Producers React to Game of Thrones Shocker: They Killed Off Who?!?
SPOILER WARNING: Don't you dare read any further if you have not yet watched last night's Game of Thrones episode and/or read our review of "Baelor."
The following interview excerpts with David Benioff and D.B. Weiss focus on a major development from the most recent installment of this HBO drama, as the show took the shocking step of killing off a main character.
Below, the producers respond to a pair of questions: Where they afraid this move would alienate viewers? What does it mean for season two?
With the decision to follow the books and off Sean Bean's Eddard Stark - the individual most hyped on season one, anchoring the show's first official poster - Weiss told Entertainment Weekly the series is "setting up other characters" for the future.
"The idea is this show gets its hooks into people enough so you’re going to want to know what happens to Tyrion and Arya. So even though we lose key characters, we’re still invested in a lot of characters so you’ll want to know what happens next," he said.
Who might replace Bean on the show? Any other significant actors?
"There are a bunch of names up for discussion, so it’s quite possible," Benioff said. "Certainly there hasn’t been any kind of mandate that we need to cast big names, but there are some well known actors who would be great for certain roles."
Read the full interview with these two at EW and respond now: Were you stunned by the death of Stark? Where will the drama go from here?
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February 23rd, 2013 12:10 PM
Two years later and I'm still reeling from the story decision to kill of Sean Bean's character. I will never watch the remaining seasons.
Stories directly connect to our minds which themsselves are built upon story. You screw with a story then you screw with the audiences' head. Bloody awful. You don't just kill a character for the shock value.
February 11th, 2013 11:06 PM
moving or reading (i don't know why that line cut me off, oh well) along, not seeing your favorite characters again. it's hard, but you just have to keep on pushing. It's sort of like a journey that you're going through when reading "a song of ice and fire" at least to me it feels like it.
February 11th, 2013 11:02 PM
I honestly like how that the characters we grow to love are killed off. I may just sound like I didn't care, but i do love the characters that i like. as george rr martin shows that anyone can die in his books. while i do wish i want some of those characters to survive to the very end, but no. as readers, we should not always get what we want. i guess if you're that type of person who gets way too attach to certain characters and they die, then it's not the right series for you then. it's okay to get angry, throw the book (though i'll never), cry, distraught, and so many emotions when your favorite characters dies. if you are doing anything like that, then geroge has done his job well done. invested. yeah there were times i'll get angry and i'll just put the book down, do something else, and once i feel all the emotions gone from me, then i'll get back into reading. that's how i'm going through each book. it's tough, but you have to be a trooper to read these books. moving or reading a
May 7th, 2012 1:50 PM
Game of Thrones is not realistic. Just because some bad guys win doesn't mean it's realistic. For god sakes, a 14 year old girl is leading armies and another what, 12 year old has also survived is is growing into a warrior? REALLY?
Why on earth would people want to look at and accept the evil that happens in the book as "just the way things are" or a "realistic" depiction, while fantasizing about teen girls as the ultimate saviors? WTF?!?!
Honestly, I don't get it. The only lesson I think should be learned in this series of books is one I already knew. Honor is important and very valuable, and a group of honorable men and women are dangerous and productive. But an honorable man/woman needs to be able to be vicious in nature once a dishonorable target is identified. The moment you recognize someone is playing outside the rules you need to destroy them quickly and move on.
May 6th, 2012 9:24 PM
I hope this show gets cancelled. They killed off the only reason I was watching it in the first place! Cheers Sean! Hope to see you in more movies where they will keep you around for good. Love you! :)
April 30th, 2012 7:14 PM
I am kinda sick of fantasy that depicts rich lords with all the money and freedom to go off prancing around as they fancy as the heroes.
They arent the heroes! They are the ones who ruin everyones lives, as is shown in GOT. They are our enemy, so stop idolizing them. Its high time people learned that looking up to fancypants rich boys and girls as heroes is just plain wrong, and GOT teaches us that in spades.
April 30th, 2012 7:10 PM
why are people complaining?
this show isnt Lord of the Rings, its a 'realistic characters' fantasy, where the Kings and Queens are evil bitches as in real life royalty (Queen Elizabeth and Prince CHarles), and money rules. Its awesomely fresh and its high time we got to see Kings and Queens and rich people for the bastards they are in these types of shows.
April 23rd, 2012 5:34 PM
to the man who decided to kill ned stark,the biggest fuk u goes out to you.your mothers poes.u just spoilt the fuken series u dweeb.go fuk urself asshole
April 22nd, 2012 1:02 AM
After the bad guys won the first 10 times, I was like: NOW NED STARK IS GUNNA BREAK OUT!!!
Then they pulled him out of a dungeon and killed him.
uhh what? Why betray my trust. Now I will never care about any of the other characters because I know the show is unjust and depressing.
It's not fun to watch your only horse in the race get killed before it leaves the gate.
April 9th, 2012 11:38 PM
i can not believe the things i am reading in this thread. ned's death is crucial to the whole damn series. you can't change that just because you "love" the actor... that's absolutely ridiculous. no wonder reality television has taken over the magic box.