Game of Thrones season 6 cast confirmed and first episode title revealed!

BranRaven

Finally! Today, HBO has officially revealed the first episode title of Game of Thrones season 6, and has confirmed the cast for the year, including several new additions.

HBO has now confirmed that the title of the season six premiere is “The Red Woman.” The official synopsis of the episode is:

Jon Snow is dead. Daenerys meets a strong man. Cersei sees her daughter again.

The episode is written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss and directed by Jeremy Podeswa.

The official announcement for season 6 says:

Following the shocking developments at the conclusion of season five, including Jon Snow’s bloody fate at the hands of Castle Black mutineers, Daenerys’ near-demise at the fighting pits of Meereen, and Cersei’s public humiliation in the streets of King’s Landing, survivors from all parts of Westeros and Essos regroup to press forward, inexorably, towards their uncertain individual fates. Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival, while new characters will emerge to challenge the balance of power in the east, west, north and south.

Returning series regulars noted include Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Aidan Gillen (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish), Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Jonathan Pryce (the High Sparrow).

Additional returning series regulars this season will include Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Conleth Hill (Varys), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis), Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton), Hannah Murray (Gilly), Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton), Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand) and Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H’ghar).

Kit Harington’s name is nowhere on the press release but we’ll all look tastefully away from that fact.

New cast members confirmed for the sixth season by HBO include: Pilou Asbaek, Essie Davis, Souad Faress, James Faulkner, Richard E. Grant, Ian McShane, Joe Naufau, Freddie Stroma and Max von Sydow.

Our own casting scoops earlier confirmed Asbaek as Euron Greyjoy, Faress as the High Priestess, Faulkner as Randyll Tarly, Naufahu as Khal Jhaqo and Grant and Davis as the leading players of a theater troupe in Essos. Stroma will be playing Dickon Tarly, McShane an unannounced character, and Max von Sydow is taking over the role of the Three-Eyed Raven.

Fantastic to have concrete, official news rolling in! Season 6, here we come.

Sue the Fury
Susan Miller, Editor in Chief of WatchersOnTheWall.com

321 Comments

  1. That’s a rather uncreative title, I must say. Looks like E1 must really be focusing on Melisandre then.

  2. Can the inclusion of Souad Faress name in the casting release means that she’ll be playing a bigger role than we anticipated?

  3. Name *,

    oh my gawd, they just fucking spoiled their own show!
    That should be season 6’s tagline put on posters. Weird that they haven’t done it yet. Don’t they actually realise how obvious they’re being? lol

  4. Wow. Great title. Never would’ve guessed. Although I think we all guessed the theme of the first episode’s title would be Wall-centric and Jon-centric, “The Red Woman” or some other reference to Melisandre never crossed my mind!

  5. Tywin of the Hill,

    Hmm, that’s also possible. Multiple meanings perhaps.

    Melisandre will have a large presence in episode 1 either way, being in the opening scene, and having one rather large twist that according to van Houten.
  6. Hodor! Uncreative title, guess will be seeing a lot of Melisandre’s regret in the first episode.

  7. First……it’s great to finally have a premiere title!!!!!!

    Second…even if Kit is only a corpse, shouldn’t/doesn’t his name have to appear?

  8. Very Interesting!

    I wonder what are the hidden meanings behind this title.
    It will be interesting..

  9. ‘Cersei sees her daughter again’…The semantics…HBO biggest trolls ever lmao

  10. “The Red Woman” … sounds unspectacular somehow. I expected something more ambiguous. Or does is not refer to Melisandre’s twist in episode 1 that she teased before? What do you guys think? And what could it be?

  11. Tywin of the Hill:
    Dragonmcmx,

    I think it refers to Kinvara.

    Uuuh, that’s a good one. It could well refer to the obvious (Melisandre) and this new character, Kinvara, who I very much expected to be introduced in the very beginning of the season.

  12. I’m…underwhelmed by the title, LOL. They really don’t want to give anything away.

    But, seeing as they decided to name an entire episode after Melisandre, I’m guessing they may actually reveal what’s really underneath Mel’s robes. I’m a little scared.

