George R.R. Martin Reveals He Planned to Kill Tyrion and Sansa in Game of Thrones Ending

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Despite the widespread disappointment with the final season of HBO’s popular show, Game of Thrones, its creator, George R.R. Martin, recently shared that things could have turned out even worse. This news comes as a new spin-off series focusing on Arya Stark is being developed.

The final season of Game of Thrones was criticized for feeling rushed and for not giving satisfying conclusions to its characters. However, it turns out that ending might have been better than the one originally envisioned by the author of the books the show was based on.

When the TV show Game of Thrones neared its conclusion, the author of the book series it was based on, George R.R. Martin, hadn’t yet finished writing the books. This meant the show’s creators at HBO had to write their own ending, which ultimately received negative reactions from viewers.

Honestly, a lot of people were upset with how things ended for characters like Daenerys, Jaime, Cersei, and even Jon. But it’s wild to think it could have been way worse! Apparently, George R.R. Martin originally planned to kill off Tyrion and Sansa, and I think fans would have really lost it if that had happened. I can’t imagine the outcry!

George R.R. Martin Was Considering Killing Sansa

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Okay, so as a huge fan of the whole Game of Thrones universe, this is pretty cool. George R.R. Martin, while talking about the progress on The Winds of Winter – which, let’s be real, we’re all still waiting for – accidentally revealed some of his original ideas for how the entire A Song of Ice and Fire series was supposed to end. The Hollywood Reporter actually published an interview where he let it slip, and it’s fascinating to hear what he initially envisioned.

I originally planned for more characters to die, but the show softened things with a more optimistic conclusion. I don’t think Tyrion will have a happy fate—his story has always been a sad one. I even considered killing Sansa, but the actress has played her so well that I might spare her.

Anyone familiar with George R.R. Martin’s books or the Game of Thrones series likely expected the show’s ending to differ from his original plans. However, it’s surprising to learn he intended to kill off popular characters like Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark.

Sansa and Tyrion were among the few characters who received satisfying conclusions in the final season of Game of Thrones, which was otherwise disappointing for many viewers. If George R.R. Martin had given these characters truly unhappy endings, it likely would have angered fans even more than the show’s finale already did.

Sansa’s Popularity In The Show May Have Changed GRRM’s Mind

Interestingly, George R.R. Martin introduces his ideas for how A Song of Ice and Fire should conclude by saying, “I was going to…” He then points out that the final season of Game of Thrones – which he calls a “happy ending” – ultimately took a different path.

The way the show ended appears to have affected the author’s ideas for how his book series will conclude. He may also be reconsidering killing off Sansa Stark, possibly because fans really like her and consider her one of the best characters in Game of Thrones.

Sansa Stark began as a privileged and naive young girl, but she ultimately became one of the most capable and effective rulers in Game of Thrones. She developed remarkable strength, excellent judgment, and a wisdom beyond her years, setting a high standard for all the other leaders in the series.

As a critic, I have to say Sansa Stark’s journey is one of the most compelling in recent television history. What makes her ascension to Queen in the North so powerful isn’t just that she becomes queen, but how she gets there. Initially, she seemed utterly unprepared for leadership, and the trauma of losing her father so young could have easily derailed her. Honestly, it would have been a huge disservice to her character development if the show hadn’t allowed her to fully realize this hard-won position.

Game Of Thrones’ Ending Was Happier Than The One GRRM Planned

Those disappointed with the final season of Game of Thrones might have been even more upset if George R.R. Martin had followed his original plans for the novels. The controversial turn of Daenerys Targaryen into a villain and her death at Jon Snow’s hand would have been even harder to accept, and many would have been even more upset by Sansa’s fate.

If you were upset about how Jaime and Cersei Lannister’s story ended, you’d likely have been even more disappointed if Tyrion had met a tragic fate as well. Viewers really needed at least one character to find happiness after everything that happened, and Tyrion, arguably, was the most deserving within the Lannister family.

Although the way his story ended felt rushed and a little disappointing, it was actually a better fate than the tragic ending George R.R. Martin originally planned. However, Martin has hinted that Tyrion might still face a tragic fate, stating he doesn’t believe the character will have a happy ending.

Why Killing Sansa In ASOIAF Would Be A Mistake

While George R.R. Martin might still view Tyrion Lannister as a character destined for tragedy, fans of Game of Thrones can be relieved that the author seems to have changed his mind about how Sansa Stark’s story ends. It appears Sophie Turner won’t be filming a death scene for her character in any future spinoffs anytime soon.

Killing off Sansa Stark in the last two books of A Song of Ice and Fire would be a significant error, no matter the circumstances. It would diminish any feeling of hope remaining in Westeros. While hope can be painful, Sansa having a positive future highlights the tragic events happening elsewhere, creating a stronger emotional impact.

We’re left to imagine how things could have turned out differently for Ned Stark. Similarly, Daenerys Targaryen’s tragic decline offers a stark contrast to the strong and capable queen Sansa ultimately becomes.

It’s been 15 years since fans first started waiting for George R.R. Martin to finish his A Song of Ice and Fire series – the books that inspired Game of Thrones. With the TV show now over, everyone’s hoping that when Martin finally finishes the series, some of the characters they love will still be alive to see how the story ends.

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2026-01-16 03:30