Stannis had earned points as a father when he told his daughter that despite the Greyscale, he was never going to let her rot in the Valyrian Ruins. The (second) most shocking death in Season 5, moreso considering the previous scene shown between Princess Shireen and her father Stannis. Last we hear of Mance, Ramsey claims, in his infamous “Pink Letter” that he has captured “The King Beyond The Wall” and his “False King” (Stannis) and will execute them… 13 – Shireen Baratheon via HBO Jon Snow, now Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, eventually learns of the Ruse, and sends Mance with Stannis to save Winterfell from the Boltons. The Nights Watch, and Stannis’ men take the wrong Wildling to the stake, thinking it is Mance since he looks like him, and leave Mance under another Wildling’s appearance. Not really! In the books, Melisandre casts a spell that allows Mance to “change appearance”, or at least give the impression to others. That scene happens in the books and in the show as well. The King Beyond The Wall, brilliantly portrayed by Ciarán Hinds, refuses to bend the knee to Stannis and is therefore executed at the stake, only to be shot an arrow to the heart by Jon Snow as mercy.
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It was sad to see this legendary fighter die in combat during the only fight we actively see him in the entire show… 14 – Mance Rayder via HBO The show however, decided to give this task to Tyrion, who has yet to meet Danaerys in the books, and kill off Ser Barristan as he lived: By The Sword. He tries to maintain order in a city with inner turmoil with regards to the rule of the Mother of Dragons.
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In the books, he looks over Mereen as the Queen’s counselor after Danaerys leaves the Fighting Pits riding Drogon. He even got pardoned by Robert Baratheon after his rebellion, even though Ser Barristan was fighting for the other side. Legends of him being unstoppable in combat roam all across the realm, and he proved his valor in combat many times over during his lifetime. Barristan “The Bold”, or as they call him behind his back, Barristan “The Old” is one of the most notorious swordsman and fighter of Westeros.