Photo Credit: Spencer Murphy
Ian McShane is featured in a new profile in The Telegraph, bringing his humorously frank manner to the table in the in-depth interview.
The actor, who is returning to British TV with Doctor Thorne, discusses his wild younger years and ill-fated romances, and looks back on his work with shows such as Deadwood and Lovejoy.
In the interview, McShane addresses his recent remarks about Game of Thrones that sent fans into a frenzy about spoilers. In doing so…he may have possibly let more slip.
*Spoiler Warning*
“You say the slightest thing and the internet goes ape,” McShane tells The Telegraph. “I was accused of giving the plot away, but I just think get a f—ing life. It’s only tits and dragons.”
He explains, “They asked me if I wanted to do Game of Thrones and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll be able to see my old pals Charlie Dance and Stephen Dillane’ and they said, ‘No, we’ve killed them off.’ I wasn’t sure whether I could commit, but then they said it would only be for one episode, so I said, ‘So that means I must die at the end of it. Great, I’m in.’ ”
It’s unclear whether or not McShane was just being facetious with his remark- it seems very likely. We do already know that his role is only for one episode. Bringing in an actor of McShane’s caliber for only one episode seemed surprising, but if he were given a big, memorable death scene, that could explain it.
As for his impatience with people’s reactions to the spoilers he revealed in his previous interview, well it’s understandable if he was given serious grief for his statements by HBO. But after reading this profile of him, we can see that McShane is never one to hold back or mince words.
John Bradley is out promoting his new film, the dark thriller Traders, along with his co-star Killian Scott. The actors talk to JOE magazine about the movie, and along the way play a game of “West Dublin or Westeros?”
Bradley also appears on BBC’s Frank Skinner on Demand this week, conversing with the host about tribute bands, Soho, and potential Mastermind subjects.
Hodor!
MotherofmadnessQuote Reply
Fucking brilliant. Good for him!
JudibattQuote Reply
lol poor McShane XD
glad he seemed cool about it.
Matthew The Dragon knightQuote Reply
Wow, McShane in real life is exactly like one of his characters.
JordanQuote Reply
I did enjoy all those fans who swore that McShane’s revelations were part of some deliberate HBO conspiracy to leak information.
GinevraQuote Reply
I wouldn’t mind it if McShane spoiled all the season tbh. Someone ask him about the North/Wall storylines, please.
Jon Snow’s Curling IronQuote Reply
He was being facetious.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
“It’s only tits and dragons.”
Hilarious
AllisonFennQuote Reply
McShane is awesome!
I hope he doesnt die so we see him again
H.StarkQuote Reply
I think it makes sense for him to die, because leaving him alive will create another loose end for D&D.
mauQuote Reply
Is he trying to be funny?? I hope so.
MaggieQuote Reply
Oh, so he’s a dick. I’m not shocked.
KGQuote Reply
Jesus you people take things to seriously.
Matthew The Dragon knightQuote Reply
LMAO
impuregoldQuote Reply
Further cementing his reputation as a man who gives zero f-cks.
harlequeenQuote Reply
Well actually-
Sue the FuryQuote Reply
Sue the Fury,
Matthew The Dragon knightQuote Reply
He seems pretty ignorant the way he comments on the show being “just tits and dragons” and how he only wanted to do it if he could meet old pals and/or just be in it for one episode.
Also: What’s up with actors 45 + spoiling the show? Charles Dance, Michelle Fairley and now this guy.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Not unheard of. Craster’s actor had a similarly uninterested attitude. It’s fine. I never got why fans demand the actors watch the show or even read the books. It’s absurd. Actors are professionals, there to do a job. They don’t even have to like the show (let alone the source material), especially if they are such great actors that their lack of interest doesn’t show in the performance.
Luka NietoQuote Reply
You’ve got to love Ian McShane. Gives zero fucks.
You could say he is a fooking legend. Almost as much of a legend as Karl Tanner.
Knight of the Walkers (Formerly Jeb)Quote Reply
“Get a f—ing life. It’s only tits and dragons.”
This shall now be a response used in sooooooooooooo many posts. I love it. 😀
PigeonQuote Reply
ValaquenQuote Reply
This came up last year when people asked: “Why recast Myrcella for such a small part?” The answer is: you get the best available actors for all parts that are going to have any impact. Part of “available” is “price”: you probably cannot afford, say, George Clooney or Brad Pitt. But Thrones has enough money to get the established character actors such as McShane and Grant to play smaller roles. After all, even if these parts are not big in the long term, they are “big” in the scenes in which they appear. And if you can afford someone like that, then by all means cast someone like that.
As for McShane’s comments about the fans, those sentiments actually are very common among actors. Some of them bear it with better humor and grace than others, but they pretty much all are thinking it to varying degrees.
This attitude towards Epic Fantasy is not atypical: that is part of why it is so remarkable that this show is getting the critical acclaim that it is and that it is doing so well in demographics more prone to reading Booker nominees than Hugo or even Nebula nominees. There will always be the general view, however, that storytellers resort to dragons and magic only if they do not know how to develop characters: and although SoI&F is an exception to that rule, the rule is pretty well-founded.
Incidental characters do not need to have their ends tied. The majority of viewers won’t remember the character by the end of the season any more than you remember any one link in a chain: what they will remember is the chain of events to which that character contributed.
WimseyQuote Reply
sjwenings,
What did Charles and Michelle spoil? I don’t remember.
