One big obstacle stands between the White Walkers and the realms of men: a giant wall
(Hey! Some spoilers for the “Game of Thrones” season 6 finale and maybe the future of the series are in this post. So tread lightly.)
Sometimes, an episode of “Game of Thrones” can be so eventful that hugely important details about the world are easily missed. The finale of season 6 is one of those.
This episode, dubbed “Winds of Winter,” had a million things going on as it wrapped up most of the major plot threads from the season and set the Grand Game on a new course for season 7. And in the middle of all that, a single line shed some light on what will no doubt be an important plot point in the coming years.
The line in question came courtesy of Benjen Stark, the long lost uncle of the Stark children who recently reappeared at a timely moment to save Bran Stark and Meera Reed from some undead wights. Benjen, you’ll recall, is no longer just a regular man — he was nearly killed by a White Walker and transformed into one of their undead horde. He was saved from that fate by a Child of the Forest, but he’s not quite human anymore.
Also Read: 'Game of Thrones': Children of the Forest, White Walkers and Westeros' Ancient History
“The Wall’s not just ice and stone,” he told Bran and Meera. “Ancient spells were carved into its foundation. Strong magic. To protect men from what lies beyond. And while it stands, the dead cannot pass. I cannot pass.”
Benjen’s declaration is the confirmation of what had been considered an old myth about the Wall. It was considered a myth because the foundations of the Wall were built thousands of years before current events, and magic in general has not been present for a long time.
Even the White Walkers themselves are considered myths when the show begins, which is how we’ve ended up with a Night’s Watch that’s overly preoccupied with fighting wildlings even when the threat of those immortal invaders has been made plain.
Also Read: 'Game of Thrones': Winter Is Here, and What That Means for Westeros
Judging by everything we’ve seen, and Benjen’s own state as at least partially undead, it’s very likely he can be considered a reliable source on this matter.
Now, just because the Wall contains magic that prevents the dead from passing through or over it doesn’t mean the White Walkers will have no means of getting by — we just haven’t been presented with such a means yet on the show. The books, though, are another matter.
From the “Song of Ice and Fire” novels we know of something called the Horn of Winter. According to legend, a blast from the Horn of Winter can destroy the Wall.
Also Read: All 48 'Game of Thrones' Main Characters, Ranked Worst to Best (Photos)
In the books Mance Rayder claims to possess the Horn, but the one he had was destroyed and Tormund Giantsbane said it was just a fake anyway. Some fans believe that an old horn Jon Snow had found north of the Wall and gave to Sam is the real Horn of Winter. That horn we haven’t seen on the show either, though.
But just because the Horn of Winter hasn’t been mentioned on “Game of Thrones” doesn’t mean it never will. One would assume, anyway, that the war with the White Walkers won’t just take place north of the Wall. They’ll find some way to get by.
17 Big 'Game of Thrones' Fan Theories for Season 6 and Beyond (Photos)
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In this list, we take a look at what kind of fan theories, both wacky and realistic, folks have come up with that might reveal both the past and the future. Spoilers for all of season 6 and maybe beyond.
Also Read: 12 Dumb and Debunked ‘Game of Thrones’ Theories
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Jon Snow, son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen
This one is very well known, and generally accepted as true: Jon Snow is not Ned Stark's bastard son, but is actually the offspring of the deceased Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen -- and thus also heir to the throne of Westeros.
In the season 6 finale, it's confirmed that Jon Snow is Lyanna's child, and heavily implied that Rhaegar is the father -- though not 100% confirmed.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones': That Ned Stark Flashback, Jon Snow and the Prince That Was Promised
HBOMeera Reed is Jon Snow's twin sister
Ned Stark's trip to the Tower of Joy could be even more eventful than the previous theory would imply, if this is true: Lyanna gave birth to not one, but two children. Meera's alleged father Howland was also at the Tower of Joy, after all. So basically the idea here is they're Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
HBOTyrion Targaryen
The idea here is that the Mad King Aerys raped Joanna Lannister (in the books it's said that he had a thing for her) and that's where Tyrion came from. So Tywin's total hatred for the dude has deeper motivations than just that Joanna died giving birth to him or that he's a dwarf.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones’ 101: Explaining the Tyrion Targaryen Fan Theory
HBOHouse Umber is part of a "grand Northern conspiracy" to put the North back in the hands of a Stark.
In season 6 we saw lord Smalljon Umber drag Rickon Stark and Osha in front of Ramsay Bolton as a "gift" to demonstrate House Umber's loyalty to Ramsay as Warden of the North. However, what he didn't do was any of the traditional shows of loyalty like kneeling or kissing Ramsay's hand and so forth. The thought is that maybe House Umber remains loyal to the Starks and are part of a group of houses prepping to take back the North with a Stark at the head again.
With Rickon dead and Lord Umber fighting pretty hard for Ramsay in the battle at Winterfell, we can safely consider this one DEBUNKED.
HBOMissandei is a Faceless Man
The Faceless Men are surely going to have a big part to play in the endgame of "Game of Thrones" considering Arya's whole arc these past two seasons, but they haven't been directly involved at all so far. Or maybe they have? Missandei has ridiculous language skills and a nearly-always-consistent tone of voice -- these are Faceless Men traits.
