TV Review: Game of Thrones Season 5

House Baratheon

House Baratheon, we hardly knew ye. Following the deaths of his brothers Robert and Renly in previous seasons, Stannis Baratheon along with his wife Selyse and daughter Shireen were virtually all that was left of the noble house (save for Gendry and the other remaining bastards of Robert). Season Five saw the end of this, however, in true Game of Thrones fashion: by having them all killed in two of the most gruesome episodes the show has ever produced.

Stannis’ storyline at the beginning of the season looked to be a promising one: he and his army were at the Wall in an attempt to rebuild his power base. He immediately tries to assert his authority as the “true king” by demanding the leader of the wildlings bend his knee in fealty to him – and burning him alive when he doesn’t. He also makes an attempt to recruit Jon as having a Stark on his side would certainly strengthen his popularity, however Jon declines this offer. Wanting to reach Winterfell before winter arrives, Stannis decides to start the march on it; unfortunately, winter catches up to them as a heavy snowfall delays their journey and cuts off their food supply. After too many desertions, Stannis finally gives in to a horrifying suggestion made by Melisandre – sacrificing Shireen to the Lord of Light in a last ditch attempt to change their fortunes. Tragically, this only ended up worsening his already dismal luck: soon after his daughter’s death, he finds Selyse’s body hanging from a tree in an apparent suicide. As if that wasn’t enough, most of his army also deserted him during the night – along with Melisandre. With nothing left to lose, Stannis marches the remainder of his men out to meet Roose Bolton’s, where afterwards, gravely injured from fighting, he is met by a vengeful Brienne. Stannis, resigned to his fate, simply tells her to do her duty, and though it isn’t shown onscreen, it’s safe to assume she does.

Stannis was one of the only characters who actually might have made a decent ruler over Westeros; it’s a shame, therefore, that the only thing people will ever remember about him is his (or rather, the writers’) fateful decision to incinerate his daughter and only heir for the sake of winning the crown. It’s been shown constantly throughout the seasons – including this one – just how important his family is to him, even if he doesn’t always show it well. The Stannis we were left with in the end was not the Stannis we grew to know and care about (kudos to Stephen Dillane, however, for giving his absolute all even when the writers had stopped giving theirs). Another season, another character botched for the sake of shock value.

Selyse remained by Stannis’ side throughout the majority of the season and was still as fiercely devoted to Melisandre as ever, showing particular joy when she speaks of the Lord of Light during the killing of the wildlings’ leader. Likewise, she is still as hostile to her daughter as ever, reprimanding her for teaching Gilly how to read due to Gilly being a wildling. It’s also shown at one point how upset she still is over the fact she could never give Stannis any sons. It therefore comes as no real surprise when she is initially on board with sacrificing Shireen; as the ceremony goes on, however, the mother in her begins to tear through as she begs Stannis to put a stop to it, and even tries to save Shireen herself when Stannis refuses to relent. Unable to live with herself after allowing her daughter to be killed, Selyse is shown to have hanged herself shortly afterwards, leaving Stannis alone with his guilt.

Though Selyse was never a particular fan favourite – in fact, many despised her for the way she treated Shireen – it was impossible not to muster up some sympathy for her in her final scenes, and Tara Fitzgerald did one hell of a job at portraying Selyse’s agony at losing yet another child. If it was always the plan to have Stannis killed, then of course Selyse had to go as well – we’re just sorry to see it happen before she got a chance to start really playing in the politics of Westeros with her husband.

Just like her mother, Shireen went where her father did this season. Unlike her mother, however, she continued to display the kind and curious manner that neither of her parents seemed to have by teaching Gilly how to read and showing genuine horror at the execution of the wildling king. One particularly moving scene sees her asking Stannis if he is ashamed of her, to which he answers by telling her the story of how he refused to let her go live with the stone men when she was a baby (which was recommended due to her greyscale) because she is daughter; overjoyed, she hugs him, which, after an awkward pause, he returns. It’s scenes like this (which she shared another similar few with Davos) in particular that make her fate especially horrific: Shireen wanted nothing but her father’s affection, offering to do whatever she could to help him win the throne while naively unaware that this would involve her immediate murder. Not a day later and both of her parents are gone too, making her tragic death even worse as it ended up being for nothing. That’s Game of Thrones for you.

Shireen was always one of the sweeter characters the show had to offer, and so of course her death had to be one of the most traumatising scenes in the show’s history. Season Five also had her seemingly more aware of the power games at play, so as Stannis’ heir it would have been fascinating to see what would have happened with her had her father’s army won against the Boltons. Sadly (and frustratingly), we’ll never know.

Another house bites the dust.

Words by Samantha King

Feature compiled by Rose Wolfe-Emery