Warning: This post contains spoilers for the finale of Game of Thrones Season 5.
SAN DIEGO -- At one of the most highly anticipated panels of Comic-Con, Game of Thrones fans finally got to answer the question that's been bugging them all month: Is Jon Snow really dead?
Director David Nutter said there's another fan who already asked him that question: President Obama, whom Nutter met on an Oval Office visit. And here are the fateful words Nutter says he used to respond to that: "Mr. President, Jon Snow is deader than dead."
Nutter and cast members took to the vast Hall H stage to answer fans' burning questions about season 5 -- hot on the heels of Nutter's revelation that yes, Stannis Baratheon is actually dead.
"From the very beginning, and [through] the script process, that was the intent — he’s dead," Nutter told Entertainment Weekly before the panel. You don't see Brienne of Tarth's sword meet his head because Nutter felt that would be "gratuitous."
Of course, fans immediately leaped at the chance to point out that Nutter's phrasing leaves a door open. "Deader than dead" could still mean that Jon Snow is, well, undead.
Here are a few other choice quotes and highlights from the panel:
We start with a sizzle reel of all instances of #GameofThrones in TV culture.— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Apparently Gwendoline Christie is the only one who read the books in advance #GameofThrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
George RR Martin has "laid out a lot of his thinking" to the showrunners, says producer Carolyn Strauss #Gameofthrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
"Sam used to think about sex the way most people think about space ... from a purely academic standpoint." -- John Bradley #GameofThrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
"She needs a shower and a coffee by now, I'm sure." Natalie Dormer on Margery's disappearance in the cells. #GameofThrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
"I didn't read the books because you can only play the moment." -- Conleth Hill. Also says Varys "Made me a lot of money." #GameofThrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Liam Cunningham: Davos won't be happy with Stannis dead "especially after he found out what THAT did," pointing at Carice/Mellisandre— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
"I dunno what it is about the Starks, man. They just hate us." -- Sophie Turner #gameofthrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Now watching a very cool #GameofThrones audition reel. #SDCC— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Here's that audition reel:
First Q for Maisie Williams: how will she play Arya blind? The contacts are "extremely uncomfortable" & she's nervous about fighting— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
"A lot of us sitting at this table ... don't have an F'ing clue" what happens in season 6, says Natalie Dormer #gameofthrones— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
And then the Jon Snow questions began.
Great trolling question: "Who's going to miss Kit the most because he's so obviously dead?" Deflecting answer: "His hairdresser."— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Next trolling Jon Snow Q to Carice: "do you think hanging out with Thoros of Myr might have taught you anything?" She doesn't know either.— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Q for Sophie Turner about That Scene. "One thing Sansa is, despite what happened to her, is strong."— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
"I don't know why they chose to focus on Theon, because I was giving a great performance." #gameofthrones #ohnoshedidnt— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
VERY disturbing: someone behind the questioner is wearing a Sons of the Harpy mask. #gameofthrones #getmeoutofhere— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015
Audience: "Who do you want to see on the Iron Throne?" Liam: "Well it won't be the Baratheons." #GOT #SDCC— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) July 10, 2015
And that's it for the #GameofThrones panel, which managed to confirm Stannis' death and "confirm" Jon Snow's death. #Istillbelieve #SDCC— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 10, 2015