One of Roose Bolton’s 20 good leechesQuote Reply
Maybe the Hound will be given a flashback episodes like Morgan from TWD…
clouddragonQuote Reply
clouddragon,
HA!
Don’t see that happening for thrones.
Matthew The Dragon knightQuote Reply
Nah. TWD has 16 episode seasons, so they can do things like that.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
A certain set of fans never get that. And it’s not just SoI&F fans: it’s Harry Potter fans, Tolkien Fans, Star Wars fans, Star Trek fans, Doctor Who fans, My Little Pony Fans, etc., etc… Any actor who does not know the source material and/or show history entirely is not worthy of being on the show or in the movie. And it is the actor’s fault if he/she does not understand that this is “important” to some fans. But there in lies the rub: it baffles most people that this stuff is “important” to anyone when it should just be entertainment; thought-provoking rather than escapist entertainment, yes, but still just entertainment.
WimseyQuote Reply
The McShane profile an excellent read, full of great quotes and remarkable candor. A few people have already mentioned that he seems to give zero fucks, but his attitude doesn’t seem particularly cavalier – he just has absolutely no tolerance for bullshit. It’s refreshing, to be honest.
I can see how his remarks about the show might seem dismissive to some, but I took them more as exasperation with spoiler culture and the Internet hysteria that rose up around his comments. I don’t think he was putting down the show itself. He may not be a dyed-in-the-wool fan like several of GOT’s actors are, but we shouldn’t expect or require that from everyone who ever appears on the show, especially an old-school guy like McShane. It’s unrealistic.
Of course, while McShane’s remarks on Game of Thrones are confined to two short paragraphs, but the Telegraph pulled the ‘tits and dragons’ quote about out to use for the title of the article. They know what will get them clicks. 😉
JaredQuote Reply
A lot of multiprotagonist TV series do go the route of having single-protagonist episodes. Lost did that most weeks: with the focus shifting from one main character to the next.
Interestingly, although GRRM writes his books that way, they have not done that with the show. But I also think that it would not work. In part, it is because of the episode limit, as you mention. In other part, the shifts between protagonists often keep the up pace, and I strongly suspect that the pace would lag if we got, say, our entire season’s worth of Arya in one episode.
(Of course, given that the Hound is not one of the main characters, he never would be the focus on an episode in that sort of format, anyway.)
WimseyQuote Reply
Both of them spoiled their upcoming deaths.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Ha, love this guy. Older actors just don’t give a f*ck. I seem to remember this happening with the Doctor Who 50th anniversary stuff too. Tom Baker totally spoiled his return to the show and I think John Hurt spoiled some stuff as well.
So speaking of Ian McShane, is American Gods worth reading before the show starts? I’m one of those people who has every Neil Gaiman book on my kindle but hasn’t read a one of them.
LauraQuote Reply
I’ve heard he’ll be playing a transgender Septa Meribald.
ApolloQuote Reply
Shame his response had a lack of “cocksucker”
MarkQuote Reply
One of Roose Bolton’s 20 good leeches,
Charles Dance talked about his character’s death every chance he got… 😉
zodQuote Reply
Goddamn, I love Ian McShane. I love how there’s no bullshit in him. Seems like a dude you’d wanna have a few beers with and he’d have laughing you laughing your ass off the whole time. I really wish he was on for more than one episode, but one is better than none, I guess.
Maceless FanQuote Reply
“It’s only tits and dragons.” I MISS AL SWEARENGEN SO MUCH.
Lyanna_TargaryenQuote Reply
Well to be fair it’s a one episode gig and he knew he wasn’t in it for the long haul, so nobody can really blame him for being cavalier about it or for looking forward to seeing old friends (we all would).
And I love his “tits and dragon” quote- Hilarious, and a little lesson for some of us who take things just a little too seriously sometimes (including myself here).
ApolloQuote Reply
I love how he tells everyone to get over themselves. It’s just a TV show, not to be taken this seriously. Notorious ranters, who are so easy to get offended by its content, should pay attention in particular.
harlequeenQuote Reply
sjwenings,
People 45+ have usually got good senses of humour and don’t take TV shows or movies too seriously. I think he just made a throwaway comment.
jennyofoldstonesQuote Reply
“It’s only tits and dragons.”
Imma find a way to use that everyday for the rest of my life…
selenaQuote Reply
Wimsey,
I agree. But this is Ian McShane. They would remember him. It would create unnecessary expectations.
mauQuote Reply
“Its only tits and dragons” *slams empty whisky glass down on desk* “Ya Goddamn cocksuckas!”
wizardeyesQuote Reply
Only a matter of time before someone does a GoT/Only Fools and Horses mashup now, featuring, er, Littlefinger in the Del Boy role, ably supported by Walder Frey and Tommen :O
thremnirQuote Reply
Another guy who thinks being rude means being cool. I prefer nice people.
Like, e.g. Will Wheaton, who gets that some things are more than “tits and dragons” to fans:
/watch?v=H_BtmV4JRSc
Maester MurksQuote Reply
“It’s only tits and dragons”
Now GRRM will rewrite some parts and make his charactr die because of some story including tits and dragons, that would be cool
teunteulaiQuote Reply
Instead of “Hodor”, every post should start with this quote! 😀 😀 😀
KayQuote Reply
By now, theres been a whole lør of amazing actors on this. Imagine if you were convincing someone who knew a lot about movies/tv who hadn’t watched the show to watch. ‘It has Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Ian Mcshane, Stephen Dillane, Charles Dance, Jonathan Price,Mark Gatiss, Max Von Sydow, Thomas Broden-Sangster, Ciaran Hinds, Iwan Rheon, Diana Rigg, Burn Gorman, James Cosmo, Lena Heady, Natalie Dormer, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alexander Siddig, Mark Addy and David Bradley.’ It really is impressive. Give us Viggo Mortensen!
