It has been years since the fantasy series, ‘Game of Thrones‘ ended. Yet the fandom is still not settled over its finale. The HBO series ran for eight years and engraved its name in television history. Although almost all seasons had perfectly fair reception, many had speculations over the eighth and final season. Fans had many mixed feelings about the finale titled ‘The Iron Throne‘.
Many felt the last season was rushed. Meanwhile, some found that the ‘Long Night‘ episode missed the mark. The majority of the ‘GOT‘ fandom was furious over Daenerys Targaryen’s death. IMDb rated the last episode four out of ten. Let us see how the cast felt about the finale that infuriated fans.
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Jon Snow – Kit Harrington
In the finale, Jon Snow is exiled to the Night’s Watch for murdering Daenerys Targaryen. Kit Harrington played the character Jon Snow in the HBO series. Initially in 2019, Kit revealed that the ‘Game Of Thrones‘ fandom would be divided on the ending of the show. He prophesied it correctly. Harrington told Pop Buzz that he found the finale “disappointing”.
However, he later defended the series finale. “Critics spend half an hour writing about this season and make their judgment on it, in my head, they can go f** themselves. Cause I know how much work was put into this,” he said to Entertainment Weekly. Kit recently sat down with British GQ Magazine and candidly shared his views on the finale. The ‘Industry‘ actor said that if the show had some flaws, it would be due to exhaustion from the lengthy run of the show.
“I look at pictures of me in that final season and I look exhausted. I look spent. I didn’t have another season in me,” Kit said. However, he believed that there was no other alternative to end the series.
Cersei Lannister – Lena Headey
The role of Cersei Lannister was flawlessly played by Lena Headey through all the seasons of ‘Game of Thrones‘. However, the actress had “mixed feelings” regarding the end of her character. Cersei died beside her brother Jamie Lannister under the crumbling Red Keep. Headey told Entertainment Weekly, “I wanted her to have some big piece or fight with somebody.” Eventually, as she discussed the finale, she found Cersei’s death a perfect fit for her character.
Headey told Den of Geek that she wished a “better death” for Cersei. However, she found her dying next to Jamie very poetic. She told Entertainment Weekly, “They came into the world together and now they leave together … It’s maybe the first time that Cersei has been at peace.”
Related: Lena Headey Admits Being Scared For Her Career After ‘Game Of Thrones’ Ended
Jamie Lannister – Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
One of the finale plots over which the ‘GOT‘ fandom was enraged, was Jamie Lannister leaving Brienne of Tarth and Winterfell behind to join Cersei. When the HBO series began, Jamie, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, was the least-liked character. But over the years, he taught that the world is grey as it comes. Nothing is perfectly moral or evil. Fans rejoiced, when Jamie left Cersei to fight for the living, thinking that Jamie was finally free of Cersei’s poisonous claws.
However, the show had yet to surprise the GOT fandom. Talking to Vanity Fair in 2019, Waldau explained Jamie’s baffling choice. “The core of him has always been Cersei,” Waldau said. He explained that Jamie chose to fight for the living. And when that duty was complete, he went back to the oath he made to Cersei that it would be the two of them against the world.
Arya Stark – Maisie Williams
Arya Stark has been a stubborn character since the beginning of ‘Game of Thrones‘. With almost all people struck off her List (of people she wanted dead), Cersei Lannister was the last remaining name. However, the wild wolf chose to leave the Red Keep while it was crumbling on the Hound’s advice. Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark, was disappointed with her character’s choice. She thought it was very unlike her.
Talking with Entertainment Weekly she said, “I wanted Arya to kill Cersei even if it means she dies too. Even up to the point when Cersei’s with Jaime I thought, ‘He’s going to whip off his face [and reveal its Arya]’ and they’re both going to die.” However, the young actor was satisfied as her character went to explore what’s west of Westeros. “It’s not a ‘Game of Thrones’ ending for Arya, it’s a happy ending,” Maisie said.
Daenerys Targaryen – Emilia Clark
One of the biggest blows to the finale of ‘Game of Thrones‘ was the killing of the Dragon Queen, Daenerys Targaryen. In ‘The Iron Throne‘ episode, Daenerys riding Drogon burns down the entire King’s Landing including the Red Keep. The fans found the change in Dany’s character drastic. Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys, told Entertainment Weekly that when she read the script she was “flabbergasted” by her character. However, mulling over the seasons, she could understand Dany’s actions.
