Sophie Turner Adopted Sansa Stark's Direwolf After It 'Died'

80.95K

Neetzan Zimmerman

08/19/13 09:20AM

Filed to: Game of Thrones

If there is one thing the epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire — and, by direct extension, HBO's Game of Thrones — is known for even among the most casual fans, it's George R. R. Martin's maddening penchant for eliminating even the most innocent and beloved of characters without a moment's notice.

By far one of the most innocent and beloved characters to be written off just because was Sansa Stark's direwolf, Lady.

Luckily, even GRRM's cruel, cruel pen can't ruin the happy ending that awaited the real-life Northern Inuit Dog who played Lady on TV.

From the Coventry Telegraph interview with Sansa Stark actress Sophie Turner:

In between her hectic filming schedule, Sophie likes nothing more than to relax at home with her family and pet dog Zunni, who the family adopted from the series. She adds: “Growing up I always wanted a dog, but my parents never wanted one. We kind of fell in love with my character’s dire wolf, Lady, on set.
‘We knew Lady died and they wanted to re home her. My mum persuaded them to let us adopt her.'

As you may recall, Lady was summarily executed because crybaby King Joffrey got himself bit by Arya's direwolf Nymeria.

But according to Turner, Joffrey actor Jack Gleeson would never hurt a direwolf.

"[Gleeson] is one of the most lovely, intelligent and funny people on set," she told the paper. "[H]e’s just so nice, unlike his character."

[H/T: Uproxx, photo via Coventry Telegraph]

The following replies are approved. To see additional replies that are pending approval, click Show Pending. Warning: These may contain graphic material.

10

corey3rd Neetzan Zimmerman 08/19/13 09:39AM

Too old for me.

3

stacyinbean corey3rd 08/19/13 09:41AM

Aww, but it was his birthday this past weekend, can't we just let him have one? (vomit)

1

Wenhan Neetzan Zimmerman 08/19/13 09:56AM

I think it could have been much more compelling to let the animals live. When I say there was no reason to kill them, I mean it (and it's an opinion of course). It's not as though those kids needed their animals to get murdered so their characters could grow. There was no reason for it. It did not make the story better, it made it worse. All I'm asking is for an author to have some creativity.

14

ReX13 Wenhan 08/19/13 10:07AM

What are you going on about? Lady's death was an important early source of conflict between the Starks and Baratheons, and Nymeria is still alive out there, somewhere in the riverlands.

It wasn't exactly an arbitrary decision.

1

livefreeorwhatever Wenhan 08/19/13 10:28AM

I think you can make the argument that the capricious, unpredictable, and unfair nature of death in the Song of Ice and Fire books is a major story tenet of GRRM's world. As much as I hate it, I chose to see Lady's death as foreshadowing — as pretty much the first awful, random and ugly scene in the books (I think, been a while now), it seems to be GRRM's way of saying: "Hey, this world is fucking horrifying, look at me kill this innocent dog for no reason. There is more coming, so stop expecting happy endings now." Again, as much as I hate it, I think that is one of the most compelling things about this series, and much of the current pop-culture hits (from Dexter and Breaking Bad to Mad Men, etc. ...), is that they are throwing happy endings out of the public consciousness. We all expect happy endings, we expect that only the red shirts will die and the heroes will make it in the end. I, for one, enjoy those "happy" stories more, but I can respect and understand the desire of artists, authors, show runners, whatever to break out of that paradigm. It makes for more interesting art that can go back to punching you in the gut and having a real effect. If GRRM didn't kill Lady, or any of the other characters he did, the books probably wouldn't pack the emotional punch that they do.

darnray Wenhan 08/19/13 10:35AM

There was reason for it: to show how heartless, ruthless and petulant Joffrey is. Quite effective as a literary device, really. (You realize this is fiction, yes?)

DatnewRaaaandy Wenhan 08/19/13 10:40AM

I don't think GoT is for you, then...

Wenhan Neetzan Zimmerman 08/19/13 09:26AM

This is why I stopped reading and won't watch this series. THERE IS NO REASON TO KILL THESE ANIMALS! I hate authors that do this. HATE, HATE, HATE

Ken Yadiggit, Adios Wenhan 08/19/13 09:35AM

You know...they don't ACTUALLY kill them, right?

Specious Wenhan 08/19/13 09:45AM

You do know it's make-believe, right...?

LibbyBells Wenhan 08/19/13 09:51AM

Except for the part about making a compelling story...

Wenhan LibbyBells 08/19/13 09:54AM

See, I don't agree it makes a copelling story

2

gigglesticks Neetzan Zimmerman 08/19/13 10:00AM

Lady looks like a sweetie.

However, to generalize, wolf-dog hybrids are challenging animals, and at a minimum need to be worked with constantly. Which I doubt a young actress on a hit series has time for. Hope this works out.

2

Pessimippopotamus gigglesticks 08/19/13 10:24AM

But being a TV actress to a very successful show, I'm sure she can afford a minder. Also probably her parents.

3

gigglesticks Pessimippopotamus 08/19/13 10:30AM

That true.

But it's a little sad. To get something you always wanted, but not being able to enjoy it. If someone else is looking after her, is she really your dog?

Anyway, a beautiful animal got a home.

1

jhguth gigglesticks 08/19/13 10:34AM

This is not a wolf-hybrid, its a Northern Inuit dog which is a cross between German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, and a variety of Inuit breeds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_…

gigglesticks jhguth 08/19/13 10:39AM

To generalize....

Also, Malamutes, Huskies and so on are handfuls as well. Don't know about this particular dog, but the ones I have had are very high energy, constant jumping, chewing, food possessive, etc. Definitely not starter dogs.