Emilia Clarke understands why people were pissed about the Game of Thrones finale. Perhaps one of the most controversial television endings of all time, the Game of Thrones finale, and its final season as a whole, left many scratching their heads in confusion or throwing their remote at the television in anger. What had been set up as a meticulously laid out drama about palace politics and rival Houses eventually became the opposite of what everyone loved it for - a messy, fast-paced fantasy epic. While time has softened the blow, with some reevaluating the Game of Thrones finale as not that bad, the wound is still fresh for many.
With only six episodes to wrap up around 67 hours of storytelling, the odds were stacked against Game of Thrones final season. Creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss also didn't have any source material to go off of, having caught up with author George R.R. Martin's novels around season 5. Still, watching Daenerys turn into a murderous tyrant and having Bran become King of the Seven Kingdoms did not sit right with many fans and Clarke sympathizes.
In an interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Clarke told host Josh Horowitz that she understands why people were upset with the finale. The actress went on to say that, despite this, she couldn't just give up on the character of Daenerys. After putting so much work into the character, Clarke says she still had to "turn up" for the character that her and so many fans came to love over the show's eight seasons.
I get why people were pissed. I totally get it. But, me being the actor, you can’t do justice to the character that you poured your blood, sweat, and tears into for a decade without getting on the same page. So like, I’m not just going to be there being like, ‘Fine, I’ll do the scene, whatever. I’m so pissed.’ You have to turn up.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly where the rage towards Game of Thrones' ending actually comes from. It could be the rushed storytelling wherein Daenerys' transformation into full-blown villain happens over the course of just a few episodes. It could also be her tragic death at the hands of her lover and nephew, Jon Snow. Maybe it's the fact that Bran Stark, of all people, is the one to rule over Westeros at the end. Still, to a certain extent, some of these decisions made sense.
Daenerys has a family history of rulers gone mad and Bran's role as the Three Eyed Raven certainly set him up as someone who is more than capable of ruling Westeros. While those who still care will likely debate these points to the end of time, some are holding out hope that Martin's upcoming novel, The Winds of Winter, and the series' ultimate conclusion, A Dream of Spring, can fix the mistakes Game of Thrones made. Still, at least Clarke gets it.
Source: Happy Sad Confused podcast