Aiden Gillen in Game of Thrones

SUMMARY

  • Conleth Hill, who played Varys, expressed disappointment in not having a final scene with Littlefinger.
  • Hill reflected on Varys' death, emphasizing his noble dedication to finding the right ruler for the throne.
  • The absence of a final confrontation between Varys and Littlefinger disappointed fans, as their rivalry was central to the series' early seasons.

The world of Westeros is full of intricate politics, with deeply complex characters running everything from the shadows. At the center of it all, were two men, who mastered the art of schemes and manipulation, and they drove the entire narrative of Game of Thrones

Aiden Gillen as Littlefinger in Game of ThronesAiden Gillen as Littlefinger in Game of Thrones | HBO

Varys, the spymaster, and Petyr Baelish, referred to as Littlefinger, were both cunning and powerful men, who stayed at the top of their game. What made their dynamic so interesting was how they both knew of their deep rivalry and had a mutual understanding of the same. But as the series neared its end, the creators missed a golden opportunity. 

Conleth Hill and the unfulfilled desire to have a final scene with Littlefinger 

Aiden Gillen and Conleth Hill in Game of ThronesAiden Gillen and Conleth Hill in Game of Thrones | HBO

Conleth Hill is the brilliant actor who essayed the character of Lord Varys in Game of Thrones, and his relationship with Aiden Gillens’ Littlefinger was amongst the defining elements in the first few seasons. They were two men from different backgrounds, and both of them had a different vision of what power meant in Westeros. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hill openly expressed his disappointment in not having a final scene with Gillen. 

I was very bummed to not have a final scene with him. I was bummed not to have any reaction to him dying, if he was my nemesis. That’s been my feeling the last couple seasons, that my character became more peripheral, that they concentrated on others more. 

It would have been great to have had one more meeting with Littlefinger. I think they tried to make that work and couldn’t. It just felt like after season 6, I kind of dropped off the edge

Even fans were surprised to see that there was no final confrontation between these two characters. It would have been perfect to see them have a conversation one last time because their relationship had been so complex throughout the show. 

Final days of Lord Varys: Conleth Hill reflects on his character’s end

Conleth Hill as Lord Varys in Game of ThronesConleth Hill as Lord Varys in Game of Thrones | HBO

Conleth Hill’s character, Lord Varys’ ultimate demise was a pivotal moment in the series, as he remained true to his core principles, even when it came to sacrificing his own life. Varys decided to betray Daenerys because he wanted a just ruler on the throne, and Hill defended his character’s choice by saying: 

All brilliant. All noble. He was absolutely true to his word the whole way through. All he wanted was the right person on the throne and a fair person on the throne. He said it so many times in the scripts. 

I don’t have the distraction of love or desire or any of those things. And the people he needed to see clearly were both in love. So that makes perfect sense. And now with hindsight, I’m okay, but I really was inconsolable.

Hill admitted to feeling disappointed when he found out about the character’s end, but as time passed, he understood how the conclusion made sense. But still, the absence of a final scene between Littlefinger and Varys will forever linger in the hearts of true Game of Thrones fans. 

You can watch Game of Thrones on HBO MAX.

Conleth HillGame of Thrones

Written by Sonika Kamble

Articles Published: 435

Sonika thrives on her passion for cinema, artistic expression, and philosophical exploration. Every medium of storytelling intrigues her, and she can’t help but dissect the layers to unravel the deeper meaning behind an arc or a scene. She finds contentment in playing chess, vibing to background scores, and penning the next chapter of her book. Sonika is driven by the idea of being a dutiful and responsible human who dedicates herself to a task, regardless of the outcome—a principle she’s committed to upholding at FandomWire.