'Game of Thrones' Season 7 Plot Rumors: Original Script Reveals Different Death for Stannis
Otherwise known as "Stannis the Mannis" in "Game of Thrones," Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) died in season 5 after getting killed by Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). However, the original script for the popular HBO series reveals that the character was actually supposed to have a different death on the series.
When he was still alive, Stannis was always in pursuit of the Westeros' Iron Throne. Considering how far he could go for his thirst for power, he had a controversial story arc and was portrayed as someone who was far from being an ideal father.
It can be recalled that in the penultimate episode of season 5, he let his daughter Shireen (Kerry Ingram) be sacrificed just so he could secure the throne. In that scene, he paid heed to the advice of Lord of Light priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) and watched his only living daughter and heir be tied up and set ablaze, knowing that it was the only way he could ensure his victory against the Bolton army at Winterfell. Unfortunately for him, things did not go as planned.
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In the season 5 finale, his army was defeated and Stannis was killed by Brienne, who swore to bury him six feet under after learning of his involvement in the death of Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) in season 2.
Revisiting the book's current timeline, one would know that Stannis was actually not supposed to die that way and the event in season 5 where he had his only daughter burned down was actually not in the book. In fact, Stannis' death was one of the first few scenes where the TV series ventured beyond the original "Game of Thrones" novel.
A "Game of Thrones" fan recently pointed out on Reddit that in the novel, the original scene included Stannis acknowledging the wrong he had done to Shireen while he was on his deathbed. In the TV series, moments before his death, Brienne told him that she was going to execute him and asked him for his last words. In response, Stannis said, "Go on, do your duty."
In the original script, however, the circumstances were different. On his deathbed, Stannis asks Brienne if she believes in the life to come. When Brienne says yes, Stannis tells her that if she ever meets Renly there, tell him that Stannis is sorry for what he had done. That was when he told Brienne, "Go on, do your duty."
"Game of Thrones" season 7 premieres on July 16 on HBO.
