Catelyn Stark (née Tully), later known as Lady Stoneheart, is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
in the ''
A Song of Ice and Fire
''A Song of Ice and Fire'' is a series of epic fantasy novels by the American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. He began the first volume of the series, ''A Game of Thrones'', in 1991, and it was published in 1996. Martin, who init ...
'' series of
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
novels by American author
George R. R. Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948), also known as GRRM, is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer and short story writer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels ''A Song ...
, and its television adaptation ''
Game of Thrones
''Game of Thrones'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, the first ...
''. She is a prominent
point of view
Point of view or Points of View may refer to:
Concept and technique
* Point of view (philosophy), an attitude how one sees or thinks of something
* Point of view (literature) or narrative mode, the perspective of the narrative voice; the prono ...
character in the first three novels. She also appears in the fourth novel, ''
A Feast for Crows
''A Feast for Crows'' is the fourth of seven planned novels in the epic fantasy series '' A Song of Ice and Fire'' by American author George R. R. Martin. The novel was first published on October 17, 2005, in the United Kingdom, with a United ...
'' (2005) and will return in a prominent role for the forthcoming sixth novel, ''
The Winds of Winter
''The Winds of Winter'' is the planned sixth novel in the epic fantasy series ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' by American writer George R. R. Martin. Martin believes the last two volumes of the series will total over 3,000 manuscript pages. Martin ha ...
''.
Catelyn is portrayed by
Northern Irish
Northern Irish people is a demonym for all people born in Northern Ireland or people who are entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence. Most Northern Irish people either identify as Northern ...
actress
Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley (born 1964–1965) is an actress from Northern Ireland. She is best known for playing Catelyn Stark in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2013). She has since appeared in the USA Network series '' Suits'' (2013), the Fo ...
on the
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
series ''Game of Thrones''. Fairley's portrayal has garnered critical acclaim, with many in particular praising her performance during the episode "
The Rains of Castamere
"The Rains of Castamere" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the third season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series '' Game of Thrones'', and the 29th episode of the series. The episode was written by executive producers David Beniof ...
". Due to this popularity, many fans were disappointed she did not appear again in the series, despite the character's resurrection in the novels. Author
George RR Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948), also known as GRRM, is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer and short story writer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels '' A So ...
confirmed he argued against the decision, which he called "the first major diversion of the show from the books", and the character being cut was ultimately made by the television showrunners
David Benioff
David Friedman (; born September 25, 1970), known professionally as David Benioff (), is an American writer, director and producer. Along with his collaborator D. B. Weiss, he is best known as co-creator and showrunner of ''Game of Thrones'' (20 ...
and
Dan Weiss.
Character description
Background
Catelyn was originally
betrothed
An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...
to Eddard's older brother Brandon Stark, the heir to Winterfell at the time. When Brandon was sadistically executed by
King Aerys II, Lord
Jon Arryn
George R. R. Martin's ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' saga features a large cast of characters. The series follows three interwoven plotlines: a dynastic war for control of Westeros by several families; the rising threat of the superhuman Others beyon ...
, who was the guardian of Eddard and
Robert Baratheon
Robert Baratheon is a fictional character in the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation ''Game of Thrones'', where he is portrayed by English actor Mark Addy. ...
, rebelled against
House Targaryen
George R. R. Martin's ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' saga features a large cast of characters. The series follows three interwoven plotlines: a dynastic war for control of Westeros by several families; the rising threat of the superhuman Others beyo ...
. Soon after the rebels won the Battle of the Bells, Catelyn was married to Eddard, having never met the new groom before the wedding day, to consolidate the alliance between the Riverlands and the North. She was initially disappointed as Eddard was shorter and perceived to be less handsome than his brother Brandon, but later fell in love with him after seeing the "good sweet heart beneath his solemn face".
