Game of Thrones star John Bradley has admitted that the “eerie” Battle of Winterfell was a “really tough moment to film”.
The actor, who plays Samwell Tarly in the HBO hit, spoke out about filming his last scenes in episode three, The Long Night, and revealed that it had a “visceral effect” on him after filming alongside stuffed dummies.
“That was a really tough moment to film. We had been filming for a long time and we felt like it had really been starting to take its toll on us,” he told Esquire.
“I was leaning against bodies of people who presumably Sam had known. They were just stuffed dummies, but it was really an eerie moment, because you're looking at dead human faces and hands, and it can have a visceral effect on you.”
The actor said that he felt as if the filming might be “the most memorable moment” in his “entire” time on the show.
While Sam didn’t perish in the battle, several of the characters fans have come to know and love since 2011 did before Arya Stark had her “hero moment” towards the end.
“Game of Thrones has always been very dark and a very cinematic show,” director Fabian Wagner told TMZ. “We tried to give the viewers and fans a cool episode to watch.”
“I know it wasn't too dark because I shot it,” he added as he explained they wanted an “intense, claustrophobic and disorientating” episode.
Wagner also attributed a gloomy picture to watching over poor connection or in a room that was too bright would hamper viewing, recommending that fans watch in a cinema-style darkened room for the best experience.
The third episode of the final season was the longest in the HBO shows history at 82 minutes.
The broadcaster confirmed that it took 55 consecutive night shoots to film.
Game of Thrones airs at 2am and 9pm, Mondays on Sky Atlantic. It is also available on NOW TV.
