Warning: Contains spoilers.
Game of Thrones‘ controversial finale aired last Sunday, and the ending polarized fans. When Jon Snow killed his aunt/lover/queen Daenerys Targaryen during a romantic clinch, fans were up in arms and took to Twitter with their feelings. Some wished for a better conclusion for the Dragon Queen, while others were simply surprised that the loyal Jon Snow had been the one to wield the dagger.
Well, if you thought you were surprised by that ending, imagine what it was like to be actors Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke, who play Jon and Daenerys. HBO’s Game of Thrones: The Last Watch documentary, which aired on May 26, shows Harington and Clarke’s unguarded reactions to the shocking moment during the table read of the season finale.
As the scene description is being read aloud, we see Harington respond in real time to what Jon Snow does: The actor stares at the page, then puts his head in his hands. Seated next to him, Sophie Turner glances over at her co-star while he puts his hand over his mouth and pushes his chair back from the table. Harington looks across the room at Clarke, who wryly smiles and nods before sinking comically into her chair. At the end of the table read, others leave the room, but Harington and Clarke sit for a second, both visibly teary.
The documentary also reveals how other actors, like Conleth Hill (Varys), reacted to the news of their characters’ demise.
On Twitter, fans noticed the actors’ responses and remembered their own feelings about the heated scene. Here are some of the best responses:
