Peter Dinklage: Game of Thrones ending should’ve been “no surprise”

It’s been almost three years since HBO aired the divisive ending of Game of Thrones, and yet fans continue to debate it. Much has been made especially over Daenerys Targaryen’s decision to torch King’s Landing, slaughtering innocent civilians in the process. Did it feel out of character? Well, if you ask star Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), the series left plenty of hints leading up to the big twist.

“I know a lot of people were supposedly surprised by the ending, but if you paid attention, the clues were there,” Dinklage told The Independent. “We told you not to name your dog Khaleesi.” (Not only have fans been naming their dogs Khaleesi, but in 2018, 560 babies were named after the character.)

As Dinklage acknowledges, the signs of Daenerys’ dark turn were present throughout the series. For instance, there was her vision of the ruined Red Keep in season two. Then she burned the Khals in season 6. And who can forget when she burned Randyll and Dickon Tarly to death for refusing to bend the knee?

It remains to be seen whether the Song of Ice and Fire books will follow the same ending as the TV show. However, Martin has previously stated that the conclusion of his books will go in a “somewhat different [direction].”

Dinklage also weighed in on the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon. “If you try to recreate it, that feels like a money grab,” he said. “With a lot of sequels, the reason for them is that the first one made a lot of money, which is why they aren’t as strong.” That said, George R.R. Martin has already seen the premiere, and he’s very impressed.

Does Peter Dinklage miss filming Game of Thrones?

Spending years in another country filming a TV show is a huge undertaking. Being the only American in the main cast, Dinklage was further away from his home than almost everyone else.  Due to this, Northern Ireland in many ways became his home, and he still feels homesick when reminiscing about his time there, as he revealed to The Irish Times:

"For me, being the only American in the cast, it wasn’t just a show that I miss, it’s the life over there in Ireland. I’d live over there six months of the year, I had a daughter who went to school there, she came home to us talking with this Irish accent! I loved the community of Belfast, and of Northern Ireland… and I just miss that, I miss being a part of their lives."

I’m sure he’ll be visiting Northern Ireland again in the future.

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