    LMAO at the ‘Jon Snow is dead’. Oh, HBO, you so funny.

  13. Love the title ^^
    can’t wait to see the rest, wonder what this big mel scene is going to be about.
    I can hardly wait ^^

  14. These episode titles tend to mostly have double meanings so I would guess that “The Red Woman” will obviously be about Mel and Jon, but will also have parallels to Kinvara and Dany.

    I don’t see what’s underwhelming about the title.

  15. Kinvara may not even feature in the first episode yet.
    We know there are big things in store for Melisandre in ep 1. So it’s clear the title refers to her.

  16. Title is fucking classic trolling harharhar! Bring on the Red woman and the red wine

  17. Hm, I don’t really get the negativity towards this title. I personally like simple titles and if Melisandre has a big presence in this episode it fits well, maybe Kinvara will also be introduced in this episode. And you never know, it could also have multiple meanings that we understand only after we’ve seen the episode. I especially don’t understand those who are throwing the whole episode under the bus just because they dislike the title :/

  18. Jon Snow is dead. Daenerys meets a strong man. Cersei sees her daughter again.
    wow XD
    Strong man = New khal who won’t give a shit about her.
    Cersei meeting her Daughters Corpse
    And jon Snow Being dead ? Trolls 😛

  19. I love the Episode 1 title. 😀 Totally out of left field. I am expecting a big focus on Red Mel, and also THE big twist (I have a feeling it won’t make some people happy at all). I also wonder if this episode is the last time we see Carice in a big way in the show (meaning she could appear in one or two more episodes, but in minor capacity).

  20. Flayed Potatoes:
    phantomstrife,

    “Sam and Gilly meet an older gentleman” is still my favorite, but this one comes close.

    That one was truly one of their best. Even years later, it’s still there in the synopsis for that episode.

    Maybe the genius who came up with ‘Cersei sees her daughter again’ hates the Queen Mother. I love it.

  21. Kit Harington isnt even listed in the cast. Even if he wouldnt come back, his name should be mentioned because he is still a part of the episode by playing a corpse.

  22. Am actually surprised they didn’t name the first episode ‘He dead’. ‘Dead Snow’, ‘Bloody Snow’ (double meaning) or ‘What is Dead May Never Rise’ or something. I mean they’re so obsessed with that word and Jon. How did they resist the urge?

  23. Matthew The Dragon knight:
    Jon Snow is dead. Daenerys meets a strong man. Cersei sees her daughter again.
    wow XD
    Strong man = New khal who won’t give a shit about her.
    Cersei meeting her Daughters Corpse
    And jon Snow Being dead ? Trolls

    But he IS dead.

  24. caliopesnow,

    The point of the Nissa Nissa story was that Azor Ahai sacrified that which he loved the most. That’s obviously inapplicable to Melisandre — who we know lives until 605 at least anyway.
  25. after almost 10 months I finally have accepted the fact that jon snow is dead. If he does come back I think it will be in the final episode of season 6 or in season 7. Without Jon Snow, I am not sure if I am going to watch got if I dont like how the story goes. I cant believe the writers have done this…

  26. “Jon Snow is dead” There ya go interviewers, now shut up with all of the “is jon snow alive?!” questions.

  27. taim:
    Kit Harington isnt even listed in the cast. Even if he wouldnt come back, his name should be mentioned because he is still a part of the episode by playing a corpse.

    This. Really weird Kit isn’t listed since he’s already said he filmed for 2 months playing a corpse. He’s in the premiere episode. He should be credited.

  28. Ii say Melissandre dies in the first episode… BTW I really don’t know how to use the spoiler thing!

  29. VainEldritch,

    He is dead. The actor confirmed it. Said he was glad he had finished. Doesn’t sound like he wants to be in it anyway.. they wouldn’t bring two dead characters back.. not with the whole Jon Snow and the Hound.. at some point it gets too much..

  30. What is this name even.

    They’re just trolling right now. The episode description is funny though.

