After five years of its release, Game of Thrones creators broke their silence on backlash they received after season 8.

It’s been almost five years since the Game of Thrones finale was released. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the show’s creators, finally decided to address the fiery criticism revolving around the final season. GoT, once a towering monument of pop culture, a tapestry woven with devoted fans, masterful storytelling, and awe-inspiring spectacle, had to face tremendous citicism in its last season.

Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke in Game Of Thrones
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Benioff and Weiss talked about the volcanic eruption of reactions to Game of Thrones, especially the finale, which disappointed many fans. They candidly explored the vehement reactions triggered by the concluding season.

Game of Thrones Creators Discussed the Fervent Reactions to It

The creators shed light on the intricacies of storytelling versus fan expectations, unpacking the controversies and dissecting the choices that led to the show’s polarizing finale.
A scene from Game of Thrones

In the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss broke their silence. Benioff said that creators for sure love to see everyone loving the show, but that did not happen. He said:

“You always hope everyone’s going to love anything you do and it would’ve been great if 100 percent of people loved it, but they didn’t. You can get so bogged down in public opinion that you spend your whole life googling things and trying to find people who felt one way or the other way.”

Weiss spoke about the fans showing online aggression,

“something […] happens in the transition from human interaction to online that pushes things in a specifically aggro direction.”

Also Read: George R.R. Martin Secured a 5-Year HBO Deal and an 8-Figure Salary Due To Game of Thrones Season 8 Backlash

The last episode of Game of Thrones Season 8 left a bitter taste in the mouths of viewers, and eventually, a petition was written, boldly titled: “Remake Game of Thrones Season 8 with competent writers.” This petition still wildly spreading with 1.86 million signs, which implies how much fans were disliked it.

The Creators Was Offered Again by HBO, But They Turned It Down

Even after going through so much backlash from viewers and critics as well for their concluding episode of season 8, David Benioff and Dan Weiss were still approached by HBO. They were asked to do the prequel. But they were done already. HBO lawyers were surprised when they both passed the offer.

“HBO was kind of confused,” Benioff said. “I remember their lawyer saying, ‘But it’s just money, we’re just going to pay you.’ ”

Jon Snow in Game of Thrones season 8

Weiss added,

“I don’t think there is such a thing as free money. For us, if our name is on it, especially that, while being completely detached and uninvolved, it felt like the strain that would come with that hands-off approach — with its success or failure or anything in between — was not worth it.”

However, House of the Dragon proved to be a great success. HBO CEO confirmed its second season, which is set to release in summer 2024.

Watch all Game of Thrones episodes on HBO.