Game of Thrones Showrunners Address Fan Reaction to Series Finale

Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss recently addressed the divisive fan reaction to the series finale, acknowledging that while they expected some controversy, the magnitude of the backlash took them by surprise.

The final season of Game of Thrones was one of the most highly anticipated television events of the decade. After years of complex storytelling and character development, fans had high expectations for how the epic saga would conclude. However, when the series finale aired in 2019, it was met with a mixed response with some fans voicing their criticisms and dissatisfaction with how the show wrapped up its various storylines.

In a recent conversation with Josh Horowitz, Benioff and Weiss acknowledged the negative reaction to the Game of Thrones series finale, admitting that it took them by surprise. While they expected the finale to be divisive, they didn't anticipate the level of backlash it would receive. Benioff stated, «I think we knew it would be controversial, I think we hoped that it would be a little more 50/50. I think you hope for a better proportion of...we definitely didn't want it to be quite so much hate. We were prepared for some of it.» Weiss added that they hadn't accounted for the «network effects» and how social media amplified the negative feedback, creating a domino effect of criticism that quickly spiraled out of control.

While there were a few redeeming moments, such as the humorous exchange between Sansa and her uncle Edmure, and Tyrion's efforts to rebuild Westeros, the overall execution of the finale felt rushed and unsatisfying. The death of Daenerys at the hands of Jon Snow, while anticipated by some, lacked the emotional weight it should have carried after her character's complex arc. Additionally, the fates of characters like Jaime and Cersei Lannister, who were pivotal throughout the series, were resolved in an anticlimactic manner, leaving viewers uncertain of how to feel about their demises. The sense of