As Catelyn
Catelyn Stark is described as beautiful, with fair skin, long auburn hair, blue eyes, long fingers, high cheekbones and full breasts, and dressed simply in the grey color of
House Stark
George R. R. Martin's ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' saga features a large cast of characters. The series follows three interwoven plotlines: a dynastic war for control of Westeros by several families; the rising threat of the superhuman Others beyon ...
or the blue and red of her father’s
House Tully. She is proud, strong, kind and generous, has a strong grasp of politics, and is often governed by the desire to protect her children. Catelyn is usually in accord with her husband
Eddard Stark
Eddard "Ned" Stark is a fictional character in the 1996 fantasy novel ''A Game of Thrones'' by George R. R. Martin, and ''Game of Thrones'', HBO's adaptation of Martin's ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series. In the storyline, Ned is the lord of Wint ...
, but resents his admission of his extramarital son
Jon Snow into their household.
As Lady Stoneheart
Having decomposed in the river for several days, half of Catelyn's auburn hair had fallen out and what remained was completely grey. From clawing at her face after Robb's murder, Stoneheart also has deep, gashing flesh wounds. She is a hooded woman, and has been mistaken for Beric Dondarrion's lover.
Stoneheart has been described as having "nothing of Catelyn's mercy or kindness". Her objective as leader of the Brotherhood without Banners is to slaughter anyone associated with the Red Wedding. This includes anyone with the Freys, Boltons, or Lannisters. She has been dubbed an "antagonist" or a "villain", especially an antagonist to Brienne.
She is unable to speak properly due to her throat slashing, lending to one of her nicknames "the Silent Sister". In order to verbalize commands, she must cover the wound on her throat with her hand. She is also referred to as "The Hangwoman" or "Mother Merciless".
Storylines
Book series
''A Game of Thrones''
After the royal party arrives at Winterfell, Catelyn receives a letter from her sister Lysa Arryn stating that the Lannisters had killed her husband Jon Arryn, the king's 'Hand' (second-in-command). King Robert Baratheon persuades Eddard to take his place. When her son Bran is injured and goes into a coma, she sits by his bed until they are attacked by an assassin who has come to kill Bran. Catelyn is wounded in the attack, and travels to King's Landing to warn Eddard after recovering. There, her childhood companion Petyr Baelish tells her that the dagger used in the attack belongs to Tyrion Lannister. On her way back to Winterfell, she takes Tyrion to her sister at the Eyrie for trial, where Tyrion escapes execution by demanding and winning a
trial by combat
Trial by combat (also wager of battle, trial by battle or judicial duel) was a method of Germanic law to settle accusations in the absence of witnesses or a confession in which two parties in dispute fought in single combat; the winner of the ...
. After the news of Eddard's execution by order of King Joffrey reaches Catelyn, she argues for peace, but is overruled by the newly crowned King Robb and his bannermen.
''A Clash of Kings''
Catelyn advises against Robb's plan to send Eddard's former ward, Theon Greyjoy, to forge an alliance with Balon Greyjoy. Catelyn is sent by Robb to attempt an alliance with Renly Baratheon and his massive Reach-Stormlands host. Catelyn meets Renly at Bitterbridge and follows his host to the ancestral Baratheon seat of Storm's End, where she witnesses first the unsuccessful parley between Renly and his older brother and rival claimant Stannis, and then Renly's subsequent murder later that night by a shadow creature. Afterwards, Catelyn flees with Brienne of Tarth, one of Renly's kingsguard, to Riverrun. Upon hearing of her younger sons' supposed murder at the hands of Theon Greyjoy, Catelyn goes to confront the captive Jaime Lannister. Although the novel ends her storyline ambiguously, it is revealed at the beginning of the third novel that Catelyn set him free and asked Brienne to escort him to King's Landing in an attempt to exchange him for her daughters, who were still captives of Joffrey. This, however, causes problems for Robb and costs him an ally, House Karstark, which had held grudges against the Lannisters.
''A Storm of Swords''
Catelyn's brother Edmure Tully places Catelyn under house arrest at Riverrun, but Robb pardons her after he announces his wedding to Jeyne Westerling, invalidating his marriage proposal to House Frey. Lord Walder Frey agrees to forgive Robb if Edmure marries his daughter Roslin, and Catelyn travels to the Frey seat of the Twins to attend the wedding with Robb and other northern lords. However, Walder Frey and his men take revenge on Robb for his slight on their house by slaughtering the northern host, an act of treachery that became known as the "Red Wedding". In an attempt to save her son's life, Catelyn takes Aegon Frey hostage and kills him when Roose Bolton kills Robb regardless, but she still has her throat slashed by Raymund Frey. The Freys then mutilate Robb's corpse, and throw Catelyn's stripped naked corpse into the Green Fork in mockery of House Tully's tradition of
river burial.
