David Benioff and Dan Weiss, the renowned showrunners behind the iconic series “Game of Thrones,” have recently opened up about one aspect they wish they had done differently. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter while discussing their upcoming Netflix sci-fi drama, “3 Body Problem,” the Emmy-winning writer-producers shared a rare moment of reflection on their epic fantasy series.
Throughout their career, Benioff and Weiss have generally avoided critiquing their own work on “Game of Thrones,” out of respect for the massive team that contributed to the show’s success. However, they revealed a small detail they would have changed, and it’s likely not what fans might expect.
The subject of their regret is Mord the Jailer, a minor character portrayed by Ciaran Bermingham. Mord was the brutish guard in charge of the Sky Cells at the Eyrie who tormented Tyrion Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage). Tyrion famously offered him a bribe and later rewarded him with a sack of gold coins, embodying the Lannister motto, “A Lannister always pays his debts.”
Benioff expressed his regret, saying, “One thing I know I wish we could have done is there’s the character Mord the Jailer.”
Weiss chimed in, adding, “It was a mistake not bringing Mord the Jailer back into it. We always talked about doing it.”
They went on to describe a missed opportunity where Mord could have made a return appearance in a scene set in a tavern. Weiss recalled, “Was it Brienne or The Hound?” Benioff responded, “But we realized too late that Mord could have owned the tavern. We could have had that actor in the background acting exactly the way he did as a jailer, except now as a small business owner. It was just such an obvious, no-brainer, day-after idea.”
While it may not be a game-changing alteration to the series, this glimpse into the showrunners’ creative process and their willingness to acknowledge minor regrets adds an interesting layer to the legacy of “Game of Thrones.”
