What Happens to Brienne of Tarth?

Brienne of Tarth, the fierce warrior from Game of Thrones , meets a definitive end in the HBO series adapted from George R.R. Martin's novels. Her arc unfolds across seasons with intense loyalty tests, brutal combats, and a tragic finale that underscores her honor.

Her Early Journey

Brienne starts as Renly Baratheon's sworn sword, proving her mettle by defeating knights in his service. After Renly's shadowy assassination—blamed on Stannis—she pledges fealty to Catelyn Stark, escorting Jaime Lannister to King's Landing in a tense, bond-forming trek marred by ambushes and Harrenhal horrors, including her bear pit ordeal.

  • Key alliances : Sworn to Renly, then Catelyn; forges respect with Jaime.
  • Signature weapon : Oathkeeper, the Valyrian steel sword gifted by Jaime.

This phase highlights her physical prowess and moral code, earning fan admiration despite mockery as "Brienne the Beauty."

The Hunt for the Stark Girls

Tasked with protecting Sansa and Arya, Brienne roams Westeros post-Purple Wedding. She slays locke after Jaime's hand loss, tracks leads fruitlessly, and witnesses pivotal battles like the Red Wedding aftermath. Captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners, she's tortured but refuses to betray her vows, choosing "sword" over noose in a heart-pounding cliffhanger.

Her persistence shines in gritty encounters, like the inn brawl with outlaws protecting orphans, where she's gravely bitten before rescue.

Fate in Season 8

Brienne rises to Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under Bran Stark after fighting White Walkers at Winterfell, knighted by Jaime in an emotional ceremony. Yet, her story closes grimly: she pursues Stannis post-Blackwater ruins, finds him dying, and executes him for Renly's murder, fulfilling her vengeance oath.

"Brienne finds Stannis gravely wounded... she executes him, telling him she is doing so in the name of the rightful king Renly."

This marks her arc's end in the show—no further canonical events follow.

Book vs. Show Differences

In Martin's unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire , Brienne's tale diverges sharply. Captured by Lady Stoneheart (resurrected Catelyn), she's forced into a dire choice: kill Jaime or hang. She cries "sword" to save Podrick, implying survival into The Winds of Winter drafts, sparking endless fan theories on her fate.

Aspect| Show (HBO)| Books (ASOIAF)
---|---|---
Kingsguard Role| Achieves under Bran; knighted by Jaime 1| Not yet; ongoing quests 7
Stannis Encounter| Executes him directly 15| Unresolved; Stoneheart captivity 9
Status| Concluded (deceased implied post-execution) 1| Alive, per latest hints 7

Fan Discussions & Legacy

Forums buzz with Brienne love—Reddit threads debate her "greatness" amid hate post-key episodes, praising Gwendoline Christie's portrayal for capturing her "masculine female" strength without exaggeration. No major 2026 updates exist, as House of the Dragon spin-offs exclude her, but her honor resonates in trending rewrites and fan wikis.

TL;DR : In the show, Brienne avenges Renly by killing Stannis and ends her journey honor-bound; books leave her in peril, fueling speculation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.