It speaks to the prestige of "Game of Thrones" that the HBO-exclusive series became one of the biggest shows on television of all time. From 2011 to 2019, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing about the Red Wedding or the Battle of the Bastards, whether you had the context of what was going on or not. Each episode garnered discussions about what this spectacular cast of characters was doing each week. If you weren't up to date, then you were left out of the conversation, dodging spoilers at every turn. Naturally, when it came to the final season, expectations were high for the ultimate, climactic ending.

If you weren't there, let's just say the reaction to season 8 as a whole was mixed at best. In a way, I almost feel bad for the people behind "Game of Thrones." Anything that is popular — whether it be movies, television or music — is subjected to a lot of opinions. Surely, the internet can be rational with those, right?

It wasn't until those last two episodes that a large gathering of folks, myself included, turned on the show. Of course, the people associated with the series quickly became aware of the reactions pouring in. Emmy award-winning actor Peter Dinklage has continued to defend "Game of Thrones," jokingly saying just last year in a profile with "The New York Times" that he believed the show's fans had "wanted the pretty white people to ride off into the sunset together," and that the show's subversion of those expectations is what made it great.

You Just Can't Please Everybody

While speaking with The Sunday Times earlier this year, the "Cyrano" star reflected on the fan criticisms, presenting his own thoughts on why the negative reactions were so strong:

"You're reminded of it on a daily basis by the fans. They had deep knowledge, but if somebody loves something they have their version of it in their head, so we got criticism early. Then, when we were leaving, they criticized again because they didn't want us to go. Some got angry. But if you appeal to everyone you're doing something wrong. And we offended a lot of people."

I see what Dinklage is going for, even if it's slightly misplaced here. For example, I love "The Last Jedi," but every time I see it trending on social media, I die a little inside knowing that it's fueled by said toxic fandom that can't get over themselves.

With that said, there is absolutely room for criticism, should it come from the right place, and there was plenty of solid foundation for those who felt that the last season felt rushed and emotionally unfulfilling. You can't cater to everyone, but this mad dash race to get to the finish line had done irreparable damage to one of the most beloved shows on television. "Game of Thrones" was littered with issues, but let's be clear, Dinklage's masterful performance was never one of them.

"Game of Thrones" is available for streaming on HBO Max.

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