Gemma Whelan (Yara) felt “thwacked round the face” by Daenerys’ heel turn
By Ariba Bhuvad
In the final episodes of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen, pushed to her limit, loses it and torches King’s Landing. Speaking to Radio Times, Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy) said her “jaw dropped” when she read about the turn for the first time. “I was quite, you know, it was a bold choice.”
Was it ever. I still remember sitting there in complete shock as Dany’s expression twisted into anger. Goosebumps, I tell you.
But was the change too sudden? Many fans have voiced that opinion. What does Whelan think? “I don’t know really. I loved it,” Whelan said. “I liked that things moved pacily. The other complaint people have is that this season dragged, so how can you win? Great that it went on at a lick and how exciting that we all kind of got thwacked round the face with it.”
In fact, Whelan loved the way the series ended in general, including Bran being made king:
"What beautiful storytelling, like, that’s the perfect circle. What better way to end it than someone who didn’t want power and who set out to be someone who wasn’t ever gonna make someone of himself."
I know a lot of fans didn’t enjoy the final season of the show, but I have to intercede here and say that upon reflection there are definitely moments that seem stronger to me than they did the first time around. Sure, I’m still not happy with Cersei’s death scene, but there is a level of interconnectedness that I think I overlooked. I think that Dany’s journey towards complete madness is one of those things. Many fans said it was sudden and unexpected, but was it really? though? Even Whelan doesn’t seem to think so.
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I’m sure this will all be re-litigated very shortly at Con of Thrones, and then at San Diego Comic-Con! It’s time to take some stock.
Next. Emilia Clarke on the difficulty of keeping Daenerys’ turn a secret. dark
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h/t Digital Spy