The killing scenes: George R.R. Martin and the Red Wedding

"I don’t want death to be just an act break," George R.R. Martin says about the impact he wants viewers to feel in scenes like the Red Wedding. See more at www.cbsnews.com/game-of-thrones/
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[@rmartinez87]

That's what makes him and his books so great, the thoughtful approach, the feeling he has for his characters, even in fantasy they are real and he portraits them as of flesh and blood

[@Glatix]

“It is said that when a Martin is born, the gods flip a coin. They will either become serial killers, or great authors.”

[@MrShaiya96]

Which martin was a serial killer?

[@sendthemessage7720]

Martin Lawrence is a serial killer and we don't know it

[@simonkrayt1970]

or a great serial killer

[@bradleywoods3742]

Nice reference

[@tony___z2410]

In this case, Martin is both

[@ourbangtan8698]

"deaths are part of our lives and its has to mean something like sex or love".....

[@kinggodtravis]

I like George because he comes off HUMBLE.

[@ReddoFreddo]

There's something very cool about the fact that George RR Martin suffered while writing the red wedding.

[@silversauceran]

and we suffered when reading it

[@bughead5615]

@@silversauceran oh boy.. Yassss

[@quaimaboylan5175]

i dont thin k i would suffer if i wrote it it just fictional charcters

[@lionessmummy4418]

At first I thought he was mean and scary, quite like a child. Then I watch interviews and then I realize not only what a genius he is, but also how brave and empathetic he is for writing characters that jump out of the page and make millions love them.

[@lorenaarias1952]

I absolutely agree with him. Unexpected deaths have to happen. He’s a wonderful author!

[@kingblackthorn4195]

Honetsly he is the Tolkein of the 2000s. He is so great and the way he described the deaths of his characters, was truly amazing.

[@dafcorleone]

brilliant way to describe how death should impact a story, just brilliant.

[@tslomka6272]

Unlike Star Wars where no one is gone forever

[@ggghhh5617]

PALPATINE😍

[@Pece17]

Tim Slomka No one ever REAALLY gone!

[@ArthurKnight1899]

"HAA HA HAH AH HAHAHA"

[@user-pk5td5oc7w]

Pece17 hahahahaha

[@PapagenoMF]

Uhhhh.. the Lord of Light? Beric Donderrion has died and been brought to life a dozen plus times.

[@mohaamd_7505]

This is why I was so hooked to GoT, hero’s aren’t immortal nor immune.

[@zac5572]

Mohaamd_7 yeah well look what happened season 7 episode 6

[@mohaamd_7505]

Tovarisch Zac I’m not sure what are you exactly referring to, but a dragon died that episode.. so...

[@zac5572]

Mohaamd_7 Jon Snow made so many mistakes that should've led to his death but now he can do whatever he wants and he will never die

[@mohaamd_7505]

Tovarisch Zac Jon Snow is arguably the most dumbest character in GoT, yet he somehow became “Lord Commander” then he stepped down after making stupid moves (bringing in the wildlings). He got killed because of it, but then resurrected and became “King in The North”. He then stepped down from being a King, by bending the knee to Khaleesi. But then he realized he’s the rightful heir to the seven Kingdoms. You can never see such a thing in any other show.

[@Zanaze_banane]

@Link's AMV It might not be GRRM quality but the writing is still far from bad. They've created one of the best TV shows in history, and let's be honest anyone could die in S8 E3. The last few seasons, 7 especially, were sparce on deaths in preparation for this episode.

[@BM-zq6me]

Authors like Martin are amazing people. He has to think up every character get inside each one of their heads . Think of plots . Think up the whole history of westeros . It's just amazing .

[@emilee5811]

[1:21] "...death should mean something..." George RR Martin is a humanist and there aren't many left in this world. Love and respect to you Sir Martin!

[@Liz86000]

He's like Diana Gabaldon (writer of Outlander, his friend too) in that way. Death, sex, violence, it should mean something, look painful to watch, because it's important.

[@Jericho2488]

Liz86000 I started Outlander when it first came out. Kinda fell off. Should I finish?