  31. What if Jon Snow is dead, and doesn’t come back at all? What if Kit wasn’t lying this whole time? Man, every fan of the show, minus the 1% that hate Jon, will be pissed! He’s just too cool to kill off, and no way Emilia and Dinklage can carry the show by themselves.

  32. Kamali:
    These episode titles tend to mostly have double meanings so I would guess that “The Red Woman” will obviously be about Mel and Jon, but will also have parallels to Kinvara and Dany.

    Exactly that I thought.

  33. Jack Bauer 24,

    I’m sure HBO was able to work out whatever sort of credits deal it needed to with Kit’s agent that complies with SAG requirements.

    After whichever episode Jon’s alive again airs, HBO will probably put out a new press release touting the ratings or something that will have him listed as a series regular again; maybe with a “Featuring” thrown in or something extra like that.

  34. Jack Bauer 24: This. Really weird Kit isn’t listed since he’s already said he filmed for 2 months playing a corpse. He’s in the premiere episode. He should be credited.

    Kind of like when Steven Yeun was removed from the credits after the dumpster bullshit fake out on TWD. This is an attempt to not give anything away to casual fans (the majority of the fan base) but the rabid fans (us folk) should see the writing on THEWALL

  35. Is it possible that Mel looks into the flames and sees the TOJ scene? That would be a pretty big thing… not a twist but very important. We get Jon’s parentage and she realizes he’s the one she’s been looking for the whole time. Would all qualify as big moments in my opinion and perhaps warrant an eponymous episode.

  36. taim,

    Of course, just like Charles Dance was in the cast list for the first episode of season 5. This is all deliberate.
    Can’t stop loling at ‘sees her daughter again’…yeah she sees her again alright, her corpse that is. Ambiguous play on words to avoid spoiling it. It’s only with Jon they’re not ambiguous which means only one thing. A surprising plot twist.

  37. Great! About time..
    So I guess this is when Melissandre will leave castle back completly broken, and then at the end of the episode, she will find herself somehow and return to do what she’s meant to! So no ressurection on the premiere.

  38. Very good title. Vague and specific at the same time, relatively teasing in regard to the synopsis. But I am not so sure if I got it right: are the new cast members part of the main cast whose names are in the intro or is it a general reference to them and they will feed the end titles? It seems Olenna and HS got a real promotion. Why did they wait so long (3 seasons!!!) with Rigg? Another striking thing is that Dormer is not among the top list names as she was last season. I remember she was one of the very first names in the intro last year. But maybe this is not so important. Inner tension rises days before the premiere for us the plebe.

  39. Sean C.,

    I know, I know and maybe you’re right but I have a bad feeling about Melisandre this season. O.K 17 days! 🙂

  40. Ross Doherty:
    Was hoping for Finn Jones to be a regular as Loras Tyrell and his name is nowhere!

    Weird didn’t even notice. No Finn Jones? No Dorne characters besides Indira (Ellaria). No Art (Rickon) or Natalie (Osha) or Tobias (Edmure).

  41. Sean C.,

    But the prophecy for the return of Azor Ahai is only

    that he pulls from the fire a burning sword..not the sacrifice of someone he loves. I think the fire is Mel (fire burning within), but I’m hoping it doesn’t kill her.

    There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.

  42. Jarl Stark,

    Isaac (Bran) and von Sydow were present at the TOJ scenes so I do not think that this is possible. We will see TOJ through their eyes…

  43. I am so glad they reminded us that Jon is dead.

    “He’s passed on! This bastard is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired and gone to meet his maker!

    He’s a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed him to the perch he’d be pushing up the daisies!

    His metabolic processes are now history! He’s off the twig!

    He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible.

    THIS IS AN EX-BASTARD!”

