Game of Thrones is one of those shows that use CGI and other technology to make the show come together cohesively and fully. I mean, how else would we be able to watch Daenerys ride dragons across the Seven Kingdoms?
However, it turns out that the CGI doesn’t work for everything. After Episode 4 aired on HBO, fans online were pretty damn angry that when Jon Snow left Winterfell with Dany to take back the throne at King’s Landing, he didn’t say goodbye to Ghost.
Ghost has not only been an integral part of Jon’s life since Season 1, but he also fought bravely in the Battle of Winterfell—so much so, that he lost part of his damn ear.
https://twitter.com/got7fanboi/status/1125223117251416064
Therefore, fans were hating heavy on Jon for being such a cold-hearted douchebag.
Ghost broken & beaten. Saw his brothers & sisters die. Watched Jon his owner, master and best friend get killed. Chained & starved AND YET fought for the North & the realm of men. Standing one side with not so much as a "good boy"
We don't deserve Ghost pic.twitter.com/iRZyFNHALM
— The Artist formally known as Naier (@UzairAfrica) May 6, 2019
After the show directors got wind of the hate no social media, they decided to open up as to why they decided to have Jon leave without saying goodbye. According to Director David Nutter, it was all about CGI. He told the Huffington Post:
Since the direwolves are kind of CG creations, we felt it best to keep it as simple as possible. Keeping Ghost off to the side, I thought that played out better … Then [Jon] just walks off by himself, he turns to Ghost and has this moment with Ghost that I thought was very, very powerful.
People online were still pretty angry at the explanation and, were a bit confused about how there wasn’t enough money in the CGI budget to have Jon simply pet Ghost goodbye, but have enough to make three dragons blow out mass cities. Right.
https://twitter.com/imcoleperaja/status/1125278526662307840
https://twitter.com/reallysuspended/status/1126309080715485186
https://twitter.com/romano__n/status/1126093506571841536
HBO: Having Jon pet Ghost, a wolf, was too complicated for CGI.
Also HBO: pic.twitter.com/9jurEyqKmc
— Filup Molina (@filupmolina) May 8, 2019
I can’t stop thinking about Jon not giving some attention to Ghost before leaving. He’s such a good boy 🙁 Too hard with CGI? Excuse me? When’s that been an issue before? Look at the gif. LOOK AT THE GIF. pic.twitter.com/eiViGrezHV
— Tom (@TomShearwood) May 8, 2019
if Game of Thrones really couldn’t work some CGI magic with Ghost and Jon Snow they could’ve just borrowed my Ghost x pic.twitter.com/u3AU40EcuW
— veronica ˢˡ⁴ʸ (@veronicrar) May 8, 2019
HOW THEY GON TELL US JON COULDNT PET GHOST BECAUSE OF CGI COMPLICATIONS WHEN THEY HAD JON RIDE AN ENTIRE DRAGON A COUPLE EPISODES AGO🗣🗣🗣🗣 pic.twitter.com/YqQe3lwoAM
— Momosa🐝🤠🪩 (@akaBlackGlitter) May 8, 2019
“cgi prevented jon snow from giving ghost a proper goodbye – since the direwolves are kind of cg creations, we felt it best to keep it as simple as possible”
omg did you know jon petted an actual dragon in s7? pic.twitter.com/peZ8GBEzNr
— season of the witch (@bigIttIeIies) May 8, 2019
h/t: BuzzFeed