[@SaoGage]

The best thing about ASOIAF is the lack of camp. So many fantasy stories are "plagued" by a general irreverence or pervasive feeling of "camp" throughout the story. ASOIAF is played deadly serious, and it makes its twists and turns feel more realistic and impactful, especially as its characters feel like real people instead of idealized fantasy norms. Couple that with the fact that magic, for example, is a poorly understood and often a comparatively "mythical" force in the story that the average person either doesn't believe in or has no frame of reference to comprehend, and you have a world that feels realistic despite all of its fantastical elements. Not to mention the fact that the magical elements often have dire consequences (and are not just a fully positive or destructive force, conjured at will). It's just really, really well done. I believe Martin is the best world-builder since Tolkien. The impact of his characters' deaths and the unexpectedness of them are but one small facet of what makes ASOIAF so endlessly compelling. The word "genius" is overused in the context of content creators, but the way Martin put this story together and the sheer, tremendous breadth of characters with their various interesting backstories and histories is indicative of a literary genius, IMHO. In many novels, I found myself irritated when too many characters are present. In ASOIAF, I can't wait to learn all about the next one.

[@jcnom6606]

shame the show stopped following suit

[@ataketesamuel9542]

I think GRRM is even better than Tolkien

[@aasthavijayvargiya6304]

Wow.. Thats another way of looking at it!

[@christopherbarber5283]

Okay I could watch these two nerds chat all day without even getting into ASOIAF even tho I happen to be an obsessive fan

[@khaleesi6178]

He's so just genius, and you did makes all of us feel it like you want us to be 💯 I love you George you're just unbelievable, this game of thrones means a lot to me, i love show so much. The greatest tv show that I've ever watch and game of thrones was always my number one and no other tv or movie can replace it. You always on another level❤️🔥😘

[@Zanaze_banane]

If you haven't already, the books are even better than the show. I share your passion!

[@adamnorfolk738]

So Profound!

[@Ackowz]

Ring the Bells.. RIP

[@TheLucille7]

Love you George!

[@margaretjeannemoore]

I love you George R.R. Martin

[@beachpupsumina4110]

He is not as "bloody" as real history. If you write about war and political intrigue, people fighting for power and then give them mediaeval swords etc then things are going to get bloody!

[@girishgowda7661]

Truth.

[@beachpupsumina4110]

shenron yes there has to be room for the development of characters,plot etc all of which is not necessary for actual history 😉 Also you don't want blood just for blood's sake - or I should say that I don't !

[@dolria1]

loving his shirt.

[@writerpenn2012]

He's brilliant!!

[@AhmedAhmed-rx6rk]

I love the way he wrote the book and I think it make me sense how things are going

[@Fabo100]

It's so funny but George looks EXACTLY like the man u would imagine wrote ASOIAF lol when I first saw him I thought "YES"

[@captainpoontah4888]

"The heroes are always safe (not good)" - that comment hasn't aged well (in the show at least) 8x03

[@saiashwin26]

He was not really involved much with the show since S5, its all fan-fic by D&D

[@Aveok]

Heroes lel... which "real" hero died since s5?

[@jcnom6606]

@@saiashwin26 season 4

[@SpottedSharks]

Ser Jorah and Theon Greyjoy don't count?

[@aluisious]

@@onetwo57627 Well now Jaime, Cersei, the Hound, Jon's faith, and Dany's soul are dead.

[@nirfilus]

I love him

[@Olivia_4444]

i want to read the books because Catelyn's anger and vengeance feels like it shouldn't just disappear. I'm here for Lady Stoneheart

[@annoyingorange82]

any GoT fan who wants the full experience should read the books. They are incredible, let's hope the next two don't take much more time..

[@V.E.R.O.]

Same although the last book published left me heartbroken for two of the characters.

[@user-ns3vs3bp3e]

So he couldn’t bring himself to write the red wedding... is that why we’ve been waiting so long? Is there another wedding coming? 😂

[@Khaled91]

There is going to be a massive slaughter at the wall...I don't know if you noticed the foreshadowing building up to it. After betraying Jon Snow and leaving him for dead, Bowen Marsh will lead the attack on all those Wildings who are at the wall.

[@aluisious]

Maybe he doesn't really want to write Daenerys losing her mind.

[@bigassboy9343]

He said that TWoW is going to be the darkest in the series, so it wouldn't surprise me. "I've been telling you for 20 years that winter was coming. Winter is the time when things die, and cold and ice and darkness fill the world, so this is not going to be the happy feel-good that people may be hoping for. Some of the characters [are] in very dark places. .... Things get worse before they get better, so things are getting worse for a lot of people."

