We all know there have been some pretty big differences between the televised version of ‘Game of Thrones‘ and the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ novels but author George R.R. Martin says one of the changes that were made on the series will make an upcoming book twist impossible to replicate in the TV version. Not just a twist, but a rather large one that due to the fact that the character’s death on the show won’t make it work. In fact, Martin almost removed or rewrote the scene in ‘The Winds of Winter‘ to stick to what what HBO has produced on ‘Game of Thrones’. I’m sure we’ll be thankful that he didn’t.
While the smash hit series of HBO has caught up and is set to surpass the books, this is a clear sign that it won’t be full on spoilers for those who have been reading Martin’s epic fantasy series. While I’m sure there will be some, at least one major twist will be happening differently.
To be specific, in a recent interview Martin revealed:
“I have decided to do it. Will you know it? I don’t know. It is fairly obvious because it is something that involves a couple of characters, one of which is dead on the show, and not dead in the books. So the show can’t do this, unfortunately, because they have killed a character that I have not killed.”
Of course, who this twist could be referring to is completely up in the air at this point. There are so many whose fates have changed between the two mediums at this point that it isn’t clear.
Wonder which of the characters it could be? Well thanks to Comic Book Movie, we have a great list of who is left alive with a reminder of where they were killed on TV with what they are currently doing in the books.
- Rakharo – Dothraki bloodrider given to Daenerys Targaryen by Khal Drogo on their wedding day
- Irri – Dothraki handmaiden given to Daenerys Targaryen by Khal Drogo to teach Dany how to ride a horse
- Mago – Dothraki rider who openly challenged Daenerys’ authority. On the show Khal Drogo killed him but in the books, he’s still alive and encounters Daenerys again after Drogon flees Meereen following an attack by the Sons of the Harpy in the fighting pits of Daznak.
- Ser Meryn Trant – Former Kingsguard member who was slain by Arya in season 5
- Xaro Xhoan Daxos – Qarth merchant prince played by Nonso Anozie in season 2
- Pyat Pyree- Qarth warlock from the House of the Undying
- Jojen Reed – liegeman of the Stark House who instructed Bran on the use of his gifts during their journey on the other side of The Wall to find the Three-Eyed Crow/Raven
- Hizdahr zo Loraq – the noble master of Meereen who Dany considers marrying to quell the uprising by the Sons of Harpy
- Grenn – One of Jon Snow’s closest friends in the Night’s Watch
- Pyp – One of Jon Snow’s closest friends in the Night’s Watch, he’s killed by Ygritte during Mance Rayder’s attack on The Wall
- Shireen & Selyse Baratheon – Stannis Baratheon’s wife and daughter. In season 5, Melisandre convinces Stannis to allow Shireen to be sacrificed which results in Selyse committing suicide soon thereafter.
- Myrcella Baratheon – in reality, she’s the daughter of Jaime and Cersei Lannister. Ellaria Sand and three of the Sand Snakes, plot to kill Myrcella in season 5. Though it appears that Jamie and Bron will succeed in rescuing Myrcella, she is later poisoned by Ellaria aboard their return voyage to King’s Landing.
- Catelyn Stark – Though she dies in the Red Wedding, Catelyn Stark returns as Lady Stoneface through the resureection powers of the Thoros of Myr, a priests of R’hllor and follower of the Lord of the Light. On the show, this does not happen and Catelyn remains dead.
- Mance Rayder – The King Beyond the Wall actually survives his capture by the Nightwatch in the novels. He’s actually sent South, to free “Arya” from the evil clutches of Ramsay Bolton. In the show, Rayder is given a mercy kill from Jon Snow and Sansa is rescued by Theon Greyjoy/Reek.
- Barristan Selmy – Actor Ian McElhinney has publicly stated that he was rather surprised and miffed by the show’s decision to off Sir Barristan the Bold. In the novels, when Drogon flies off with Dany, its Sir Barristan who is left to rule over Mereen and deal with the Sons of the Harpy.
- Stannis Baratheon – Killed in the finale of season 5 by Gwendoline Christie’s Brienne of Tarth who’s getting justice for the murder of Renly Baratheon, Stannis is actually still alive in the novels.
My vote on who is involved in the twist is either Catelyn Stark or if not her, one of the Baratheons, Mance Rayder, or Barristan Selmy.
Which character still alive in the novels but dead on the show do you think could be involved in a major twist? Are any characters missing from this list? Share your thoughts below and remember, Winter is coming!
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 will return on April 24th on HBO at 9pm ET
Source: Cinema Blend
