Barreling forward to its sixth season with the momentum of a dragon taking flight, HBO's "Game of Thrones" has become a global phenomenon and one of the most popular television series of all time. It is the network's most watched show, topping "The Sopranos" in total viewership, and also the most illegally downloaded series in history. Clearly, it's striking a chord with audiences all over the spectrum.
However, not everyone loves the show. In fact, those that have been on the show aren't always the biggest fans. Actor Stephen Dillane, who played Stannis Baratheon, recently admitted that he wasn't overly fond of his time in Westeros.
"I do not regret having done Game of Thrones, but I have nothing to say," Dillane explained. "I understood neither the series nor its success when I participated. The experience was very strange, it passed under my nose. For a role to be pleasing, I must get interested, which was not really the case. I was a bit overwhelmed."
OK, so Dillane never fully got "Game of Thrones." That's OK. After all, his character was a scorned brother ruthlessly pursuing a royal throne and was willing to burn his on-screen daughter alive to get it. His arc came to an end in brutal fashion last season, so it's understandable that he's now saying the experience may not have been his cup of tea. Dragons, shadow babies and child murder isn't for everyone, after all.
So if Dillane never really got behind "Game of Thrones," why did he continue to play Stannis Baratheon for the better part of five seasons?
"Among other things, for the money," he said.
Well, I can't blame him for that.
Dillane isn't the only actor to downplay the importance of "Game of Thrones." Actor Ian McShane recently spoiled a major season six storyline and then admitted to not caring when fans responded with vocal disappointment. The two situations may be different - Dillane was a series regular whereas McShane only signed on for one episode - but it's obvious that both men aren't as obsessive about the series as its viewers are.
Fair enough.
"Game of Thrones" will return to HBO for a sixth season on Sunday, April 24 at 9 pm ET.
