Game of Thrones season 7 episode 5 'Eastwatch': Gendry actor Joe Dempsie on his return to the HBO series

The character finally stopped rowing

It's been known for a while that Joe Dempsie was to reprise his role as Gendry in season seven of Game of Thrones, it's just been unknown when exactly this was due to happen. Well, to the delight of fans, the latest episode presented the moment

Episode five, titled 'Eastwatch,' saw the long-missing Baratheon bastard, who was last in season three rowing away to safety from Melisandre in season three, utilising his blacksmith skills and keeping out of trouble in King's Landing. After a quick visit from Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) - the very man who helped him escape the Red Woman's clutches - Gendry had signed up to Jon Snow's forthcoming expedition North of the Wall.

Writer David Hill confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the HBO series had always planned on bringing Gendry back, saying: “We almost brought him back in season six and it didn’t quite work out.

"We definitely wanted him here for the big mission, and we wanted Robert Baratheon’s bastard son back into the show. It made sense that Davos would want to save this boy who’s like a surrogate son.“

Speaking of his character's whereabouts these past four seasons, Dempsie said: “[Gendry had] gone back to his old life, but there’s a restlessness in him. He's bored of safety and wants adventure and he’s itching to get involved and then an opportunity presents itself. He’s got his father’s blood in him and he’s a natural born fighter.

Despite bearing Baratheon blood, Dempsie doesn't think the Iron Thrones is on Gendry's mind. He continued: “I feel like him and Jon Snow are forming a bond over the bastards thing. They’re also two of the inherently good characters in the series. Not that that protects you, but I think they’re quite a formidable force.”

He doesn't think he's quite over the near-death experience at the hand of Melisandre, either.

“They’re [him and Davos] both still slightly scared and slightly fancy her, almost like they both have the same [evil] ex-girlfriend. You do find out a little more about how potentially scarred by the Melisandre experience he is. He’s not over it yet.”

Dempsie mused about his off-screen experience following his temporary departure from the series, saying: “'What’s happening with Gendry?' became part of my daily life, answering the question. And I could say with clear conscious that I had no idea.

"It’s been a meme-a-week, but I’m partly responsible for that by tweeting 'still rowing' at the end of season four. They even worked a reference into the show of that [Ser Davos references it in 'Eastwatch'] ...there are some real crowd-pleasing moments this season.”

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