[Traveller]

Stannis's was the only death that really didn't need to be shown - so they didn't. It was totally inevitable; no way out, anyone watching Brienne knows her resolve.

I don't know why there's any question about it really.

[Gorefest]

Because in the books it is left massively ambiguous what happened and Stannis' and his army's fate has been one of the main discussion topics for the past 3-4 years (pink letter discussion). Seems a bit blunt to have the TV series put so final a point to it. If you are going to make such a big statement, then at least make it final and unambiguous to both viewers and readers. Show a rolling head or even some blood spatters, no need for CGI.

[End of Disc One]

Nevyn, on 17 June 2015 - 02:40 PM, said:

Furthermore, his story is wrapped up nicely. He let Melisandre talk him into more and more things he knew to be wrong, giving up more and more of his nobility, ending in him sacrificing his daughter, having his wife commit suicide, and Melisandre and his army abandon him. Having him lose that last battle, come face to face with a past sin of his and accept his fate is a fitting a poetic end. To have him live would lessen the impact of all that came before, and require a feeble explanation.

I'd agree but they did this with Theon. I remember assuming he was dead at the end of ACoK, but GRRM had more in store for him.

[Nevyn]

Gorefest, on 17 June 2015 - 02:58 PM, said:

Because in the books it is left massively ambiguous what happened and Stannis' and his army's fate has been one of the main discussion topics for the past 3-4 years (pink letter discussion). Seems a bit blunt to have the TV series put so final a point to it. If you are going to make such a big statement, then at least make it final and unambiguous to both viewers and readers. Show a rolling head or even some blood spatters, no need for CGI.

Well, the tv show cut short the Stannis storyline whether he lives or dies, and had his army defeated whether he lives or dies. There was also not Mance in Winterfell so it seems pretty clear there will be no pink letter in the show.

I get the resistance as it is likely one of the first factoids that the show has truly spoiled for the books (that Stannis' army indeed loses). But that is the only reason it feels like a "big statement"

As for making it unambiguous, it WAS unambiguous. His army is slaughtered to a man. They gave zero hint that he might live or even that he particularly wanted to. They just didn't show you a close up of the killing stroke.

[worry]

He doesn't necessarily lose in the books, but he most certainly will die soon enough either way. Is Lady Stoneheart heading North or South? I think she makes a B-line for the Freys, mows through what's left of them, and then heads to Winterfell. Maybe even picks up Howland Reed et al along the way. I guess it might be more apt if Winterfell has the Boltons inside still, but she's gonna snack on whoever's there and shouldn't be.

[Cause]

I agree. Im not convinced this is a case of the Show spoiling the books. We are starting to see some serious divergence. Will Stannis Win? I'm guessing no. Will he die? I'm Guessing yes. Still in the books there is no Sansa in the north, no Brienne. There is however a very upset Lord Manderly (Whose whole plot line has been disappeared), there is a Mance Rider, there is a fresh wildling army, there is a reborn theon and his Sister Asha (Whose whole plot line has been disappeared).

For those of you who are familiar with the fullmetal alchemist Anime I feel what we are seeing is going to be similar. The TV show has outrun the original material is based on and Divergence will escalate until at last the next few seasons might hold hints to the original work but will ened up being its own animal.

[Gorefest]

Cause, on 18 June 2015 - 11:03 AM, said:

For those of you who are familiar with the fullmetal alchemist Anime I feel what we are seeing is going to be similar. The TV show has outrun the original material is based on and Divergence will escalate until at last the next few seasons might hold hints to the original work but will ened up being its own animal.

Oh, I do subscribe to that. That in itself doesn't exclude a Stannis survival, though

I still like the idea of having 'fire' win out in the TV series, and 'ice' in the books. If it happens, I expect major rep!

[QuickTidal]

Word from finale director Nutter's mouth. Stannis IS dead.


Stannis is dead. “It would have been gratuitous,” Nutter told Variety about his reasons for cutting away before Brienne’s sword separated Stannis’s head from his body. “You really got a sense that Stannis had nothing else to live for. Brienne’s lifelong mission had come to an end. It’s a situation in which Stannis was ready to die and prepared to die.”

[Gorefest]

Well, that's what they claim about Jon Snow as well

[Nevyn]

Gorefest, on 19 June 2015 - 02:48 PM, said:

Well, that's what they claim about Jon Snow as well

Well, he isn't really lying about either. Both characters are dead.

Its just that presumably one of them is going to be brought back from the dead. And we could always be wrong about that anyway.

But anyway, lying about Snow makes sense. They probably want to protect the integrity of the WOW moment of bringing him back. Stannis is both less important to the show, and having Brienne stopped offscreen would be less a wow, and more a "well, that's stupid".

Then again, it is tough to take a GoT director seriously when he says he did not do something to not be gratuitous.

[Primateus]

My thinking is that Jon is the primary character in the White Walker story arch. Which makes his permanent death a bit of a stretch. If not him to head that story line, then who? Ser Alliser? Not likely, though possible I suppose. Samwell has gone off to Old Town and I really doubt that there's too many people who'd be interested in the show turning into a college kid show. Benjen coming back? What, we've seen him only a few episodes and I doubt most people even remember who he is.
Jon's remaining "friends" in the Watch? None of them are really that interesting. The only remaining Night's Watchman of any interest is Ser Alliser. I kinda like him, despite him being the antagonist of Jon's execution. But as I said, I doubt he'd primary that story.

No, Jon Snow is going to come back, I'm pretty certain of it.

[worry]

Jon Snow is certainly coming back, but that doesn't mean Kit Harrington will play him. #SnowdorIsReal

[worry]

Here's something: http://io9.com/how-t...ones-1712355749

[LinearPhilosopher]

http://www.cracked.c...er-fans_p2.html

"Because peer review can get ridiculous, another scientist suggested that no fewer than three major stars can account for the planet's orbital weirdness, or that it might actually be an exomoon orbiting a gas giant. We're sure we'll get a definitive answer when A Dream of Spring is released in 2047 by the son of Brandon Sanderson."

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

BalrogLord, on 23 June 2015 - 03:48 PM, said:

"by the son of Brandon Sanderson."

Sandor Branderson

[Cause]

BalrogLord, on 23 June 2015 - 03:48 PM, said:

http://www.cracked.c...er-fans_p2.html

"Because peer review can get ridiculous, another scientist suggested that no fewer than three major stars can account for the planet's orbital weirdness, or that it might actually be an exomoon orbiting a gas giant. We're sure we'll get a definitive answer when A Dream of Spring is released in 2047 by the son of Brandon Sanderson."

Im pretty sure its been confirmed to magical in nature.

Still I want to know how they survive. Even a year long winter, with lets say 6 months of darkness only. What will the deer eat? What Will the Direwolves eat? I understand that humans can stockpile food but the ecosystem should be dying.

[Gorefest]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 23 June 2015 - 08:24 PM, said:

BalrogLord, on 23 June 2015 - 03:48 PM, said:

"by the son of Brandon Sanderson."

Sandor Branderson

"YES! YES! YES!"

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Interesting casting call for next season. Reading this, my guess would be its Arthur Dayne - thoughts?

“A man in his thirties or forties who is a great swordsman and a paragon of knighthood. He carries a hugely famous sword on his back. The show is seeking a very impressive swordsman for the role—the best in Europe, for a week of filming fight scenes for a season 6 role. His ethnicity/race isn’t specified, unlike many other roles.”

[Gorefest]

Clearly Rake.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Gorefest, on 25 June 2015 - 08:09 PM, said:

Clearly Rake.

I did think that originally before double-taking which series I was in