  44. Sullied by Knight,

    I was responding to the notion that Mel could be a new Nissa Nissa — the speculation about some female character ending up fulfilling that role has been longstanding. I don’t agree with it, but even if there is going to be another one, my point is that there’s no way it could be Mel, since she doesn’t mean anything to Jon (well, he may have felt the urge to have sex with her, but that’s not saying much).
  45. Sullied by Knight,

    Wasn’t there a theory that the sword was not a literal sword but Drogon and that Khal Drogo served the Nissa Nissa role with Dany Azor Ahai or was it The Prince(ss) that was Promised or something like that …

  46. janarchy:
    I am so glad they reminded us that Jon is dead.

    “He’s passed on! This bastard is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired and gone to meet his maker!

    He’s a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed him to the perch he’d be pushing up the daisies!

    His metabolic processes are now history! He’s off the twig!

    He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible.

    THIS IS AN EX-BASTARD!”

    Good one xD

  47. Ummm… so Kit Harington is listed as main cast for the first 5 episodes of the season, per HBO’s website right now. Isn’t that kind of weird (aka awesome)? I guess he’ll be laying around “dead” for a LONG time… hope they have a lot of Febreeze stocked up at the Wall. 😉

  48. Darkrobin,

    That exists yeah. Personally I think it’s more interesting that AA is not only one individual, Jon or Dany. Could be both. A lonely saviour saving the day with a single sword doesn’t seem interesting to me. Should be more complex than that.

  49. I assure you, when the episode is done, you’ll understand why they titled it what they did.

    You heard it here first: Ser Davos avenges Jon Snow AND Shireen, all in the fist episode. He loses his shit. .

    Later on in the season, a priest/ess other than Melisandre resurrects Jon.

    LIke bam, HBO looks to score a KO at the opening bell.

  50. Luka Nieto: Uuuh, that’s a good one. It could well refer to the obvious (Melisandre) and this new character, Kinvara, who I very much expected to be introduced in the very beginning of the season.

    Yes! I’m sure the title refers to Mel, Kinvara (Moqorro) and Thoros in drag.

  51. ElEisandFire:
    Ii say Melissandre dies in the first episode… BTW I really don’t know how to use the spoiler thing!

    If she dies I’ll be quite pissed off, because she’s still to meet Arya. Otherwise they’ll ruin the one bit that’s still intriguing in the Brotherhood storyline of season 3.

  52. It needs to be said the title is plain but I’m glad Melisandre’s getting her 5 minutes though.

  53. shay:
    Lame episode name… somehow I already feel like I’m not going to like it.

    FFS. No one is ever satisfied. You haven’t even seen the damned episode yet and already you don’t think you are going to like it. Sorry, but geez, just one day try to feel good that we got what everyone has been asking for.

  54. Kargaryen,

    Haven’t thought of that … it would be more interesting … as would a greater conflict than just humans/CoTF versus the Others/wights … that seems a little too Tolkien-ish for GRRM and GoT

  55. phantomstrife,

    Too funny – that’s exactly what I was thinking. Jesus people relax, believe your eyes (the picture of a certain someone filming in full Stark armor taken on the same battlefield as shown in the trailer) and not the bullsh*t being thrown at you from the HBO marketing department.

    Chill…

  56. Danielle Stark,

    I hope he doesn’t lay there dead all season, and they drag it out till season 7

    and I hope he isn’t DEAD dead.

    I am starting to believe Kit’s lies.

    I want him alive and I want it asap.

    IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK LOL

  57. Darkrobin,

    I’ve heard that, too, and it is an interesting twist. I have some favorite theories, but dragons as lightbringer isn’t one of them. I go for the more crackpot theories like HS=HR. 🙂

  58. The cast has been always divided to main and guest star. They listed only the main cast actors in their press release and then some new characters who join this season.
    Indira Varma was main since last year while the Sand Snakes, Finn Jones, Osha, Trystane, Edmure, Myrcella and all you say that miss were and are guest stars. They shouldn’t be listed in press release as they aren’t.
    The only missing name is Kit Harington and i guess we all know the reason.
    High Sparrow and Olenna got upgraded to main cast.

