Game Of Thrones' Richard Dormer Struggled With Beyond The Wall's Five Month-Long Shoot
HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" unexpectedly called back to the original series in a significant way. This detail foretells the terrifying great war of ice and fire between the White Walkers and Daenerys' (Emilia Clarke) great dragons. The prophecy also sets up one of the most astonishing spectacles in the show with zombified wights, lethal White Walker commanders, and a show-stopping bout of dragon fire.
North of The Wall, The Night King (Vladimir Furdik) claims his most valuable prize when he slaughters Daenerys' golden dragon, Viserion, then horrifyingly reanimates him for his own use. This jaw-dropping conclusion came from an astounding episode directed by "Game of Thrones" veteran Alan Taylor. The fantastic feat was captured by the fierce dedication of the cast and crew as they tier up the legendary series' final season.
Unsurprisingly, this filming excursion was grueling in the bitter cold giving the scene an unforgettable and authentic atmosphere. The sequence sees an exciting mash-up of brave souls, including Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Gendry (Joe Dempsie), the Hound (Rory McCann), Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), and Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer), who embark on a dangerous mission. Dormer, the actor behind the fierce and honorable Dondarrion, shared his experience with The Guardian while gushing over his flaming sword.
The gorgeous scenery and warm cast and crew helped Dormer immensely
One of the most enthralling elements in "Game of Thrones" is the groundbreaking and on-location filmmaking the series often commits to. This includes breathtaking sights in Northern Ireland, Spain, Croatia, and Iceland, many of which fans can visit (via Travelers Worldwide). It also means that the cast and crew were really amidst winter storms and constant rainfall, which highlighted the story but made the filmmaking process even more challenging.
This sacrifice was ultimately worth it after seeing the dazzling on-screen results. Dormer shares with The Guardian that Season 7 Episode 6 was especially tough, though the cast, crew, and location made it more bearable. "The episode Beyond the Wall took five months ... it just went on and on. The fight sequence took five weeks to film and lasts five minutes. Just climbing on the dragon took maybe a month – and on screen it's an eye-blink." He notes the exceptional talent on and off-screen helped tremendously because "it's not nice being soaking wet and very hot and yet very cold at the same time and trudging up and down the most beautiful glaciers in the world – but not even being able to look because you feel so tired."
After the fiery first season of "House of the Dragon," this chilling detail might make fans nostalgic for the harsh climates and ferocious enemies depicted in the original series "Game of Thrones." If so, they can now revisit Westeros anytime on HBO Max.