Game of Thrones finale outrages fans with main character's death

Season 5 ofGame of Thrones,HBO's hugely popular fantasy series, came to a bloody conclusion Sunday nightwith the gruesome death of one of the show's main characters, prompting fans to look for clues of a possible resurrection.

Warning: There are major spoilers beyond this point.

Jon Snow, lord commanderof theNight's Watchand defender of The Wall, was slaughtered by mutinous men of Night's Watch at the episode's conclusion.

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Tensions between Snow and his brothers in black had been building, especially after he brought an army of Wildlings to protect The Wall from the terrifying White Walkers.

In the end, Snow,as played by British actor Kit Harrington, was left bleeding in the fallen snow.

Fans ofGeorge R. R. Martin'sfantasynovels, whichinspired the series, weren't surprised, because Snow meets his end in thefifth novel, A Dance With Dragons.But Harrington, who didn't read the book,admits his demise came as a bit of a shocker.

Harrington 'not coming back'

"I had an inkling [Snow's death]should be this season,"the 28-year-old actor told Entertainment Weekly."I didn't realize it would be the final shot of the season."

As for whether Jon Snow is reallydone for good, Harrington says producers have confirmed he's finished.

"I've been told I'm dead. I'm dead," saidHarrington."I'm not coming back next season."

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Game of Thrones showrunner Dan Weiss says fans should accept the fact that Snow, and actor Harrington, will not be resurrected.

"Dead is dead,"Weiss toldEntertainment Weekly.

"We would hope that after seeing the scene and the way it's shot that the answer to that will be unambiguous in the minds of the people watching it."

Fansregret watching

Thefantasy saga, which follows the rise and fall of families in thefictional Seven Kingdoms ofWesteros, is one of the most-watched shows on television.

But some viewerswholoyally followed the show feel so betrayed bythe latest plot turn, they say they'llnever watch again.

It's not the first time fans have threatened to quitGame of Thrones.Many said they were tuning outafter the brutalrape of another main character in an episode broadcast last month.Others regret watching the series in the first place.

As for the future of Game of Thrones,grievingJon Snow fans are hanging on to thewords of creatorGeorge R.R.Martin.

"My readers should know better than to take anything as gospel,"Martin saidin a 2011 interview.

"If there's one thing we know in A Song of Ice and Fire is that death is not necessarily permanent."