Game Of Thrones: 12 Things You Learn Rewatching Season 4

9. What Happened To Alex Graves?

Alex Graves has directed six episodes of Game of Thrones - the same amount as the much celebrated Miguel Sapochnik (including his two Season 8 efforts), and behind only Alan Taylor (7) and David Nutter (9 including his upcoming episodes). Four of them came during Season 4, the most any one director has ever done in a single year, including monumental efforts like The Lion and the Rose, The Mountain and the Viper, and The Children.

And he's not directed a single episode of the show since.

In interviews at the time, Graves simply said he was taking Season 5 off to spend time with his family, which was understandable given the sheer level of commitment needed to direct even just one episode of Thrones, nevermind four, in a single season. And yet he's still never returned.

It might just have been an issue of schedules, and the showrunners finding a new set of directors they wanted to work with. But Graves is the one who filmed that rape scene between Jaime and Cersei, and also caused some controversy among fans for his commentary on The Children. While it's unlikely the latter would've had too much of an impact on things, the controversy around the rape was a big issue at the time, but whatever the reason it's still a little odd looking back and seeing someone direct 40% of a season and then never again.