Warning: This story containsGame of Thronesspoilers for the series finale.
The Kingslayer did not become a Queenslayer, as many expected.
Danish actorNikolaj Coster-Waldaumesmerizingly played the conflicted knight, and below he discusses Jaime’s fateful season 8 decisions.
Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU:I was shocked.
I never thought it was going to happen.
There’s this party.
They buried the dead.
There’s this enormous relief.
There’s drinking and happiness.
The battle for King’s Landing is looming.
So he decides he has to go back to his sister.
Was the scene with Brienne awkward since you and Gwendoline Christie have been friends for so long?
It was really weird.
I was trying to laugh and Gwendoline was like, “Don’t fing laugh!”
but then he says goodbye.
There was also that terrific scene where you knighted her in episode 2.
Jaime understands Brienne and the feeling of being an outsider and people having preconceived opinions about you.
He understands the pain that she just wants to be recognized.
Episode 2, I really like the atmosphere and the script and the way we shot it.
Then, of course, he leaves her.
How did you feel about that?
He kinda knows himself there is no alternative.
For a moment he tricks himself into thinking there is an alternative to his life.
As an audience you want him to succeed in taking that different route.
You wonder if he’s changed and if he’s escaped this destructive relationship.
He didn’t say, “Cersei, I don’t love you anymore.”
He has to go back.
She’s all alone.
He’s the last one she has.
He knows he has to back and give a shot to save her.
Fans are going to be heartbroken.
It does make sense, even though you don’t want it to.
And the way it ends with him, he finally finds her and it’s a beautiful ending.
How did you feel about Jaime and Cersei dying together?
I thought it was a great ending for that couple.
She was never going to surrender.
And he says it to Bronn in season 4.
Bronn asked, “How would you want it to end?”
And Jaime says, “In the arms of the woman I love.”
So this was foreshadowed and that’s what happened.
The Hound is another.
We have the same ending, it’s funny.
Both bound by family.
I do think fans will wish he had been able to pull away.
It would have been wonderful if he could have made it.
And him and Brienne could have had a life together.
There’s no question about it.
But he says it himself when he’s leaving Brienne.
She says, “You shouldn’t do this.”
He says, “Have you ever walked away from a fight?
I have to do this.”
The things he does for love?
The things you do for love… you have to.
He is stopped at one point, when he’s captured.
You might say: “Tyrion, what are you doing?”
Tyrion could have saved his brother by not [setting him free].
But it would have killed Jaime not to go in a different way, of course.
I never thought he would kill Cersei.
He wouldn’t do that.
Is there anything that didn’t happen for Jaime that you wish had?
I was looking forward to meeting Bran, so I’m gladthat happened.
I wish there’d been more stuff with Cersei once they finally meet in the climax.
But there are a lot of characters in this show.
It’s very satisfying to be part of something that ends.
What do you think of the show’s ending?
I don’t think they could have done it any better.
There’s a logic to it without it being obvious at all.
Read also:Lena Headey interview about Cersei’s final momentson the show.