Three days later, Catelyn's body is washed ashore downstream along with hundreds of other corpses, and a
wolf
The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly u ...
pack led by
Arya Stark
Arya Stark is a fictional character in American author George R. R. Martin's ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' epic fantasy novel series, and its television adaptation ''Game of Thrones'', where she is portrayed by English actress Maisie Williams. She ...
's stray
direwolf Nymeria is drawn to
scavenge
Scavengers are animals that consume Corpse decomposition, dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a h ...
upon the dead. However, Arya is skinchanging into Nymeria at the time during her sleep, recognizes her mother's body, controls Nymeria to pull it out of the river and guards it against other wolves until the outlaw band Brotherhood Without Banners passes by to repel the wolves. Catelyn is then resurrected by Lord Beric Dondarrion, who sacrifices his life force to revive her in repayment to her husband Eddard's honoring. However, the period of time she spent deceased has caused Catelyn's body to partly decay, disfiguring her looks; furthermore, upon her reanimation she loses most of her previous kind personality, except for her hatred of the Lannisters and the Freys. Catelyn then assumes command of the Brotherhood, and changes their aim to terrorizing anyone related to House Frey and Lannister. Her uncompromising brutality earns her the moniker "Lady Stoneheart".
''A Feast for Crows''
Lady Stoneheart has employed Tom of Sevenstreams to be her spy informant during the siege of Riverrun, where the Frey forces are commanded by Walder Frey's grandson and heir, Ryman Frey. Stoneheart's informant Tom acts as a musician, hired by Ryman himself. Tom jokes he will make a song called "Talking to the Fish" about Lord Emmon Frey's speech to the people of Riverrun.
Inside a tent where Ryman entertains his whore, Ser Jaime Lannister notices Ryman is in possession of Robb's bronze crown. When dismissing him for disobeying orders, Jaime instructs that the crown remain behind, and Tom gives an alibi for staying behind. Off-page, Tom then returns Robb's crown to Lady Stoneheart.
Stoneheart and the Brotherhood come across a small party led by Brienne, who informs Stoneheart that she is searching for Sansa at Jaime Lannister's request. Brienne notices Stoneheart has retrieved her son's bronze crown, and when inspecting it, Lady Stoneheart sheds a tear under her hood.
Brienne is named a traitor by Stoneheart because she carries Oathkeeper, a Lannister sword that was forged from Ned Stark's
Valyrian steel
Damascus steel was the forged steel of the blades of swords smithed in the Near East from ingots of Wootz steel either imported from Southern India or made in production centres in Sri Lanka, or Khorasan, Iran. These swords are characterized by ...
blade, Ice. Brienne swears that she is still faithful, but Stoneheart insists she must prove it by killing Jaime, whom she believes played a role in the Red Wedding. Stoneheart gives her the ultimatum: sword or noose. Brienne refuses, even when threatened with a hanging. Just before Brienne is to be hanged, she sees the young squire child Podrick Payne choking, along with Hyle Hill, and "shout
out a word" to intervene.
''A Dance with Dragons''
Stoneheart is revealed to have spared Brienne, with the word shouted by Brienne evidently being "sword". Brienne locates Jaime at a camp in Pennytree during the siege of Raventree, claiming she has found Sansa with
Sandor Clegane
Sandor Clegane, nicknamed the Hound, is a fictional character in the '' A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation '' Game of Thrones''.
Introduced in 1996's ''A Game o ...
, who are both a day's ride away. The maid of Tarth warns Jaime that if he does not come alone, Catelyn's daughter will die. Jaime agrees and leaves. Later, Jaime is reported to have disappeared for weeks, a sign he has been successfully lured into Stoneheart's trap.
