For seven seasons, Game of Thrones fans theorized, hoped, and “shipped” the inevitable union of Ice and Fire. When Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen finally locked lips in the Season 8 premiere, the world saw a sweeping cinematic romance against a backdrop of snowy waterfalls. But behind the scenes, the reality was anything but romantic. Kit Harington has since pulled back the curtain on those “steamy” moments, revealing a hilarious and visceral truth: kissing his best friend Emilia Clarke felt so “unnatural” that his immediate reaction was to gag.
The “Brother-Sister” Stigma
The primary obstacle wasn’t the freezing Icelandic weather or the CGI dragons—it was a decade of deep, platonic friendship. By the time their characters fell in love, Kit and Emilia had been best friends for seven years. They had grown up together on the set of the world’s biggest show, forming a bond that both actors have described as sibling-like.
“If you’ve known someone for six years, and they’re best friends with your wife, and you’re best friends with them, there is something unnatural and strange about doing a love scene,” Harington told Vanity Fair.
The “weirdness” was compounded by the fact that Emilia is a close personal friend of Kit’s wife, Rose Leslie (who played Jon Snow’s first love, Ygritte). Kit recounted that the three of them would often have dinner together on the same days he and Emilia had to film intimate scenes, making for some of the most awkward conversations of his life.
The Infamous “Gag” Heard ‘Round the Set
In behind-the-scenes footage released in the documentary The Last Watch, the “romantic fantasy” was well and truly shattered. After a passionate take of the waterfall kiss, the cameras continued to roll, catching Kit Harington doubling over and pretending to retch.
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The Reaction: Kit’s “fake-vomit” gesture became a legendary set anecdote. He admitted he would look at her and say, “Oh God, I’m sorry,” before making retching sounds.
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Emilia’s Retort: Emilia Clarke, always ready with a witty comeback, reportedly shouted, “Oh my god, mate! You’re not making this any easier!”
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The Laughter Rule: The duo revealed they had a pact: if they didn’t keep the mood light and funny, they would never get through the scenes without “pissing themselves with laughter” because the situation felt so ridiculous.
Data of a “Chemistry” Crisis
While fans were divided over the final season, critics often pointed to a perceived “lack of romance” between the two leads. The data and feedback from that era highlight the difficulty of turning friends into lovers:
| Event | Impact/Statistic |
| “Boatsex” Viewership | The Season 7 finale garnered 12.1 million live viewers, with many noting the “stiff” chemistry. |
| Sibling Bond | They spent 10 years on set together; by Season 8, they viewed each other as family. |
| The Real Love | Kit Harington and Rose Leslie married in 2018; Emilia Clarke was a guest at the wedding. |
A Different Kind of Love Story
As of late 2025, the cast remains close-knit. In a recent interview, Rose Leslie shared that she and Kit rewatched an episode of Game of Thrones together, noting that they still maintain a group chat with the final season cast, including Emilia. She described Emilia as “the most wonderful human being” and a “fantastic girlfriend” (friend).
Ultimately, Kit Harington’s “vomit” confession isn’t a slight against Emilia Clarke’s beauty—he famously joked, “It’s not hard to kiss her, is it?”—but rather a testament to the purity of their friendship. By choosing to gag instead of swoon, Kit and Emilia preserved the one thing more valuable than a scripted romance: a lifelong, unbreakable bond that survived the most intense scrutiny in television history.