Damphairintheshowplease!Quote Reply
Viggo for Mad King Aerys, please!
KayQuote Reply
Haha!! Well said,Ian!! Everything in its place! 😉
Alex GQuote Reply
I like this idea.
NewbietothegameQuote Reply
Kay,
OH YES! Wayne Winstone as Archmaester Marwin, though the role might already be cast for this season.
Damphairintheshowplease!Quote Reply
Kay,
A dream come true!!! 😉
Alex GQuote Reply
I wish Marwyn was in this season, but we heard absolutely nothing about him, in casting calls or anywhere else… which makes me think he has been excised —probably for good; if they were going to include him at all, they would do it now, wouldn’t they? Sam has a whole season in the Citadel.
Luka NietoQuote Reply
I love the “only tits and dragons” line! Totally perfect for shutting down the obnoxious commenters. Yes, I adore the books. I love the show. But to get so far bent out of shape about entertainment… C’mon, take it easy!
SansaStarQuote Reply
Well the ‘tits and dragons’ thing only reinforces the prejudice of people towards the show. You think real fans are invested in the ASOIAF universe just for tits and dragons? I can understand it coming from an actor who looks down on the show, but some of the people in here are happy with it.
Things like this are what makes the show loose seriousness in the plot.
ps: let me be clear: I am NOT a book purist at all, I love both books and show and I am looking forward to S6 with all my heart(I watch the trailer 5 times each day lol), but I can’t stand someone saying GoT is just about tits and dragons, and the plot just doesn’t matter.
Maybe I’m a bit too scandalous
LordGriffithQuote Reply
Luka Nieto,
Sam is headed to oldtown and will mødt likely end up there in the læst couple of episodes, much like in feast where he got there towards the end. Whatever story Sam had in oldtown, everythibg points to the show adapting it. From that one chapter in feast, it seemed is a pretty signicant part of the maesters-subplot. If he’s not in this season I think he will be in the next. They gotta save some characters for the last gee season. New factions and players in each season is a big part of the shows appeal in my opinion. i think he’s coming
Damphairintheshowplease!Quote Reply
LordGriffith,
You see, his comments are also not to be taken too seriously, just like the show/books. He didn’t mean it like this is all there is to it, he meant it like it’s still just entertainment, not real life, don’t get too crazy about such things. At least that’s how it comes off.
harlequeenQuote Reply
Oh yes please!!!
HalfmanQuote Reply
He’s the absolute best.
King in the North CarolinaQuote Reply
I want to throw my panties at his interview.
Sometimes I over-share, don’t I?
HotPinkLipstickQuote Reply
They adapted most of Sam’s AFFC story and plot in season five, except it took place in Castle Black instead of on a ship, probably so that he could still interact with Jon. Sam being sent to Oldtown (at the end instead of the beginning), Sam telling Aemon about Dany, Aemon’s illness and his hallucinations of Egg, Aemon’s death and Sam’s eulogy and Sam’s growing relationship with Gilly and their first time having sex —All of it was adapted in season five! The only stuff left out was
Luka NietoQuote Reply
It’s amazing how much some people are trying to look into that tits and dragons quote and picking it apart trying to figure what he was thinking or how he feels about fantasy series.
hodorQuote Reply
Except that they are adapting Winter, so they should probably cut to Sam’s Winter material ASAP. Now, it looks like they are including a little Crows material in setting up Euron’s Winter stuff, and they probably will be including a little of Sam’s voyage to show him getting there, but it would make for really bad plotting if Sam is still on a boat in his second episode.
No, it’s actually much more belittling than that: he’s saying that despite how invested the Anoraks are in the SoI&F (or Hogwarts or Middle earth or the TARDIS or whatever), it really is no more than “tits and dragons.” Hence the “get a *bleep* life” comment.
William Shatner did a brilliant parody that really was not a parody of this on Saturday Night Live 30 years ago. In it, he blows up at Trekkers at a convention and tells them that it was just a show that he did on a lark 20 years ago, and that they had turned something that should just have been fun into an obsession: and then he told them to get a job, kiss a girl and move out of their mothers’ basements!
Well, what they would remember is the “Where have we seen him before?” conversation. McShane is in a lot of stuff, but rarely in “lead” roles. (It seems that he’s been in a lot of shows with numerous characters, doesn’t it?)
I suspect that whatever small plot element Marwyn contributes in the books will be much like those of Quentyn or Victarion: i.e., easily done by another person and/or easily ignored completely.
WimseyQuote Reply
Well, a one chapter cameo equals a one episode cameo! One who speaks of broken men shall in turn become broken, maybe by the hand of a broken man! Should be a memorable episode.
Still waiting for GRRM’s cameo as Genna Lannister since he missed his opportunity to be Yezzan zo Qaggaz.
Hodors BastardQuote Reply
“tits and dragons!” is now my new form of swearing.
AryamadQuote Reply
AllisonFenn,
Pigeon,
Lyanna_Targaryen,
Apollo,
selena,
wizardeyes,
teunteulai,
Kay,
SansaStar,
Came here to say how much I loved a line but hell, it seems like everyone likes it. Agree it brings a bit of fresh air to the scene given the heated rants that have occurred. Still, it’s a great quote!
