(Spoilers are coming, you've been warned!)
Meow we finally know the truth.
In the most gut-wrenching scene from Sunday's "Game of Thrones" Season 6 finale, Tommen Baratheon, the first of his name, jumped from a window of the Red Keep, ending his reign and actor Dean-Charles Chapman's run on the show.
The scene was horrifying, but after it, only one question was on everyone's mind: Who the heck is going to take care of Ser Pounce?
"Yeah, I don't know. I suppose there's a lot of staff around the kingdom to look after him. Hopefully he didn't get caught up in the blast. That'd be a tragedy. I like to think he'd also move on with his life and get a girlfriend maybe," Chapman told The Huffington Post.
Pounce, of course, is the hero cat who stole the moment in Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) and Chapman's first scene together. Tommen's pet made only one appearance on the show, and now we know the reason why.
The 18-year-old says he was nervous for his scene with Dormer, and the cat didn't make things any easier.
"With the cat, it was my first time working with animals, and it was quite hard because you're doing a scene with the other actress or actor, and at the same time there's trainers off the set, behind the camera, like with a little toy putting food on the bed for it to stand in a certain position, and that cat that day would have none of it. He was just loving life. He just really wasn't on his game that day," Chapman explained. "Yeah, I think that was the reason why they didn't have him back because it's just hard work. Cats can't understand English, so you tell a cat, 'Come on. Jump on the bed,' and he just looks at you like, 'What are you talking about?'"
Dormer previously said in a Reddit AMA that Ser Pounce was a diva, causing speculation that that was reason the cat wasn't back. We just hoped the rumors weren't true. Apparently, she wasn't kitten.
Chapman did add, however, that he loved the scene with Pounce. Perhaps the actor learned his lesson after comments about a love scene with Dormer were blown out of proportion in previous interviews. It's not worth hurting Pounce's feelings.
The loss of Pounce in the show is obviously cat-astrophic, but Chapman was only getting started, as he talked to HuffPost about the aftermath of the finale and the bloodshed ahead.
What was your reaction to Tommen's scene?
As soon as I read it, I was sort of not really looking forward to it. This show has so many deaths every year, and at some point you know it's going to come unless you're really lucky. And as soon as I read it, I was kind of really nervous to film it, because I wanted it to be good. I wanted Tommen to go out in a good way. In a way, it's an awful thing what he did. But instead of getting his skull crushed or, you know, dying in a sword fight, I think it was a great way visually. It looked great.
On the day, I think the main note I got from the director, I mean, we did it loads of variations on the day, but I think the one that made it to the end, it was just, "Have almost no reaction to what you're seeing." It's so difficult to process what he's seeing, and it's almost like a dream. It's like he's hallucinated. Instead of him streaming tears from his eyes [or] running away to confront his mom, he's just there, completely broken and by himself. Lost in his own thoughts [and that] leads to his death.
Did you talk about how that reflected Bran getting pushed out the window?
Not really. That's something I thought of not too long ago after I shot the scene. I didn't really think of it like that. If you think of it like that, it is kind of clever. I suppose it's a message of karma isn't it? Karma comes down fast. Jaime intentionally tried to kill Bran, really. And [as] payback, [Cersei] got her son intentionally taking his own life.
What was it like shooting that scene?
For me, I was the only cast person there. Of course, I talk to the crew and the directors, but when you're with the other actors you're always talking. But that scene, I was by myself. It was weird. It was a great day. I couldn't have asked it to be better. I couldn't have asked for a better director. I thought it was shot beautifully. I thought it was edited beautifully with the lighting, the music and the way it looked. I think on the day, I was just more cool. "Game of Thrones" shoots from July to December, and I think we shot that in October or November, so I had four months to think about this scene, and it was finally there in front of me, and I was like, "Let's do it."
What do you think about Cersei's actions?
In a way, she sort of caused Tommen's death, didn't she? And now she's the queen. I don't know how that's going to pan out, especially now that she hasn't got any children to keep her down to earth. I don't know if she's going to become the woman version of Joffrey. But, she's an evil woman. She is. But she had no choice. She had to do something about it. I would do the same thing if it was those times again and I was in the same situation. In a way, I blame her, and in a way, I don't.
What do you think about the theory that Jaime could be the one to kill her?
Oooh, that'd be good TV. That'd be very good TV [laugh]. For me now, I'm not in next season, so I can actually sit down and watch it with no spoilers. I literally know as much as you guys. But yeah, for Jaime to kill Cersei, that'd be pretty cool. I'd sort of like Dany to kill her. One-on-one girl fight. That'd be pretty sweet. But yeah, Jaime, I think he could possibly stab her or something.
Have you heard about the Cleganebowl?
Is this the Mountain and the Hound?
Yup. Fans think the Mountain and the Hound will face off. Do you think Tommen outlawed trial by combat because he's secretly against Cleganebowl?
I don't think he knew. I think he was just following rules, being the puppet I guess that he was. But, I guess it could happen. Fans want it to happen, so why wouldn't it happen? I could definitely see the Hound coming back having to wrestle the Mountain. That'd be sweet. That'd be the highlight of my life. Yeah, I could see it happening.
We finally found out who Jon Snow's mom is. What was your reaction?
I really nerded out to be honest with you. In a way, I guess everyone sort of half knew that Jon Snow's mom was Ned Stark's sister [Lyanna Stark] ... We all sort of figured it was Ned's sister, but when I saw that I was like, "Yes, finally, my dreams are coming true."
People were also excited about Lyanna Mormont.
I don't know how old she is, but she's a pretty ace actress, isn't she? She knows what she's doing. I hope she's in Season 7, as well. I know the fans would love that. Hats off to the girl that played that role. She's great.
(The actress is Bella Ramsey, FYI.)
How do you think the show will end?
I don't think there will be an Iron Throne. I think it'll all get blown away in dragon fire or something.
Wow!
Yeah, I think all this stuff over a metal chair is a bit too much. I think they're gonna fix all of it. There's definitely going to be major bloodshed.
Have you seen the reaction to your scene yet?
It's great. I've been getting major laughs, not only about me, but Tommen, which is absolutely great. And, as well, I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to all the Tommen fans, the people that actually got Tommen and loved Tommen. I love all you guys. Thank you for that.
No, thank you your grace. May the Light of the Seven guide you.
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