''The World of Ice and Fire''
The book states Ryman informed the brotherhood of Jaime's dismissal of Ryman, allowing the outlaws to ambush and hang Ryman near Fairmarket. However, in Brienne's point-of-view in the fourth book, Tom states "our lady" (Stoneheart) had already gone to Fairmarket, because she "never sleeps". This suggests Lady Stoneheart killed Ryman herself, and now sources differ (as ''The World of Ice and Fire'' is also written from an in-world maester).
''The Winds of Winter''
In a 2018 interview with the Chinese ''Esquire'', author
George RR Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948), also known as GRRM, is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer and short story writer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels '' A So ...
confirmed that Lady Stoneheart will reappear and have a prominent role in the forthcoming novel. He stated: "In the sixth book, I still continue to write her. She is an important part of the entire book."
Family tree of House Tully
Television series
In January 2007
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
secured the rights to adapt Martin's series for television.
Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Anne Ehle (; born December 29, 1969) is an American actress, the daughter of English actress Rosemary Harris and American author John Ehle. She gained fame for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 BBC miniseries ''Pride and Prejudice ...
was originally cast as Catelyn Stark and filmed her scenes in the unaired pilot until she eventually left for family reasons.
Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley (born 1964–1965) is an actress from Northern Ireland. She is best known for playing Catelyn Stark in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2013). She has since appeared in the USA Network series '' Suits'' (2013), the Fo ...
was then cast in the role, which she played for three seasons. Australian actress
Essie Davis
Esther Davis (born 19 January 1970) is an Australian actress and singer, best known for her roles as Phryne Fisher in ''Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries'' and its film adaptation, '' Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears'', and as Amelia Vanek in ''Th ...
, who later went on to portray Lady Crane in the
sixth season, also auditioned for the role when the series was being developed.
Season 1
Catelyn's storyline is abbreviated and has minor differences in the first season. Introduced in the pilot, "
Winter is Coming
"Winter Is Coming" is the series premiere of the HBO medieval fantasy television series ''Game of Thrones''. The first episode of the first season, it was written by series creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, in an adaptation of the first ...
", Catelyn does not encourage Ned to journey south. Unlike her book counterpart, she is worrisome of the command due to the fates of his father, Rickard (Wayne Foskett) and Ned's older brother, Brandon (unseen) when they rode south on the command of the Mad King, Aerys Targaryen II (
David Rintoul
David Rintoul (born David Wilson; 29 November 1948) is a Scottish stage and television actor. Rintoul was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, and won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ...
). She also does not seem as encouraged to promote Sansa as a suitable match to be Robert's son and heir,
Joffrey Baratheon
Joffrey Baratheon is a fictional character in the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its HBO television adaptation ''Game of Thrones''. Introduced in 1996's ''A Game of Thrones'', ...
(
Jack Gleeson
Jack Gleeson (born 20 May 1992) is an Irish actor who played Joffrey Baratheon on the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2014). Following this role, Gleeson took a hiatus from acting, but has since taken part in independent th ...
)'s future queen consort.
The first season also excludes Catelyn's extended family from ''A Game of Thrones'' (1996), with the exception of Lysa Arryn (
Kate Dickie
Kate Dickie (born 1971) is a Scottish actress who has appeared in television series, stage plays and films. She is known for her television roles as Lex in the BBC series '' Tinsel Town'' (2000–2001) and Lysa Arryn in the HBO series '' Game ...
) and Catelyn's nephew, Robin (renamed from the novels; portrayed by
Lino Facioli
Lino Schmidek Machado Facioli (born 29 July 2000) is a Brazilian-British actor. He is best known for portraying Lord Robin Arryn in '' Game of Thrones'' and Naples in ''Get Him to the Greek''.
Biography
Facioli was born in Ribeirão Preto, S ...
). Catelyn's suspicion towards the Lannisters is motivated by a shred of blonde hair found where Bran fell from the tower, indicating the Lannisters' involvement (rather than Jaime refusing to join the hunt the next day). Additionally, Catelyn confronts
Jaime Lannister
Ser Jaime Lannister is a fictional character in the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and someti ...