Also Read: All 48 ‘Game of Thrones’ Main Characters, Ranked Worst to Best (Photos)
HBODaario is Benjen Stark
When Daario was recast after one season, the reason given was he was too hot. Well, he looks completely different from the previous Daario, but an awful lot like a younger version of Benjen Stark, who disappeared early in Season 1 and hasn't been heard from since. Maybe he's doing a task for Maester Aemon, who in the books bemoans that he's not by Daenerys' side? This would be a weird twist, yes. And, no, the theory doesn't imply that there are two Daarios, but rather that they made the casting change when they found out George RR Martin's ultimate designs for him.
UPDATE: As of the May 29 episode, "Blood of My Blood," which saw the return of Benjen Stark in Westeros, this really ridiculous theory is DEBUNKED.
HBOHodor is a warg who spent too much time as an animal and went a crazy
Jojen warned Bran of the dangers of spending too much time wargin', and you don't put that gun on the table if you're not gonna fire it. We've already seen in Season 6 a younger, more mentally capable Hodor, so maybe we'll get an explanation soon for why he only says "Hodor."
UPDATE: After the events of season 6, episode 5, this theory is officially DISPROVEN.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones': What Exactly Happened With Hodor and That Time Loop?
HBOTommen or Jaime will kill Cersei
Way back in the day, Cersei and a pal visited a witch who told her she would be queen until a younger and more beautiful woman cast her down (Margaery?), after which she would be killed by "the valonqar," which translates to "the little brother." That could be Tyrion, or her twin Jaime, who was born moments after Cersei. Or it could be Tommen, her younger son, who the High Sparrow seems to be getting his hooks into.
UPDATE: Tommen is dead, so he's probably not going to kill anyone.
HBOThe Hound isn't dead
Arya refused to kill him after he'd been badly wounded by Brienne, assuming he'd bleed out or starve to death. We certainly never saw him die, and that means he can't possibly be dead. Right?
UPDATE: The Hound is very much alive, as season 6 revealed.
HBOBran made the Mad King go mad
When Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven traveled back to the events outside the Tower of Joy in the May 8 episode, Bran was apparently able to shout and be heard by the younger version of his father, Ned Stark. What if, going back further, the "whispers" that the Mad King Aerys Targaryen heard were simply Bran trying to talk to him and it was actually he who set in motion the events of the show?
The events of season 6, episode 5, seem to indicate this is very possible.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones': Did Bran Stark Cause the Mad King’s Downfall?
HBOLady Stoneheart coming
It's thought that the resurrected Catelyn Stark was not included in previous seasons so that the return of Jon Snow would have weight -- if resurrections are going on all over the place then it sorta takes away from the novelty of it. But now that Jon is back, we might finally see what the Brotherhood Without Banners has been up to the last few years, and whether Lady Stoneheart is leading them.
HBOBran will travel back in time and become the Three-Eyed Raven.
"The time has come...for you to become me," the Three-Eyed Raven says to Bran during the season 6 episode "The Door." We might assume he's speaking figuratively, about Bran taking over a role. Or maybe it's more literal than that? Some fans think so.
HBOBran travels to the past and is Bran the Builder, who built the Wall and founded House Stark.
Bran the Builder is a legendary figure who led the effort to put up the Wall 8,000 years before the events of the show, after the Long Night in which the White Walkers invaded the first time.The particulars of how this would work are not known, but this is a good one. Especially since Bran the Builder is who the present day Bran Stark was named after.
Also Read: All 48 ‘Game of Thrones’ Main Characters, Ranked Worst to Best (Photos)
HBOSansa is pregnant with Ramsay Bolton's child
"I can still feel what he did in my body standing here right now,” Sansa told Jon Snow about the residual effect of Ramsay's horrific sexual abuse of Sansa. The thought, according to some fans, is that she's not simply referring to the trauma, but that she's saying she's pregnant.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones’ Theories: Is Sansa Stark Pregnant?
#CleganeBowl
The younger Clegane, known as the Hound, really hates his older brother, the Mountain. Both were thought dead, but both are again alive. And fans believe that before the story of "Game of Thrones" ends the two will meet and finally have it out in a battle to the death.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones’ 101: All About The ‘CleganeBowl’ Theory
Cersei's Wildfire
In season 6, Qyburn said something to Cersei about how a rumor she had asked him to look into was, indeed, true. But he didn't say what the rumor was. Some fans believe this rumor involves a secret cache of the horrifying substance wildfire placed under the Grand Sept of Baelor by the Mad King. What would Cersei do with that cache of wildfire? Given her current mutual animosity with the Faith, probably nothing good.
UPDATE: Yeah, this happened.
Also Read: ‘Game of Thrones': Is Cersei’s Rumor Tied to the Mad King?
Dragonglass is pooped out by dragons rather than just being obsidian
Does this matter? No, and we'll probably never find out anyway. But it's funny.
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What’s in store for the remainder of this season, and beyond, of the HBO hit? Let’s see what the viewers think
In this list, we take a look at what kind of fan theories, both wacky and realistic, folks have come up with that might reveal both the past and the future. Spoilers for all of season 6 and maybe beyond.
Also Read: 12 Dumb and Debunked ‘Game of Thrones’ Theories