'Game of Thrones' Cast News: Stannis' Death Confirmed, Was Character Killed In Season 5 Finale? [PHOTO]
The season five finale of Game of Thrones in June left fans with so many cliffhangers about the fates of some of their favorite characters, but at least one that was presumed dead has had their fate officially confirmed.
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In a new official book called Game of Thrones: The Noble House of Westeros Seasons 1-5, the actual fate of Stannis Baratheon has been revealed-and fans who were still hoping there was a sliver of a chance he survived after finally meeting Brienne of Tarth are going to be sadly disappointed.
Technically, Stannis' death was open-ended, because while Brienne did come across him and had swung her sword to avenge Renly's death, fans never saw either his head severed from his body, or Brienne cleaning off her sword. Neither character made an appearance throughout the rest of the episode.
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However, in the book, it is confirmed that Brienne did succeed in her mission-and Stannis is dead and gone.
"Stannis was killed outside of Winterfell by Brienne of Tarth, who wished to avenge Renly's death," the book reads."
Of course this wasn't the first time that Stannis' death was confirmed, so fans shouldn't be surprised by the news now. The episode's director, David Nutter, said at the time that the cut that didn't show Stannis' beheading was made because it seemed like an unnecessary extra, so it wasn't needed.
"...You really got a sense that Stannis ad 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," he said at the time.