  59. For God’s sake. Jon Snow IS DEAD. In order to be ressurrected you gotta be dead. I don’t know why some people are still freaking out about that here. The guy will be back. You people are buying HBO’s bs. Casual fans should believe that, not die-hard fans.

  60. phantomstrife,

    I know right. This is very annoying. I feel like some of these things have been confirmed so long ago so discussing them is as pointless as a dog chasing his tail.

  61. janarchy: THIS IS AN EX-BASTARD!

    Lol! Now piss off before I fart in your general direction. If you return, I shall taunt you a second time!

  62. phantomstrife:
    It needs to be said the title is plain but I’m glad Melisandre’s getting her 5 minutes though.

    Yeah, seriously. Melisandre has always been a little underused on the show IMO. I was expecting season 5 to be a bigger one for her. I totally get the speculation that she’ll die early on, but I’m not really seeing it based on the interview someone posted earlier. Carice was describing an emotional journey for Melisandre this season, and it would seem difficult to have that all go down in the course of one episode.

  63. TFT: If she dies I’ll be quite pissed off, because she’s still to meet Arya. Otherwise they’ll ruin the one bit that’s still intriguing in the Brotherhood storyline of season 3.

    You think they care? This is a Hollywood dumb-show for the groundlings. They do what will give them ratings and that means playing to the “tropes” that GRRM wanted to challenge! A magical blonde princess riding a dragon and a handsome good-guy prince are going to save the world using magic! That’s what the people want!

    They don’t want the good-guy prince to be rezzed by burning an innocent little girl with a medical problem alive (as it will be in the books)! They don’t want the good guy prince sitting around in the castle while someone else does the dirty work of uniting the North and defending the realm (as it will be in the books)!

    Here’s a question for the Game of Thrones fandom: remember how Beric Dondarian was not his full self after being rezzed? Do you think Kit Harrington will pull off a Jon Snow with even less character range than the previous one? Or will he remain the same Jon Snow with only a few throwaway lines about the impact of death?

    It’s all a mess.

  64. I’m not quite sure why this title is somehow unexciting or that the title is indicative of the quality of the episode itself (Hardhome comes to mind). The Red Woman is a great, unexpected title.

  65. Deesensfan,

    Right?? You are not alone! I actually felt sick to my stomach when I was reading the Kit interview where he said he’s not part of the show anymore and will be relieved when everyone sees he hasn’t been lying. BUT… I just can’t make ANY sense of them keeping him dead-

    we know they filmed Tower of Joy- why bother to reveal it if he’s dead?? Unless they want to to just twist the knife in the audience some more? NO PLEASE!

    I’m worried, yet still remaining confident that he will return- and he may not be as warm/familiar as he used to be, but that’s cool as long as he comes back to kick some ass. And by Kit’s comments in that interview, I think he could rise again, then be killed for good at the end of season 6. That’s okay, I guess…I’d be sad, but as long as he kills Ramsay…. I also thought it was interesting how Kit used the words “lying dead”… it made me read it like “pretending to be dead”…. 🙂

  66. VegoDread,

    The thing is HBO is stating the obvious. They’re not saying anything new, nothing we haven’t known since the finale of season 5. Nothing that hasn’t been repeated a million times already. It’s basically the equivalent of ‘The water is wet’, and yet some people freak out as if they have actually been doubtful about Jon’s state at the end of the season, like they have actually considered he might still be alive or were unsure where to lean on. I can only facepalm at that. What they, the cast and crew, have been deliberately avoiding is the real issue, that is the issue of not staying dead.
    HBO and everyone else involved with GOT not being vague about Jon’s condition at the moment (they’re spoiling their own show btw) and omitting any talk of resurrection is another confirmation of a future plot twist involving his character.

    There should be radio silence on Jon until he resurrects. Let’s not beat the dead horse until it’s a bloody pulp.

  67. Connor:
    “Jon Snow is dead” There ya go interviewers, now shut up with all of the “is jon snow alive?!” questions.

    Well of course hes dead. We saw him killed in the last episode. No one denies he is currently dead.

