Stephen King Spells Out His Real Feelings on ‘Game of Thrones’
Stephen King has never been shy about sharing what he likes to read and watch. When a story grabs him, he tends to say so in plain terms, and fans listen. That is why his comments about Game of Thrones have lingered for years, from stray posts to a warm nod toward the books that started it all.
The horror master and the fantasy epic might not seem like a natural pairing at first. But King followed the show closely, and he also spent time with George R. R. Martin on stage, talking craft and swapping war stories about writing. Out of those moments came a few clear takeaways about how he felt.
When the final season split viewers, King did not hedge. He said he enjoyed it, right down to the most divisive turn. “I’ve loved this last season of GoT, including Dani going bugshit all over King’s Landing. There’s been a lot of negativity about the windup, but I think it’s just because people don’t want ANY ending. But you know what they say: All good things…”
Earlier that month he even floated a prediction that showed where his heart was. “Suppose–just suppose, now–that Jon and Dani BOTH died (along with Cersei, of course). Suppose–just suppose–that a certain little man with a big heart ended up sitting on the Iron Throne?” The little man he had in mind was Tyrion Lannister.
Suppose–just suppose, now–that Jon and Dani BOTH died (along with Cersei, of course). Suppose–just suppose–that a certain little man with a big heart ended up sitting on the Iron Throne?
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) May 6, 2019
His appreciation stretched beyond the show. In a conversation with Martin, King recalled nights of nagging pain that pushed him to try the first novel. The books pulled him in so completely that he kept listening to the audiobooks on the road. “They saved my life, man. So, thank you [to George R.R. Martin].” That gratitude says a lot about how deeply the saga worked on him.
King also brushed off the familiar jab that he cannot land an ending, which made his Game of Thrones stance feel even clearer. “Of course for years some people have told me I don’t know how to end a story. I call bullshit on that, but everyone has an opinion. :-)” He knew the uproar would pass. What mattered to him was that the story reached a finish and stuck with people.
Taken together, his take is simple. He liked the destination, respected the ride, and felt real affection for the world Martin built. Whether viewers cheered or fumed, King saw a story that carried him along and did the job a story should do. That sounds exactly like Stephen King.