After every new episode of Game of Thrones, HBO drops a new episode of The Game Revealed, a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of the most complicated show on television, now or ever.
“The Long Night” was the longest episode in the history of the series, so naturally, the latest episode of The Game Revealed is a whopping 40 minutes, practically an episode of TV in itself. Settle in and watch below!
The cast and crew put a ton of work into this battle sequence, and they rightly get to crow about it here. I’m struck by how the 11 weeks of night shoots took their toll on everyone. “By week three, say, people looked slightly haunted,” says Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm).
Some other highlights:
- The crew spends a while talking about the scene where Melisandre lights the trench on fire. It’s more complicated than it looked, and it looked pretty complicated.
- The producers thought of each “act” of the episode as belonging to a different genre, from suspense to horror to…well, that pretty much covers it.
- Maisie Williams was told a year ahead of time that she would need to train up for this battle. Director Miguel Sapochnik told her while she was eating cheese fries in Boston.
- To add to the amazingness that is Maisie Williams, let’s all remember that she’s right-handed but uses her left hand for Arya. “She’s become an ambidextrous fighter,” said showrunner David Benioff.
- You gotta love the footage of Williams frantically apologizing to people behind the scenes as she works through her stunt takes.
- Bella Ramsey would’ve been happy if Lyanna Mormont ended up on the throne or got a great death scene. Box checked!
- Peter Dinklage sounds pretty incredulous that nobody thought that the dead people in the crypt might come back to life. Same, Peter! Same!
- Sapochnik had to keep reminding John Bradley that Sam Tarly isn’t a good fighter.
- Viserion is hugely damaged and “leaking” fire by the time Jon tries to fight him, which was a great effect.
- Other things you gotta love: Emilia Clarke freaking out with delight over learning that Arya is the one to kill the Night King. Even better may be Kit Harington feeling a bit sullen about it!
- Apparently, it’s important that Arya stab the Night King where the Children of the Forest shoved a piece of dragonglass inside him. Also, this little bit of irony from Isaac Hempstead Wright: “That’s the knife that was destined to kill Bran, and here it is saving him.”
- It sounds like Daenerys picking up a sword was partly Emilia Clarke’s idea.
- Iain Glen: “My favorite scene to shoot was my demise.” Naturally.
Next on The Game Revealed: Who knows? It’s exciting times.
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