Ser PounceQuote Reply
I completely agree. I don’t think he was commenting on the content so much as he was commenting on those who act like the books are some kind of holy text, or that the show will lead to the cure for cancer being found.
That’s not to say the book and/or show can’t be meaningful for people, but if people were going off the deep-end based on what he said (in what sounded like a rather off-handed manner, at least to me) in that radio interview, perhaps they do need to think about “getting a fucking life.”
Well, hey, at least you haven’t offered to flash your bewbs…
Yet.
Nymeria Warrior QueenQuote Reply
Over the years I’ve come to realize that the personality trait of a person that “givers zero fucks and speaks what’s on their mind” is only truly admirable when what’s on their mind isn’t stupidity most of the time.
BreckeQuote Reply
Cast? Yes. Recast? No, not unless there is a problem with the original person, at least for most shows. Thrones is unique in their propensity to recast. Think about how the Friends actors collectively bargained for ridiculously high salaries, much more than they could earn doing movies. Most of the six weren’t particularly fabulous, but NBC couldn’t just replace them all and call it the same show, even if they replaced them all with better actors and actresses. We get attached to the actors we know, and that attachment is not easily replaced.
GinevraQuote Reply
This awesome. He’s being funny not being rude. I swear sometimes
ZeusQuote Reply
Wimsey,
well I wasn’t really asking a question. But anyway, recasting Myrcella was a mistake. I might’ve actually cared about her death if it was the girl we’d seen as a child, seen being playful and interacting with her family, and not some new person who just complained a lot and mooned over her boyfriend.
Sue the FuryQuote Reply
Ginevra,
How many scenes was mycelia in? I can remember three maybe before she was sent off to Dorne. All I remember was a cute little blonde child who looked like a Lannister. When she was replaced she was a cute blonde teenager who looked like a lannister.
ZeusQuote Reply
Exactly. I really don’t get it. The first Myrcella was barely more than an extra. As far as I can remember, she had a few lines in the second episode, asking about Bran, and in the second season, asking Sansa about her dress during an awkward dinner scene with the Lannisters. I bet most people didn’t even notice she was recast.
I thought the new Myrcella was pretty great, by the way. She had an air of Cersei’s pride, yet may have been the most mentally stable and mature of all the Lannisters. I literally screamed “No… No! No! NO!” when she died, and I almost never do that sort of thing.
Luka NietoQuote Reply
Luka Nieto,
Yeah I thought the new actress did a great job and had the same reaction when she died.
I mean I’ve read the books 2.5 times and watched the show God knows how many times and really didn’t care. No one I know who is a real world fan who doesn’t discuss it on the Internet even noticed. I mean I’m fairly nerdy but over reactions to minutae like this are what earn nerds the scorn they get
ZeusQuote Reply
Tits and dragons? OK, he did not mean that but nonetheless I feel like slabbed. GoT is a true work of art and should be treated with respect. It’s no more “tits and dragons” than Odyssey or Nibelungenlied, its fandom involves plenty of people with university degrees, good jobs, and families, so, it’s quite offensive to speak of GoT as if it was watched only by losers and teenagers. And if people get invested emotionally, than its worth it. That dude gets payed for making us to invest our emotions into the show after all, and as he has neither tits, nor dragons he’d better play well.
IngaQuote Reply
“Pain or damage don’t end the world. Or despair, or fu**ing beatings. The world ends when you’re dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man… and give some back.”
MescalinicQuote Reply
LOL!
SerNoNameQuote Reply
The only recast that i even noticed during my rewatch was Daario because the actors are completely different. The Mountain was recast 3 times, but they are all big guys and he wasn’t even in Season 3 at all and barely in the first 2 seasons. Myrcella i couldn’t care less about the recast. Nell Tiger Free is a blonde that looks like a Lannister just like Aimee Richardson. If i didn’t know she was recast from reading about it I wouldn’t have even noticed. Aimee Richardson had only 2 scenes with actual dialogue that i can remember.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
While Aimee Richardson seems like a lovely young lady, and I did feel badly for her, the recasting didn’t bother me in terms of what I saw on the screen.
Nymeria Warrior QueenQuote Reply
Aimee Richardson was fine enough as a child actor, but Nell Tiger Free was aggressively boring.
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
My question is would you flash for McShane?
HotPinkLipstickQuote Reply
Preach! I can’t wait to put the GOT bobbleheads on the shelf right next to my Wolfger von Erla commemorative Burger King glasses.
CumspriteQuote Reply
HotPinkLipstick,
I don’t think I’d turn down a little one-on-one Mardi Gras celebration.
Nymeria Warrior QueenQuote Reply
Well, we can’t have it both ways. We want confirmation on certain things and then we get it we cry foul?! It can’t work like that, kind of like having your cake and eating it as well. After all he never spilled the whole can of beans, he meeting hinted at things. I definitely get where he’s coming from and I get his frustration
The nasty bitsQuote Reply
The cast of @SiliconHBO visited #SXSWesteros and usurped the Iron Throne. #TheHallofFaces #SiliconValleyHBO
https://twitter.com/GameOfThrones/status/708818690918080512
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
The number of fundamentalists in this fandom is only surpassed by apple fanboys.
