Game of Thrones might be the more decorated show compared to House of the Dragon, but it’s also tagged as one of the most universally reviled shows, especially in the later seasons. Although it took a while to confirm what was on everyone’s minds after the last two seasons of Game of Thrones aired on HBO, more and more actors are stepping up to express their disappointment with the final product. The latest to share their piece? None other than Lord Varys himself, who was masterfully played by Conleth Hill.
As one of the most complex characters in the sprawling universe created by George R.R. Martin, Varys had a reputation for his labyrinthine machinations, keeping audiences on edge with his discreet whispers and well-calculated moves. He was a seemingly inconspicuous courtier, loyal to the Lannister reign. Yet, throughout the show, audiences would come to learn of arguably the only individual in Westeros who had the best interests of the realm in mind. Lord Varys’ conversations with an unlikely friend, Tyrion Lannister, portrayed by award-winning actor, Peter Dinklage, were easily one of the highlights of a series full of noteworthy performances.
This trajectory, however, took a sharp turn for the worse in the last two seasons of the show. As the HBO series outpaced George R.R. Martin’s published material, the pace accelerated significantly. In a conversation with The Times, Hill expressed his disappointment over this shift, noting his character’s metamorphosis into something far removed from the intricate plotter introduced earlier in the series.
“I thought I’d done something wrong,” Hill lamented. “Right up until the last two series, I had no complaints at all. I just felt frustrated with the last couple of series because Varys wasn’t the all-knowing character he had been. I think the writers wanted to do one thing to end it and the studio HBO wanted to do another. I felt that last series was a bit rushed. I was inconsolable, but now I’m fine about it.”
Hill’s sense of disappointment was visible during the table read of his death scene. There’s footage of the actor tossing his script before the scene was even over, his co-stars, including Emilia Clarke and Gwendoline Christie, looking on as if also wanting to join him. His reaction mirrors the disenchantment shared by many fans and cast members over the series’ abrupt conclusion, notably the dimly lit death scene of Varys – a startling anticlimax to his intricate strategizing.
Despite being the most significant TV phenomenon of its decade, the final two seasons of Game of Thrones received hefty criticism for perceived hasty plotting and unsatisfactory narrative resolutions. This criticism was widespread, with millions of fans signing a petition urging HBO to remake the last season. The dissatisfaction even led to actors like Maisie Williams, who portrayed Arya Stark, expressing regret over her character’s arc.
Indeed, you’d be hard-pressed to find such a culturally significant series go from being talked about everywhere to being irrelevant nearly immediately after it ended. If not for its spin-offs, people likely still wouldn’t be talking about Game of Thrones.
Regardless of the discord over the finale, the Game of Thrones universe remains a global phenomenon. Amidst pandemic-related delays, HBO has launched the prequel, House of the Dragon, which delves into the Targaryen family’s history and its downfall.
As fans eagerly anticipate its second season, the memory of Varys – the master of whispers, the defender of the realm, the flame extinguished too soon – continues to resonate, a testament to the power of nuanced character development and the disappointment of rushed conclusions.
Who knows? Maybe, just, maybe, when George R.R. Martin finally releases Winds of Winter and the rest of the novels, HBO will realize its mistake and remake the entire series. It might not happen this decade or the next one, but you can’t just say that this is impossible. Otherwise, we’d be like the rest of Westeros choosing not to believe the White Walkers until it’s too late.
