Kit Harington discusses the Games of Thrones backlash and attributes it to cast fatigue.

Kit Harington has attributed the backlash towards the Game of Thrones finale to the show’s exhaustion during the production of its final season.

Despite having been the dominant force in the world of television since its debut in 2011, Game of Thrones experienced a decline in quality during its last season.

Despite a decrease in the number of episodes and a rushed narrative, viewers were ultimately dissatisfied with the conclusion of the show, leading to Season 8 facing significant criticism.

Nevertheless, according to Harington (who portrayed Jon Snow), the cast should take the blame for the show’s lackluster finale. In an interview with GQ Magazine, he stated, “I believe the only flaw in the ending of Thrones is that we were all so exhausted, we could not have continued for much longer.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR4PJn8b8I

Game of Thrones | Season 8 | Official Trailer (HBO) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR4PJn8b8I)

He went on to say, “I am aware that some individuals perceived it as being rushed, and I may concur with their viewpoint. However, I am uncertain if there were any other options available. When I look at photos of myself during that last season, I appear tired and worn out. I did not have the energy for another season.”

Despite the underperformance of the finale, Harington acknowledged that he could empathize with fans’ dissatisfaction with the final outcomes.

According to him, everyone has the right to their own opinion. He believes that there were certain flaws in the storytelling towards the end and some intriguing choices that did not quite deliver the desired impact.

It comes as no surprise that the cast was prepared to leave the show. In an ill-fated table read of Episode 6, it was evident that nobody was pleased with the way their character’s storyline concluded.

Despite being one of the most popular shows, Game of Thrones Season 8 received the lowest rating of the entire series, with Episode 6 receiving a disappointing score of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The backlash from the finale was so intense that a petition was created by a group of viewers to have the entire eighth season of Game of Thrones rewritten by competent writers. As of August 12, 2024, the petition has gained 1,862,116 signatures and more are still being added.

Despite the disappointing ending of Game of Thrones, the franchise has experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the massive success of its spinoff show House of the Dragon, bringing fans back to the world they love.