Game of Thrones began back in 2011 with an already-established lore behind it. And while many viewers were expecting changes from page to screen, some pretty huge events were left out of the show. This included a number of deaths, battles, and even entire characters.
One character which was included, however, was Mance Rayder (played by Ciarán Hinds) – the King Beyond the Wall.
Dance was a strange character as he was supposed to be the enemy of the Night’s Watch – and therefore Jon Snow (Kit Harington) – but he was a lot nicer than fans had anticipated.
Dance, in actuality, was quite reasonable, and, as the King Beyond the Wall, was eager to hear everyone’s point of view, as nobody north of The Wall would ever kneel to him.
Unfortunately for Mance, his status proceeded him, and he found himself locked up at Castle Black after he and his people attacked the Night’s Watch in season four.
READ MORE: Winds of Winter release date announcement IMMINENT after THIS move?
Jon fought to keep him alive, but he was eventually sentenced to death by Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane).
After being set on fire Jon couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so ended up shooting him with an arrow to end his suffering.
Just before Mance’s death Melisandre (Carive van Outen) brands him the King of Lies before he is tied to the pyre.
This scene is vastly different from the books, as in A Song of Ice and Fire book five, A Dance with Dragons, Melisandre scurries Mance away.
It was then Mance’s efforts which helped Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) save Jeyne Poole – who was in fact disguised as Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).
Unfortunately, this is the last Mance has been seen in the books, as he was then captured by Ramsay Bolton, and leaving him supposedly left for dead.
If the show would have followed the books’ initial plans, would Mance have survived the murder?
Could he have actually survived, and left the show alive and as a free man under the guise of someone else’s face?
