As Game of Thrones fans reconcile their thirst for the return of the critically acclaimed series with criticism for some of last season’s flimsy plotlines, Peter Dinklage seemed to address some speculation about the show.
“It’s pretty long... long one,” Dinklage told Jacob Bryant in a report for Variety. “We liked taking our time with this one.”
Rumors have circulated that the final season of Game of Thrones will feature longer, possibly movie-length episodes. Most viewers already know the series won’t return this year. Dinklage, who plays the character Tyrion Lannister, didn’t clarify if he was referring to the longer shooting schedule or the rumored extended length of the episodes.
A number of fans also took issue with what appeared to be rushed and seemingly illogical storylines from Season 7, indicating that the show has run its course. Dinklage didn’t insult his writers or cast members by directly addressing the multiple flaws from the previous season, but he did indicate this was a good time to close the book on Westeros for a number of reasons.
“It’s time,” Dinklage added. “Storywise, not just for all our lives. It’s the perfect time to end it. Sometimes shows stay on a little too long, the jumping-the-shark thing.”
Technological and budgetary restraints should hopefully keep Dinklage and the rest of the cast from sharing the same fate that caused critics to coin the phrase “jump the shark” based on Henry Winkler’s Fonzie character.
You can hear Dinklage’s remarks in the video above at the 42-second mark.
Given HBO’s official confirmation, viewers will have a six-episode run slated for 2019 to see what ultimately happens to Daenerys, Jon Snow, and the rest of the inhabitants of Westeros.