[@theodorberg8473]

Yes

[@Trance_OCE]

Brilliant mind.

[@Stefanoitch]

This guy is immensely intelligent and reflected

[@TheMidnightPhil]

I'm only vaguely aware with the franchise-I've caught bits and pieces of the show, heard the big spoilers, and haven't read the books-but I do agree with his principle. If it feels like the "main characters" are 100% safe simply by virtue of being the main characters, then the action doesn't feel especially dangerous or engaging. Like, OF COURSE they're going to be okay. By making sure no one is safe, you ensure that the reader is engaged and worried for the characters. All your action carries new weight. I read somewhere once that he also commented about having skepticism on bringing characters back from the dead, and I think he's got a point. The whole thing about death is how frightening permanent it is, and how no one sends messages back afterward to let everyone know that they're fine and happy in some sort of after life or whatever. So bringing someone back-especially if the option to do so has no prior precedent in your setting-really cheapens that sense of threat. As an author, I imagine you'd never want your audience's reaction to a character death to be, "Eh, they're probably either fine or will be brought back." You get that in comic books all the time.

[@C_W22]

Amazing all the comments were written today

[@Goldtaker23]

Full interview anywhere ?

[@lameiraangelo]

Genius... I'm talking about George R.R. Martin.

[@Ungrowing]

Judging by how long he is writing the last two books and what he said here a lot of characters will die lol jk love you George take all the time you need

[@lataviawilliams2086]

Love when GRR Martin threw Star Wars in.

[@ubisoft17]

Hopefully the disappointment of the Battle of Winterfell motivates him to finish the series.

[@SpottedSharks]

Speak for yourself. I thought it was awesome, moreso after a second viewing.

[@robertjusic9097]

@@SpottedSharks you are the minority

[@Moriningland]

Hey buddy, the white walkers were alerted by a drop of blood but not by someone sprinting and leaping towards them. That’s good writing!!!!!

[@10thMorales]

“The swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)📖

[@wafflewagon347]

I’ve heard a more elegant version of this phrase recently: “It is possible to make no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” -Captain Picard

[@ps5stuffguy]

Where is full interview?

[@brunoescoto9630]

I know. They just upload bits of it...

[@biggusdickus2795]

To all people that are scared of books not getting finished, he wrote endings somewhere and shared with some people in case he dies ( so i read). There are chosen ones who are knowing how it all ends. And i personally think he has finished his books, if i had to guess it has something to do with HBO and waiting till show ends.

[@markuspietari]

I don’t really care about how it all will end exactly. I just enjoy reading the books and being inside those characters’ head in that world. He writes evocative prose and loves to build his world. The story is a sprawling mess. I hope it works out.

[@maphezdlin]

It's what makes his books realistic. Think of individuals we knew, the death of Princess Diana, Robin Williams, JFK? Think of tragedies that are unexpected yet horrifying, Pearl Harbor, 9/11? This is how death works in the real world, Martin is the best at channeling it.

[@NinjaMamut]

02:50 that's all i wanted to hear

[@OhioPaulDE]

Unexpected deaths are a way to root the story or narrative in reality, I believe. It's lazy writing to rely on the premise that the hero always makes it out alive ; No matter the circumstances. But it's also what most are accustomed to. At large, people don't like to see a story where the hero ultimately dies in a non-martyr fashion.

[@titoiswack3524]

GRRM: Star Wars kills more people than I do Also GRRM: *Hold my beer*

[@atart1000]

I'm not gonna lie, I think ned stark's death is what hooked me to the show simply because I couldn't believe they did that.

[@sams7068]

His description of the deaths on Alderaan as a statistic reminds me of the beginning of s8e4. I really, really hope this season is not Martin's vision, or it's just a very corrupted version of it.

[@Sheild401]

Sam S I very highly doubt that this season is anything like his books.

[@darthgzuz]

0:20 but Star Wars never showed DEATH like GOT does ... so its impact is quite less

[@purefoldnz3070]

No mention of Lady stoneheart. That should have been part of the show.

[@---zw6oc]

Purefoldnz waiiit for it ;)

[@logicfirst2190]

Where is my next book dammit....

[@penguinsquad5142]

logic first In a safe some where along with the last book.

