Board Thread:TV Show Discussion/@comment-5014364-20150610221653/@comment-20644-20150611183151

I can understand why some fans don't like Stannis' decision to burn Shireen, since Stannis has developed a bit of a meme-tastic reputation as Stannis the Mannis, mostly because he's by far the most competent leader in the show. The problem, and I think we tended to overlook this because he was the one normalish character in a world full of crazy people, is that he was always crazy too. He's a zealot. The first time we see him, he's burning people alive for the Lord of Light. He's been completely consumed with winning the Iron Throne, and his religion is what, in his mind, helps justify his claim and his war. He's willing to do anything to win and, so far, it seems like the Lord of Light, if such a being exists, is on his side.

So the burning of Shireen, however horrifying it was and however divergent from the books it may end up being, is a logical culmination of the character we have come to know. This is who he is. He's willing to do anything to win what he thinks is his destiny. Plus, religious sacrifices like this tend to be seen by this presenting the sacrifice as something glorious. To a true believer of the Lord of Light, one with no reservations about their faith, Stannis isn't murdering his daughter. He's glorifying the Lord of Light.

What's interesting about it as well is that, ignoring who we would prefer to have sit on the Iron Throne, Stannis does have the rightful claim if we are to assume that Robert's usurpation of the Targaryens was just. Joffrey, Tommen, Dany, Renly, and Robb were all false kings if the Baratheon line is just. But we have with Stannis a character who, despite his rightful claim, has no business being on the Iron Throne because of the things he done and the ways he's gone about it. It reminds us that this is a world gone mad and that none of the claimants to the throne are anything but terrible in their own ways.

That's part of what makes the show interesting.