The cast and crew of ‘Game Of Thrones’ are currently shooting Season Six of HBO’s must-see fantasy series, following the shocking and tragic end of Season Five which famously saw the apparent death of one of its most popular characters.  Then again, death and tragedy is nothing new for this blood-soaked show and don’t expect that to change as it inches closer to it’s wrap-up, which showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff have gone on the record as saying will be sometime after the show’s eighth season.

‘Game of Thrones’ is of course based on the ‘A Song Of Ice and Fire’ novel series written by George R.R. Martin.  While Martin is still working on the sixth of the planned seven books, but has worked closely with Weiss and Benioff to keep the TV show in line with the unpublished material.

Even so, the author gave a bit of insight into how he would like to see the televised epic wrap up and considering the anguish and death that is the signature of the show, it may sound surprising:

“I think you need to have some hope. We all yearn for happy endings in a sense. Myself, I’m attracted to the bittersweet ending.”

Martin made this announcement at a speaking engagement at Northwestern University (because y’know he doesn’t have a long overdue book to finish or anything).  At the same event, he addressed similarities between ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.  Martin expressed admiration for Tolkien’s writings, but pointed out that he himself skewed more toward ambiguity.

“The battle between good and evil is fought within the individual human heart. Between all of us, every day and every year. People who do noble and heroic things on Tuesday may do some vile and selfish things on Wednesday.”

That certainly seems accurate as even despicable villains like Cersei Lannister can elicit sympathy from the audience as she did last season after her brutal imprisonment, torture and humiliation.

What other twists and turns can fans expect this season?  We’ll have to wait and see.

‘Game of Thrones’ on HBO on Sunday, April 24 at 9pm.

Source: Vulture