Time really flies as it's been two years since Game Of Thrones went off the air and exactly 10 years since we discovered Westeros and the fantasy universe for the first time.
Viewers around the world were obsessed with the show, which became HBO's biggest hit, and the series was dubbed the greatest TV show of the 21st century.
To mark its success, HBO is celebrating in style with "Iron Anniversary", a celebration that includes a range of features and events in a new Game Of Thrones light that encourages fans to revisit the show. In addition, it is highlighting fan-favourite episodes, providing special interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. In addition, Conan O'Brien also hosted a Game Of Thrones all-cast reunion special taped in Northern Ireland in 2018 which is now streaming on HBO Go. The celebration hopes to get viewers interested in the next iteration of the franchise, House Of The Dragon, which will debut next year.
For those of you who have watched Game Of Thrones, there's no need to explain how big of a commotion this eight-season series was. Practically everyone who entered this fictional world was lost for eight years waiting for new episodes. We remember all the characters in the show like king in the North Jon Snow, the mother of dragons Daenerys Targaryen, the wit and intellect of dwarf Lord Tyrion Lannister, and the Night King slayer Arya Stark. There are also a few underdogs that became fan favourites over the years.
Irish actor and musician Kristian Nairn officially left the Game Of Thrones universe in 2016, but fans have hardly forgotten this nice guy. His character, Hodor, was Bran Stark's loyal servant for six seasons before tragically dying while "holding the door" shut to fend off an army of White Walkers and thus allowing his master to escape. Life had a chance to chat with the actor recently via Zoom for a roundtable interview in which Nairn reflected on his unique role, his experience working on the show for many years, as well as provide us with his personal thoughts on the controversy regarding criticism and dissatisfaction among many fans over the eighth and final season.
Kristian Nairn.
So it's been 10 years since the series premiere of Game Of Thrones. How do you feel about it, and any special plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary?
Well, I've been watching the whole show just like everybody else. I'm currently on Season 7. There were lots of episodes that I haven't seen but I've been really enjoying it so that's how I'm celebrating the 10th anniversary. I can't believe it's been 10 years. When someone told me it has been 10 years, I couldn't believe it since I thought it was five [laughs]. When I think about all the things that have happened in those 10 years, it blows my mind. So I'm just grateful that people still love the show and still talk to me about it every day.
Game Of Thrones was your first acting role and it became one of the most successful shows ever. From your perspective, do you think about how often actors get the opportunity to be in a show like this?
I don't know if there's ever been another show like Game Of Thrones. I think it's probably one of the kind. I was very lucky to start with Game Of Thrones because I learned so much from the other actors, especially since we have some of the best British actors in the business on the show. It was such a learning experience and I am really grateful for it. It has opened up a lot of new doors as well and given me opportunities to work on other things. It doesn't matter how small your part is in this show because the whole world knows who you are. So it's changed everybody's lives.
Are you tired of hearing people shouting 'Hodor' at you on the street or wherever you go?
Well, sometimes, but it doesn't happen as much as you think. It happens sometimes when people are drunk [laughs]. It definitely happens but not so much this year. I don't think I've heard it once because I've been stuck at home due to the pandemic. However, I love the pros of Game Of Thrones and I love my character Hodor so I'm not saying that I'm tired of it just yet. Maybe ask me again in another five years and I might have a different answer.
Speaking of the pandemic, how have you been coping with this situation as an actor and DJ?
Well, as a DJ, I haven't been working in over a year, which for someone who does five nights a week and travels all over the world is hard. I travelled extensively in 2019 but I was in my bedroom for most of 2020. Last year was very difficult and very hard but I still feel lucky because other DJs and people in entertainment had a really bad year and I feel bad for them. As an actor, I have been able to do some work. I was able to make a horror movie before Christmas by filming in bubbles, like groups of six people. It's really weird having to wear all that sort of protection and even during the shooting, we had to stop three times for two weeks and then had to come back. But I'm just glad I was able to work. It's been a difficult year
Hodor is one of the most loved characters on the show. Why do you think his character resonated with so many fans?
Maybe because of my wonderful performance? No, I'm just kidding. I just think he is in a world where everybody is really mean and wants to kill everybody. Most characters died for themselves or for an agenda but Hodor was a nice guy and honest. I don't think he deserved all the bad things that happened to him. I think people empathise with that. Maybe they were able to put themselves in Hodor's shoes and sort of felt how he feels.
What was your first reaction when you learned that your character was going to die?
Obviously, it was very sad. But I think everybody expected to die in Game Of Thrones. I don't think anyone expected to make it to the last episode. Every season, we would get our scripts and we'd be reading through them thinking, 'Do I die? Do I die?'. So, I wasn't shocked. I knew that in some sense Hodor was a beautiful character. It would really hurt if he died, so I knew it was gonna happen. I knew he was gonna get the axe but I was just happy it was in such a meaningful way. So I have a feeling of happy and sad.
Isaac Hempstead Wright, left, as Bran Stark and Kristian Nairn as Hodor.
Did you take anything from the set as a souvenir?
No, that's my dignity. There was actually a funny story I can tell you from a newspaper I won't say where but someone said that I had taken the door -- the whole door, which is a lie. You cannot walk off the set of Game Of Thrones with a whole door without people noticing. However, what happened on my last day was I was shooting the scene where I was up against the door and about to get killed by White Walkers. However, a piece of the door came off of my hand and it was tiny like a piece of wood. I put it in the trash and I don't have that, but somewhere in the world, they thought I took the whole door with me. I wish that I had taken the throne. But my car is not big enough.
The final season of the show was surrounded by a lot of controversy as many fans disliked the rushed ending and how the story wrapped up. From your own perspective, do you think something went wrong with Season 8 and why do you think a lot of diehard fans say that they're happy with the outcome?
I think Game Of Thrones was a massive show. Everybody loved the characters and everybody had dreams and plans about what they wanted to happen, like Daenerys and Jon Snow. They thought this is what's going to happen, like Daenerys is going to sit on the throne. It's going to be like Disney and it's gonna be like Maleficent. But that didn't happen. And I don't think there was any way to end Game Of Thrones without people being angry because they had lots of people die in the last season. I personally loved the season and my only comment would be that I would have liked two more episodes for a better conclusion between the characters.
