Game of Thrones’ creators regret destroying one character and it’s not Emilia Clarke’s at all.

Game of Thrones undeniably stands as one of the most influential shows in television history, leaving a lasting impact across various mediums. More than four years after its conclusion, the series remains a significant topic of discussion, though not always for the best reasons. However, it appears the creators of the show regret ruining one character, but it’s not Emilia Clark’s Daenerys Targaryen.

Game of Thrones‘ success lay in the fact that it created a compelling narrative, coupled with excellent world-building, that gave fans something to look forward to for over eight years. Unfortunately, the series ended in the worst way possible, as season 8’s final episode is regarded as one of the worst endings to a show ever – effectively killing the series’ hype.

Game of Thrones Creators Regret Ruining One Character And It’s Not Emilia Clark’s Daenerys Targaryen

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss admitted to a small regret: not bringing back the character Mord the Jailer. They mentioned a missed opportunity to feature Mord as a small business owner in a tavern scene, realizing too late that the actor could have reprised his role in a different capacity.

“One thing I know I wish we could have done is there’s the character Mord the Jailer. It was a mistake not bringing Mord the Jailer back into it,” Weiss says. We always talked about doing it. And we had the scene for it,” Benioff says. “There’s a scene set in a tavern…”

Despite the massive success of Game of Thrones, this small creative choice became a “no-brainer, day-after idea” for the duo.

Was it Brienne or The Hound?” Weiss says. “But we realized too late that Mord could have owned the tavern. We could have had that actor in the background acting exactly the way he did as a jailer, except now as a small business owner. It was just such an obvious, no-brainer, day-after idea.”

Fans will forever be angry about the fact that David Benioff and D.B. Weiss essentially character assassinated so many fan-favorite characters in the show, something that the writers only have themselves to blame for, especially for Emilia Clarke’s character.

Game of Thrones Season 8 Backlash Changed HBO’s Relationship With George R.R. Martin

According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Ryan Condal formed a friendship with George R.R. Martin while shooting an NBC pilot in Santa Fe in 2013. Five years later, Martin approached Condal with a proposal related to “The Dance of the Dragons,” a Targaryen epic he was eager to bring to life. HBO quickly responded to their meeting, extending an offer based on Martin’s recommendation.

This development marked a significant moment in George R.R. Martin’s relationship with HBO. After the conclusion of Game of Thrones and HBO’s search for a successor series, Martin initially felt somewhat disconnected. However, following the backlash to Thrones’ season eight and HBO’s rejection of Bloodmoon, Martin’s influence within the network grew. Ultimately, HBO recognized the value of listening to the creator of the fantasy series.