Kit Harington, the English actor who brought Jon Snow to life in the global phenomenon 'Game of Thrones', has expressed strong anger over a fan-led online petition that demanded a remake of the show's heavily criticised eighth and final season. Harington labelled the campaign as "insulting" to the creators and born of social media idiocy.
Defending the Showrunners and Addressing Fan Fury
In a candid interview with The New York Times, Harington did not hold back his feelings about the petition, which called for the final season to be remade with "competent writers." The petition, which garnered millions of signatures after the season aired in 2019, was a direct critique of showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. "That genuinely angered me," Harrington stated. "Like, how dare you? Sorry, that's just how I feel. I think it was a level of idiocy that can only come about through social media."
The actor acknowledged the widespread fan disappointment with the concluding chapter of the epic saga, which was slammed for its shorter length and controversial plot choices. However, he stood firm in defending the effort put in by the entire team behind the scenes.
The Real Reason Behind the Rushed Feeling: Exhaustion
Looking back in a 2024 interview with GQ magazine, Harington offered a more reflective and personal insight into why the finale might have felt rushed to audiences. He revealed that the entire cast was profoundly tired by the end of the decade-long journey in 2019.
"I think if there was any fault with the end of Thrones, is that we were all so tired, we couldn't have gone on longer," he confessed. "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."
While understanding the backlash, Harington also admitted to some creative missteps. "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," he added.
HBO's Stance: Passion Noted, But Never Seriously Considered
The backlash and the petition did not go unnoticed by the network. Casey Bloys, the head of HBO at the time, confirmed that he and the makers were aware of the fan campaign. However, he made it clear that they never "seriously considered" acquiescing to its demands.
Bloys framed the petition as a testament to the show's massive popularity. "There are very, very few downsides to having a hugely popular show, but one I can think of when you try to end it, many people have big opinions on how it should end," he said. "The petition shows a lot of enthusiasm and passion for the show, but it wasn't something that we seriously considered."
The debate around the finale of Game of Thrones continues to be a pop culture talking point, with Harington's latest comments providing a rare glimpse into the physical and emotional toll it took on its stars, framing the creative decisions within the context of sheer human exhaustion.
