Whether it's maiming children, hacking off limbs, or getting eaten by dogs, Game of Thrones has never shied away from depicting the most horribly violent images imaginable. In fact, the upcoming season will break the record of the most human beings set on fire in an entertainment show. But, in a rare move, the Game of Thrones showrunners actually made one Season Five death less violent than originally intended.
In that season finale, Myrcella Baratheon is killed by Ellaria Sand's poisoned kiss to avenge the death of Oberyn Martell. The death itself, at least by Game of Thrones' standards, is pretty tame. There's an infinitely creepy—but rather touching—moment between Myrcella and Jaime Lannister, who reveals she is actually his daughter from the relationship he has with his sister Cersei. As they finish their conversation, both oddly chill with this weirdo situation, Myrcella's nose starts bleeding and she kinda just drops dead. Yeah, it's sad, but it also could have been a lot worse!
As actress Nell Tiger Free, who played Myrcella, told MYM Buzz of her death:
I don't know if I should say this, but originally what happened is they gave me those mashed up bananas with like blood fake blood, and my brains were supposed to be all over the ship and stuff. I was so excited. I don't like gore but, like, I knew they were just like bananas, so I was okay with it.
According to Free, the showrunners decided to change the scene "because they wanted Myrcella's death to reflect her life, and wanted it to be sweet—which is rare for [Game of] Thrones."
Myrcella's character is actually one of the few people still alive in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series—she's just missing an ear. Anyway, if this wasn't gruesome enough for you, go ahead and watch literally any other episode of Game of Thrones to get your fill of violence.