Emilia stated that many points in the show led up to her becoming the Mad Queen. However, Clarke “stands by Daenerys”. Neither does she “feel sorry” for Jon Snow.
Daenerys had lived her entire life in foreign lands. In her exile, she had only one aim to claim her ancestral right, the Iron Throne. However, when she reached Winterfell, she could not help feeling farther from home. Dany found no companionship among the people she wished to rule. Moreover, Messandei’s death last straw after which she transformed into the Mad Queen.
Sansa Stark – Sophie Turner
In the finale, Sansa Stark is named Queen in the North after a very long journey of empowerment and growth, which according to actress Sophie Turner was “the perfect ending for her” as the North is “the only place that she really, truly feels safe” and it’s where she is “most capable of ruling,” she told The New York Times.
Sophie approached Sansa’s development with pride and said, ”Her power was in her silence. It was only when she got her power back at Winterfell that she became a leader and got her revenge. She’s smart and manipulative and learned from the best.”
Brienne of Tarth – Gwendoline Christie
Many viewers were disappointed when Bran ‘The Broken’ was crowned King of The Seven Kingdoms. However, Gwendoline, who plays Brienne of Tarth, feels otherwise. The actor told The Wrap, “I was so delighted when I learned that Bran was going to rule Westeros because I just love that someone who is not at all interested in ambition and power is placed in a position of power … I also love that it was the most unlikely candidate and that’s been one of my favorite themes in the show when the most unlikely people triumph.”
However, the actor was devastated for Brienne when Jamie left her for Cersei. Brienne eventually becomes the commander of Kingsguard. Christie told Entertainment Weekly, “She goes back to work. Because she always loves work — that feels refreshing, a woman can be happy without a companion. Women don’t have to be defined by their partner and that’s good.”
Related: Top 10 ‘Game Of Thrones’ Characters Who Deserve Their Own Spin-Off Shows
Lady Melissandre – Carice Van Houten
While Carice’s character, Lady Melisandre, died in The Long Night, she felt very positive about the show’s end. The entire fandom was furious over the finale but Carice believed otherwise. She loved the fact that the entire Iron Throne was melted away by Drogon.
She told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019, “The whole thing was gone. I really loved it, and also the randomness of talking about who’s going to be king. The silliness of it was very smart. I thought, ‘This is what life is. Some dumbo can become president.”
Tyrion Lannister – Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister won everyone with his words and wisdom. Managing to survive as the only Lannister, he also became Hand of the King to Bran Stark.
In an interview with Vulture in 2018, Dinklage said Tyrion had “a very good conclusion”. He also further claimed the show ended brilliantly, and it was better than his imagination. The actor told Entertainment Tonight in May 2019, “It ends beautifully for my character, whether it be tragic or not.”
Khal Drogo – Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa, who played the fierce warrior Khal Drogo of the Dothraki, in early seasons of ‘Game Of Thrones‘ was quite upset with the treatment of his love interest from the show, Daenerys, at the end. While he didn’t mention the uproar over the finale, he took to Instagram to share how unhappy he was with the fate of some characters.
Momoa showed his anger over Jon Snow killing the Queen of Dragons and said, “I feel lost, I’m lost. What the f***! Drogon should’ve f***ing melted Jon Snow’s a**!”
Robb Stark – Richard Madden
Richard Madden played the role of Robb Stark in the early seasons of the series. He was a beloved character. His death in The Red Wedding just assured the fandom of the bizarre possibilities in the show. Viewers were curious how the ‘Eternals’ actor felt about the finale. However, Madden revealed that he had not watched the finale.
“I’ve been busy running about, doing things, so I’ve not had the chance to. But it’s been spoiled quite a few times for me already,” Madden told Good Morning America. It is still unclear if the actor has watched the series finale.
Bran Stark – Isaac Hempstead Wright
Isaac Hempstead Wright, who played Bran Stark, was “thrilled” with his character ascending the throne, after having lost so much over the seasons, including his family and being immobile. “I find it an extraordinary character arc to see him go from a vulnerable character totally dependent on others to the one person who holds all the keys to understanding the world. Bran becoming king is a victory for the still and considered people of this world, who too often get sidelined by the commotion of those who are louder and more reactionary,” Wright shared.
He continued, “To end ‘Game of Thrones’ with uncertainty is perhaps the most honest way to end a story so vast and complex.”
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