WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the final episode of GAME OF THRONES. Read at your own peril!
Following last night's GAME OF THRONES series finale, HBO has shared a new "thank you" video with fans of the network's action-fantasy epic. As the heartfelt sentiment plays on, we find GOT stars Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth) Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) reflecting on the show's eight-year long journey toward the Iron Throne. For many, the voyage will serve as a launching pad for promising careers, as GAME OF THRONES is sure to go down as one of the most influential shows in television history.
"Thank you to all the people I don't know. Allowing us to keep playing these games and keep telling these stories," says Clarke of her time playing the Mother of Dragons. "The fans have given me an indentity that I didn't have," she then added.
"I never expected people to like Brienne of Tarth. I was totally prepared for people not to," Christie confesses in the video.
It's hard to believe that it's all over, isn't it? It feels like just yesterday when Jamie pushed Bran out that window, crippling the boy who would be king. Whether you enjoyed the final season of the show or not, you can't deny that GAME OF THRONES as been a tremendous unifier throughout the years. Oh sure, you could focus on the social media sniping if you really want to, but the fact of the matter is that a show doesn't become this iconic without the sharing of theories, rumors, and even frustrations. The important thing to remember is that stories bring us together, and have the power to provide even the most introverted of fans with level ground upon which to stand and proclaim their love for something.
Farewell for now, GAME OF THRONES, and thank you to the show's tremendous cast and crew for bringing us one of the most engaging pop culture phenomenons of recent memory. I personally can't wait to find out what's next when details about the GOT spin-offs reach the masses. With any luck, and a lot of hard work, they'll be just as memorable as the original and then some.