It's been seven years since Game of Thrones ended, and the wounds from that final season are still fresh—especially for the woman at the center of it all. Emilia Clarke, who brought Daenerys Targaryen to life for eight seasons, has finally opened up about her raw reaction to the Mother of Dragons' controversial demise. And let's just say she's not over it.
In a candid interview with Variety, Clarke reflected on Daenerys' final scene opposite Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and didn't hold back. She recalled the character's last line, 'We break the wheel together,' before Jon fatally stabs her. 'That is the last thing I say before the cheeky little s— stabs me. F—ing outrageous. I was so pissed. I was absolutely livid,' Clarke said.
The actress's frustration goes beyond the heated debates about Daenerys' sudden turn to tyranny in the final season. 'Outside of the controversy around her actions, him killing me really bummed me out,' Clarke admitted. 'Kinda rude. I gave that man everything, burned cities to the ground for him, for us.' She added with a laugh, 'I'm over it, clearly. I'm so over it, it's unreal. Livid.'
For fans who felt betrayed by the finale, Clarke's comments are a validation of their own outrage. The final season of Game of Thrones remains one of the most divisive conclusions in TV history, with Daenerys' heel turn—after years of being built as a hero—sparking endless debate. Clarke's perspective adds a personal layer to the controversy, reminding us that even the actors were blindsided by the story's direction.
Despite her lingering anger, Clarke has come to appreciate the role that defined her career. 'It's taken me years to comprehend what it was. It's taken me years to comprehend what it meant,' she said. 'I'm grateful to her. She taught me a lot.'
The Game of Thrones cast also included Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark, Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth, and John Bradley as Samwell Tarly. The series is available to stream on HBO Max.
As fans continue to debate the finale, Clarke's honest reaction serves as a reminder that even the people who brought these characters to life can be surprised—and sometimes furious—by where the story goes. For those still craving epic fantasy, Prime Video's 'Fourth Wing' adaptation could be the next big thing.
