‘The Last Watch’: An Ode To The Unsung Heroes Of Westeros & Beyond
In the age of binge-watching, it’s not often a television event can bring as many people together as ‘Game of Thrones’ did. Bryce Phillips writes on why we should enjoy the show’s journey through the lens of its creators and not let its memory fade
I have always been a fan of the Matthew Dellavedovas of the world.Those overlooked people whom the success of the group would not be possible without.
(Without Delly, Lebron does not bring a ring to Cleveland. Fight me, sports “experts.”)
HBO’s Game of Thrones: The Last Watch is a showcase of the underappreciated people that kept Thrones afloat. I am thankful to HBO for pulling back the curtain and allowing viewers to see life behind the scenes. Particularly within the larger-than-life world of Thrones, there is something poetic when Deborah Riley, production designer, states, “We’re quite shy people, we just want to be able to do our work and leave. I don’t think the actors would even know who I am. That suits me just fine.”
The documentary opens with the same theme that has introduced Game of Thrones for the past decade. For a lot of us, Thrones was a Sunday ritual, not to be missed for any reason. Excitement builds in the viewer as the camera cuts between shots of the show’s biggest moments. The sense of nostalgia is difficult to overcome as we see the likes of Ned’s head on a pike, the Red Wedding, and Arya getting revenge on Walder Frey among others flash across the screen and we are transported back to George R.R. Martin’s brainchild.
Instantly, 70 hours of content, countless Reddit-fueled fan theories, and an endless amount of Twitter takes and memes are brought back to the forefront of our minds. Some people soured on Thrones due to its divisive Season 8. Others have completely forgotten about it, as we oft do in our binge-watching society. Either way, The Last Watch is a journey that I urge fans of the series to take. The magnifying glass it holds over the unsung heroes of Westeros and beyond is a rewarding reminder of the humanity of television.
The documentary covers the filming of Season 8, with a special focus on the seven month building, and destruction, of the King’s Landing set and the arduous night sessions that led to the Battle of Winterfell. We are given unparalleled access into the days and (mainly) nights of the unseen cogs that make the wheels of Game of Thrones turn. We see first-hand how much care goes into the show by people whose names were previously unknown. Everything from how a direwolf looks running next to a man to how much festering should be featured in an extra’s wound is meticulously selected. Watching set designers and directors alike discuss the intricacies of every scene reminds an often finnecky fanbase of how difficult it is to weave together an episode of Thrones.
The Last Watch weaves multiple narratives together in order to give many deserving people recognition. These “stars” are a reminder to the audience that people just like us are what made the show possible. We see bits of ourselves in the grinders behind the scenes who made Thrones a reality and for that our appreciation of the show grows. Whether it was their charisma or connection to the audience, these unsung heroes made a lasting impression on this viewer.
Del Reid: Head of Snow
Although his title makes it seem as if Reid is a ranking member of some order of Northern bastards, it actually is much more straightforward. Reid’s job is to ensure that every set on Game of Thrones features realistic snowfall. As we know, winter did indeed come to Westeros, so Reid has been a busy man. Watching Reid talk about remaining cost-efficient and being a stickler to not overuse materials is a hilarious contradiction for a show known for its exorbitant budget. He even has his crew reuse snow for future shoots.
Although there are moments where he expresses frustrations about being spread thin on an extremely tight schedule, Reid shows a natural chillness that helps him connect with the audience.
Although there are moments where he expresses frustrations about being spread thin on an extremely tight schedule, Reid shows a natural chillness that helps him connect with the audience. This connection strengthens when he addresses tough moments from his personal life. He grew up in children’s homes and was sent out to the streets with his birth certificate and 300 quid when he became of age.
The turmoil of his childhood fostered a dedication to his children that makes him a figure worth championing. Del is a reminder that dedication to your craft and a strong work ethic are the best way to provide for those you love.
Memorable Quote: “As I’ve progressed, you know, I’ve always got more money and I just think ‘to keep that, I’ll have to keep working at the pace I’m working.’ You just want to do the best for your kids. You know, I’d give up my house for my kids.”
Andy McClay: Extra
McClay knew at an early age that he wanted to aim for a life in drama. He gets a lot of shine throughout the documentary, and justly so. Besides being the most charismatic presence featured in the piece, McClay’s dedication to Thrones tells the story of a hard working man who simply wants to do a good job. Whether he is ogling at statues of dead Starks or explaining the meaning of a club sandwich to a fellow actor, McClay’s scenes are not to be missed.
McClay is the unspoken leader of the extras. His seriousness towards being an extra shows his appreciation for his current position. He takes so much pride in his work that he once made it to the set on time on the same day that his house burnt down. His eyes light up every time he speaks about Westeros lore and House loyalties. His coworkers speak of him with genuine affection, especially a fellow extra on the last shoot day who thanks him for his guidance on set. While marquee names receive the critical attention, the Andy McClays of the world make the workplace somewhere you want to be.
My favorite moment in his narrative is when McClay is almost giddy that he gave Kit Harrington one of his unit’s coveted extras jackets and refused to accept payment for it. After expressing jealousy towards a fellow extra whom Kit addressed as a friend earlier in recording, McClay has his own run-in with Jon Snow himself. On the last day of filming, McClay is mind-blown when Harrington wears the jacket shares that it is his new favorite thing. McClay’s infectious nature captivates through the end credits, when he is seen leading the most engaging Game of Thrones bus tour you will ever see.
Memorable Quote: “Do you know what club sandwich means? Chicken, lettuce under bacon… Boom. Every day’s a school day brother.”
