Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen has responded to criticism of the HBO show’s final season, saying it “pisses” him off when the crew is “trolled online”.

The actor played Theon Greyjoy in the fantasy epic, which came to a controversial end earlier this year after eight series, with fans even launching a petition for a remake of the final season.

“What pisses me off is when you see people like the camera operators, who are the best in the world – people behind the scenes who break their backs for this show – who are then getting trolled online by people,” Allen told Deadline.

“I can’t even delve into that world too much, for my own sanity. But to read all that stuff… People laying into the DPs. It blows my mind.”

Game of Thrones family tree Show all 8 1 /8 Game of Thrones family tree Game of Thrones family tree Targaryens Marriage: Rhaella Targaryen, Aerys II Targaryen AKA "The Mad King" Kids: Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen (married Khal Drogo) Marriage: Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell Kids: Rhaenys Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen II Romance: Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna stark Kids: Aegon Tagaryen (AKA Jon Snow) HBO Game of Thrones family tree Martells Doran Martell, Oberyn Martell, Elia Martell Marriage: Elia Martell and Rhaegar Targaryen Kids: Rhaenys Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen II Marriage: Oberyn Martell, Ellaria Sand Kids: Tyene Sand, Obara Sand, Nymeria Sand HBO Game of Thrones family tree Baratheon Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon (lover: Loras Tyrell), Robert Baratheon (kid: Gendry) Marriage: Stannis Baratheon and Selyse Baratheon Kids: Shireen Baratheon Marriage: Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister Kids: Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, Tommen Baratheon (all Jaime’s) Marriage: Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell HBO Game of Thrones family tree Lannisters Tywin Lannister, Kevan Lannister (kid: Lancel Lannister) Marriage: Tywin Lannister, Joanna Lannister Kids: Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Tyrion Lannister (married: Sansa Stark) Romance: Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister Kids: Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen HBO Game of Thrones family tree Tyrells Marriage: Olenna Tyrell and Luthor Tyrell Kids: Mace Tyrell Marriage: Mace Tyrell and Alerie Tyrell Kids: Loras Tyrell, Margaery Tyrell (married: Joffrey Baratheon) HBO Game of Thrones family tree Tullys Brynden ”The Blackfish” Tully, Hoster Tully Marriage: Hoster Tully and Minisa Tully Kids: Lysa Arryn, Cateyn Stark, Edmure Tully Marriage: Lysa Arryn and Jon Arryn Kids: Robyn Arryn Marriage: Catelyn Stark and Ned Stark Kids: Robb Stark (married Talisa Stark), Sansa Stark (married Tyrion Lannister), Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark Marriage: Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey (daughter of Walder Frey) HBO Game of Thrones family tree Starks Ned Stark, Benjen Stark, Brandon Stark, Lyanna Stark Romance: Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen Kids: Aegon Tagaryen (AKA Jon Snow) Marriage: Ned Stark and Catelyn Stark Kids: Robb Stark (married Talisa Stark), Sansa Stark (married Tyrion Lannister), Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark HBO Game of Thrones family tree Greyjoys Euron Greyjoy, Aeron Greyjoy, Balon Greyjoy Marriage: Balon Greyjoy and Alannts Harlaw Kids: Yara Greyjoy, Theon Greyjoy, Rodrik Greyjoy, Maron Greyjoy HBO

On whether the negative reaction to the series was partly down to separation anxiety on the part of fans, Allen said: “Too right. I think we’ve seen it before, in other shows that have been massive, where people didn’t agree with how things ended. Where people are like, ‘This is not really feeding what I need anymore.’

“So inevitably, that was going to happen. [Writers] David [Benioff] and Dan [Weiss] were under huge pressure to finish this series off and do it in the right way.”

Allen, who has been nominated for an Emmy after submitting himself for consideration, also spoke about how his character’s downward spiral during the course of the show meant there were some “dark, dark moments” on set.

“Even up to the point of getting an Emmy nomination, this character did make me get inside my own head a lot, and there were dark, dark moments,” he said. “It’s great to have it end on a positive note, because it was hard, during the process, to open up and talk about how difficult it was.”

In a new interview, author George RR Martin admitted that the series held him back from completing work on his final two books.