For seven years now, Game of Thrones has been driving fans crazy with its epic battles, constant plot twists, and apparent total disregard for any of its characters' lives. Over the course of its seven seasons, dozens of characters have come and gone (some in more violent ways than others), but a few of them - whether living or dead - have left a permanent impression on us... and not always for good reasons.
In the last season, for instance, there was one particular Lannister soldier who stood out from the rest. He didn't have a name, and he didn't really say much either, but we all remembered him. Why? Because he was played by Ed Sheeran.
At the time, many fans thought the cameo was ever so slightly ridiculous - but apparently we weren't the only ones. Kristian Nairn, who played Hodor on the show, wasn't best pleased with seeing the A Team singer show up on set, and now he's come forward to explain why.
In an interview with HuffPost, Nairn - who also moonlights as a progressive house DJ - spilled the beans on how he felt about various famous faces appearing in the hit series.
"I’m not a fan of the cameos in Game of Thrones," he said bluntly. "I don’t like them. I think it’s stupid. I don’t mind going on the record on that. I just think it takes you right out of the world."
He then went on to pick up on one particularly unpopular cameo.
"Especially Ed Sheeran," he said. "I was like, ‘Why is Ed Sheeran here?’ I mean, Ed Sheeran’s great. He’s a great guy, great musician, but why is he in Game of Thrones?"
He went on:
"I’m not saying I’m not a fan of Ed Sheeran. I’m being tactful here, but just not a fan of the cameo. I think most people would agree with me there. It was a big snap to reality. It’s like, ‘What? What?’
"It’s a fantasy show. We’re all caught in this amazing world and spend so much time and money and talent to create, and all of a sudden there’s a pop star? What?"
And we have to agree - seeing Sheeran pop up amidst all the chaos and sing a cheery little campfire song was incredibly jarring.
In fact, there was only one cameo that Nairn really agreed with, and that was Sigur Rós. The Icelandic band showed up at the Purple Wedding in season four, and produced a beautiful cover of The Rains of Castamere that was played over the credits of the episode.
"[Sigur Rós] kind of got away with it because they’re so quirky ... They’re almost like ‘Game of Thrones’ world in real life," Nairn said. "They’re so elven and spiritual. I think that works, but apart from that — I mean, I understand why people want to be in it, but just no. Go away."
What Nairn said may seem a little harsh to some, but - judging by the fans' initial reaction to seeing Sheeran on-screen - I think he'll have most people's support on the matter.
