'I was Against It': 'Game of Thrones' Creators Never Showed a Key Character from the Books because of Jon Snow — and Martin Hasn't Forgiven Them
But one of the important lines of the plot depended on the heroine.
For almost 13 years, fans have been arguing whether the creators of Game of Thrones should have cut one of the most terrifying and unexpected lines of A Song of Ice and Fire — Lady Stoneheart. And George R.R. Martin himself was on the side of those who insist — this character had to be in the series.
In an interview with Time, Martin admitted that he was furious when the showrunners decided not to bring Catelyn Stark back to life after the infamous Red Wedding. In the books, the Lady of Winterfell is reborn as a merciless avenger and begins to destroy everything around her — from the Freys to the Boltons and Lannisters. In the series, she was simply buried.
“I think one of the biggest deviations from the books was the decision not to bring back Catelyn Stark as Lady Stoneheart. It was probably the first major departure the show made from the books, and, you know, I was against it, but David and Dan made that decision," Martin said.
According to the author's idea, Heartless turned the idea of a "mother-lioness" upside down, who is ready to do anything for the sake of her children. But the showrunners decided: one plot "resurrection" was enough. It was more important for them to focus on Jon Snow.
Fans are still sure: if this dark side of Catelyn was in the series, the story could have become even darker — and much more believable. But HBO chose a different path. The result is known: viewers got one of the most controversial finales in the history of television — and one ghost erased from history.
