Another crazy ‘GoT’ PSA: Show’s least favorite dad might not be dead

On the count of three, everyone shout out their least favorite Game of Thrones character, OK? One, two, three, STANNIS.

Its not an easy thing to be named “least favorite character,” especially considering we had to deal with Joffrey for four whole seasons. So, let’s all admit to one another that we cheered a little bit when he supposedly died (at the hands of Brienne of Tarth, who had been looking forward to avenging Renly Baratheon for quite some time) at the end of Season 5.

But even though that was a welcomed departure for the character, we’ve got some bad news. You guys sitting down? You should for this next part. According to George R. R. Martin, Stannis isn’t dead. All our cheering might have been for naught.

Like J.K. Rowling, Martin likes to answer fan questions from time to time, and his method of communication is through LiveJournal. Someone recently asked him about the fate of Stannis, and Martin basically did a giant LOL, and replied that Stannis — in the books! — is still very much alive. Even though we’ve been under the assumption that he was dead in the books, seeing as how Jon Snow was informed that he was dead.

Now’s a good time to remember that the books and the TV show are two completely separate things. While for the most part the two do line up, this past season on GoT the story lines greatly strayed from the source material. Just because a character is alive in the books, does not mean they’ll be alive on the show, and vice versa. But in this case, it appeared that he was dead in both. Well, not anymore.

This admission about Stannis’ alive state is something that’s got us spiraling. On the show, it really does appear that Brienne finishes him off. The finale’s director, Dan Nutter, has even stated that Stannis is in fact dead on the show. However, Nutter is also the one who keeps telling us, and President Obama, that Jon Snow is dead, so it’s kinda hard to figure out what’s real and what’s meant to throw us off track. Plus, we didn’t actually SEE Brienne killing Stannis. And for a show that’s unapologetically violent, it seems kind of strange, no?

So there’s your GoT death update for the day. What’s gonna happen next? Joffrey comes back too?? (Please, please, no TV Gods).

(Image via HBO, Livejournal)

So many new super-spoilers for next season’s ‘Game of Thrones’

‘Game of Thrones’ readers, George R.R. Martin just confirmed your worst fear