[Spoilers for the most recent episode of Game of Thrones]
Now that the monumental Battle of Winterfell has come and gone, it’s fun to look back at the comments the Game of Thrones cast and crew made about “The Long Night” before it aired. There’s director Miguel Sapochnik calling the episode “survival horror,” and Ian Glen (Jorah Mormont) saying “it was the most unpleasant experience I’ve had on Thrones,” and Maisie Williams (Arya) noting how “nothing can prepare you for how physically draining it is. It’s night after night, and again and again, and it just doesn’t stop.” She added, “There are moments you’re just broken as a human and just want to cry.” Such fun!
And yet, despite all the icy rain and corpses, it looks like everyone had fun shooting the episode. You wouldn’t know it from what they said, but the pictures they took tell a different story. For instance, here’s Maisie Williams and Night King actor Vladimír Furdík, who wrote, “She killed me with a smile.” Aww.
And another, this one with the caption, “My hardest and most beautiful day.”
The Night King got along with everyone, including the Three-Eyed Raven.
Emilia Clarke said farewell to a loyal advisor…
… while Williams punched snowballs with her on-screen sister, Sophie Turner.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw2gTH1AiDA/
Many of the cast members got bloody and/or dirty.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwz8PQ0g3oP/
And everyone already misses Lyanna Mormont.
Bella Ramsey, who played the Lady of Bear Island, uploaded a photo of herself next to a “Every Giant Will Fall” sign and wrote, “I had a song in my head during the filming of episode three… Every Giant Will Fall by @rendcollective… I’m overwhelmed by the response, thank you so so much. ‘I will not hide underground. I pledged to fight for the North, and I will fight’ RIP Lyanna.”
Speaking of characters who didn’t make it out of the battle alive.
And lastly, my personal favorite: Carice van Houten saying she was “high on Earl Grey tea with milk and honey” during the episode. The Red Woman knows how to party.
