Game of Thrones was built on the deaths of bloody characters, with one cast member in particular appreciating his demise. Created by David Benioff and DB Weiss, the HBO series premiered in 2011 based on George RR Martin’s beloved A Song of Ice and Fire novels. With an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes over eight seasons, the show is widely credited with revitalizing high fantasy as a television juggernaut. However, even Game of Thrones episodes penned by George RR Martin were not immune to criticism, as evidenced by a cast member who preferred his character’s death on screen over continuing.
The best Game of Thrones episodes featured iconic moments in fantasy and television, setting a benchmark for visual and practical effects while delivering riveting drama. Yet, the audience took issue with Seasons 7 and 8 straying from George RR Martin’s established path and concluding the story in convenient ways that compromised character arcs. Julian Glover, who portrayed Grand Maester Pycelle, noticed the decline in his character’s writing and welcomed Pycelle’s demise on screen.
Julian Glover asked for Grand Maester Pycelle to be killed off on Game of Thrones
Julian Glover wanted Pycelle to have a good ending
In an interview with Light, Julian Glover expressed his belief that his character could have been better written as Game of Thrones progressed, expressing satisfaction with Pycelle’s explosive exit. Glover remarked that Pycelle was a weak presence in King’s Landing, constantly manipulated by Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) without a meaningful response, and felt that his character’s development had stagnated as the show evolved.
Julian Glover almost resigned from ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6, feeling that his character was being phased out without any significant development. However, after expressing his concerns to the producers, he was convinced to stay and ultimately got the scene he wanted – his character’s death scene, which he considered to be very well done.
