What fans witnessed in the final season of Game of Thrones was not something to cherish for the makers of the beloved show. Many fans especially felt the lack of action from Ghost, Jon Snow’s loyal direwolf, and more so from the Night King.
In a podcast interview, director Miguel Sapochnik, known for directing key episodes like Hardhome, Battle of the Bastards, talked about the expansive approach of The Long Night. And that revelation came as a surprise, especially considering the scale of the episode’s structural design.
Speaking about the role of the Night King, Sapochnik revealed that the leader of the White Walkers was originally intended to play a more prominent role in The Long Night. But that did not happen and it was disappointing for fans to digest.
The Night King’s Role Within The Long Night Was Intended to be More Substantial
Speaking about the role of the Night King, Miguel Sapochnik revealed that the leader of the White Walkers was originally supposed to have a more pivotal part in The Long Night. While giving more insights into the fast and rushed pace of the final season, the director spoke about the planning stages. The director said to IndieWire.
The director said to IndieWire-
“Even within The Long Night, there was an extended battle sequence where you saw the Night King fight, very long. There was a whole bunch of stuff that was going to happen but when we got there – not shooting but in the process of prep – we started to prioritise what was important.” (Via joe.ie)
He added:
“At the end of an 80 minute battle, do I really care if the Night King has got some fancy moves with his spear? Do I really give a shit about that?”
Director Sapochnik faced a tough call. He had to choose between showcasing the Night King directly engaging with Bran, the Three-Eyed Raven, or including an extensive fight scene. Ultimately, he decided to go with the character interaction over a lengthy battle, an option that didn’t sit well with many fans who wished to see more intense fights.
Fans Reacted to That Cut By The Director
Disgruntled fans, deeply attached to the series, took to social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) to express their dismay.
The disappointment stemmed primarily from the exclusion of the elaborate fight scene involving the Night King, portrayed by British-American actor Richard Brake in seasons 4 and 5 and then by Slovak actor Vladimir Furdik in seasons 6 to 8. This directorial decision sparked a wave of dissatisfaction, highlighting the viewers’ strong emotional connection to the show’s climax.
dude is high on valerian burgers, bro yes we care and yes we wanted a freakkin fight
— Y (@AliveYashraj) March 11, 2024
That's why it was rated the worst season. You didn't care
— MichaelRobinson 🐝 (@michael_mrob13) March 12, 2024
FFS, that would have made the whole season. Thats what we wanted.
— Damian (@Breakthecycle2) September 1, 2020
Why do they keep telling us the dumb decision they made, just throwing salt on the wound smh
— Tre Davis (@TreRighteous) September 1, 2020
The answer is a resounding yes.
As it stands now, his battle moves are as effective as Bran the Broker.
— Will OS (@WTF_OS) September 1, 2020
The final season of Game of Thrones faced broader criticism beyond the missing fight scene. Fans generally felt the season was rushed and lacked logical plot development. This resulted in a sense of dissatisfaction and raised questions about the purpose of earlier storylines, with some arguing it diminished the impact of the previous seasons.
Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max.