(
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Nikolaj William Coster-Waldau (; born 27 July 1970) is a Danish actor and producer. He graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in Copenhagen in 1993, and had his breakthrough role in Denmark with the film '' Nightwatch'' (19 ...
) for throwing Bran from the tower by the end of the first season. Meanwhile, in the novels, Catelyn has gradually come to this belief over time in the first two novels, before Jaime admits it in his drunken state by the end of the second novel.
Another difference is Catelyn's travel journeys. Her journey passing the Bloody Gate to meet Blackfish and later ascending the Gates of the Moon and meeting King Robert's bastard daughter, Mya Stone (who is also excluded from the television series) is unseen.
Season 2
In the second season, some of Catelyn's political decisions and discoveries are given to other characters. Her son Robb (
Richard Madden
Richard Madden (born 18 June 1986) is a Scottish actor. He was cast in his first role at age 11 and made his screen acting debut in 2000. He later began performing on stage whilst a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2007, he t ...
) commands Rodrik Cassel (
Ron Donachie
Ronald Eaglesham Porter (born 26 April 1956), known professionally as Ron Donachie, is a Scottish actor. He is known for starring as DI John Rebus in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the Ian Rankin "Rebus" detective novels and for his supporti ...
) to go to Winterfell to serve as castellan. This is a change from the novels where Catelyn gave the order in the first book, following his injuries at the Vale, which was also removed from the television series. Catelyn's realization of Stannis' part in killing Renly is given to
Brienne of Tarth
Brienne of Tarth is a fictional character in George R. R. Martin's '' A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy novels and its television adaptation, '' Game of Thrones''. She is a prominent point of view character in the novels.
Brienne is int ...
(
Gwendoline Christie
Gwendoline Tracey Philippa Christie (born 28 October 1978) is an English actress who is best known for portraying Brienne of Tarth in the HBO fantasy-drama series ''Game of Thrones'' (2012–2019). She is also widely known for her role the Firs ...
), who is also aged up for the television series.
A major difference is Catelyn's motivation for freeing Jaime Lannister book-to-screen. This event occurs on television in the episode "
A Man Without Honor
"A Man Without Honor" is the seventh episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series '' Game of Thrones''. The 17th episode overall, "A Man Without Honor" was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, ...
". In the second novel ''A Clash of Kings'', Robb and Catelyn are informed that Bran and Rickon died, so Catelyn frees Jaime out of motherly grief for her still-living hostage daughters.
In the television series, however, Bran and Rickon's fates are left unknown (but it is later eventually believed the boys died by "
Dark Wings, Dark Words
"Dark Wings, Dark Words" is the second episode of the third season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series ''Game of Thrones''. The 22nd episode of the series overall, it was directed by Daniel Minahan and written by Vanessa Taylor. It first a ...
", the second episode of the
third season, long after Catelyn frees Jaime). Instead, in the television series, Rickard Karstark (
John Stahl
John Macdonald Steele (23 June 1953 – 2 March 2022), better known as John Stahl, was a Scottish actor best known for playing Rickard Karstark in HBO's '' Game of Thrones'' and Tom 'Inverdarroch' Kerr in '' High Road''.
Life and career
Stah ...
) wants to kill Jaime out of revenge for his secondborn son Torrhen's death, and Catelyn sneaks Jaime out in the night to prevent a valuable hostage from dying. She reserves this information from Robb to maintain the Karstark alliance with the northern crown. As a result, Robb fulfils Edmure's role in keeping Catelyn under house arrest until the war ends.
There is a difference in Catelyn's locale. She is at Riverrun to receive Ned's bones by silent sisters, whereas
Petyr Baelish
Petyr Baelish, nicknamed Littlefinger, is a fictional character in the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation ''Game of Thrones''. Introduced in 1996's ''A Game o ...
(
Aiden Gillen
Aidan Murphy (born 24 April 1968), better known as Aidan Gillen (), is an Irish actor. He is the recipient of three Irish Film & Television Awards and has been nominated for a British Academy Television Award, a British Independent Film Award, a ...
