The Tribune

By KARIN HERIG

Big T Editor

kherig@tribunemedia.net

A show made by “intelligent people for intelligent people” is how actor Liam Cunnigham describes the global phenomenon that is “Game of Thrones”.

The award-winning fantasy show, based on George R R Martin’s best-selling novels, deals with the complex personal and political machinations of the inhabitants of Westeros – all with a healthy helping of bloodshed, sex and humour.

Now in its third season, the show has attracted millions of viewers in almost 70 countries and is showing no sign of slowing down in it’s march to world domination.

And according to Cunningham, who plays the “Onion Knight” Ser Davos Seaworth on the show, this impressive success is all down to the commitment and talent of the creators, and an audience who recognise this high level of quality of television.

“I try to keep things really simple and I think your philosophy has to be simple; and I think the philosophy should be, ‘if you build it, they will come’,” he told The Big T during a recent Caribbean and Latin American HBO press junket in Miami.

The Irish actor, who has starred opposite big names like Colin Farrell, Michael Fassbender and Don Cheadle, said an intelligent audience recognises quality storytelling and the attention to detail, and rewards it by watching in large numbers.

A genre show of the scope of “Game of Thrones”, he said, is new and exciting for television viewers.

“It’s a bit like when The Beatles came out first, or the Rolling Stones. Nobody was making music like that. People always want to make more of the same. They want the lowest common denominator because they know it works. But when something like this comes along, an audience recognises that, an intelligent audience. This is a show made by intelligent people for intelligent people, a grown-up show for grown-ups, and I think people recognise that; they recognise the effort that has gone into it,” he said.

A 20-year veteran of the industry, the 51-year-old actor said in his view there as been an evolution in television in recent years, especially on premium cable channels.

Cunningham said that many up-and-coming writers, directors and producers who have been trying to break into the industry with new ideas, but have failed, are now finding television to be a more receptive medium for their visions.

“With independent cinema, I think it’s so difficult to get a movie made. A lot of the time they’re written by the director. But because someone hasn’t proved themselves in the past, to get a first feature made, to get the money – you know you’re not going to make anything for less than $1 million – someone writing the cheques has to put his faith in it. Not only is it difficult to get it made, it’s difficult to get it on to a screen. If you get on to a screen, it’s difficult to get the money behind it for publicity, for marketing, and to make something that’s going to propel a career,” he said.

Because of these stumbling blocks within the movie industry, Cunningham said, talent is now migrating to television.

“That’s my theory. The talent that wanted to make movies, that wanted to do drama and intelligent stuff (is moving to television),” he said.

Premium cable channels, Cunningham said, not only have more money to invest, they also take more chances and give content creators more freedom to bring their ideas to life.

“Talent that was making independent film is going, ‘we need to work, we need to express ourselves’, and I think they’re moving into television. HBO, Showtime (and others) are facilitating talent. In a sense, independent film has turned into quality television,” he said.

In some cases, like with “Game of Thrones”, television is actually the preferred medium.

“You couldn’t do this show in cinema, it wouldn’t work, doesn’t matter how many sequels you have; it’s gotta be rolled out slowly,” he said.

And while Cunningham can’t say that the role of Davos is his favourite acting job so far (he views his roles like his children; there can be no favourites), he is not shy about declaring “Game of Thrones” the best show on television right now.

The Irish actor said one of the reasons for the stellar quality is the fact that the show’s head writers/executive producers David Benioff and D B “Dan” Weiss have gone about adapting the books for television in an “honourable” way.

“George Martin has broken his back for 20 years to get this extraordinary world from his mind onto the page. Dan and David recognised it when they saw it; realised it could be extraordinary television.

“There was every possibility their careers might have been over (if this hadn’t worked); they really took a chance. The idea was, ‘let’s make it as best as we possibly can, let’s cast it as well as we can, the script has to be good’; the costumes are magnificent, same as the production design. Everything just came together,” he said.

But with the bar set this high, Cunningham admits that all involved feel the responsibility of keeping the level of quality consistent as the show goes on.

“There is definitely a bit pressure to keep the quality; no one wants to apologise for the show, they want people to come and say, ‘we’re loving it, just please, more of it’.”

New episodes of the third season of “Game of Thrones” are currently airing on HBO on Sundays at 9pm.

An Onion Knight’s Tale

Liam Cunningham says his character Ser Davos Seaworth – also known as the “Onion Knight” – is on a difficult journey this season.

First introduced in the show’s second season, Davos is a landed knight and reformed smuggler who has sworn undying loyalty to Stannis Baratheon, brother of the deceased King Robert and claimant to the Iron Throne.

At the end of the last season, Davos was believed to have been killed in the ‘Battle of Blackwater’ after Stannis’ failed attempt to take King’s Landing.

He reemerges, however, on an islet and is rescued by his friend, pirate lord Salladhor Saan.

Reeling from the news of his son’s death in the sea battle, the third season sees Davos returning to Dragonstone and Stannis to extricate his master from the poisonous influence of the Red Priestess Melisandre, who has begun to burn alive all those who speak out against her as sacrifices to the Lord of Light.

Almost as soon as he steps foot on Dragonstone, Stannis has his loyal servant thrown into the dungeons for attempting to assassinate the priestess, who has become his chief advisor.

“That will test someone’s loyalty,” Cunningham said.

And so with the scene set, Davos will start his own personal journey and begin reevaluating his life.

“It’s a different world this time, instead of trying to get (Stannis) on the throne, things have gotten a little more personal for Davos, and that will unfold as the season continues. There are a couple of surprises coming up,” he said.

• In next week’s Big T, read about how actor Alfie Allen feels about his character’s murdering ways, torture and the hope of redemption.