At first, Gemma Whelan (Yara) dismissed Game of Thrones as “this medieval, dragons thing”

Game of Thrones veteran Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy) has been out and about in the press lately, talking up her new role in the third season of BBC America’s Killing Eve. But it’s also given her a chance to reflect back on her time in Westeros, muse about how the show has changed things for actors, and remember what she thought of it upon first watch.

When Metro asked Whelan about the last show she binge-watched — like, truly sat down and watched straight through — she didn’t hesitate. “Game of Thrones season one for my audition,” she said. “I mean that’s years and years ago, but last time I sat and watched a whole series in one go, if I’m answering the question properly…I watched all of season one in one go. In order, I thought I’d just watch a little bit for my audition but I just was completely hooked immediately.”

It’s hard to blame her there. I think a lot of people were immediately drawn in by the show’s richly imagined world, even though they might not think they’d enjoy something involving knights and swords and dragons and such. It sounds like Whelan was very much a part of that group.

"I thought “Oh God, what’s this medieval, dragons thing? Oh dear, I don’t know about this.” Then, just as I’ve said to you, I just watched the whole series in one night, the first series… because it’s so much more than what people think it might be.”"

Game of Thrones would eventually go on to become a pop culture phenomenon and finally a lightning round for controversy in its final season. But it started as a fantasy show that was so rooted in real human drama that even people who were normally repelled by fantasy were drawn in, and by the time the dragons and fire witches and resurrections along, they were hopelessly hooked.

It’s a great success story, and it may have a lesson to teach all the new fantasy shows that are looking to follow in Game of Thrones’ footsteps. I’m looking forward to The Wheel of Time and The Lord of the Rings and Shadow and Bone and the rest as much as anyone, but I hope they remember that a great drama starts and ends with great characters and a great story well told, whether or not there’s magic or dragons or what-have-you.

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