In a surprising blunder, an episode of Game of Thrones’ final season unintentionally featured a stray coffee cup left on a table, which seemed to go unnoticed by the cast and crew until observant fans brought attention to it on social media. Fans flooded social media with videos, memes, and humorous remarks about this modern takeaway container, generating an immediate buzz following the episode’s broadcast.
During the celebratory party scene in which the characters revel in their triumph over the Night King and his army of the undead, a conspicuous container can be spotted in front of Emilia Clarke. Amidst the characters raising flagons of ale and holding ornate chalices, this out-of-place item stands out prominently, like a sore thumb.
It Wasn’t Emilia Clarke’s Coffee Cup
Emilia Clarke solved the mystery of the coffee cup mishap. During her appearance on Tonight With Jimmy Fallon, the actress disclosed that her co-star Conleth Hill, known for his role as Lord Varys in the HBO series, was the culprit behind the blunder.
Sophie Turner, another Game of Thrones cast member, had previously jokingly accused Emilia Clarke of being responsible for the coffee cup error during her appearance on Fallon’s show. However, Clarke revealed to Fallon that Conleth Hill had essentially confessed to the mishap during a pre-Emmys party.
“He said, ‘I think it was [mine], I am sorry, darling. I didn’t want to say anything because it seemed the heat was very much on you.’” Clarke told the host.
The incident, dubbed “Cupgate” became a prominent topic of discussion during the eighth and final season of the fantasy saga. Initially, numerous outlets mistakenly reported the cup as being from Starbucks, only for it to later be recognized as originating from a local establishment near the filming location of the series.
The Mishaps Didn’t Stop At The Coffee Cup
In a press release issued, HBO acknowledged that the presence of the latte in the episode was an unintended error. “The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea,” the company joked in the release.
Considering the hefty price tag of approximately $15 million per episode, one would expect such anachronisms to be few and far between. However, in addition to the coffee cup incident, another blunder was noticed in a subsequent episode—an unmistakable plastic bottle made an unexpected appearance.
In addition to encountering various gaffes, the finale of the show left a considerable portion of fans and critics disappointed, leading to over a million viewers signing a petition advocating for a remake of its ending.
Game of Thrones is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video.