Summary
Game of Thronesdirector Matt Shakman pushed against criticism towards the show’s final season. Shakman—who was not involved in the closing season’s production–empathized with the now-infamousGame of Thronesshowrunners.
Game of Thronesseason 8 was highly controversial among fans and critics, with many citing character inconsistencies and rushed pacing as reasons why the show ultimately fell flat. Since its conclusion in 2019, the franchise has remained in the limelight through its prequel show,House of the Dragon. However, the original series has largely faded from the mainstream, primarily due to its divisive ending and authorGeorge RR Martin’s failure to completeThe Winds of Winter.
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Game of Thronesshowrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who wrote most of the final season, took the brunt of fan backlash following its release. In an interview withInverse, Shakman was asked whether he had an opinion on the contentious season 8. After letting out an enthusiastic, “Noooo,” the seasoned director expressed his respect for theGame of Thronesshowrunners, explaining that it’s not his place to critique them.
I think those guys are brilliant and I think they finished telling the story they intended to tell. I know that it was divisive, but I would never want to say anything about how they could have done something better.
Benioff and Weiss, whose work followingGame of ThronesincludesThree-Body Problem, have since distanced themselves from the franchise. Before the show’s conclusion, the two were signed on with Disney to write and produce a series ofStar Warsfilms. However, this fell through followingGame of Thronesseason 8. It’s unclear whether the massive outcry from fans was the reason for this. However, Benioff and Weiss chose to sign a $200 million exclusivity deal with Netflix after negotiating an exit from theirStar Warscontract.
It seems that Shakman feels uneasy about criticizing two individuals who had such a massive weight on their shoulders. During its peak,Game of Thronesexperienced unprecedented popularity levels and captivated the bulk of the TV-consuming Western audience. Shakman, who is set to directtheFantastic Fourreboot, likely understands the many pressures and pitfalls of navigating such a situation, albeit on a smaller scale.
Regardless of who should be blamed for the show’s conclusion, many fans still have a sour taste in their mouth regarding theGame of Thronestelevision series. In response, HBO has invested massive resources towards maintaining the medieval fantasy franchise, with a whopping six projects currently in development. Despite the original series' controversial ending,House of the Dragonperformed exceptionally wellon HBO, and the franchise will likely remain in the mainstream for many years.
Game of Thronesis available on Max.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