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

I just hope he dont die before winds of winter and dream of spring completed

[@xmynationalanthemx]

DAMN IT, GEORGE. STOP DOING INTERVIEWS AND FINISH WINDS OF WINTER!

[@dolria1]

he said he will never finish the 2 next books. he is too old...

[@kollatt]

shai miara when and where did he say that?

[@vekkdrums]

shai miara i don’t think he said that. I mean I don’t care since I only watch the tv series but I don’t think he would ever say that

[@milaaquariosoulinc4994]

Let him be

[@yessir.7937]

@Tudor776 The people that made GRRM a multimilionar - his fans - are now mad and disappointed that it is very likely he will never finish the series. GRRM also has come out and say he never wants anyone else to finish his work and he will have all his notes be burned if he dies. So yeah, people are allowed to be disappointed by that after buying into his series 2 decades ago.

[@paullinos820]

Genius. He knows how to manipulate psychologically the mind of viewers.

[@escobari]

It has to be done

[@keikun145]

wait wait wait but ARYA STARK HAS THEEEEEEEEEE BEST PLOT ARMOR

[@ryansmith240992]

I don't really feel anything for characters that die in books, games or movies/TV as I can't connect to them like their my family or friends or someone i know. I just find when people get upset over a character die they're acting ridiculous but that's only because I lack that connection that others feel & have

[@willmosse3684]

Interesting

[@megmo05]

George is keeping it 💯

[@rifatzaman04]

somehow I agree with him.... Strange

[@MakeAStrangerSmile]

On the Medieval period death and sex is a commen thing

[@LiberatorGalore]

Too be honest with you, the red wedding didn’t emotionally hurt me due to me not liking rob stark or Caitlin’s actions.

[@oog2370]

Then you have no emotions

[@gopichintala4326]

No it has to be done..

[@MaxGueli]

Statistically there were more deaths in Episode IV A New Hope alone than the entire series of Game of Thrones. Incredible how things look so differenet from another perspective. If Star Wars had been made with the same kind of cinematography approach as Game of Thrones, it would've been an incredibly violent movie (or series).

[@irishstureviewstheworld9161]

The Dire wolves started the story, and the show has eliminated them in favour of dragon's. 🤔

[@Siddhartha040107]

George is referring to his book, not the show.

[@irishstureviewstheworld9161]

@@Siddhartha040107 And? The show is based off the books.

[@irishstureviewstheworld9161]

And he works on the show.

[@Siddhartha040107]

@@irishstureviewstheworld9161 well after season 5, its not that faithful to the books anymore.

[@Chris75717]

Stuart White he does not work on the show

[@jaegarcia5918]

genius

[@MaJo_dC]

has this episode already aired?

[@hautevoltage]

Yes.sunday night...But they added extra peices to the i interviews on here and on 60 min. Website

[@GuyMcDudeman]

You mean the Red Wedding episode, Maria? Yeah, over 6 years ago I think.

[@MaJo_dC]

@@GuyMcDudeman no I meant the 60 minutes interview, but thanks for your oh so helpful response

[@GuyMcDudeman]

@@MaJo_dC Hahaha- I see. Don't take it personally. I wasn't trying to condescend to you.

[@MaJo_dC]

@@GuyMcDudeman hahaha no problem! :)

[@nevaehhamilton3493]

Mr. R. R. Martin may be a crappy person, but I respect his audacity to show no mercy to his characters the same way I show my characters no mercy.

[@currangill430]

He's not a crappy person he's just not writing what we want. He's been struggling with Winds of Winter for a while

[@vka337]

Like when the butcher's boi was killed by the hound....but now a seasons 🤔

[@schwazz3182]

The god* of game of thrones talking.

[@azmaymi9237]

One death I don't believe he killed was brynden Tully the black fish I hope he comes back in season8

[@dernurhalbwegsinteressiert5118]

Martin never killed him. He's still alive in the books. Blackfish has a different storyline in the books than he has in the show. The showrunners killed him.

[@thatamericanbritishbloke5672]

Um he died offscreen in Season 6

[@azmaymi9237]

Off screen maybe no proof of body

[@needycatproductions6830]

I wouldn't even say the deaths he writes are unexpected. You can see the Red Wedding coming miles away. It's just that everyone says and thinks: "Ah, it's not gonna be so bad. It's not gonna be the end of the world." Sounds awfully familiar.

