‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 6 Spoilers: Gwendoline Christie Promises Brienne Of Tarth Will Encounter More Characters Than Ever

Since the Season 5 finale of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” all anyone has been able to talk about is whether certain characters are alive or dead. However, there are plenty of characters whose lives weren’t left hanging in the balance that many are no doubt excited to catch up with when Season 6 premieres on April 24.

Among these characters is Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). After becoming one of the most fan-beloved characters on the show, Brienne didn’t have an overabundance of things to do in the previous season. In fact, a plot point was made out of the fact that her character was tasked with the boring job of waiting in the snow outside Winterfell for a signal from Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) that she believed would never come.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Christie explained that Season 6 has apparently given her character a lot more to do and some meatier plotlines that will allow her to “burst forth.” How will the series accomplish this? According to the actress, the new episodes will force characters out of their isolated storylines and combine in a way that’s never been seen before.

“So many characters for so long had their isolated storylines and as a fan of this show as well, I’ve been wanting and dreaming — ‘I wonder what it would be like to see this person interact with this other person?’ And that’s what starts to unfold.”

This is an ominous note as it teases Brienne will encounter some characters she’s never met before, which is bad news given that she’s currently surrounded by some pretty nasty people. She’s just outside Winterfell, which is controlled by the Boltons, who have a history of murdering people in the most gruesome way possible for looking at them funny. Her mission has been to track Sansa, who is likely headed to The Wall to meet up with Jon Snow. However, as fans know, diplomatic relations at Castle Black are at an all-time low.

Despite Brienne not having a lot to do in the previous season, her part in the finale episode has been the subject of much debate amongst fans who want to believe that [SPOILER ALERT] Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) is still alive. The last time either of them was seen, Brienne looked as though she was bringing her trusty sword, Oathkeeper, down on his head. However, the episode cut away before the blow was struck, prompting many to wonder if he’s still alive. George R.R. Martin confused many when he revealed to Polygon that Stannis is still alive in the books, but Vanity Fair notes that the show’s producers have pretty much closed the book on Stannis’ life in subsequent interviews.

Although Christie is always grateful for her role on “Game of Thrones,” her star has been on the rise beyond that of the HBO series in recent months. Not only did she have a relatively sizeable part in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2,” but she has joined the “Star Wars” universe, appearing as the chrome-clad Stormtrooper Captain Phasma in the box-office smash-hit “The Force Awakens.” As previously reported, the character will return again in “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” meaning there’s no shortage of cool warrior characters for the 37-year-old actress to play moving forward.