SPOILERS for Game of Thrones.
I was never a Varys stan. Varys, played brilliantly by Conleth Hill, was a good character, for sure. But he was never one of my faves or my most-hated. He was just sort of there, moving the plot along. I thought the coolest thing he ever did was arrange for Tyrion’s escape from Kings Landing after Tyrion killed Tywin, when Varys decided on the f–king fly to go with Tyrion and find Daenerys. But everything since then has just been kind of… expositional and blah. Varys became the Sansa of Dany’s inner circle – all complaints and no ideas or plans, just warnings and faux-concern. Varys always insisted that he served the Realm, not any king or queen. His loyalties shifted all the time, like a one-man Cancel Culture. Personally, I think Varys was able to survive the show for so long because everyone on the show just loves the actor, Conleth Hill. Hill was super-popular among writers and cast members. I tend to think that he went out like a boss: sending ravens out to spill the tea on Jon Snow’s identity and then being burned by dragonfire. But Conleth Hill is still sad. He spoke to EW:
His reaction to the final scripts: “Mixed, obviously. Part of you didn’t want it to finish. Part of you is, “Oh, that’s very good.” And part of you is, “Oh, that sucks.” Very, very mixed. Bittersweet. I think it’s really good in retrospect now that I’ve had the time for it to sink in.
His reaction to Varys’ fate: “I took it very personally. I took it as a person, not as an actor or an artist. I understood the reactions of previous actors who had been in same position a lot more than I did at the time. You can’t help feeling that you failed in some way, that you haven’t lived up to some expectation that you didn’t know about. The only thing that consoles you is people who worked a lot harder than you are in the same boat. So that helps. I don’t think anybody who hasn’t been through it can identify with it. They think, “What’s all the fuss about? You’re all finishing anyway.” But you take it personally, you can’t help it.
His thoughts on death by dragonfire: “In retrospect, great. At the time, nothing could console me. I kept thinking: “What did I do wrong?” There wasn’t any pre-warning. All these famous stories about [actors on Thrones] being taken out for a meal or being phoned at the very least [to notify them that their character was being killed off]. This was just reading cold hard copy.
What he thinks of Varys decision to betray Daenerys. “All brilliant. All noble. He was absolutely true to his word the whole way through. All he wanted was the right person on the throne and a fair person on the throne. He said it so many times in the scripts. I don’t have the distraction of love or desire or any of those things. And the people he needed to see clearly were both in love. So that makes perfect sense. And now with hindsight, I’m okay, but I really was inconsolable.
That he didn’t get a final scene with Littlefinger: “I was very bummed to not have a final scene with him. I was bummed not to have any reaction to him dying, if he was my nemesis. That’s been my feeling the last couple seasons, that my character became more peripheral, that they concentrated on others more. That’s fine. It’s the nature of a multi-character show. It was kind of frustrating. As a whole it’s been overwhelmingly positive and brilliant but I suppose the last couple seasons weren’t my favorite.
His favorite Varys scene: “I loved the traveling with [Tyrion actor Peter Dinklage] and just the two of us in that cart. I think the stuff that was said in there understood the nature of freaks and outsiders so precisely. In a way, that was lost when we got past [the narrative in George R.R. Martin’s] books. That special niche interest in weirdos wasn’t as effective as it had been. Last season and this season there were great scenes and then I’d come in and kind of give a weather report at the end of them — “film at 11.” So I thought he was losing his knowledge. If he was such an intelligent man and he had such resources, how come he didn’t know about things? That added to my dismay. It’s now being rectified with getting a great and noble ending. But that was frustrating for a couple seasons.
I think Conleth is edging up to say some harsher sh-t when the show finally ends. One thing about being more of a peripheral character is that he’s had more of a chance to sit on the sidelines and really see how the writing has changed, especially in this season and partially in last season too. He’s right about there being less of focus on “freaks and outsiders” and less character development, or less staying-true-to-character-arcs. Conleth sounds like he was basically wildly disappointed with the show in its final season. As he should be, although it’s not his fault.
Photos courtesy of HBO.
He truly was fantastic as Lord Varys. His transformation into the character is incredible.
I am truly hoping that George R. R. Martin finishes this series. I would love to see what he has in store for the myriad characters. I, for one, have been dismayed at Tyrion Lannister’s lose of intelligence. To me that has been the hardest bit to swallow. He was formerly so, so, so savvy.
