Game of Thrones 6.2: “Home”

This post is (obviously) loaded with spoilers and speculation. Please avert your eyes if you don’t want to know.

Back in Black  By the end of the episode, Jon is back among the living. I’ve been predicting this since he died at the end of George R. R. Martin’s A Dance of Dragons, for a variety of reasons. Some believed this was just another colossal GRRM plot twist, like heroic Ned’s beheading or Oberyn Martell’s gruesome defeat. But I thought it was part of the classic hero’s journey as explained by Joseph Campbell and (for true story geeks) graphed below:

So Jon’s down there at 6 o’clock, with “transformation” soon to follow. Literally dying at his post has released him from that pesky Night’s Watch vow, so that’s a start. Can’t wait to see Ser Allister’s face when he beholds Jon back from the dead.

I did think Jon’s rebirth seemed a little low on shock and awe. It appeared that the Red Woman healed his wounds, but I don’t think she actually brought him back. I have a feeling Bran did it, and we’ll soon learn how. I think that’s why Ghost was asleep throughout–Jon’s soul, though still in the direwolf, was communing with Bran, who has gained tremendous power during his training. Already we see that Bran is gathering information on the Stark family and all the key details Ned left unsaid.

Lyanna Stark  

This episode also gave us an intriguing glimpse of the young Starks, including the enigmatic Lyanna, who Robert claimed was stolen from him by Rhaegar Targaryen. And surprise, Hodor was once Wylis, able to fight and talk. I have a feeling his backstory will illuminate Lyanna’s character. In the books, Ned said his sister had the “blood of the wolf,” so I look forward to seeing her in action. It’s also nice to put a face to the name that doesn’t look like the meme below (which is truly one of my favorite GoT gags):

Meanwhile, in Mereen  Another scene was the thrilling dragon release by Tyrion. I noticed a few fans of the book series were worried that this would spell the end of our favorite hero who “drinks and knows things,” but I feel certain that if and when Tyrion dies, it won’t be in a foolish fashion, like a certain peripheral book character. He showed an amazing rapport with the dragons, and great courage, too–I intially thought he was going to ask Missandei to release them, which might have made more sense. But no, he did it himself, and the dragons seemed to know him for a friend.

One of my good friends devised a very intriguing theory as to why Tyrion was so readily accepted. If this notion, like L + R = J, is in wide circulation, I missed it somehow. Maybe she’ll comment on this post and share her thoughts.

Can’t wait for the next episode. Now back to novel-writing!

Filed under: Emma Jameson, TV Tagged: Dragons, Game of Thrones Season 6, hbo, Hodor, Jon Snow, Joseph Campbell, Lyanna Stark, R+L=J, The Red Woman, Tyrion Lannister