'Game of Thrones' cast talks divisive finale, water bottles

"Game of Thrones" may be over but the cast can't seem to get away from stray coffee cups.

Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Liam Cunningham, Isaac Hempstead Wright and others took the stage at San Diego Comic-Con Friday evening for a goodbye panel and found some waiting at their places.

It was a cheeky reference to the misplaced coffee cup that viewers spotted in an episode of the final season that subsequently went viral. Although the moderator didn't make them answer for the coffee, actor John Bradley did have to defend himself against the other out-of-place item in the finale: The water bottle by his foot.

Maisie Williams, from left, Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau appear at the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

"I am right handed. I've thought about this very strongly," Bradley said, making a case that he would have put the bottle on the other side if it was his. "I'm not trying to clear my name, but ... I think I've taken enough blame for this one."

The cast was in good spirits after years of attending Comic-Con and not being able to reveal anything at the panels. Finally they were allowed to talk about things.

The big Hall H audience cheered to find out some of their favorite lines: Williams chose her own character's battle cry, "Not today," while Conleth Hill went for his co-star Peter Dinklage's, "I drink and I know things."

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau arrives at the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

They also indulged in some fan theories, cleared up some burning questions and speculated about what happens after the finale.

Wright said that he can't imagine Bran's new government is a "barrel of laughs."

"Westeros is probably a surveillance state," he said.

Maisie Williams, left, and Jacob Anderson appear during the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

But perhaps there is more fun happening on the new small council, according to Bradley.

"It basically turns into 'The Office,'" he said.

Cunningham posited that a spinoff could be called "Better Call Davos."

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau participates at the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

As for Arya and her quest to go "west of Westeros," Williams said, "I'm sure she's having a wonderful time, like Dora the Explorer minus the bob."

And Jacob Anderson thinks Grey Worm is off starting a new society with "a Wakanda kind of vibe."

There was some discussion of the divisiveness of the eighth and final season, although likely not as much as there would have been had showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss been in attendance as originally scheduled.

Conleth Hill, from left, Maisie Williams and Jacob Anderson throw their name card to the audience at the conclusion of the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

"Look at the amount of people here," Hill said, gesturing to the 8,000-some people in Hall H. "We're very grateful to your fandom over the years ... this is the reality as opposed to the media-led hate campaign."

Coster-Waldau said every season of "Game of Thrones" has been divisive in its own way, from Ned Stark's fate to the "Red Wedding."

"Obviously when it comes to an end it's going to (expletive) you off no matter what because it's the end,"Coster-Waldau said. "Just don't call people names."

Maisie Williams, from left, Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau clap at the conclusion of the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Benioff and Weiss dropped off the schedule at the last minute, as did actors Iain Glen and Nathalie Emmanuel and director Miquel Sapochnik. Their absence was not addressed during the panel.

But everyone at Hall H seemed to be enjoying the victory lap. Earlier this week, "Game of Thrones" scored 32 Emmy nominations. It was a single year Primetime Emmy nomination record.

In addition to a best drama series nod, which the show has won four times, there were a handful of acting nominations for Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke in leading performances, Dinklage, Coster-Waldau, Alfie Allen, Lena Headey, Williams, Sophie Turner and Gwendoline Christie in supporting performances, and Carice van Houten as a guest star.

Jacob Anderson gives his coffee cup to a fan at the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Allen, Christie and van Houten all self-submitted for consideration, which involves paying a $225 entry fee,

"Game of Thrones" ended this past May after 8 seasons. Its finale brought in a series record 19.3 million viewers.

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Conleth Hill arrives at the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.comm/ldbahr

Maisie Williams, left, looks at Jacob Anderson as he puts on a Spider-Man mask during the "Game of Thrones" panel on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

SHANGHAI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened his first full day of meetings in China on Thursday by talking with local government officials in Shanghai.

Blinken discussed local and regional issues with Chen Jining, the Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai. He also planned to speak to students and business leaders before flying to Beijing for what are expected to be contentious talks with national officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Blinken arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday shortly before President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger the Chinese, including $8 billion to counter China’s growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan, the self-governing island that it regards as a renegade province, and immediately condemned the move as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikTok’s sale.

Still, the fact that Blinken made the trip — shortly after a conversation between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a similar visit to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and a call between the U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs — is a sign the two sides are at least willing to discuss their differences.

“I think it’s important to underscore the value — in fact, the necessity — of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them,” Blinken told Chen.

“We have an obligation for our people, indeed an obligation to the world, to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly,” he said. “That is the obligation we have, and one that we take very seriously.”

Chen agreed with that sentiment and said the recent Biden-Xi call had helped the “stable and healthy development of our two countries’ relationship.”

“Whether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the well-being of both peoples, both countries, and the future of humanity” he said.

Chen added that he hoped Blinken was able to get a “deep impression and understanding” of Shanghai.

Shortly after arriving, Blinken attended a Chinese basketball playoff game between the local Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, with the home team losing in the last seconds in 121-120 nailbiter.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, center, with U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai Scott Walker, left, while attending a basketball game between the Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, center, with U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai Scott Walker, right, while attending a basketball game between the Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, far right, arrive at the Grand Halls to meet with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hans with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining as they meet at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, talks with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, watches U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, left, shake hands with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining at the Grand Halls, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)