Stanning For Stannis: The Most Boring Character On ‘Game Of Thrones’ Suddenly Became The Best

Every Game of Thrones fan worth their salt knows that the show has decided to finally stop following what happens in the books in favor of telling the best television story possible. That means that while we haven’t met Theon’s extended family, Quentyn Martell, or Young Griff this season, we have watched Sansa Stark collide with the Boltons, Jaime sneak into Dorne, and Tyrion travel to Valyria. It also means that Stannis Baratheon is suddenly one of the best characters on the show.
Up until season five, you could describe Stannis with one short word: yawn. In fact, one of the things that sparked the devastating “War of the Five Kings” was that most people in Westeros didn’t think Stannis was charismatic enough to rule. Was he the next in line legally? Yes. Was he an honorable and wise man? Totally. A great warrior and commander? Oh, he was the best! But would people follow him? No. Why not? Because he was boring.
Maybe it’s because so many characters have been wiped off the board, or maybe the Game of Thrones writers are finally giving actor Stephen Dillane some juicy stuff to play with, but I’m suddenly finding myself cheering whenever Stannis pops up on screen. He may not be your typical heroic heartthrob, but its so appealing to have a character on this show who is defined by his cool, calm, and collected common sense. Stannis isn’t getting himself caught up in some complex chess game to usurp power. He’s never let his anger, his lust, or his envy overpower his logic. He simply keeps looking at whatever crazy situation is at hand and tries his best to offer everyone the smartest solution.

Examples:

The White Walkers are on their way south and the Night’s Watch needs help! Oh, lets go there to offer a defensive line against a mystical ice zombie race. Also, taking the Wall and then the North might offer us a tactical advantage against our enemies.

There are no male Stark heirs left to retake the North, but there is a Stark bastard! And he’s a natural leader and proven warrior! Oh, how about I offer him legitimacy and the North.

There aren’t enough men to take the North, but there is this disenfranchised cultural group called the Wildings who wants entry to the North! What if I offer them amnesty in exchange for an alliance?

Samwell Tarly might be the most well-read person at the Wall and he’s the only one to kill a White Walker. While the rest of the Night’s Watch is laughing at him! Oh, how about I go up to him and have a conversation that goes something like this: “Yo, kid, how’d you kill that White Walker?” “With Dragonglass? My entire home base has Dragonglass.” “Okay, Sam, keep reading. That seems to be working for you.”

Your disfigured daughter asks if she’s a disappointment! Oh, maybe I should tell her a story about how I did all I could to cure her of her incurable disease because she’s my daughter and I love her. I might even throw in a hug.

A member of the Night’s Watch just used the word “less” when he should have used “fewer!” Oh, how about I correct him under my breath and then let it go because he’s just a member of the Night’s Watch and doesn’t need to know about grammar.
See? While Stannis might have previously come across as a staid lord whose will has been squelched by a seductive priestess, fifth season Stannis is doing something revolutionary on Game of Thrones: he’s behaving wisely, kindly, and almost normally.

Occasionally, I find myself watching Game of Thrones and wanting to shout at the screen. I want to yell things like, “Run Sansa!” or “Watch out, Tyrion!” or “Hey, Dany, maybe you shouldn’t marry a guy you were just about to kill because you weren’t sure if he was trying to kill you or not, because guess what? Now he has an actual reason to want to kill you!” But I don’t need to yell at Stannis because Stannis knows what’s up. Stannis Baratheon is the one character who represents the show’s informed audience. He’s rolling his eyes at nonsense and correcting people’s grammar. He’s giving Jon Snow ideas and properly appraising the threats around him. He values honesty and loyalty, but will not choose honor over survival.
What caused this change? Maybe the writers are using their newfound independence from the material to flesh out underserved characters. Maybe the show’s directors kept wanting to cut to Stannis’ beautiful reaction shots. Or maybe the show’s epic storyline has arrived at place where Stannis’ biggest weakness has become his greatest strength.
Stannis might still be a little sedate. He might be gruff and deadpan. He might — still — be rather boring. However, after five seasons of watching beheadings, poisonings, stabbings, and torture sequences, a little bit of boring is absolutely refreshing. In fact, boring is what the people of Westeros might actually need. [Watch Game of Thrones]
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