Summary

• Kit Harington its to mistakes in Game of Thrones season 8.
• The actor acknowledges being "spent" while filming the final season.
• He also acknowledges the shortness of the last batch of episodes which many thought hindered their potential.

cancelled Jon Snow spinoff and a conclusion to Game of Thrones that is arguably ed more for the negative response it received.

In an interview with GQ, Harington candidly looked back on the backlash to Game of Thrones season 8. The actor recalled that, towards the end of the HBO show, people involved with the production were “f--cking tired.” In the quote below, Harington goes on to say that he understands the view that the ending was rushed and agrees that mistakes were made with the story:

“I think if there was any fault with the end of Thrones, is that we were all so f--cking tired, we couldn't have gone on longer. And so I understand some people thought it was rushed and I might agree with them. But I’m not sure there was any alternative. 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.”

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think there were mistakes made, story-wise, towards the end maybe. I think there were some interesting choices that didn’t quite work.”

Why The Game of Thrones Backlash Continues To Be A Benchmark For TV

It Was Still A Global Hit

On one hand, the backlash to the Game of Thrones finale and the last season overall wasn't unique. The consensus at the time was that the characters' motivations were rushed and didn't ring true, with a common argument being that Daenerys Targaryen suffered as a result of this rushed storytelling. Other complaints were even more familiar, citing unsatisfactory answers to major questions and deaths of major players that left little impact.

What makes Game of Thrones unique, and perhaps a prime example of backlash and meeting audience expectations, is that the fantasy adaptation is one of the biggest shows of all time. It was one of the relatively few series that had an impact across the globe, building up its viewership and reaching its crescendo by the time the Game of Thrones series finale premiered. This meant that each complaint would be amplified, generating greater discussion and more headlines. But in and of itself, the mistakes of the finale aren't unique.

Harington mentions this in his remarks, stating how the Game of Thrones team was tired by the end. This echoes what happens with elatively smaller shows, a notable example being Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with series creator Joss Whedon and lead star Sarah Michelle Gellar reaching the end before the story officially wrapped up. Although that last season isn't held up as a favorite, it doesn't diminish what Bufy accomplished overall.

Now, several years removed from the controversial Games of Thrones ending, it can be said that the lackluster conclusion doesn't take away from what the HBO show was at its best. It also hasn't had too much of a negative impact on spinoffs like House of the Dragon, which is continuing to build its audience. Certain storytelling decisions should be criticized and could have been done better, but it's just a bad ending with a bigger spotlight.

Source: GQ