George R.R. Martin Opens Up About Game Of Thrones Show Backlash

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George R.R. Martin, the author behind the novels that went on to become the hit fantasy show Game of Thrones, shares his thoughts on the fan backlash the series received toward the end of its run. Charting the political intrigue and supernatural horrors that plague the realms of Westeros and Essos, HBO's enormously successful adaptation of Martin's books became one of the most-watched TV series of all time. As well as receiving critical acclaim for its writing, acting, production design, and visual effects, the show won a record 59 Emmy Awards across its run, the most for any scripted show. The unparalleled success of the fantasy series led to a number of spinoffs being developed at HBO, with prequel series House of the Dragon set to premiere on the company's streaming service later this year.

However, despite its global renown, Game of Thrones season 8 received significant criticism from reviewers and audiences alike when it aired in 2019. With many citing poor writing, bad lighting, and unsatisfying conclusions to most of the major character arcs, the series finale has become notorious for being one of the most disappointing endings in television history. Indeed, such was the level of discontent among audiences that some fans created a petition to remake Game of Thrones season 8, which has now gained almost 2 million signatures. And although the show has now been off the air for over three years, it's clear the underwhelming finale still remains a sore point for many devotees.

Related: Game Of Thrones Season 8 Never Killed The Show

But now, the author himself weighs in on the Game of Thrones finale fan backlash. Discussing online reactions to season 8 with The Independent, Martin confesses his bafflement at "how people