Game of Thrones

Is there a regret from ‘Game of Thrones’ creator George R. R. Martin as the series is coming to a close? Apparently there is at least one, and it all has to do with a creative decision by the showrunners to not include a major character from the novels in the series, one whom Martin apparently intends to continue to use heavily in the next book in the series, ‘The Winds of Winter.’ According to a recent interview the author had with ‘Esquire China,’ the character in question is none other than Lady Stoneheart, aka the resurrected Catelyn Stark, whom fans have been wondering about for years on end, at this point knowing it is far too late in the run of the show for her to magically show up. In the words of Martin:

“In the book, characters can be resurrected. After Catelyn is resurrected as Lady Stoneheart, she becomes a vengeful, heartless killer. In the sixth book, I still continue to write her. She is an important character in the set of books. [Keeping her character] is the change I most wish I could make in the [show].”

No one publicly knows why the decision was made to remove Lady Stoneheart from the HBO show. Though there are rumors, none of which have any evidence at this point. There is the thought that perhaps actress Michelle Fairley did not want to return to the show following her death, especially to play such a dark, silent, and zombie-like version of her former self, but there has never been a word from the woman to confirm this theory. There is also the theory that HBO thought there were “too many resurrections” on the series, what with bringing The Mountain Back from the dead, not to mention Jon Snow, so bringing back Catelyn as well for a role that could so easily (in their minds) be filled by other characters did not make sense, and probably took away from what they felt were the stakes of the series, knowing anyone could simply be brought back after their death.

Who knows the real story, but rumors abound that in the 6th book it will be Lady Stoneheart who deals the ultimate revenge to the Frey family (not Arya as in the show). It will be interesting to see what other plot points she does that were given to other characters in the series.

Do you have any theories on why she may have been cut? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

Source: Forbes