Emilia Clarke: Game of Thrones season 8 backlash was “profoundly flattering”

I’ll be glad when, one day not too far from now, we’ll be able to mention Game of Thrones and not have to use buzzwords like “controversy” or “backlash.” But as the show just completed its victory lap at the 71st Annual Emmy Awards, we must travel down that well-worn track at least one more time.

Treading that path last night was Emilia Clarke, the Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen herself. She spoke to Variety while walking the red carpet, and weighed in on the public backlash to the final season:

"It was profoundly flattering, is what it was. Because when someone cares that much, that they’re ready to make such a noise about how they believed the characters should have been finished, and how the story should have gone, that’s just enormously flattering. That just shows how much everybody loved it."

Emilia Clarke might be the cast member from Game of Thrones that I’ll miss most. You can tell she genuinely feels flattered by the criticisms levied at season 8, which is an amazingly optimistic way to look at everything, especially when the fanbase is so split down the middle on how the story was drawn to a conclusion.

Some other tidbits:

• Although Clarke prepared a speech in case she won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series, she was pulling for Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh to win. Oh’s Killing Eve co-star Jodie Comer won instead, so…close?
• Naturally, Clarke admits that being at this particular Emmy ceremony is “bittersweet.” That’s another word I can’t wait to never mention again in conjunction with Game of Thrones.
• Clarke thinks the show lasted about the right number of seasons, in part because the cast and crew couldn’t get through another one alive.
• She didn’t take anything home from set, but would like her Daenerys Targaryen wig. “Richard Plepler, I know you’re watching,” she said. Sure, Plepler resigned his CEO position at HBO in February but maybe he has some sway.

Emilia Clarke is such a delight and I wish everyone had her optimism. It’s quite contagious.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels