What do you think of Stannis Baratheon?

[Biobi]

I think the show definitely killed him off. I'd be very surprised if they didn't.

[Japhia]

Why would rising from the dead cause the wildlings to follow him? They're much more familiar with the white walkers and magical stuff. I think it would make them turn on him. Perhaps.

However, I have heard that Stannis isn't dead on the show. I like Stannis overall. I didn't buy his burning shireen in the show but he is perfectly ok with sacrificing a few for the greater good.

[Rebecca]

JaphiaHart wrote: "Why would rising from the dead cause the wildlings to follow him? They're much more familiar with the white walkers and magical stuff. I think it would make them turn on him. Perhaps.

However, I h..."

I've read that Stannis is definitely dead on the show and Stephen Dillane hasn't been seen in Belfast filming so I'm taking that to mean this time the producers are telling the truth.....I think GRRM did say that in the books 'Stannis is definitely alive' and hopefully he's nearly finished Winds, so there's hope there.....I find Stannis an interesting character, but he'd make a terrible king. He has the makings of a tyrant.

[Nael_5]

I don't think he'll be a tyrant, he'll only do what he has to do, he likes too much "duty". But Daenerys has to be the queen, she's Targaryen.

[Rebecca]

Stannis is too black and white and you can't be that and become a good leader. One only has to look at Ser Davos, a man who saved him, his family and his soldiers from death by starvation; how did Stannis reward him? He chopped off his fingers......So no, in my opinion he would become a tyrant and the people would suffer because no people are perfect....

[Silvana]

I think he showed some flexibilities as well. Not always black and white or tyrannical. It is different with being 'just' and believes in merit.

He chopped Davos' fingers but then he gave him land and later, trusted him enough to befriend his only daughter and later made him his Hand, which was probably the greatest honor he could bestow on Davos (or any man in his camp).

On religion, despite some burnings earlier, I don't see him forcing to convert all his armies in ADWD which also consist of the Faith and Old Gods followers. He was not THAT fanatic. I don't think he's even one. More like a pragmatic. Hell, he even let Davos keep his seven.

Some may argue that if Stannis is totally black and white and bound with duty, he would have join Aerys (his liege - the king) instead of his brother (who, in front of the law, did treason)

Moreover, Stannis is open to advice and executed them even though they were completely different with his own first thinking. Not only the advice from Davos (i.e. save the Night's Watch) but he also listened to Jon's advice not to march to Dreadfort and request the assistance from the mountain clan to attack Deepwood Motte and march to Winterfell.

So, open minder, fair, believes in merit, a great military commander. His only flaw is probably his lack of charm. But the realm could use his other traits. Just sayin.

BryndenBFish (a blogger at the Wars of ASOIAF blog) had written excellent character analysis on Stannis - some of which I described (rather poorly, my apology) above. His conclusion is that iron (i.e. Stannis) can bend. Sorry, Donal Noye.

[Rebecca]

I think Stannis was flexible when it comes to listening to good counsel and then following it, which was always in his favour. When it comes to religion, I think he wants to believe in Melisandre, but there is that element of doubt, that kept him firmly grounded, but Mels influence was slowly infiltrating his beliefs and his principles, to his detriment.

I think Stannis and Robert were contrasting figures...Robert was a bad king because he simply failed to rule and so the Lannisters took control and he willingly gave it to them. Stannis on the other hand would have been too rigid; following the law to the letter without empathy, and that is not good.

I have read Bryndenfish and liked his analysis and I'm hoping he is right about the battle for Winterfell....I also think the show did a terrible job of portraying Stannis and I don't think D&D understood him. Stannis was not driven by ambition, but by duty and by rights; he was the rightful heir after Robert died....But I still think he would have made a bad king but that's just my opinion.