StargaryenQuote Reply
Jack Bauer 24,
Lol nice pic….ive watched every episode love that show
The nasty bitsQuote Reply
Ian McShane is fabulous. Some people need to take the sticks out of their arses.
Grandmaester FlashQuote Reply
I can imagine Tyrion’s house with words “Tits and Dragons”
TeunteulaiQuote Reply
Cumsprite,
You´re late. I got the last ones. They had *Tits ´n Dragons* printed on them. I´ll sell them to Pawnstars in 2045, right when aDoS hits the shelves.
flintstonewielderQuote Reply
Mescalinic,
Sounds like Tywin Lannister
Cersei’s BrainQuote Reply
Well, that hardly could be said of Myrcella: I mean, had one had not known that it was a different actress (or, if memory serves, a real actress instead of set stand-in), then one probably would never have realized it. She was such a small and forgettable part of the show before being shipped off to Dorne, after all! Moreover, given how much people change in appearance at that age, had they brought back the original person, then people with sharp memories might have thought she was different! (I remember reading that some people thought that the Harry Potter series recast Hermione after the second movie because Emma Watson looked so much different in that movie than in the first two.)
But it was the same character, and she was going to complain and moon just as much: only the acting would not have been as good! Moreover, just because we’d seen her, it does not follow that we remembered her, or even remembered what she looked like (except, of course, that she had blonde hair). Although I am in the midst of our annual binge-watch, I only remember her being in two episodes, and I couldn’t tell you what she looked like or acted like. This just is not the sort of detail on which it is worth wasting precious memory!
WimseyQuote Reply
Ooh, apples! Jazz and Granny Smiths are my two favorites! mmmmm…..
What?
WimseyQuote Reply
I am sure that someone will be spinning it into evidence for “Tryion Targaryen,” although it really would be “Tyrion Hill” I suppose.
WimseyQuote Reply
Lol at people getting so upset at his comments. Ian McShane is awesome.
GhostQuote Reply
But obviously people DID remember her, Wimsey, and liked Aimee. Nell was fine in her limited role of being the typical teenage defiant royal fantasy ‘my daughter shouldn’t wear that to the party!’ princess, but I don’t think we know that she did any better than Aimee would have.
PigeonQuote Reply
Why though? What did she do that was memorable? Or made her stand out from other actresses?
Big MacQuote Reply
Nothing.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
Reminds me of how awesome the cast list was for True Romance.
hexonxQuote Reply
Yeah, it’s actually quite surprising there haven’t been more re-casts considering the size of the cast. The only other one I can think of was Beric, which is also hardly noticeable.
hexonxQuote Reply
Don’t forget Tommen, who was recast and is currently played by DC Chapman, who also played his own cousin, Martyn (who was killed by Karstark)!
Hodors BastardQuote Reply
“Tits and Dragons” sounds like a good show title, lmao.
ConnorQuote Reply
April 24 shows up on the regular HBO schedule now and Silicon Valley and Veep have episode title, but GoT still doesn’t.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
This just proves the fact that you don’t have to have high intelligence to be a great actor.
ArthurQuote Reply
Jack Bauer 24,
I thought they might do something like this…..
what are the odds of the episode title getting leaked ?
Matthew The Dragon knightQuote Reply
Heretic! Honeycrisp and ruby frost are the only apples that matter, the rest are clearly inferior.
CassoQuote Reply
Hodors Bastard,
Oh that’s why they so similar and I got confused. For a moment I thought Tommen was killed but then I remember it was his cousin.
El GermánQuote Reply
When Myrcella was recast, I felt quite bad for Aimee Richardson. However, I’ll admit that sympathy could be traced almost entirely back to Aimee being so genuinely enthusiastic about the show at conventions and on social media, rather than anything she had done on screen up to that point. She seems like a wonderful young woman, and to her credit, I’m sure that she would have done well if she had remained in the role.
In terms of on-screen performance, however, I thought that Nell Tiger Free did quite a good job as Myrcella in Season 5. She didn’t have the most dynamic material or scene partners to work with (Toby Sebastian’s Trystane is one of the very few performances on this show that I can safely say I’m not a fan of). However, I found her death scene to be genuinely affecting. Witnessing Jaime’s reaction to his daughter’s acceptance and love was a great moment, and to see it snatched away mere moments later was quite heartbreaking (very nice work from both Nell and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in that scene).
With all of the other deaths and madness that happened in the Season 5 finale (and the prevelant antipathy towards Dorne at that point), Myrcella’s death kind of got lost in the shuffle. I think that’s a shame. She’s one of the more innocent characters to meet her fate on the show, and I couldn’t help but feel sad at her passing. I’m certain that her death is as inevitable in the books as it was on the show, but still … it was rough.
JaredQuote Reply
The premiere is in 6 weeks and the Red Carpet premiere is in 4 weeks, so we should know soon I would think…hopefully.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
Pfft. Have you ever tried the artisanal, old-school cultivars? A russet is not just a colour, you know!
YagaQuote Reply
Maester Murks,
Normally I’m fine with these sorts of off the cuff remarks but for some reason this rubs me the wrong way. Just a little bit. Because it wasn’t true lol. It could have zero tits in it and I would be more than fine with that. Dragons? Ok yeah they are fun the first couple of times you see them, or as the show is doing, limiting their appearance so that they stay fresh. But I don’t watch it for them either. It sounds like he’s speaking for the young male audience, there could be some truth in it there
YgritteQuote Reply
Kay,
Viggo does need to be in this somehow. Then it will be complete. Just realized this fact only when I saw his name.
