“There was always a bit of a [dark] side”: Game of Thrones Broke Sean Bean’s 1 Career Streak Even ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Couldn’t Touch

SUMMARY

• Sean Bean talked about his time playing Ned Stark in Game of Thrones.
• He singled out the character as the most genuine he ever played, not even coming close to The Lord of the Rings' Boromir.
• Bean was happy with how the story of Ned Stark panned out even if it ended in tragedy.

Sean Bean’s performance in Game of Thrones did not even last for one whole season as his character, Ned Stark, was killed off in the ninth episode of the show. Regardless, his legacy remained the most iconic, even unforgettable, and his presence was still felt until the end.

Credits: Sean Bean in Game of Thrones / HBO Entertainment

It’s rare to have a character like this so beloved by the audience that they still held on to everything that he was even after his death. Bean found the part very genuine, unlike any other character he played in the past.

Ned Stark Was a New Type of Role for Sean Bean

Ned Stark’s death was undoubtedly one of the most painful moments in Game of Thrones, along with the Red Wedding, Hodor’s sacrifice, and Shireen’s burning. Fans believe it was too early for the character to die, but his demise was crucial to the story’s progress.

Sean Bean thought there was never a role he played in his entire career as good as the Lord of Winterfell. The actor revealed in an interview with Vulture that he has “played characters before that were ‘decent’ people, but not genuinely good.” Most heroes in stories are often branded with this personality to make them interesting. There must be, at least, some flaws in the system, or else they’d be impeccably perfect.

Bean said that “there was always a bit of a [dark] side to the characters” he played in the past, such as Boromir from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. Fans of the epic fantasy saga know what a good man the warrior of Gondor is, but he was still tempted by the Ring.

Credits: Sean Bean in The Lord of the Rings / New Line Cinema

He was a great man and a valiant fighter, and he only wanted what was best for his country, but desperation ultimately drove him to betray his allies. He attempted to seize the Ring and use it as a weapon against the Dark Lord. Bean remarked, “He was a good man, he meant well, but he had this weakness which cost him his life.”

Ned Stark, on the other hand, held a singular display of honor and honesty. He joined Robert Baratheon’s court as Hand of the King, and he resigned from his post after being appalled by their evil machinations and back alley deals, such as ordering the assassination of Daenerys Targaryen. “Ned was just out-and-out a good man,” said the actor.

Sean Bean on Ned Stark’s Fate in Game of Thrones

Credits: Ned Stark’s death scene in Games of Thrones / HBO Entertainment

Despite Ned Stark’s tragic fate, Sean Bean still thought his character’s arc was a wonderful piece of work. It’s a bold move for the show to kill off a major character like that, but the actor was also able to put in a lot before his time on the series ran out.

“This is a journey that he makes where ultimately his loyalty causes his downfall,” he told Entertainment Weekly. He fought corruption, held things together when they were falling apart, and tried to do the right thing. His fault was coming down to a place where “people are playing games and backstabbing.”

Game of Thrones is currently available to watch on Max.

Written by Ariane Cruz

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Ariane Cruz, Senior Writer. She has been contributing articles for FandomWire since 2021, mostly covering stories about the latest movies and series. With a degree in Communication Arts, she has an in-depth knowledge of print and broadcast journalism. Her other works can also be seen on Screen Rant and CBR.