Co-executive producer George R.R. Martin arrives for the season premiere of HBO's "Game of Thrones" in San Francisco, California March 23, 2015. (Photo : REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)
"Game Of Thrones" season 5 episode 3 titled "High Sparrow," which aired on April 26, Sunday, shocked the viewers of the hit HBO series when Sansa Stark played by Sophie Turner got engaged to Ramsay Bolton played by Iwan Rheon, a bold departure from George R.R. Martin's novels.
In Martin's novels, Sansa's storyline ends in "A Feast For Crows," the fourth of seven planned novels in "A Song Of Ice And Fire," while she is still at the Eyrie. On the other hand, Ramsay marries a minor character who has not appeared in the HBO series.
However, in "Game Of Thrones" season 5 episode 3 titled "High Sparrow," Sansa's guardian Littlefinger played by Aidan Gillen arranged for her to wed Ramsay. In an attempt to take charge of her own fate, Sansa agrees.
Ramsay's family controls Sansa's former home of Winterfell and Littlefinger is seemingly unaware of his cruelty.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, "Game Of Thrones" showrunner David Benioff said Sansa is "a character we care about almost more than any other, and the Stark sisters have from the very beginning been two characters who have fascinated us the most."
Benioff explained that the storylines of Sansa and Arya Stark played by Maisie Williams have particularly become quite dark. He said that the fact that Turner and Williams have both become such great wonderful actresses is "a bit of a miracle."
In an interview with The New York Times, Turner said the "Game Of Thrones" season 5 episode 3 titled "High Sparrow" twist is "a big throwback" and Sansa is at the hands of Ramsay, another monster and a psychopath.
