Kristian Nairn responds to fan’s criticism over Game of Thrones finale
- He defended the show’s creative decisions, including the death of Cersei Lannister.
- Nairn wished the season had been longer, stating that the shorter runtime and fewer episodes.
- Nairn is still proud of what Game of Thrones accomplished and wishes people were happier with it.
The last season of “Game of Thrones” sparked controversy by concluding in a way that divided many viewers. Reflecting on the polarizing finale five years later, Kristian Nairn, who portrayed the iconic character Hodor, shared his thoughts.
In a recent interview, Nairn expressed his disappointment with the fan backlash, stating that he was largely satisfied with how the final season unfolded.
In a new interview with Screen Rant, Nairn addressed the criticism, explaining why he felt much of the fan outrage was undeserved. Reflecting on the harsh criticism directed at the final season, Nairn expressed his sadness over the reaction. While he acknowledged certain concerns, he did not believe the backlash was justified.
“It disappointed me really,” Nairn added. “The show had been held in such high regard, and I don’t think it deserved the negativity. I don’t think there was a way they could have ended it to keep everyone happy.”
Nairn acknowledged that fans had their own expectations for the series’ conclusion, especially regarding the character of Daenerys Targaryen, portrayed by Emilia Clarke. However, he noted that no series can meet every viewer’s ideal finale.
“There’s never been a show in the history of television, I believe – maybe Breaking Bad – where people were so invested in their characters,” he said.
One major area of controversy among fans revolved around Daenerys’ character arc, which took a darker turn in the last season. While many believed the change occurred too quickly, Nairn disagreed. He argued that the warning signs had been present for a long time.
Nairn expressed confusion over how people failed to notice these signs throughout the show. He claimed he had been anticipating the transformation the entire time. The clues were evident. He even recalled a specific moment when Daenerys revealed her plans for King’s Landing, which reinforced his belief that her character’s transformation should not have come as a surprise.
He also mentioned that Daenerys once said she would burn King’s Landing to the ground as soon as Drogon reached a certain size. She followed through on that promise.
Although Nairn felt satisfied with most aspects of the last season, he did have one major complaint: he wished it had been longer. He believed that the shorter season, with fewer episodes but longer runtimes, did not meet his expectations.
Nairn went on to defend some of the last season’s creative decisions, including Cersei Lannister’s death, which was widely discussed. Many fans were unhappy that Cersei didn’t die more terribly, but Nairn believed her death, buried beneath the rubble, was appropriate for the character.
While Nairn understands that fans had their views about how the show should end, he is still proud of what Game of Thrones accomplished. “I just wish people were happier with it, because I enjoyed it,” he concluded.
