Game Of Thrones’ Lady Stoneheart Replacement Could Show How Catelyn Stark Dies A Second Time (And Uses A 31-Year-Old GRRM Plan)

For book readers (and show viewers who coveted spoilers), one of the biggest twists in Game of Thrones was one that no happened: the non-appearance of Lady Stoneheart, which was expected around the end of the show’s 4th season. In the books, Lady Stoneheart is the resurrected form of Catelyn Stark, who was brought back to life by Beric Dondarrion a few days after she was killed at the Red Wedding. Occurring in the Epilogue of A Storm of Swordsis one of the most shocking twists in the books, although the series had its reasons for not doing it.

Producers David Benioff and DB Weiss didn’t want to bring Michelle Fairley back Game of Thrones‘ cast in a small, non-speaking role, and risks undoing the impact of her death at the Red Wedding. They also wanted to keep the powder dry for Jon Snow’s resurrectionwhich they knew they would have to reach (according to the book Fire can’t kill a dragonby James Hibberd). Still, there are hints of Stoneheart’s story – who, so far, leads the Brotherhood without Banners and kills Freys, Boltons and Lannisters – in the series, which could reveal his true destiny.

Did Game Of Thrones Season 8 Show How Lady Stoneheart Will Die?

Game of Thrones doesn’t fully complete the story of Lady Stoneheart’s book without her, but continues with Beric leading the Brotherhood without Flags (albeit with an absence of two seasons). Since Beric gives his life to bring Catelyn back into the books, so him remaining in the series while she doesn’t appear means he’s taking on her story to some degree (and, notably, he’s someone who has been resurrected multiple times, losing one little of himself on each occasion). This could go as far as the Brotherhood Without Banners, but could his death be Stoneheart’s?

As a reminder, Beric dies in the Battle of Winterfell, stopping the creatures so that Arya Stark can escape. Benioff and Weiss didn’t disclose the third reason they cut Stoneheart because it’s a spoiler for what Martin had planned, but it had to do with how things were diverging. If they knew not to include her and also knew how her story is going, it’s possible they could have worked that into the TV series with Beric, since he’s already played a sort of Stoneheart role.

Stoneheart needs a bigger role in the story than just avenging the Red Weddingas the scope seems a little small to justify Cat’s resurrection given the emotion of her murder, and being involved with the Others would somehow do that. She’s not a warrior in the same way as Beric, of course, but if there was a Battle of Winterfell during the Long Night of the books, her involvement could be great.

Why Saving Arya Would Suit Lady Stoneheart’s Final Fate

Despite not being a fighter, Lady Stoneheart being thrown into a fight with the Others isn’t a stretch, as it’s fair to think that the remaining members of the Brotherhood without Banners will be involved. If this happened in Winterfell, as in Game of Thrones Season 8, then it would have an even greater meaning. Cat never wanted to leave and always wanted to return, so it would be fitting – albeit tragic – for this to be her final resting place.

Lady Stoneheart dying to save Arya would also have a lot of emotional resonance, but also a thematic and narrative purpose. A story I’ve long felt should belong to her in the books is the Hound steering Arya away from revengeas seen in Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 5, “The Bells.” Since Stoneheart’s entire story and purpose thus far has been about revenge, it would be even better if that lesson came from her.

Therefore, The winds of winter (or A spring dreamdepending on when it happens), you could kill two birds with one Stoneheart. Cat’s resurrected form would not only give her life to save at least one of her daughters, but it would also save her from becoming like her as well.

Lady Stoneheart’s Death May Make Up for GRRM’s Original Book Plan

There’s another reason I like the idea of ​​Lady Stoneheart dying while saving Arya from the Others and the army of the dead, and that’s how it ties into George R.R. Martin’s original film. Game of Thrones flat. In 1993 he provided a general structure for his books, then planned as a trilogy. There were several differences, including Sansa Stark and Joffrey Baratheon having a child, Jaime Lannister becoming king, and an Arya Stark/Jon Snow/Tyrion Lannister love triangle (seriously).

However, in Cat’s terms, she was kicked out of her home after Ned’s death and forced to flee beyond the Wall with Arya and Bran. As Martin wrote:

“When Winterfell burns, Catelyn Stark will be forced to flee north with her son Bran and daughter Arya. Wounded by Lannister knights, they will seek refuge at the Wall, but the men of the Night’s Watch will give up their families when they take power. black, and Jon and Benjen will not be able to help, much to Jon’s distress. This will lead to a bitter estrangement between Jon and Bran and will be more forgiving… until she realizes, with horror, that she has fallen in love with Jon. is not only his half-brother, but also a man of the Night’s Watch, who has sworn celibacy. Their passion will continue to torment Jon and Arya throughout the trilogy, until the secret of Jon’s true parentage is finally revealed in the final book. .…

“Abandoned by the Night’s Watch, Catelyn and her children will discover that their only hope of safety lies even further north, beyond the Wall, where they will fall into the hands of Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall, and suffer a terrible accident. glimpse of the other Inhumans as they attack the wild camp. Bran’s magic, Arya’s Needle sword, and the savagery of their direwolves will help them survive, but their mother, Catelyn, will die at the hands of others.”

Obviously, this did not happen in A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones. But if that core idea is still in Martin’s mind, then there’s a good way to use it still. The winds of winter or A spring dreammaking this an even better fate for Lady Stoneheart.