  68. Well, two things we know about Game of Thrones is that there’s darkness inside Arya Stark and that there’s no other side in Death, only pure darkness. So it’s clear to me that Melisandre is a first ep. goner and will be meeting Arya again by warging into her episode 5.

  69. taim,

    Eh, it’s just a press release. They aren’t bound by law to list everyone in the episode, or anything. If the Hound came back this season, does anyone actually think they’ll put Rory McCann’s name in the episode before it premiered? Although it’s already confirmed that Jon will be in the episodes as a corpse if nothing else, so it is kinda dumb to omit Kit’s name in the PR.

    However, Kit is in the official HBO episode guide on their website for episode 51. Copy/paste below:

    2016 | Drama | 50 minutes | HD
    TVMA: Adult Content, Adult Language, Graphic Violence, Nudity

    Actors: Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aidan Gillen, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Alfie Allen, Jerome Flynn, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Carice van Houten, Gwendoline Christie, Liam Cunningham, Natalie Dormer, Michael McElhatton, Kristofer Hivju, Iwan Rheon, Diana Rigg, Indira Varma, Nathalie Emmanuel, Dean-Charles Chapman, Michiel Huisman, Tom Wlaschiha, Jonathan Pryce, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Hannah Murray
    Creator: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
    Producer: Greg Spence, Lisa McAtackney, Chris Newman, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernie Caulfield, Bryan Cogman, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin

  70. How many times does it need to be repeated? Melisandre is NOT dying in the first episode, or even the first five. The promo still of her on the horse leaving Castle Black is from EPISODE 5. She lives until that episode at least. Jon and Melisandre’s issues have been long settled so why do some people feel the need to bring them up again and again? Just stop.

  71. THE RED WOMAN….So Melisandre dies in episode 1 while resurrecting Jon and Kinvara becomes the new Red Woman?

    HBO and its crew are paranoid…I mean Kit is playing a corpse why not include his name in the casting list? I hate GOT 🙂

  72. People always complain about the episode titles. Everyone thought “Two Swords” was boring but it wound up being pretty perfect for that episode.

  73. Stannis the Mannis,

    Here’s a question for the Game of Thrones fandom: remember how Beric Dondarian was not his full self after being rezzed? Do you think Kit Harrington will pull off a Jon Snow with even less character range than the previous one? Or will he remain the same Jon Snow with only a few throwaway lines about the impact of death?

    Indeed, that is the question, will we like Jon and continue to root for him when he returns – or will he return as a complete monster/asshole like….Ramsey, Joffrey, Little Finger, etc.?

    Now that’s what I’m excited to see.

  74. Obviously, that cast list is missing a ton of people. Kinvara isn’t on there, we know there’s way more new Dothraki than just Khal Jhaqo (or whatever they end up calling him on the show), I wanna say it was announced a while back that the Tully brothers and Walder Frey would be re-appearing, right? They had the Riverrun set up for a long time. There are all the new northern lords being introduced, they made no mention of Yara. Podrick isn’t even on there. When are they gonna give Daniel Portman some credit? They didn’t announced Ellie Kendrick as Meera, even though she’s in the season trailer. There’s no way Doran Martell doesn’t make a single appearance, either, or for that matter Trystane, who is still on that damn boat, isn’t he? They have to resolve that. No mention of Tormund, who is only leading an entire damn army in the largest battle ever depicted on television.

    Clearly, Kit’s a much bigger omission than any of those people, but as the person above noted, this is the same thing as taking Steven Yeun off the cast list for Walking Dead when they pretended he got killed, but photo leaks of him on set in character completely spoiled that the same way the leaks of Kit on set did.

    Plus, we know Osha and Rickon are re-appearing too, even though I don’t think that was ever officially announced.
  75. “The Red Woman” seems the more derogatory, or at least less reverent, option compared to “Red Priestess.”

    If the distinction is meant at all it could imply any number of things, but my guess is that it’ll refer to A. Melisandre moping about her own human limits, and B. a lot of grumbly reaction to what “that red woman” is doing.