Sarah Gower: Prosthetics Coordinator
Gowers and her husband Barrie run the Prosthetics Crew for Season 8. The scene in which Sarah video chats with their daughter, Lottie, is a slap of reality to the viewer. Often times we get so whisked away in suspending our disbelief for the onscreen action, we forget that actual people with lives of their own are behind our favorite, and most hated, TV moments. This is not to say that we should lessen our opinions on artistic mediums because humans made it, but it is something to keep in mind when you nitpick or criticize something that someone has sacrificed immensely to create. These sacrifices create an attachment to their work, whether the audience enjoyed it or not.
The pure joy in Sarah and Barrie Gower’s eyes as their daughter acts as an extra on the show takes you back to any moment where you have been proud to be connected to somebody. Watching Sarah tearfully thank her crew on the last day shows the bittersweet taste endings bring to life. It reminds me of the end of the school year as a teacher. No matter how stressful, amazing, ecstatic, shitty, or [insert adjective here] the year has been, there is always a sense of pain in ending your connection with a group of people you have experienced a bulk of your journey with.
Memorable Quote: “So this has been really quite hard. And I think some days we’ve really struggled to get through it. I think if it wasn’t for you guys and your morale, that’s really what has got us through.”
Leigh McCrum: Snack Shack Operator
There’s not much to say about Leigh except that she is a beautiful soul. It’s hard not to smile when listening to McCrum tell her origin story for the “Tiger Toastie” or watching her become starstruck as Sophie Ellis-Bextor compliments her stock. McCrum makes you appreciate the people in your life who you benefit from without even realizing it. Whether it is that person at work who lifts your spirits with a conversation or the barista who always completes your order to perfection, the Leigh McCrums of the world make life better.
Memorable Quote: anytime she says, “wee toastie.” Somebody make a Youtube video of her saying “wee toastie” for 10 straight hours and inject it into my veins.
Vladimir Furdik: Night King & Stuntman
The star of the documentary is Vladimir Furdik. The Night King actor and stuntman has a story that could be deserving of its own film adaptation. His quick aside about how his choice after the Czechoslovakian Revolution was to either become a gangster or join the live show and subsequent musing that he chose correctly because most of his friends are dead now is chilling. It is a reminder of the array of lives that intersect to make the show a possibility. The tangled web of human experiences that make up the backbone of the show would be an epic history in itself.
Throughout the piece, Furdik contemplates the cost of being famous. His narrative leads you to a scene in Spain where he approaches a horde of fans outside of the cast hotel. As a career stuntman, he is used to operating in the shadows of the limelight and dedicating his time to making others look good. He goes towards the crowd to “see if anyone knows who I am” and is greeted with cheers and shouts of “the Night King!” His joy and energy while posing and interacting with fans brings a smile to the audience. Although Furdik is not quite certain that he could handle the burdens of stardom akin to Kit Harrington, he sure as hell is enjoying this moment.
Memorable Quote: “I prepare them to look good in front of the camera, and always, I was [the] shadow behind them. Nobody saw me. Now I’m in the front line, so I’m like, ‘Wow what am I doing here? Why me?’”
Honorable Mention: Patrick Strapazon (Assistant)
The personal assistant to Director David Nutter refers to himself as a “stamina elf” and describes the office copier as his nemesis, so naturally, I love him. As an educator whose school ordered a copier model that can not handle the workload of a teacher’s lounge, I get where he is coming from. He reminds us that normal people are behind the magic of Thrones.
Working as a teacher and a coach, I have a love/hate relationship with the word “family.” Although I believe in the construct of the word, its use as a buzzword for culture building in today’s world has almost made it an unbearable cliche. As someone who believes they have a strong bullshit meter, I cringed internally when I first heard leaders of the Thrones crew refer to everyone as a family. Lo and behold, by the end of the piece, I damn well believed them. Either the Thrones crew really has achieved the sought after “family” dynamic of a team, or HBO’s editors are magicians.
A moment that reflects this dynamic is watching Emilia Clarke interact with Hair Designer Kevin Alexander and Hair Supervisor Candice Banks. As Clarke jokes with Alexander and Banks, claiming “this is the sexy bit” as she is fitted with a bald cap under her wig, we see the connection they have formed with the global star. The genuineness in their conversation is sobering as she eventually divulges how torn-up is she about donning the iconic wig for the last time. After she admits to them that the wig is “the most beautiful hair I will ever have on my head,” she states, “my heart is in my throat when I think about this not happening much longer.” Banks and Clarke conversation towards the end of the documentary reflecting on all the things they can get done now that their personal lives will not be on hold is another reminder that these are living, breathing humans who make great sacrifices to bring us weekly entertainment. Clarke keys us in on her inner turmoil while grasping with the ending of the show when she tells Banks that “it’s kind of exciting to sort of think: ‘Oh, who am I without this, then?’”
To me, The Last Watch is a celebration of the underappreciated cogs that kept the wheels of Thrones insanity from falling off while we sat on the edge of our seats.
For every Kit Harrington and Maisie Williams, there is an Andrew McClay and Sarah Gower behind the scenes working just as hard to create something that all involved can be proud of. That is the beauty of television, and anything that depends on collaboration. There is inspiration in seeing a group of people building upon each other’s strengths to create something bigger than themselves.
It’s even more powerful for viewers to see that people just like themselves made the most popular show in television history a reality.
Bryce Phillips is a new contributor to the staff in the realm of everything sports and popular culture. You can follow him on Twitter here.