YgritteQuote Reply
Ghost,
Most seem to be fine with his comment. The ones that aren’t totally happy with it aren’t “upset” just a bit disappointed, because it reinforces the stereotype of this sort of drama. Or because it’s totally not true. Most things are funny because they have a ring of truth to it. For some this comment does, for others it totally doesn’t (have ring of thruth to it). No biggie.
YgritteQuote Reply
Grandmaester Flash,
Who’s saying anything against Ian McShane? I didn’t see. He probably is fabulous! Personally I don’t know him, have never seen the actor before, but let me tell you it’s a shame that some people can’t handle minor differences of opinion or hearing thought processes that aren’t in line with their own without claiming those who don’t agree with them have sticks up their asses.
YgritteQuote Reply
Brecke,
Speaking in general, the majority seem to admire outspoken, opinionated people who don’t have much of a filter (aka tact.) There’s a time and place where that can be a good thing but not everywhere imo. Case in point, I was told by a loud and occasionally obnoxious co-worker years ago that as an introvert with a soft voice am most likely viewed as “weak” by the others. Advised me to talk loud and don’t be afraid to speak my mind. (In other words conform to the extroverts and be someone I’m not) I told her I’m not “afraid” but that old saying “better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt” but replace fool with bitch cause if I spoke what I truly thought with some of them that’s what I’d be called lol. (Should have just said “Hush, you don’t want to wake the dragon”)
Then again these days it’s probably considered a “good” thing. I’ve known some who call themselves a bitch and literally take pride in it. And yeah, they’re the ones who folks are too afraid to cross so they usually get what they want lol. Veering way off topic…..sorry.
YgritteQuote Reply
Arghhh. Hopefully we’ll learn the first episode’s title by the 24th, a month before the premiere.
Luka NietoQuote Reply
“It’s only tits and dragons.”
LMAO God bless him 😀
Al SwearengenQuote Reply
My first post which was unfinished and addressing Lord Griffiths’ remarks disappeared into the ether – I was going to say that I thought Ian McShane had a northern English sense of humour. My father was from Liverpool. For a time I did {or perhaps ‘murdered’ would be more apt} ballet. My father called me the sugar plumb fairy elephant so Heaven only knows what people who hated my guts said about me. Northern English people do tend to have a blunt/straightforward sense of humour.
Dame of MerciaQuote Reply
I know, it’s only tits and dragons, but I like it
Clem FandangoQuote Reply
Clem Fandango,
So, you do get some satisfaction.
YgritteQuote Reply
KG,
Everything he says is right, people do need to get a fucking life and stop crying because of spoilers. And no, he’s not s dick you obviously know nothing about McShane
BenQuote Reply
How charming and well spoken was John Bradley with UK National Treasure Frank Skinner? Would not be surprised to see him on some UK panel shows as a result and a fellow Smith fanatic to boot. Running of to watch SoHo immediately.
Ser LemoncakesQuote Reply
Rumour is that D+D have just renamed the first episode to “Tits and Dragons”.
ConanQuote Reply
May I introduce you the noble Lord Tyrion from House Dwarf of Wine, Tits & Dragons
Team HodorQuote Reply
Viggo Mortenson…..this would be a dream! <3 Even though he's known as Aragorn he's actually a very versatile actor with a lot of respect for his craft. I doubt he'd want to be involved with another blockbuster-esque project. He's a pretty quite guy. But one can always hope
SciFiFantasygirlQuote Reply
Let’s start a petition, lol.
SciFiFantasyGirlQuote Reply
Proves my point, i think.
Grandmaester FlashQuote Reply
Jordan,
Lovejoy? He’s the only character that matters…
AbominateQuote Reply
Dame of Mercia,
Oh yeah, it’s grim up here, our brutal sense of humour keeps us going when times get rough lol
LyannaesQuote Reply
I don’t see anything there to suggest that the character dies. I’m sure there are a number of characters who have only appeared in one episode without being killed off. Ian was just being flippant because GoT has a reputation for killing off characters.
It seems clear that he is playing a version of the Elder Brother. If they give him the Septon Meribald speech, that would be reason enough to cast a top actor.
Grandmaester FlashQuote Reply
“It’s just tits & dragons”
Warning, a lot of swearing:
No… No it’s not you piece of shit. Sorry I looked around for rules to see whether we can swear or not here. But I really want to say, fuck this guy. Fuck him and fuck his arrogance & ignorance. I was excited to hear his name being on the show. But for him to come out and make these condescending comments about the show & about the fans. He can fuck himself.
It’s as if he’s saying you guys should be privileged that I even done this episode for a stupid show about tits & dragons. Well no dick head, no. We don’t fucking feel privileged. You’re the one that should be privileged and should “act” like it if you’re not.
Fuck you for releasing the original spoiler and fuck you for confirming another spoiler here and being condescending. Fuck you. Show some respect to the show and it’s fans you fucking piece of shit.
Mustafa. S.Quote Reply
Mustafa. S.,
I think he was only joking with that comment, so calm down please.
aurenQuote Reply
Brecke,
Exactly, but it always impresses the ones who usually hold so much
AgroQuote Reply
GoT has a new contest on omaze
https://www.omaze.com/experiences/GameOfThrones-2?ref=gameofthrones
Got cast did also this video to support the refugees
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/03/13/game-of-thrones-cast-issues-appeal-to-help-refugees/
Kudos to all of the actors who supported this., great move.!