I disliked Varys’s death … I would have wanted “more” for him somehow. But ultimately his correct prediction of Khaleesi, that was so very fitting. Dying for the Realm, very fitting.
Tyrion keeps making stupid decisions. I honestly hope he dies with Daenerys AND Jon next week. That’s how much I dislike them all now.
Tyrion is going to die next week; Dany made that comment to him about another mistake would be his last. I think she is going to kill him for releasing Jamie.
Tyrion spoke with Bran in the castle, before the Dark Night war. I wonder if they will do anything with that. Did Bran tell Tyrion something important that he reveals? Otherwise that scene was a throwaway.
No one ever mentions that Tyrion told Dany to end her relationship with Daario. He was as devoted to her as Jorah.
I’m right there with you, Pineapple. I really really really hope (really!) that GRRM can finish the series, if for no other reason than the books are very different from the series and he has so many plotlines going on that we didn’t see in the show…I’m sure the books would be different from the last few seasons. I know the writers said they consulted with him on these newer eps but the quality honestly feels so different from the earlier seasons that I’m starting to doubt that they ever did, lol.
I miss Witty Tyrion!
Same with Tyrion. Last night I was actually talking “to” the TV saying “Why? Why are you such an idiot now? Do you need to be a wino to be smart?” I know this is all fictitious and silly at the end of the day, but we all have years vested in this and the let down is real. I’m not even sure if I can finish the books if GRRM actually ever finishes them.
And there was a time that I loathed Varys. But over time the actor really made him someone I loved to hate. Then, yeah, he became a sideline character and I missed his wily ways. Conleth is right – that sidelining happens with multi-character shows like this. But it just feels like so much possibility was wasted.
They did Varys dirty. But I guess they just had to kill more people in this episode. I honestly can’t wait to finish this fuckfest of a series. So anticlimactic. So disappointing.
On a superficial note, he is an attractive man now that I look at the actor outside of his character. For some reason he’s one I never googled before to see.
The thing that hurt me the most for him (not really) is that the man has a gorgeous head of bouncy, voluminous silver hair.
I think other actors made similar comments without going too much into it like Emilia Clarke and Kit Harrington.
I was a big Varys fan, because I enjoyed his overall story – how he had risen up and become the master of spies and got his revenge on the man who tortured him, who decided to support dany until he didn’t , etc.
I thought his death lacked something and was kind of disappointing. I dunno.
I am glad to hear him say what many of us have been saying, more or less- the writing has suffered, the emphasis on the characters that made GOT so good has gone away, etc.
They massacred my boy. Amateur hour for him last episode. He would have already written the ravens last episode. He wouldn’t have been trying to poison her. He wouldn’t have sent martha (lol boatsex baby name) back without knowing they were watching her. This is garbage. They did him so dirty. No wonder he’s pissed.
It’s not that the episodes themselves are bad this season, it’s that there isn’t enough in them to really flesh things out, build suspense, and allow plots to breath. A scene where he mourns/celebrates the death of Littlefinger is such a good example of this. Every character deserved more time to resolve their stories. Cersei is dead, and we never got to really know a thing about what she wanted, or why. She was just an evil shell sniveling from a window. That’s not how GRRM wrote his characters.
The tea is getting truly spilt here! Between Lena and him…Yowza!
What does it say to you when the actors themselves are willing to diss the show? That’s usually a big no no.
Not just those 2, Kit and Emilia have also hinted at a disappointment in the final season plots.
NCW(the actor who plays Jaime) apparently has been arguing since season 4 about how Jaime was being written.
He’s not the only one, we’ve had quite a few interviews with actors whose characters have died and they have been veiled in their disappointment over how things have gone this season. For the actors to diss the scripts, it would also indicate issues between cast and showrunners – D&D always came across as arrogant. The plots have been lazy and showed disregard for previous plot lines. I just hope GRR Martin redeems himself and the characters when he FINALLY FINISHES THE BOOKS.
Yes, George, please! Finish the damned books!!
Many of the actors, including the leads, sound very disappointed with this season.
so true.
good interview.
Hope to see Mr Hill in better shows and series and movies of all sorts. would like to see him play some kind of White House master of office(s) and strings to pull. 😉 Or as a scheming pope. Or as a mafia advisor.
the first episodes/seasons of GoT were a lot more about intrigues and politics and backstabbing and so many characters you were wondering who did what why when… it was fascinating.
