In the end, Ramsay Bolton received the fate he truly deserved, but the actor who brought this monstrous character to life on screen, Iwan Rheon, might have preferred facing dragons over the hounds that met him on screen.
The story of how Rheon learned about his character’s grim end is almost as amusing. As during a conference call, the Game of Thrones creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, humorously announced, “Ramsay makes it to the Iron Throne!”
How Did Iwan Rheon’s Ramsay Bolton Die in Game of Thrones? Did the Audience Find It Fitting?
Ramsay Bolton’s demise was a gruesome death that’s for sure. After being defeated in the Battle of the Bastards by Jon Snow, Ramsay was taken captive by Sansa Stark, his wife played by Sophie Turner. In a chilling act of revenge, Sansa condemned Ramsay to a fate as horrific as those he had inflicted upon others throughout the series.
Locked in a cell, weak and defenseless, Ramsay was thrown into his own pack of starved hounds. In a matter of moments, Ramsay was torn apart, his life ending.
While this ending offered a sense of catharsis for many viewers, it also sparked discussion online. Some felt that such a rapid and brutal end was somewhat underwhelming for a villain as complex and menacing as Ramsay. Given the series’ trademark tendencies of going overboard for dramatic and elaborate deaths, there was an expectation for a longer and more climactic showdown.
However, his death, with its stark simplicity, served a certain poetic justice to the narrative, no frills, just cold, hard justice. Many fans of the show believe it turned out to be one of the series’ most unforgettable moments!
How Did Iwan Rheon Find Out About Ramsay Bolton’s Death?
During a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Iwan Rheon while promoting his latest project, Those About to Die, shared the amusing tale of how he learned about his character’s fate. When David Benioff and D.B. Weiss called him, Rheon had a hunch that something big was on the horizon. Little did he know, they had a delightfully entertaining way of delivering the news that made the whole revelation even more memorable. He said,
I got a phone call—it was like, “Hi, it’s David and Dan.” Then they said, “Congratulations, Ramsay makes it to the Iron Throne,” and I just thought, “I’m dead, aren’t I?” and they were like, “Yeah, Ramsay’s gonna die, but don’t worry, it’s gonna be a great ending to the character,” which it was. I couldn’t have asked for any better, and I think you know I wanted a good death in it. Dragons would have been preferable, but I thought it was cool to get to that amazing episode with Miguel and to get to face Jon Snow. —It was a lovely way to exit the show.
Just imagining Ramsay Bolton on the Iron Throne is enough to send chills down one’s spine. But in reality, he never stood a chance. As the illegitimate son of Roose Bolton, the Lord of the Dreadfort, Ramsay’s claim to the throne was as shaky at best. The Iron Throne is reserved for those with Targaryen or Baratheon blood, or for those who can seize it through conquest, which Ramsay, with his knack for cruelty but lack of military capabilities, never managed to do.
While Iwan Rheon found satisfaction in Ramsay Bolton’s dramatic end, it was the millions of viewers who truly relished the poetic justice served. Especially, Sansa Stark’s role in orchestrating the whole thing was particularly gratifying for fans after all she went through because of him!
Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max
