Highlights
- Game of Thrones director Matt Shakman empathizes with the showrunners and respects their storytelling choices, despite the divisive ending of the final season.
- The original series has largely faded from the mainstream due to its controversial ending and the author’s failure to complete the next book in the series.
- Despite the backlash, HBO remains invested in the Game of Thrones franchise, with multiple projects in development, ensuring its spot in the mainstream for years to come.
Game of Thrones director 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-infamous Game of Thrones showrunners.
Game of Thrones season 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 author George RR Martin’s failure to complete The Winds of Winter.
Game of Thrones showrunners 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 with Inverse, 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 the Game of Thrones showrunners, 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 following Game of Thrones includes Three-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 of Star Wars films. However, this fell through following Game of Thrones season 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 their Star Wars contract.
It seems that Shakman feels uneasy about criticizing two individuals who had such a massive weight on their shoulders. During its peak, Game of Thrones experienced unprecedented popularity levels and captivated the bulk of the TV-consuming Western audience. Shakman, who is set to direct the Fantastic Four reboot, 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 the Game of Thrones television 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 Dragon performed exceptionally well on HBO, and the franchise will likely remain in the mainstream for many years.
Game of Thrones is 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.
- First TV Show
- Game Of Thrones
- First Episode Air Date
- April 17, 2011
- Where to watch
- HBO Max
Source: Inverse
