Nikolaj Coster-Waldau didn't just play Jaime Lannister. Honestly, for about a decade, he was the guy. It's kinda wild looking back at 2011. Before the dragons grew up and the coffee cups started appearing on tables, we were introduced to a blonde, smug "Kingslayer" who pushed a kid out of a window.
Most people hated him instantly. That was the point.
But then something shifted. By the time we hit the middle seasons, fans weren't just tolerating Jaime; they were rooting for him. That transformation is mostly thanks to Nikolaj’s ability to play a man who is essentially a walking paradox. He's the guy who broke his most sacred oath to save a million people, then let everyone call him a coward for it because he was too proud to explain himself.
The Kingslayer’s Redemption (Or Was It?)
There is this massive debate that never really died down after the finale. You’ve probably seen the Reddit threads. They’re endless. People argue that Jaime’s character arc was "ruined" because he went back to Cersei in the end.
I’ll be real with you: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau actually disagrees.
He’s been pretty vocal about the fact that he doesn't see Jaime as a "hero" in the traditional sense. In his mind, Jaime was always about one thing: family. "The things I do for love." That wasn't just a catchy line from the pilot. It was his entire operating system.
Why the Bath Scene Changed Everything
If you want to understand why Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Game of Thrones performances are studied in acting classes now, you have to look at the bathtub scene with Brienne. Season 3, Episode 5. "Kissed by Fire."
It’s just two people in a tub. No CGI. No swords.
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Jaime is physically and mentally broken. He’s lost his hand—his identity—and he finally spills the truth about why he killed the Mad King. He wasn't chasing a throne. He was stopping a genocide. The way Nikolaj delivers that monologue, shaking and vulnerable, changed the DNA of the show. It turned a villain into a human being.
The Struggle With the Writers
It’s no secret that Nikolaj was protective of Jaime. He’s admitted in interviews—like those recent ones in 2025 reflecting on the show’s legacy—that he used to drive the showrunners, David Benioff and Dan Weiss, absolutely crazy.
He would argue about scripts. He’d question why Jaime wasn't reacting more to his children's deaths.
- He wanted Jaime to leave Cersei sooner.
- He pushed for more nuance in the relationship with Tyrion.
- He fought for the internal logic of a man torn between honor and toxic love.
Sometimes he won those battles. Sometimes he didn't.
That Infamous Finale Backlash
The 2019 finale was... a lot. Even now, years later, mention "The Iron Throne" at a party and someone’s going to start venting.
Nikolaj has a pretty healthy perspective on it, though. Speaking to The Independent recently, he basically said that it’s impossible to satisfy everyone when a show becomes that big. He calls the backlash "expected." He’s not being dismissive, really. He just thinks that after ten years, people were "angry at us for breaking up with them."
Basically, the ending hurt because the connection was real.
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What Actually Happened in the Red Keep?
A lot of fans wanted Jaime to be the "Valonqar"—the little brother from the prophecy who chokes Cersei to death. They wanted him to be the one to end her reign of terror.
Instead, he died holding her.
Some call it a "reversion" to his old self. But if you look at Nikolaj’s performance, it feels more like a tragic addiction. He tried to be the "Golden Knight" at Winterfell. He knighted Brienne—arguably the most moving scene in the entire series—and he fought for the living. But when the dust settled, he couldn't leave his twin to die alone.
It’s messy. It’s frustrating. It’s also very human.
Life After Westeros
You can’t stay the Kingslayer forever.
Since the show wrapped, Nikolaj has been busy. He’s not just doing big Hollywood blockbusters like The Other Woman or Gods of Egypt (we don't have to talk about that one). He’s gone back to his roots and leaned into his role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
His docuseries, An Optimist's Guide to the Planet, shows a completely different side of him. He’s swapping chainmail for hiking boots and traveling to places like the Ecuadorian Amazon to talk about climate change. It’s a far cry from King's Landing.
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The 2026 Perspective
In 2026, he’s starring in King & Conqueror, playing William the Conqueror. It’s another historical epic, and yeah, people are already making the GoT comparisons. But he’s older now, more seasoned.
He’s also famously refused to watch House of the Dragon.
He says it’s "too soon." He saw the opening credits once, heard Ramin Djawadi’s music, and just couldn't do it. It’s like seeing an ex-girlfriend move on too fast. You’ve gotta respect the honesty there.
Actionable Insights: How to Watch Jaime’s Arc Today
If you’re planning a rewatch or introducing someone to the show for the first time, keep these things in mind to appreciate what Nikolaj actually did with the role:
- Watch the eyes, not the mouth. Jaime often says things to shock people or play the "villain" role they expect. Nikolaj plays the truth in his expressions, especially when he’s with Tyrion or Brienne.
- Focus on the loss of the hand. Season 3 is the turning point. Notice how his entire posture changes. He goes from a man who owns every room to a man who is terrified of being noticed.
- The "Prophecy" trap. Don't get too caught up in the book theories while watching the show. The show version of Jaime is much more focused on the immediate emotional reality of his family than any ancient destiny.
- The Brienne connection. Their relationship isn't just about romance; it’s about Jaime seeing the person he wished he could be. Brienne is his moral compass, which is why his departure in Season 8 hurts so much.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau gave us one of the most complex characters in television history. He didn't give us a clean hero’s journey, and honestly, that’s why we’re still talking about it. Life isn't a straight line toward redemption. It’s a series of two steps forward and one massive, brick-collapsing step back.
To truly appreciate his work, you have to accept Jaime as he was: a man who was capable of great honor and terrible choices, often at the exact same time.
Next, you might want to look into the specific behind-the-scenes stories of the "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode, which many consider the peak of Nikolaj's acting in the final season.