Lady Stoneheart, a character from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books cut from HBO’s Game of Thrones, is a contentious subject among fans. For those unaware, Stoneheart is Catelyn Stark by another name. After dying at the Red Wedding, the Freys toss Catelyn’s body in a river, where it drifts for days before Nymeria, Arya’s direwolf, pulls it out. Beric Dondarrion finds her and gives her the “kiss of life,” losing his own in the process. Lady Catelyn rises again, but she comes back twisted and grotesque, dedicated above all else to murdering every Frey she can get her hands on.
Martin talked about Stoneheart in a rare interview with Chinese Esquire, saying that she’ll be “very important” in The Winds of Winter, the long-awaited sixth book in his series. Now, CNET has translated more of the interview, and we can hear more of what Martin had to say:
"In the book, characters can be resurrected. After Catelyn’s resurrection, it was Lady Stoneheart who became a vengeful and merciless killer. In the sixth book, I still continue to write her. She is an important part of the entire book. [Keeping her character] is the change I most wish I could make in the [show]."
Thus far, Stoneheart has appeared in only two chapters of Martin’s novels, one in A Storm of Swords and one in A Feast for Crows. The show has cut bigger plotlines from the novels, such as an extended story about Prince Aegon Targaryen, a purported son of Rhaegar Targaryen who survived the sack of King’s Landing and grew up on Essos. That Martin would be so regretful that this particular character is cut is interesting. She must be important to Winds indeed.
What does everyone else make of this? Do you wish Lady Stoneheart had appeared on Game of Thrones, or was she better off cut? Will this debate ever die?
Next: Video from Magheramorne Quarry: Flaming swords on horseback
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h/t SyFy Wire