‘Game Of Thrones’: Who Is Lady Stoneheart & Why Are Fans So Upset?

The Season 4 finale of 'Game Of Thrones' was one of the most spectacular pieces of television EVER, and yet some diehard fans of the 'Song Of Ice And Fire' series are pretty upset by one major missing element -- Lady Stoneheart. If you don't know who she is, allow us to explain, and if you do, let's all vent together! Season 4 of Game Of Thrones followed the latter half of the third book in the Song Of Ice And Fire Series -- A Storm Of Swords -- and the epilogue to SoS featured one of the most jaw-dropping twists the ASoIaF series has had to offer. That said, diehard fans were waiting for it to play out in the Season 4 finale of GoT, and were bitterly disappointed by the absence of none other than Lady Stoneheart. If you don't know who that is, read on, but beware of SPOILERS, and if you do know who she is, let's all vent our frustrations together!

By:
June 16, 2014 9:32AM EDT
Lady Stoneheart Game Of Thrones
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO/Twitter

Who Is Lady Stoneheart? ‘Game Of Thrones’ Fans Upset By Her Absence

Don’t get me wrong — the Season 4 finale, “The Children,” was totally spectacular television. However, the absence of Lady Stoneheart had fans totally up in arms.

Here’s the tip of the iceberg:

‘Game Of Thrones’: Lady Stoneheart Is Catelyn Stark’s Reanimated Corpse

And just who is Lady Stoneheart? Well, to get right to the point, she’s Lady Catelyn Stark’s reanimated corpse.

‘Game Of Thrones’ Finale Recap: Tyrion Becomes A Killer — Twice

After Catelyn had her throat slit at the Red Wedding, her body was thrown into a river and was resurrected three days later by Lord Beric Dondarrion, who we last saw in Season 3 engaged in a trial by combat with Sandor Clegane. Sandor dealt Beric a fatal blow, but Thoros used the Lord of Light’s power to resurrect him.

So, this is a theme we’ve already seen play out in the Game Of Thrones series — it’s not like HBO doesn’t want to go there in the GoT mythology.

Due to Catelyn having been marinated in a river for three days, she has been described as having flesh like curdled milk, and she can only speak when she holds her hand to her throat, covering the wound that still remains. She adopts the name Lady Stoneheart, and quite rightly so — consumed by vengeance, Lady Stoneheart leads the Brotherhood Without Banners in hanging every Lannister, Frey, and Bolton they come across (their sympathizers, too).

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Storm Of Swords ends with Lady Stoneheart hanging a Frey without mercy.

‘Game Of Thrones’: Will Lady Stoneheart’s Appearance Be As Dramatic In Season 5?

Now, how amazing would that have been to watch in the Season 4 finale? While yes, it’s tedious to quibble about changes from book to screen — after all, they are different media, and therefore have different responsibilities to their audience — but is anyone on the GoT team really going to tell me that that wouldn’t have been the very best way to end a season?

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Furthermore, her very absence is creating so much discussion that, if she does appear at the top of Season 5, the wind has already been taken out of the sails of diehard ASoIaF readers. It won’t be as exciting in Season 5 as it would have been in the Season 4 finale.

‘Game Of Thrones’: It Was Hinted That Lady Stoneheart Would Appear — Even By The Cast

Finally, there have been several hints that Lady Stoneheart would appear, which has made fans even more upset by her absence.

Two months ago, Lena Headey posted on her Instagram a heart-shaped mass of stones, with the caption, “My stone heart,” below:

Even SFX magazine’s special fantasy issue hinted that Lady Stoneheart may appear:

So, fans are not crazy — hints of the appearance of Catelyn Stark’s reanimated corpse have been around, and disappointment over her absence is totally legitimate.

‘Game Of Thrones’ Director: Why Lady Stoneheart Was Cut From Finale

What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Were you upset that Lady Stoneheart didn’t close the season? Or do you trust the Game Of Thrones showrunners? Do you think that fan upset has taken away the element of surprise for when (if) she does appear? Let us know!

UPDATE: Director Alex Graves has explained Lady Stoneheart’s absence — are you satisfied by his answer?

— Amanda Michelle Steiner

More ‘Game Of Thrones’:

  1. ‘Game Of Thrones’ Finale Recap: Tyrion Becomes A Killer — Twice
  2. Kit Harington: Does Jon Snow Survive The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Finale?
  3. ‘Game Of Thrones’ Top Fan Theories: Jon Snow’s Parents & More

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