teasers throughout the show run, further drumming up more anticipation for the show.
Both series started to "stray" from the source material (for good or worse).
> CSM part 2 started unexpectedly with a new main protagonist
> Game of Thrones started veering off from the books due to the lack of new books and creative differences in season 5 and 6.
Both series have a perceived weaker second half compared to the first half despite starting out strong
> CSM part 2 had Asa story be engaging and entertaining up to at least the falling devil arc and then the series began its constant problem with pacing and the lack of goals in certain arcs notably started in the Chainsaw man Church arc.
> Game of Thrones is still considered a great fantasy show despite the changes during season 5 and 6 but messy plot holes and out-of-character moments are steadily becoming more prominent in some parts of season 6 and ramps up insanely at season 7 and 8.
Both series second half still managed to land strokes of potential and greatness here and there, leading fans to still be hopeful.
> CSM part 2 Denji realisation/acceptance and Asa revelations during the Yoru vs Pochita fight seen a part 2 finally getting back on track and a high point for part 2.
> Game of Thrones Battle of Bastards and Winds of Winter episode (back to back final episode of season 6 both got rated 9.9 by 300k+ and 200k+ people on IMDb) considered as a high point of the later seasons and a hopeful return to form.
Both series suddenly rushed through the final phases of the story.
> CSM part 2 has Yoru vs Pochita/Denji fight, introducing new things at the drop of a hat, only for it to not matter or be resolved in the next chapter
> Game of Thrones quite literally ends the BIG BAD undead army that has been foreshadowed in the pilot and kept being touted as an apocalyptic event, is resolved in just 2 episodes and has an otherwise benevolent queen turned mad king genocidal dictator in the last 4 episodes.
Both series have a bittersweet "happy ending" for the surviving characters, but it doesn't feel earned, and one of the main MCs got the short end of the stick.
> CSM with Nayuta and (especially) power returning, and Asa being accepted and freed from her anxiety. While Denji loses Pochita and is still a public safety dog, at least he’s living pretty decently.
> GOT all the main and side characters getting their ideal ending (some with fuckall to reason), e.g. the mercenary lowborn somehow becomes the owner of the richest land in the continent, the cripple prophet somehow gets elected king of the entire realm just cause. Jon Snow, one of the main characters, the rightful king of the realm, had his destiny moot, had to kill his own lover, and was exiled outside the kingdom.
Both series endings impacted the fandom hard and not in a good way, along with reasons from the creator as to why this happened which involves other series.
> CSM ending is highly contentious to say the least, with fans from both sides calling the other side iiliterate. Fujimoto has repeatedly said in various interviews to want the ending to leave the feeling of "what just happened", citing Big Lebowski's story structure as a concept he wants to evoke and Spirited Away and its ending of "did any of that actually happen" as an experience he wants to show. Leaving fans wondering if he intends the ending as it is or if he’s actually burned out.
> Game of thrones the TV series, effectively lost all its pop cultural power as a standalone media and prestige television series, and nowdays being survived via prequels and spin off tv series, served as one of the best examples of a fall from grace. David Benioff and D.B Weiss, known ironically online now as Dumb and Dumber, are noted on record saying they rushed and finished the whole series in 8 seasons despite HBO Executives and GRRM urging for AT LEAST 10 seasons because they were approached by Disney to create a Star Wars series. That Star Wars series fell through after the very poor reception of the final season.
Posted Apr 3, 2026, 4:47 PM UTC