Sophie Turner Reveals Why Playing Lovers with Kit Harington Was “Really Weird”
Sophie Turner, best known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, recently opened up about one of the most unexpected and awkward moments in the hit HBO series—her character’s brief romantic tension with Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington. In an interview, Turner admitted that the dynamic between the two was “really weird,” given their long-standing sibling-like relationship both on and off-screen.
Behind the Awkward Romance
In Game of Thrones Season 8, Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen) and Sansa Stark’s relationship took an uncomfortable turn when Sansa appeared to show subtle romantic interest in Jon, despite them believing they were half-siblings at the time. Though the plotline didn’t escalate into a full-blown romance, the tension was enough to unsettle both the actors and fans.
Turner explained:
“It was really weird. Kit’s like my brother, so the idea of anything romantic between us was just… no. We couldn’t even film those scenes without laughing or feeling super awkward.”
Harington echoed her sentiments in a separate interview, joking:
“I’ve spent years protecting Sansa in my head—suddenly having to look at her as anything else was bizarre. Thank god it didn’t go further!”
Fan Reactions: Shock and Amusement
The brief romantic subplot sparked mixed reactions online. Some fans found it intriguing, while others were relieved it didn’t develop further.
Twitter Reactions:
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“Sansa and Jon? Nope. Nope. Nope. #GameofThrones”
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“The most awkward ‘ship’ in Westeros history.”
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“Sophie and Kit’s reactions are all of us.”
A YouTube analysis video by ScreenRant delves deeper into the Jon-Sansa dynamic, discussing whether the showrunners intentionally teased the idea before dropping it:
Watch Here: “Jon & Sansa’s Almost Romance – Game of Thrones’ Weirdest Plot?”
Why the Dynamic Felt So Strange
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Sibling Bond On and Off-Screen
Turner and Harington had spent nearly a decade portraying characters who saw each other as family. Their real-life friendship mirrored their on-screen relationship, making romantic scenes feel unnatural. -
Fan Perception
Jon Snow’s most significant relationships were with Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). Sansa, meanwhile, had her own arc of growth and survival. Throwing them together romantically felt out of place for many viewers. -
The Starks’ Tight-Knit Legacy
The Stark siblings’ loyalty to each other was a core theme. Introducing romance between them, even briefly, risked undermining that dynamic.
What Could Have Been?
Some fans speculate that if Game of Thrones had explored Jon and Sansa’s relationship further, it might have been a political alliance rather than a love story—mirroring historical royal marriages for power. However, Turner and Harington’s discomfort suggests it’s better left unexplored.
Conclusion: A Brief, Bizarre Moment in Westeros History
While Game of Thrones was no stranger to shocking twists, the near-romance between Jon and Sansa remains one of its strangest almost-plotlines. Thanks to Sophie Turner and Kit Harington’s candid reactions, we now know just how awkward it really was behind the scenes.
What did you think of this fleeting dynamic? Let us know in the comments!
