Ser Davos Seaworth finally getting his due
Game of Thrones character has become a fan favourite on the popular show
On Game of Thrones, Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) has turned into a beloved character, and not just because he has the most gorgeously expressive eyebrows in all of Westeros. Over the course of seven seasons, he’s lost a son, learned to read, witnessed the birth of a shadow baby and shifted his allegiances from Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) — after the wouldbe king’s untimely death — to Jon Snow (Kit Harington). It’s been a wild ride.
Following the season 7 finale, Cunningham called from his home in Dublin to discuss this season’s big shockers, the incredible speed with which his character travels and how he hopes life will turn out for Davos.
Q Ser Davos has got a lot of screen time and some of the funniest lines recently, so it seemed like a standout season for him. Did it feel like that from an acting perspective?
A Yeah. Spending a lot of time with Stannis Baratheon was not exactly all fun and games, even though I’m bereft at the loss of (actor) Stephen Dillane because I loved working with him. But with a younger man and an easiergoing chap like Mr. Jon Snow, it was a little easier to be at ease with this particular character.
I also loved doing that lovely little scene with that fermentedcrab Viagra. It kind of let you know his smuggling roots and what he was good at when he was selling stuff and moving stuff.
Q When you were reading the script for season 7, was there one huge surprise that really shocked you?
A Last night when it was finally confirmed that Jon Snow was in fact the man who should — on paper anyway — lead the Seven Kingdoms. That was extraordinary. But I mean, every episode! Last night there were so many. I remember in the previous episode when I read that they pulled the dragon out of the lake and turned him into not a White Walker but a White Flier, I remember reading that and going, “Oh my God!” There are oh-my-God moments all over this. It’s part of the joy of it.
Q Playing Jon Snow’s most trusted adviser, do you have any inkling how Ser Davos might react when he finds out he’s actually the legitimate heir to the throne? Maybe he should rescind his offer to bend the knee to Daenerys (Emilia Clarke)?
A I don’t know. With this show, it’s incredibly unpredictable. Anything can happen on this. I wonder if I’m going to be in the room, because I’d like to see the look on Daenerys’ face. (Much laughter.) It’s a double-whammy here — not only has he taken her job, she’s also his aunt.
Q There was a lot of talk this season about how quickly characters were moving from one place to another, and Ser Davos especially was pinballing all over the place.
A I mean, these are travel things, do you know what I mean? If we want them to stick to continuity, we’d have to wait another 12 episodes before Gendry (Joe Dempsie) got back to Eastwatch and gave me the news. The way I view drama is life with the boring bits taken out. I don’t really want to watch Varys (Conleth Hill) eating his lunch or me under a tree waiting for the rain to pass so we can get somewhere . ... It’s a grown-up show for grown-ups; let’s cut out the boring bits.
Q You’ve had so many great scenes over the years. Looking back, is there one that really sticks out to you that you won’t forget?
A You know, I loved the stuff with Shireen (Kerry Ingram), and I do like the young ladies on this show. We’ve watched the progress of Sansa and Arya with the gorgeous Sophie (Turner) and Maisie (Williams) going from children — and Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) as well — from being small children. To watch them develop into fantastic adults and to watch their craft develop, that’s been a complete joy.
And then, the confrontation between Melisandre (Carice van Houten) and Jon Snow in the room (after Davos found out Shireen was burned to death as a sacrifice). You don’t see many occasions when Davos loses it and has his heart broken.
Q Speaking of which, how would you like to see Ser Davos end up, in your ideal world?
A It’s impossible to predict. Ambition-wise, is Jon Snow going to end up on the throne with Ser Davos as his hand? I think that’s a little too predictable. It would be nice, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
You know what, I try to keep all the options open. I just want to see where it goes. I’m as much of a fan, and I’m a fan that’s blessed to be a participant in this. That’s the way I’m viewing it — we’ll see what happens.