The later episodes of GoT were action movies. And they didn’t get better but dumber. Killing of the Varys character is unfortunately just one step to make the GoT movies more action-heavy and less interesting for the brain. The CGI guys took over. Clever dialogues and clever plots and stories were banished in favour of action and dragons. *Yawn*
Yes, a scheming pope or mafia advisor, or white collar crime fixer, would be great roles for Conlith. But it has to have smart writing to match his talent. What about VEEP?
VEEP ended yesterday. I’m still sad.
They should have made more episodes, all felt rushed. Got a few thoughts because my obsession with this show is bordering on unhealthy right now.
1) I think Varys was truly the best ruler because he really was anout the people and democracy, not blind autocratic thirst for personal power. Tyrion: snitches get stitches.
2) Possibly, Dani could already be pregnant with her dopey nephews kid. Maybe she could get pregnant after all like Jon contemplated. Maybe they’ll hide the baby as they hid Jons true identity and Sansa will raise him/her. Possibly with Tyrion.
3) Dani, understandably, went mad with all the loss. Then all because her nephew was grossed out by kissing her she decides to barbeque EVERYONE. That’s why people in grief can’t rule. Queen Elizabeth knew that; she spent her life staying away from emotions.
4) Please create a meme of Tyrions face when he realized he effed up. Like “Um…my bad” meme.
As Jaime was the hand of Dani’s crazy old man and felt he had to kill him, maybe Tyrion, as Dani’s hand, will be forced to kill her.
As for Cersai and Jaime? I feel oddly sad and empty that they’re gone from the show. She balanced it out. Dani should’ve just killed Cersai and spared the people who would have come around.
Sorry for rambling. Head hurts.
Oh!! Another meme: Dani trying to kiss Jon and underneath it says HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
Ha, burn. He can’t hide his disappointment on many things, I love it and he’s absolutely right.
Varys always felt like the proxy-POC character on the show, excluded, but useful and aware of his plight. He knew what Dany was cause he feared he might do it himself with her power, never mind all of his high-minded talk to the opposite. I like Dany a lot better now that she’s being true to her paradigm. All that fire was inevitable. And yes, the writing’s not as great as it was.
In the end, it’s only Arya and the cockroaches.
Dani: Wassup, you are on my last nerve.
Tyrion: Look i got it under control psycho. When the bell rings just chill and no more, like, genocide, cool?
Dani: (To Tyrion) Yeah no worries little man.
(To greyworm) LOL.
I’m literally watching it again now and posting.
Jon betrayed Dany by telling Sansa.
Tyrion betrayed Dany by telling Varys what Sansa had told him, then Tyrion betrayed Varys regarding the information Tyrion himself had given to Varys.
1) What did Tyrion think would happen when he told Varys?
2) It makes no sense that Varys is the only one who had to pay for Jon’s betrayal.
I mean, i’m watching next Sunday, but still. This doesn’t make much sense.
And I refuse to watch their post-show explanations. If the show fails without the out of shown explanations, then the writers clearly failed at telling their story.
But then again, were they ever going to be able to make us all happy, and have an ending that made some kind of sense to ALL of us? No.
It has been a seriously entertaining television show.
The writers are idiots who think “foreshadowing” (i.e. events that are ambiguous to be read either way and twisted into supporting your story) is the same thing as actually writing a story is the problem. If they wanted to do a “Dany falls victim to the same madness as her father” story, gross as it is, it could’ve been developed well along the way. It shouldn’t be a snap event that occurs over the course of a few episodes that you justify by saying, “Well, there was this.” And yes, this is a sudden development, because literally none of Dany’s behavior up until this point exhibited madness. You can argue the moral character of it all you want, but it is calculated and with intent. That’s just insulting to the intelligence of your readers to claim otherwise.
No. I’ve been writing fiction and nonfiction for over twenty years. Stories do not write themselves. You are responsible for what words are put to text and film, and these guys failed on every level, both in terms of the story writing itself and the thematic implications of said storytelling.
I write fantasy novels as well, some epic, some pure adventure, and I agree with you heartily. This is pretty mediocre writing.
I agree! Why spend years with subtle hints of love and respect between Jaime and Brienne all to squash it completely!
It’s not about Varys finding out, it’s that he was plotting to poison her and commit treason. He knew he wasn’t innocent. There was never a question that if found out he would die for what he was doing.