[@willmosse3684]

Yeah, true. I don’t think you exactly see it coming, but it is weird, because he basically tells you that something terrible is probably coming, but still lulls you into a false sense of security that it won’t actually happen. It somehow makes you think that all the warning signs are just building the tension, but it won’t actually happen - and then it does.

[@denmarkreid3483]

gospel

[@BiaggioMacher]

i think he's gonna kil Jon and Daenaris

[@babiipooh24]

😩😩😩😩

[@TubersAndPotatoes]

The Red Wedding made sense, it was very hearth breaking because we loved the characters and they died. But it made sense, Robb broke his promise to wed one of Walder Frey's daughter. He slighted Walder marrying someone else, and then brought her into his house like some trophy. Walder Frey had greed for power and wealth, the same greed that made the Freys rich from taking tolls at The Twins. The Lanisters promised them all of The Riverlands. Roose Bolton saw that Robb was incapable of politics and diplomacy to be a King. Roose was also promised Walder Frey's daughter's weight in silver, so he married the heaviest one. All the motivations for betrayal are there. What's the point of the senseless deaths of the 1,000,000 people in King's Landing. The show's portrayal really made all those deaths just a statistic. Maybe GRRM would have had some new and old characters that we loved in that city which were also burnt alive during Daenerys and Drogon's stupefying carnage. The show rushed season 8 too much, leaving too many things feeling disconnected.

[@TheLakers4ever24]

George looks like a train conductor

[@rakinzia1403]

The great old days of GOT....unlike this GOT where everyone seems to have plot armor ... -_-

[@adityaunni420]

Samuel Jackson is 70 so is this dude.

[@deborahbalogun9494]

That melanin keeps him on point

[@majorgg66]

And then season 8 came and all the deaths meant absolutely nothing.

[@josecervantes2029]

Floppy wenners!

[@mamudabdul-rahman8041]

Here 1st 😀

[@SOLOHeyman]

The man is a procrastinator.

[@aFeverishFiend]

He's both

[@eiregonzo97]

he doesn't owe you anything

[@erosennin211]

You try writing a super complex/convoluted story, tell us how long it takes you to finish and make it all flow well.

[@SOLOHeyman]

Others have and others have accomplished it. He will fail. Also, I do actual work for a living. I don't sit in a cushy chair and tell stories of dragons. However, if I did I wouldn't take days off.@@erosennin211

[@adeolaolee]

@@SOLOHeyman and you make that much impact and money?

[@bornjusticerule5764]

Cooper has mastered stating the obvious.

[@denmarkreid3483]

reik

[@amalzuhair4495]

It’s like he has pop rocks in his mouth

[@newera5773]

you know nothing RR Martin

[@su20mm00er]

I guess Jon Snow and/or Daenerys will die. And the dragons.

[@robertorpg2132]

in the show most likely, any cleaver man can know Euron Greyjoy will be the ruler of the world but in the book no one know.

[@HunterA5417]

cooper is such a bad interviewer.

[@PapagenoMF]

Why? If you're going to throw out some slander, at least back it up with a modicum of evidence.

[@andreipatt6594]

He sure killed rhaegal in an unexpected way....i didnt want it to be true

[@robertorpg2132]

what are you talking about? Dragons all are alive in the book

[@andreipatt6594]

@@robertorpg2132 what a better universe

[@alexandermaximoff2156]

Every time I see this guy he’s doing the same thing.....not writing

[@swam4362]

The five kings: •Stannis: dead •Renly: dead •Robb: dead •Joffrey: dead •Baelon: dead

[@Mr1makkawi]

Stannis is not dead on the books

[@Drimil3]

@@Mr1makkawi not yet, he's toast next book

[@jali1]

Karl Tanner stannis is our one true king

[@crithon]

that's a terrible excuse, because you can do that forever by passing the blame onto someone else.

[@Mechaos]

Anderson is that anti-social individual that tries to relate, but goes way over the mark.

[@sylargabrielsylar]

Do you think that these books could become a religion coming 2000 years !!! Because it's got all the elements to be one...

[@YTFlove4ever]

Don't you refer to Katelyn as thursd hero's girlfriend. Don't tell me you even see the main female characters as just a girlfriend.

[@willmosse3684]

Oh come on, that’s not what he meant at all