George R.R. Martin, the author behind the novels that went on to become the hit fantasy show Game of Thrones, shares his thoughts on the fan backlash the series received toward the end of its run. Charting the political intrigue and supernatural horrors that plague the realms of Westeros and Essos, HBO's enormously successful adaptation of Martin's books became one of the most-watched TV series of all time. As well as receiving critical acclaim for its writing, acting, production design, and visual effects, the show won a record 59 Emmy Awards across its run, the most for any scripted show. The unparalleled success of the fantasy series led to a number of spinoffs being developed at HBO, with prequel series House of the Dragon set to premiere on the company's streaming service later this year.
However, despite its global renown, Game of Thrones season 8 received significant criticism from reviewers and audiences alike when it aired in 2019. With many citing poor writing, bad lighting, and unsatisfying conclusions to most of the major character arcs, the series finale has become notorious for being one of the most disappointing endings in television history. Indeed, such was the level of discontent among audiences that some fans created a petition to remake Game of Thrones season 8, which has now gained almost 2 million signatures. And although the show has now been off the air for over three years, it's clear the underwhelming finale still remains a sore point for many devotees.
But now, the author himself weighs in on the Game of Thrones finale fan backlash. Discussing online reactions to season 8 with The Independent, Martin confesses his bafflement at "how people can come to hate so much something that they once loved." He also claims that some criticism of the show from fans has been "toxic." Check out Martin's full comment below:
I don't understand it, you know. OK, you love a show, you love a character. What's the worst... it's either going to be a good show or a bad show or a mediocre show. Some episodes are good, some are bad. Why are people getting so crazy about it, you know? [...] I don’t understand how people can come to hate so much something that they once loved. If you don’t like a show, don’t watch it! How has everything become so toxic?
This isn't the first time the fantasy writer has responded to what he considers "toxic" criticism from the fanbase. Recently, Martin responded to the intense fan demand for The Winds of Winter, the next novel in the series, which he labelled "vicious." It's certainly clear that, while Martin may understand the criticism that is constantly being levelled at the Game of Thrones finale, he can't fathom the ferocity with which fans express their opinions online. But this statement also makes the author's case that TV shows don't deserve the kind of passionate anger often directed at them, providing an indication of his feelings towards contemporary fan culture outside of Game of Thrones.
Given that impassioned online criticism for the series finale is still ongoing over three years later, it seems unlikely that Martin's response will change the minds of many. But, even though Martin's creative differences over Game of Thrones have been well-documented, it seems the author is still willing to defend the controversial final season, if only in the context of television as a whole not deserving such levels of hatred. However, with House of the Dragon airing on HBO Max on August 21, it won't be long before it's revealed how far the Game of Thrones finale backlash will affect viewership figures for the new series.
Source: The Independent