MaggieQuote Reply
Sssqqqquuuueeelllll! On ‘Nikolaj fangirl’ site Got promotes season 6 with a chance to win tickets for the LA premiere😎
MotherofmadnessQuote Reply
Maggie,
😜You beat me to it
MotherofmadnessQuote Reply
Mustafa. S.,
Jeesh. Loosen up a little, willya? People are dying in the real world, you know. Some from hunger and entirely curable diseases. The climate is changing. 99% of worldwide income goes to like 5 people. There’d been chemical weapons used in the war in Syria, and like 10 million people were displaced and had to go through an European winter in refugee camps. And we’re all dead in a couple of years. Get some perspective.
note: some data in this post have been exaggerated for effect. Please don’t start a derail discussion, tia!
YagaQuote Reply
Mustafa. S.,
I think you just proved his point entirely.
PigeonQuote Reply
Lyannaes,
Oh I didn’t mean it in a nasty way Lyonesse, (sorry if I’ve got your name wrong) just that northerners (to me as a midlander) seen to call a spade a spade – and I didn’t say it but I thought some of the folk who it seemed wanted to jump on IMcSh from a great height had had a bit of a sense of humour bypass.
Dame of MerciaQuote Reply
Jack Bauer 24,
I hope some titles get leaked ahead of time, they will probably only release the titles for season 6 one episode at a time.
Matthew The Dragon knightQuote Reply
Mustafa. S.,
You actually prove his point.
flintstonewielderQuote Reply
*passes out fuzzy cardigans, nice cups of herbal tea and photos of kittens in champagne glasses to the angry* There, there dear.
I have a feeling the episode titles are going to be particularly vague this year. *sigh*
HotPinkLipstickQuote Reply
HotPinkLipstick,
Ehh, how vague can ‘Jon Snow is dead’, ‘Nope, he’s really dead’, ‘Folks, give up, he’s REALLY, REALLY, PINKY SWEAR, dead’, be? 😀
YagaQuote Reply
Nice. This also confirms the Red Carpet premiere is April 10th.
Jack Bauer 24Quote Reply
hexonx,
Yeah exactly! So many great actors in bit parts. Thats linda what GOT had started doing with the latest tro season, with mark gatiss, AAA and now mcshane.
Damphairintheshowplease!Quote Reply
heh, yes, this is the classic fanboy attitude that McShane and so many others ridicule! This really is the bathwater that is being tossed when the rest of the world dismisses anything that fanbases say about franchises.
Some hardcore fans remembered who who played Myrcella and liked Aimee. Speaking for myself, there is almost zero chance that she would cause one of the moments like McShane always does where I might see her in something else and think “Where have I seen her before?” (Of course, that chance has gone to zero now: when she was last on the show, she probably was an early teen, and now she would be pushing 20.) General viewers would not have remembered her anymore than other people here would have remembered who played a bit part with 2 or 3 appearances recast years later in other TV shows. In a way, this is on what McShane is commenting: despite what the hardcores think, this is just another TV show or movie to most people.
And it does not change the fact that had the first actress been cast for the part, then the character would have been as portrayed by the cast actress portrayed her. After all, it had been 2-3 years on the show’s timeline since she had last appeared, and she had gone from tween -> young lady.
WimseyQuote Reply
Given the character(S) McShane is supposedly playing I don’t really see a reason why he would have to be killed. It seems perfectly reasonable for him to appear in one episode, be a part of something rather major in the story and then continue on. It doesn’t have to be considered a ‘loose end’ if we don’t see the life story of every character. Neither Elder Brother nor Septon Meribald are very major characters in the books. Hell, Gendry has been out rowing his little boat around for years now…
ClobQuote Reply
Doesn’t anybody think there is a chance that McShane could be playing Howland Reed? Seems to me that an actor of his caliber would play a role that needed to be remembered, and the first time this character actually shows up would be important.
gooberQuote Reply
Pigeon,
Yes, this is perfect! Will be used for years to come….
Stoked for McShanes role, however “short lived” it may be. I really respect his attitude and candor about his involvement in the show. I’m sure he had a great time on set and will value the experience- I don’t take any of this as him knocking the show or the fans. Just speaking a bit of realism to a world obsessed with the Internet and all its entitlements.
Laura,
I would read it first, especially if you like Neil Gaiman. It’s a great read, and very quick. Also, my understanding of what Gaiman wanted to do with a show adaptation is to really expand on the plot- so lot of stuff not included in the book.
Sister KisserQuote Reply
goober,
No, he said he’s religious man and a hardened gruff ex-soldier, who will be responsible for bringing back someone everyone thought was dead. Howland Reed won’t be bringing Jon back and Howland Reed is not a religious, gruff ex-soldier. He’s the Lord of Greywater Watch.
PhilQuote Reply
Mustafa. S.,
Relax man. It’s just tits and dragons.
PhilQuote Reply
Mustafa’s boyfriend/girlfriend must have left him/her, or he/she/it is just an idiot, I’m going with the latter.
HoderesQuote Reply
God damn Mcshane is badass, love him.
Bearded OnionQuote Reply
Yaga,
😉 Perhaps this year’s titles are rather spoilery so they won’t be publicising them in advance. Might be along the lines of “The one where x happens”. There was some show where they were all like that, Friends maybe?
Lulus MumQuote Reply
No he’s not. He’s simply saying… It’s only tits and dragons.
