[Caution: Spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 4 below.]
Last week, we mentioned how the visual effects team behind Game of Thrones always opt to use real fire instead of computer-generated animation. Last night, for what showrunners are dubbing "The Loot Train Battle," we saw this effort quite literally take off in one of the most technically complex episodes yet.
Because, well, dragons.
If we’ve learned anything from these fantastic behind-the-scenes videos, it’s that much of these effects are practical, and the guys behind them just truly love blowing shit up. But last night took it to another level—the episode set the record for most stuntmen burned in a single shot (20).
It also meant spraying an eco-friendly dye over the set dressing to make the objects appear charred or burnt. Dressers would wheel-barrow in carts of ash to spread about the scene’s surface.