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Kit Harington Reflects on ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale: ‘We Were All So F—ing Tired’
Aug
Five years after the much-debated finale of Game of Thrones, Kit Harington is finally opening up about the show’s controversial ending. The actor, who became a household name for his portrayal of Jon Snow, recently spoke with GQ, shedding light on the challenges faced by the cast and crew during the final seasons of the HBO phenomenon.
Harington, who has since moved on to join the cast of Industry for its third season, reflected on the intense scrutiny that the show’s conclusion received. “I went in and everyone loved Thrones; I came out and everyone hated it,” Harington candidly remarked, acknowledging the stark shift in public sentiment as the series drew to a close.
Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, had the advantage of clear source material for its first five seasons. However, with Martin’s book series still unfinished, the show’s final three seasons were forced to rely on the author’s notes for an ending, a challenge that many believe contributed to the rushed feel of the conclusion. Critics and fans alike have long pointed to this as a significant factor in the dissatisfaction with how the series wrapped up.
Conleth Hill, who played the cunning spymaster Varys, famously voiced his frustration with the way his character was abruptly killed off in the penultimate episode, stating that the handling of his character left him feeling as though he had somehow failed. This sentiment echoed the broader criticism that the show, in its haste to reach a conclusion, may not have fully developed the narrative threads needed to satisfy its vast audience.
Harington, for his part, agrees with the assessment that the ending felt rushed, but he also offers a critical perspective on why this happened. “I think if there was any fault with the end of Thrones, it’s that we were all so f—ing tired, we couldn’t have gone on longer,” he confessed. The grueling production, which spanned multiple countries including Northern Ireland, Croatia, and Spain, took an enormous toll on the cast and crew. “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,” Harington admitted.
Despite the mixed reception to the ending, Harington’s reflection on the series is not entirely negative. He seems to understand the unique pressures that come with creating a show of such epic scale and the toll it takes on those involved. The massive success and worldwide fame that came with Game of Thrones also added layers of complexity to the production, making it difficult to sustain the same level of energy and creativity that had defined the earlier seasons.
Even though Jon Snow’s story has ended for now—Harington previously revealed that a proposed sequel series focused on his character has been shelved—the world of Westeros continues to expand. House of the Dragon, the first spinoff series, has just wrapped up its second season and promises more to come, while A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, another highly anticipated spinoff, is set to debut in 2025.
As Harington moves forward in his career, leaving Jon Snow and the world of Game of Thrones behind, his reflections offer a poignant reminder of the human cost behind the magic of television’s most ambitious projects. While fans may debate the merits of the finale for years to come, Harington’s exhaustion and honesty provide a deeper understanding of the realities faced by those who bring such epic stories to life.
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