In other words, it’s a fantasy show. It’s far from the most important thing in the world right now, so no need to get so worked up, it’s totally unnecessary. Sheesh.
ApolloQuote Reply
Yaga,
lol i shoulda scrolled down further.. We’ve pretty much said the same thing
ApolloQuote Reply
Some of you know my feelings about Viggo Mortensen. A true class act and generous human being. He would be wonderful on GoT – “Oh good, I can see my old friend Sean Be….augh!”
PigeonQuote Reply
Phil,
Phil,
But he is an ex soldier who fought along side Ned many times during the earlier wars and of course the tower of joy events..I just feel like with everything going on with them finally showing what happened at the TOJ this season they would some how incorporate Howland Reed back into it. Correct me if I’m wrong but nobody has really heard much from him since the events at the TOJ? So it could be reasonable that he has become a religious man since..i know it doesn’t explain what he said about bringing someone back from the dead, but I just have a hard time buying that he will be playing anything but someone of great importance.
GooberQuote Reply
Oh, I agree, I wasn’t saying everyone would remember. But some do, and have a fondness, and hey that’s fine. I don’t think anyone claimed she had a shattering impact.
The ‘other’ Nell (young Cersei) REALLY impressed me with her small part.
Exactly! After all, he took (and was offered) the part on the show!
PigeonQuote Reply
Al Swearengen will claim the throne anytime he wants to. No one touches Al. He would demolish the Mountain!
UlfieQuote Reply
Wait. There was a pinky swear?!?
I must’ve missed that.
However, if there was a pinky swear, I guess Jon really is dead.
That’s it. I’m quitting the show.
*flips hair and flounces off*
Nymeria Warrior QueenQuote Reply
Lovejoy doesn’t give a shit! Must say it’s refreshing with all the other actors vaguely waffling on about absolutely nothing because they can’t say anything!
TheTouchofFrostQuote Reply
Mustafa. S.,
He’s not being condescending. He just doesn’t care what you and your ilk think. If you could focus all that anger at injustice into something that actually matters that’d be swell: I don’t think a TV show is the one when there’s an awful lot of other stuff to get angrier about in the world. After all, it’s only tits and dragons.
TheTouchofFrostQuote Reply
“God rest the souls of those poor spoilers…..and pussy’s half price next 15 minutes…”
RygarQuote Reply
As often as I hear, “Dinklage, Peter Dinklage, Peter Dinklage, Peter Dinklage…” when the Game of Thrones theme song is playing, I think now I’m going to start hearing…
“Dragons, Tits and Dragons, Tits and Dragons, Tits and Dragons…”
Nymeria Warrior QueenQuote Reply
Lol, am I the only one who immediately thought about that South Park episode called “Titties and Dragons”? 😀
Ser Creighton LongboughQuote Reply
TheTouchofFrost
But. That isnt what it is !thats like saying its schlongs and wolves. Lets not be sexist or animalist (or whatever discrimination againsr one species over another is called.
YgritteQuote Reply
Oh wow, people need to get the hell over it. “Oh boohoo, he doesn’t think these books are the greatest work of art in the history of time!!!” How old are you people?? Because, sometimes people will hate what you love. Yeah, I get it sucks to hear anything negative about things you like. But, come in, who cares?? If YOU love theses books and truly believe they are the great, why do you care who someone else thinks? Why do you need other to validate your opinions? Love what you love, and be happy with it.
MacieQuote Reply
Ygritte,
You can’t possibly be serious. Its a tv show, it is NOT that serious. THAT is what he is saying.
j3456Quote Reply
The show isn’t just dragons and tits, you arrogant arsehole.
Euron GreyjoyQuote Reply
Ha! I’m reminded of that great Saturday Night Live skit when William Shatner goes apeshit on Trekkies. “Get a life!” LOL.
I love the show but “just tits and dragons” is about the best descriptor I’ve ever heard!
chameleonQuote Reply
Euron Greyjoy,
No it aint and im surprised that so many here think its such a great descriptor. After all, this is a place where much analyzing goes on and most of it has nothing to do
YgritteQuote Reply
It’s awesome – my favorite novel of the millennium so far. Took me a while to get through because there is just so much to think about. Gaiman does an incredible job of interweaving nuggets of folklore and mythology from all over the world into his main narrative; so if you have any sort of fascination with that sort of thing, you may find yourself laying the book down periodically to resort to Google to find out more about some obscure minor deity or other. And the writing is just deliciously crafted.
FirannionQuote Reply
Schlongs and wolves are good things, let’s embrace them
Don’t be upset, I’m sure he was just jokingly pointing out that this is just entertainment, let us be entertained! I promise you Ian McShane is a great actor, I’m looking forward to see him, especially if he plays the part most of the fans believe he does.
Shy Lady DragonQuote Reply
Not much of a news.
I choose violenceQuote Reply
Damn, I guess McShane will never guest at a comic-con. Deadwood is in my top five shows and I need a good excuse to cosplay Trixie.
Lonely CatQuote Reply
Knight of the Walkers (Formerly Jeb),
Ah yes, from Gin Alley. HA!
Mrs. KingslayerQuote Reply
I forgot to include the Quote. Karl Tanner, from Gin Alley. That’s made me laugh. I just watched that last night. NICE
Mrs. KingslayerQuote Reply
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/tits-and-dragons-is-a-much-better-name-agrees-george-rr-martin-20160315107169
Great to see that most people have a sense of humour over this.
ApolloQuote Reply
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