) delivers them in the Stormlands shortly after her envoy mission to negotiate with the feuding Baratheon king-brothers, Renly and Stannis (
Stephen Dillane
Stephen John Dillane (; born 27 March 1957) is a British actor. He is best known for his roles as Leonard Woolf in the 2002 film '' The Hours'', Stannis Baratheon in ''Game of Thrones'', and Thomas Jefferson in the 2008 HBO miniseries ''John Ada ...
). Similarly, she reunites with Robb while he is in the Westerlands to "accept the surrender" of the Crag, and meets his future wife, Talisa Maegyr of Volantis (
Oona Chaplin
Oona Castilla Chaplin (; born 4 June 1986) is a Spanish-Swiss actress. Her roles include Talisa Maegyr in the HBO TV series ''Game of Thrones'', Kitty Trevelyan in the BBC drama ''The Crimson Field'', and Zilpha Geary in the series ''Taboo''. ...
), rather than discovering Robb's marriage later (to a different character in the novels).
Season 3
The episode "Dark Wings, Dark Words" shows Robb and Catelyn receive seemingly definitive proof Bran and Rickon are dead. The timeframe, long after Jaime is released in the television series, is a major difference to the motivations that lead to Robb marrying his wife and Catelyn freeing Jaime. The third season also introduces Catelyn's other family members, Edmure (portrayed by
Tobias Menzies
Tobias Simpson Menzies (born 7 March 1974) is an English stage, television and film actor. He is known for playing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the third and fourth seasons of Netflix's series ''The Crown'', for which he won the Primetime ...
) and the Blackfish (portrayed by
Clive Russell
Clive Russell (born 7 December 1945) is a Scottish actor. He is known for his roles as Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline in ''Ripper Street'', Angus O'Connor in ''Happiness'' and Brynden Tully in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones''.
He also ap ...
), who previously appeared in the first two novels, but were absent from the show's first two seasons.
A major difference includes Catelyn's feelings towards
Jon Snow (portrayed by
Kit Harington
Christopher Catesby Harington (born 26 December 1986) is an English actor who is widely known for his role as Jon Snow in the HBO epic fantasy television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019).
After studying at the Royal Central School o ...
) prior to her death. In the third novel ''A Storm of Swords'', Catelyn objects to her son King Robb's intention to legitimize Jon and name him heir. She raises a point that Robb trusting Jon is not enough, stating children or grandchildren may rise up against Robb's own children or grandchildren, and remarks the histories of the Blackfyre rebellion against the Targaryen crown.
However, in the show, Catelyn blames her lack of maternal love for Jon on the reason for her family's tragedies and downfall. The television series reduces Catelyn's fears of Jon as pure jealousy for his mother, rather than the other more complex reasoning in the novels, an attempt to maintain future dynastic peace.
During the television adaptation of the Red Wedding, Catelyn kills Walder (
David Bradley)'s wife, Joyeuse Erenford (Kelly Long). This is a change from the novels where she kills Lord Walder Frey's dimwitted grandson Jinglebell that she mistakes for a son, on the offer of "a son for a son". After Robb dies in the television series, Catelyn goes catatonic, and the Freys seemingly had no intention to keep her alive, with one slashing her throat. Whereas in the novels, it is Catelyn's face-clawing and laughter which points towards her insanity that leads to whispers of suggesting a mercy killing before she is finally killed.
Season 4
In the
fourth season opener "
Two Swords", Sansa (
Sophie Turner
Sophie Belinda Jonas (née Turner; born 21 February 1996) is an English actress. Turner made her acting debut as Sansa Stark on the HBO epic fantasy television series '' Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which she received a Primetime Emmy A ...
) mentions Catelyn's body was thrown in the river. This is identical to the novels, as both showcase a mockery of Tully funeral customs.
However, the aftermath is drastically changed from book to screen. Following the fourth season finale episode, "
The Children", many fans expressed disappointment that Catelyn's resurrection as Lady Stoneheart was not included. In the novels, Arya's direwolf Nymeria retrieves her corpse from the Green Fork, and runs away when humans approach. It is later revealed the Brotherhood without Banners found her corpse, and Beric Dondarrion, a six-times resurrected man, gives her the kiss of life, passing on his power to her.
