Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington has said mistakes were made in the show’s controversial ending but is “not sure there was any alternative.”
Speaking to GQ, the Jon Snow actor finally commented on the somewhat infamous Game of Thrones finale which has been criticized by fans for having unusual character decisions and rushed story beats. Harrington suggested that, while the ending wasn’t perfect, the team didn’t have the energy to make it any better.
“I think if there was any fault with the end of Thrones, is that we were all so f**king tired, we couldn’t have gone on longer,” he said. Harrington, alongside co-stars Emilia Clarke, Maisie Williams, and more, spent the better part of a decade in their roles, from 2011 to 2019.
“I understand some people thought it was rushed and I might agree with them,” Harrington continued. “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.”
Harrington was still willing to don his black furs for at least another season, however, as he signed on for a Game of Thrones spin-off focused on his character. This was ultimately scrapped, however, as Harrington and the team couldn’t find a story “worth doing.“
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.