Did you expect Thorne to last this long given his clashing with Jon Snow right from the very start?
I had worked with HBO before.
I had done this film for HBO about 10 years ago,Tsunami: The Aftermath.
Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO
I didn’t know what I was arriving into.
And my story is pretty bleak up on that wall in Castle Black.
Was there any particular key for you to playing the character?
In Thorne’s boots is not a nice place to be.
What I love about Thorne is that we really want to hate this guy.
But there are moments you just can’t like his leadership during the Battle at Castle Black.
And sometimes he says things like, “You have a good heart, Jon Snow.
It will get us all killed,” where you find yourself torn over him.
Well, thank you.
They give him a death and a speech.
I know Kit had to convince everybody that he was truly leaving during season 5.
What was that like on your end?
I was quite close to Kit.
I think they’ve done the right thing, and it’s farewell for me.
How did fans react to you after Thorne killed Snow?
When it aired, I was in Greece making an independent film.
They hated the moment, but loved it, as well.
I got used to that.
Did you ever think you’d say the word “bastard” on camera so much?
A guy came up to me once when I was with my wife.
Would you call me a bastard' into my phone?
I grabbed his phone and said, “You fing bastard.”
He was so excited.
It’s become part of the culture.
When did you discover your character’s fate?
I refused to close my deal until they told me.
I wanted them to be clear with me.
It was all quite close to filming.
It wasn’t a very long conversation; it was a bit of mutual appreciation society.
I felt a great sense of achievement and a sense of loss.
Thorne was never an easy guy to be with.
What was your reaction to the “Oathbreaker” script and how Thorne goes out?
There’s a line inMacbeth, “Nothing in his life became him like the leaving did.”
This story plays into such a huge section of religion resurrection.
Alliser Thorne thinks Snow is going to be knocked down every time.
Because Alliser sees human beings as being born bad they’re needy, greedy, and selfish.
It’s survival of the fittest.
And if you open yourself and weaken yourself, you will be taken out by somebody else.
Therefore Thorne also accepts it’s all over for him.
What was your final day on set like?
I guarded myself not to get too emotional.
Anything lined up next yet?
I’m trying to make some decisions.
I’ve been offered a very high profile theater job.
I’m going to wait and just see about what might come my way.
What was your favorite scene that you shot in the series?
The battle scene, coming down into the courtyard.
That was myHenry Vmoment.
That ticked a few boxes.
The rain that was pouring so hard that night, it was likeBlade Runner.
But in the few minutes before we shot so much water had come down the boards had floated away.
They said, “Just keep going!”
There was something really exhilarating about it.
Be sure to check out ourfull cover story going behind the sceneson Jon Snow’s revival, online now.
And below the video we have the latest episode of ourGoTpodcast breaking down “Oathbreaker.”
moment (note: the rain Teale referenced during production typically doesn’t show up on film.
When it does, theThronesteam usually digitally removes it in post-production).
