HBO boss Casey Bloys defends the final season of Game of Thrones

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Not every TV series can stick the landing, and the latest example of that is the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. This isn't true for everyone, but a great deal of fans took particular issue with what they perceived to be rushed pacing and unsatisfying character arcs, which is a shame considering how beloved the rest of the series is.

The fan backlash against the final season of Game of Thrones was so extreme that there was even an online petition making the rounds calling for the final season to be remade with new writers. That petition garnered close to 1.7 million signatures, but during the Television Critics Association's press-tour, HBO's President of Programming Casey Bloys said that it was never something they seriously considered. I'd imagine not.

There are very few downsides to having a hugely popular show. One I can think of, when you try to end it, many people have opinions on how to end it. I think that comes with the territory. The petition shows a lot of enthusiasm and passion for the show, but it wasn’t something we seriously considered. I can’t imagine another network would.

"That just comes with the territory," Bloys said, adding that "Thirty-two Emmy nominations is nice validation." Those 32 Emmy nominations set a new record for the most nominations received in the same year by any show, and included nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, three nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, as well as ten acting nominations for Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Alfie Allen, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gwendoline Christie, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, and Carice van Houten.

Casey Bloys also touched upon the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, which he revealed has recently wrapped shooting. "[It] looks really good, cast is amazing," Bloys teased, adding that the project is now in the editing stages. The prequel takes place thousands of years prior to the main series and chronicle "the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend–it’s not the story we think we know."