On the idea of portraying Stoneheart, Fairley joked in a 2013 interview: "I'm completely insane, so it mightn't be too much of an acting stretch!" She elaborated further on the possibility stating:
Neither showrunners explained the absence, but director
Alex Graves
Alexander John Graves (born July 23, 1965) is an American film director, television director, television producer and screenwriter.
Early life
Alex Graves was born in Kansas City, Missouri. His father, William Graves, was a reporter for ''Th ...
explained in 2014 that they were "not sure" about what to "do about it" during production of the previous third season released in 2013. Then he revealed there was no plans for the fourth season, if ever. He also admitted that he was unsure of her purpose, while admitting he had not read the novels:
Showrunners
David Benioff
David Friedman (; born September 25, 1970), known professionally as David Benioff (), is an American writer, director and producer. Along with his collaborator D. B. Weiss, he is best known as co-creator and showrunner of ''Game of Thrones'' (20 ...
and
D. B. Weiss
Daniel Brett Weiss (; born April 23, 1971) is an American television writer, director, and producer. Along with his collaborator David Benioff, he is best-known as co-creator of ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), the HBO adaptation of George R. ...
claimed they'd purposely left her out to avoid spoiling ''The Winds of Winter'' and to minimize
character resurrections in the series, despite arguments to keep her from author George RR Martin.
Season 5
In the episode "
Hardhome
"Hardhome" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of HBO's fantasy television series '' Game of Thrones'', and the 48th overall. It was written by the series' creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and directed by Miguel Sapochnik. It premie ...
", the television adapted version of Arya does not choose the name Cat of the Canals, a secret tribute to her mother, when she poses as an orphan selling oysters. Instead, "Lana" is the name chosen.
Season 6
In the episode "
No One", Beric Dondarrion (
Richard Dormer
Richard Dormer (born 11 November 1969) is an actor, playwright and screenwriter from Northern Ireland. He is best known for his roles as Beric Dondarrion in the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' and Dan Anderssen in Sky Atlantic's '' ...
) is re-introduced following his last appearance in the third season. Being evidently still alive, Beric's appearance negated much of the remaining fan speculation of a potential, delayed entrance for Lady Stoneheart. Actor
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (born 26 February 1980) is an Icelandic actor known for his roles in the TV series ''Game of Thrones'' and '' The Innocents'' and in the films ''Atomic Blonde'' and ''Alpha
Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ...
was also cast as Lem for the episode, an ode to one of Stoneheart's henchmen, Lem Lemoncloak from the novels, and was quickly killed off. Following demand from fans of the novels, the actor agreed to videotape the monologue from the epilogue of ''A Storm of Swords'' where he delivers the speech of Meritt Frey's execution by the command of his leader, Lady Stoneheart.
Reception
Fairley's performance has received critical acclaim. The closing scene of "
Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things
"Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" is the fourth episode of the first season of the HBO medieval fantasy television series '' Game of Thrones'', which first aired on May 8, 2011. It was written by Bryan Cogman and directed by Brian Kirk. I ...
" was praised by HitFix's Alan Sepinwall, highlighting Michelle Fairley's acting as Catelyn gathers allies to arrest Tyrion. ''
Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...
'' wrote about "
The Rains of Castamere
"The Rains of Castamere" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the third season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series '' Game of Thrones'', and the 29th episode of the series. The episode was written by executive producers David Beniof ...
": "Michelle Fairley’s fantastic performance captures the horror, with the edge of desperation, anguish, and madness of a woman who has lost her sons (she believes all of them), lost her grandchild, may have lost her daughters, and for all she knows, is witnessing the extinction of the house she belongs to."
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stark, Catelyn
A Song of Ice and Fire characters
Literary characters introduced in 1996
Fictional murdered people
Female characters in literature
Female characters in television
Fictional characters who committed familicide
Fictional characters with disfigurements
Fictional prisoners of war
Fictional murderers
Fictional characters with death or rebirth abilities
Fictional mass murderers
Fictional lords and ladies
Fictional outlaws
Fictional revolutionaries
Fictional undead