Game of Thrones Surprisingly did not include Lady Stoneheart, the reanimated form of Catelyn Stark after her death at the Red Wedding. Cats are among the many deaths at the Red Wedding in both the show and the books, but the epilogue of Martin’s third novel, A storm of swordsReveals that she was found in the river and brought back to life by Beric Dondarrion, who gave his life for her.
This is not the Catalina people knew beforeAlthough. Her throat is cut, her face is disgraced, and she does not speak. She is, in fact, a zombified version, now named Lady Stoneheart, and out for revenge. This is one of the biggest twists in the books, and readers have anticipated that it will happen in the TV series, which would allow Michelle Fairley to remain as part of Game of ThronesThrow. Alas, it did not happen for various reasons – and the red wedding itself, in its most famous line, has a big clue that she would not appear.
How Game Of Thrones Changed The Red Wedding’s Most Memorable Line
Rose Bolton offers different “regards” in the show compared to the book
in A storm of swordsRoose Bolton strikes the killing blow to Robb Stark, and says: “Jaime Lannister sends his regards.” This itself follows an earlier exchange between Rose and Jaime when they parted ways in Harrenhall:
Rose: “The Trident is in flood, even at Ruby Ford the crossing will be difficult. You will give my warm greetings to your father.”
JAIME: “As long as you give mine to Robb Stark.”
Rose: “That I will.”
The pair had a similar exchange in Game of Thrones Season 3, Episode 7, Except Jaime’s line was changed to specifically be “The Lannisters send their regards.” That’s what Roose says when he stabs Robb two episodes later in “The Rains of Costamere,” creating one of the most iconic and memorable lines of not only the Red Wedding, but the entire show.
If audiences have forgotten, saying “Jaime Lannister sends his regards” risks making him seem responsible for the Red Wedding to some viewers.
The change in the show really works as one of simplification. Since the Red Wedding episode aired two weeks later, it would be up to viewers to remember this little exchange between Rose and Jaime. If the audience forgets, then say “Jaime Lannister sends his regards” Risks making him seem responsible for the Red Wedding to some viewers.
“The Rains of Castamere” is Game of Thrones‘ joint highest rated episode on IMDb, with 9.9/10. The others are “Power of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter.”
This is a major shift in the story, and in particular could have a negative impact on his redemption arc, as well as being potentially confusing. Technically, you could argue that this is true in the book, but I think there’s an extra level of attention to detail when reading something like A Song of Ice and FireAgainst more casual audiences remember every conversation over a season of television.
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In contrast, said “The Lannisters” Work much more widely, and Is Accurate since Tywin is the head of the family and the one who calls the shots. Even if viewers don’t remember Jaime saying it, there’s no risk of confusion here as it works as a means of announcing their involvement, and as an example of Rose’s dark attempts at humor when he kills his king.
Changing “Jaime” to “The Lannisters” alters the story and purpose of Lady Stoneheart
It’s a subtle but significant change to her A Song of Ice and Fire arc
The removal of “Jaime Lannister sends his regards” Of the red wedding could not have been done specifically Because The showrunners planned to cut Lady Stoneheart, but it works as an act of foreshadowing for it. In the book, this is one of the last things (and certainly the last name) Kathleen hears before she dies:
“A man in dark armor and a pale pink cloak spotted with blood stepped up to rob. ‘Haim Lannister sends his regards.’ He thrust his long sword through her son’s heart and twisted.
When Kat is brought back to life by the Brotherhood Without Banners, she returns as Lady Stoneheart, a being of pure vengeance. Her sole mission, essentially, is to exact revenge on the Lannisters, Freys, and Boltons for the Red Wedding, but At the top of her list is Jaime.
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Lady Stoneheart didn’t appear much this far in A Song of Ice and FireBut her desire for revenge on Jaime is absolutely her biggest story to date. in A feast for crowsShe demands that Brien de Tart bring him to her; This is the most shocking and fascinating part of her arc beyond her returning self, and the one that will be at the heart of her story in The winds of winterR. Whether Brienne will betray Jaime for Lady Stoneheart is unclear, but it will be huge for all three.
… It’s not just that [Lady Stoneheart] Thinks that Jaime is the one behind her son’s death, but that she released him earlier in the story.
Of course, none of that is in the show, and I think the Red Wedding change points to it. By removing Jaime, it makes her revenge mission much broader, and removing the real knife three: it is not only that she thinks that Jaime is the one behind the death of her son, but that she released him earlier in the story . This adds an extra layer of tragedy to the character, which is removed if there is one “The Lannisters” Hear her.
Similarly, it would risk losing the point of your arc and return. Her slaughter of Freys, Boltons, and Lannisters may be satisfying on its own, but there’s no real drive or connection to the broader narrative (it’s not like she’s going to kill Tywin, after all). It can be hard to bind Brienne (although there is still the duty element there, at least), as you lose the emotion of bringing her and Jaime into it together.
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Ultimately, though, I think what Stoneheart’s story needs to lead to—and what I think Brienne in particular might be a factor in, with Jaime alongside her in some way—is that revenge is not the answer. She should serve as a warning sign for what being consumed by revenge does to a person – the Hunt’s role in Arya Stark’s in Game of Thrones Season 8’s story should be you in the book – and that’s hard to do without all the connections and setups you remove by changing “Jaime” to “The Lannisters.”
Why did Game of Thrones cut Lady Stoneheart
David Benioff & DB Weiss have three main reasons
There were several reasons Game of Thrones Decided to cut Lady Stoneheart. Showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss explained some of them in the book Fire Can’t Kill a Dragon: Game of Thrones and the Official Untold Story of the Epic SeriesBy James Hibberd:
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One reason is being kept vague, because they don’t want to spoil anything for the next books, but they said it was “To do with things that come up in George’s books.”
- to “Keep their powder dry” For Jon Snow’s upcoming resurrectionWhat they knew even then they would do in season 6, Benioff said: “Too many resurrections start to lessen the impact of characters dying.”
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To avoid diminishing returns from the Red Wedding and Catelyn’s death. Michelle Fairley’s last performance was incredible, and the showrunners didn’t want to undo it just to “Bring her back as a zombie that doesn’t talk.”
They are all fair, valid reasons for removing Stoneheart, especially the Jon Snow point. The red wedding change is not the reason Game of Thrones Cut to Lady Stoneheart, but the change shows that it is happening, especially since the book spoilers vaguely refer to possible releases to Brienne and Jaime, which probably means a very different direction to what the show has. Hopefully, we’ll find out exactly what that is when The winds of winter releases.