It's no secret that HBO's Game of Thrones is one of the most popular shows on TV. The fantasy drama is set in a cruel world, with the series not pulling any punches in regards to violence, murder, and sexual assault. As such, the cast, crew, and fans of Game of Thrones have seen just about every atrocity imaginable on the small screen. You'd think that cast members like Nikolaj Coster-Waldau would be immune to some of Westeros' darkest moments, but there are some scenes that not even Jaime Lannister could get through. Coster-Waldau recently spoke to how hard it was to cope with Shireen's death in Season 5 because it,
...was just cruel. I understand why they did it, but I just couldn't watch it. And it was difficult to even read.
Even though Jaime Lannister has killed countless soldiers and has an incestuous relationship with his twin sister Cersei, there are certain violent acts in Game of Thrones that stand above the others. Shireen's death at the hands of her father and Melisandre is certainly one of them, and provided one of the show's most bone chilling moments.
Ultimately, Shireen's death is the final straw in Stannis' rebellion. His soldiers turn and run, his wife commits suicide, and he meets the pointy end of Brienne of Tarth's Oathkeeper. Stannis originally seemed like a good choice to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but his obsession and influence by the Red Priestess turned him into a monster.
You can check out the scene in question below, and bring your tissues.
What a heartbreaking scene. Shireen's screams are enough to make your blood boil, and it's at this point that Stannis reached the point of no return.
In his same conversation with Variety, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also spoke about how uncomfortable he was with the relationship between Lysa Arryn and her son Robin. Despite being into his adolescence, Lysa is shown breast feeding her heir in her first startling scene of the series. He actor said, "It was so weird and wrong on every level." Ultimately Lysa met a grisly end at the hands of Littlefinger, and Robin is presumably alive and well in The Eyrie.
Only time will tell what craziness Game of Thrones' eighth and final season will bring when it returns to HBO. In the meantime, check out our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our Amazon premiere list and superhero premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode of your favorite show.
