As beautiful as it was heart-wrenching.
As always, SPOILER ALERT! Here are some of our favourite moments from this week's memorable episode, The Door.
Master of Quotes - Best Line
"Hold the door".
As much as we all love Game of Thrones, there was a very real problem that was creeping into the show with every flayed body, bloody corpse and mauled victim that Ramsay Bolton fed to the dogs.
Death is a very strong narrative device for any TV show to use and while Westeros has seen more dead bodies than other shows, the impact of seeing a character dying on screen was losing some of its importance and emotional impact.
Kudos to Weiss and Benioff though because they've managed to stop this trend with Wylis'/Hodor's passing. That scene was equal parts gripping, mind-bending and heartbreaking. The viewer actually cared about this one because Hodor - just like Princess Shireen or Jon Snow - was the epitome of decency, honesty and what's good in the realm.
Note how we haven't used the word 'death' here regarding Hodor. It's very likely that the White Walkers will now have a very powerful ally in their upcoming war against men. We're guessing that the character of Hodor has now essentially become the Terminator in reverse.
Bran's incredibly unfortunate sworn protector will now be hunting him down. Hodor's entire existence was defined by one fatal moment. He's an innocent victim of chance, destiny and magic.
https://twitter.com/ReaganGomez/status/734564954938998785
Wylis'/Hodor's stoic bravery and loyalty in the face of overwhelming odds was in keeping with the overall narrative of this episode. Thematically, The Door focused on those characters that were previously bullied, ostracised and manipulated. This time though, they've had enough and fought back.
Sansa’s icy fury and refusal to be intimidated by the untrustworthy Littlefinger set the tone for the entire episode - kudos to Sophie Turner for a brilliant piece of acting in that scene - while the youngest Stark, Arya in Bravos, proved that she's not content with just being a human punching bag for the Faceless Men.
The scene where she had to look on at the reenactment of Ned Stark's death was extremely poignant also.
https://twitter.com/TheDove_Stark/status/734551248716849152
Theon’s painful steps to erase the persona of Reek really needed that very powerful and brave speech in support of his sister.
It was hard not to be moved by his declaration that Yara is "a reaver. She is a warrior. She is Iron Born". His words may have been in vain, but we've a feeling that Theon could be vital in brokering a very important alliance between Jon Snow, Sansa and Yara in The North. As we all know, The North Remembers and war is coming to Winterfell.
Elsewhere, Jorah’s sacrifice to save Daenerys' life has ultimately led to the removal of the cross that he carried (that pesky greyscale didn't leave him with much of a choice anyway) while the Three Eyed Raven paid the ultimate price for Bran's unsupervised warging into the future. His passing provided an ominous insight into what was in store for Hodor/Wylis.
To quote the Three Eyed Raven, “The time has come for you to be me.” “Am I ready?” “No.”.
They better be.
https://twitter.com/TheDiLLon1/status/734755493110030336
The North Remembers - Best Scene
There was something brutal and mesmeric about the coronation ceremony on Pyke while the scene where the unshakable Varys was spooked by Kinvara was deeply unsettling.
Bran's warging visions have quickly become the most tantalising moments for fans of the show though - the reveal that the Children of the Forrest actually created the White Walkers as a means to defend themselves against the First Men gave me a mini geekgasm - but there could only be one winner.
Not since Hardhome has there been a better action set-piece in Game of Thrones. Thank god that hose rampaging hordes of zombies and the Night's King made a welcome return - unless you're Hodor of course.
Magical grenades, heartbreaking deaths, bad-ass villains and two of the most intriguing characters in the show finally going toe-to-toe. Epic.
https://twitter.com/SerWhiteWalker/status/734564271116439554
Valar Morghulis - Best Death
One First Man that's sacrificed to create the White Walkers, huge casualties between the Children of the Forest and the White Walkers and the passing of Hodor.
It's all to sad.
We need something to lighten the mood.
https://twitter.com/WestoScho/status/734743139366371328
Mother of Dragons - Best Beast Scene
Q: What's the most endangered species in Westeros?
A: Direwolves.
We've probably lost more Direwolves than Starks at this stage.
https://twitter.com/joshgad/status/734588253752426496
https://twitter.com/mega_intense/status/734644434156019712
https://twitter.com/TheRickonStark/status/734576692371595264
Sticks and Stones and Swords - Best Insult
“He seems trustworthy, a bit brooding perhaps but I suppose that’s understandable, considering.”
Brienne nails Jon Snow with just one line.
You Know Nothing - The WTF Moment
Is everyone's minds blown by the incredibly cool possibilities that warging now offers?
To be honest, the reveal about the connection between the White Walkers, Children of the Forrest and the First Men was amazing, but the final scene has now opened up some incredible possibilities for the future.
https://twitter.com/ScottyCTellem/status/734581409780772864
https://twitter.com/NaneaT17/status/734570988701159425
Stealing The Throne - This Week's Best Character
Hodor. Hodor. Hodor.
At least the actor who plays Bran has apologised.
https://twitter.com/Isaac_H_Wright/status/734650134152249344
This interview will break your heart all over again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHMTVcbvb3c
From Wicklow to Westeros - Where did Aidan Gillen's Irish accent land?
Once again, Littlefinger proved that he can travel through the Seven Kingdoms at light speed, but he didn't get too many words in this week because Sansa was too busy being a boss.
https://twitter.com/amdhit/status/734551163392118784
https://twitter.com/pilatchu/status/734736030440390658
Here's the trailer for the next episode. Bran better wake up quickly because those icy White Walkers are in hot pursuit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ePO5JXVULM
