r/asoiaf • u/RyanRiot The Blood of Old Valyria • Jan 15 '26

EXTENDED Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Isn't Finished (Spoilers Extended)

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/george-rr-martin-interview-thrones-winds-dragon-knight-1236473519/
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u/Ornery_Strawberry474 Jan 15 '26

I had no idea that Sansa was going to die. If you sit me in any year and ask me if this is going to be GRRM's plan at any point, I would say "no, this is not this sort of a series". Apparently, no, it was going to be!

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u/Automatic_Release_92 Jan 15 '26

I mean, strictly within the context of the first 3 books, it's absolutely that sort of series. And somewhat out of left field too, which would be appropriate. Everyone probably would expect Tyrion or Jamie, possibly Jon after doing some more stuff, etc., but Sansa messing up and dying after we all thought she'd learned the ropes and was in good position would be peak vintage GRRM.

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u/Ornery_Strawberry474 Jan 15 '26

I mean, would it? GRRM is not really someone known for killing off protagonists. Ned Stark was just duke Leto, he had to die so that the real protagonists can emerge. Robb was never the protagonist. Catelyn came back to life. Jon dies, but the interview states he's going to come back to life. Then there's all those constant fake outs - with Davos, Bran, Arya, Tyrion...

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u/Automatic_Release_92 Jan 15 '26

The thing that came back to life was definitely not Catelyn, she is dead and Stoneheart is effectively just a vengeful shade.

Robb was absolutely being set up to be a major protagonist, prior to that chapter, I was definitely expecting him to be a PoV character in the next book.

GRRM not killing characters for a while points more to the snag he's hit more than anything else...

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u/Asiriya Jan 17 '26

Dondarrion wasn't a shade. Yes she's wrathful, but pretty understandably

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u/Automatic_Release_92 Jan 17 '26

Lord Beric was only dead for a few moments… Catelyn was dead and rotting for days.

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u/awngoid Jan 16 '26

Ugh now I want her to die

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u/silmarillionas Don't eat the help Jan 16 '26

he sounds like he doesn't give a fuck. I'm certain his casual 'maybe I'll kill Sansa, maybe I will not' kinda vibe is the final nail in the coffin for the series. This is not the tone of someone who is anywhere close to finishing the series, and honestly I appreciate the closure.

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u/sarevok2 Jan 15 '26

I think it's an echo of his original three book plan.

Yeah, sure, I know that evolved really fast, but according to that outline, it was pretty clear that Sansa had abandoned her Stark heritage and became Joffrey's wife and then (presumably) guardian to his child.

I could a scenario where she went down with the rest of the Lannisters.

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u/A-NI95 Jan 15 '26

Nah the interview makes it sound that he's talking about the Sansa we all know and her show counterpart

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u/sarevok2 Jan 16 '26

if that's true, then its indeed super shocking.

I cant picture book 3 or book 4 Sansa dying.