    And then probably C. some crazy fire ritual to close the episode, followed by a preview for episode 2 featuring a hard-to-identify-but-somehow-heroic figure sitting up to someone else’s shock…

  76. phantomstrife:
    How many times does it need to be repeated? Melisandre is NOT dying in the first episode, or even the first five. The promo still of her on the horse leaving Castle Black is from EPISODE 5. She lives until that episode at least. Jon and Melisandre’s issues have been long settled so why do some people feel the need to bring them up again and again? Just stop.

    Thank you! I get frustrated when people keep saying Mel will die in Episode 1!

  77. I agree the title isn’t that exiting but I still can’t wait!
    Do you guys think we’ll get a second trailer before the premiere? They usually release at least two trailers with different songs and footage…

  78. phantomstrife:
    How many times does it need to be repeated? Melisandre is NOT dying in the first episode, or even the first five. The promo still of her on the horse leaving Castle Black is from EPISODE 5. She lives until that episode at least. Jon and Melisandre’s issues have been long settled so why do some people feel the need to bring them up again and again? Just stop.

    Do you have a link/proof of that? I’ve seen a bunch of people toss that info around on here, but don’t remember actually seeing any proof. But hey, I hope its true! I love Melisandre.

  79. Mihnea,

    Nor do I … having a priestess of R’Hllor supporting Dany and another supporting Jon, whose objectives may or may not mesh, would provide a little extra intrigue as the end game nears

  80. phantomstrife,

    We have this saying in Spanish: La esperanza es lo ultimo que muere or hope is the last to die. I am not surprised some people chose to believe there was a chance that he may still be alive. When I first read the books, the pessimist in me knew he was probably dead but there were times when I reassure myself thinking that we never got confirmation. No one else saw him die, he wasn’t cut to pieces and fed to the wolves, he was not put to fire, he was not buried. Add to that all the enigma surrounding his origin and his dormant powers and it was jut impossible to believe he could die then and like that.

  81. The Canal+ feature was quite uneventful. Just a few minutes of cast and crew talking about how great it was to film in Spain.

    I got two things out of it:
    1. We get to see someone who I believe to be the young Lazhareen woman in the Dosh Khaleen who is friendly with Dany; we saw an audition for the character months ago.

    2. Bran is confirmed to be at the Tower of Joy sequence. The actor talks about the how great it was for him to film in such a setting.

  82. Episode 601:
    Starts with the camera following a concerned Ghost trotting from one of the lower rooms of Castle Black, into the courtyard and around a corner to find a dead Jon. Ghost lets out a mournful howl – camera flashes to Davos in his room and then Edd and a couple Jon loyalists gathered in the dining room. All parties stop what their doing and walk outside to investigate. From a distance they see Jon in the snow and as the camera pans out it transitions to a quick shot of Mel, who is in her room and seemingly aware of what happened. Immediate transition to the opening theme.

    Get hype.

  83. Luka Nieto,

    Did they mention if it will be online somewhere or did you record it and can upload it?

    Oh. I see they tweeted it. They did dub everything lol

  84. Davos is the only person who refers to Melisandre “specifically” as “The Red Woman” – no one else. I doubt this has anything to do with the other Red Priestess – This episode title refers to whatever is going to happen between, Melisandre, Davos and Jon in that little room in the first episode.

    This is a great episode title with tons of clues…

  85. Stannis the Mannis: You think they care? This is a Hollywood dumb-show for the groundlings. They do what will give them ratings and that means playing to the “tropes” that GRRM wanted to challenge! A magical blonde princess riding a dragon and a handsome good-guy prince are going to save the world using magic! That’s what the people want!

    They don’t want the good-guy prince to be rezzed by burning an innocent little girl with a medical problem alive (as it will be in the books)! They don’t want the good guy prince sitting around in the castle while someone else does the dirty work of uniting the North and defending the realm (as it will be in the books)!

    Here’s a question for the Game of Thrones fandom: remember how Beric Dondarian was not his full self after being rezzed? Do you think Kit Harrington will pull off a Jon Snow with even less character range than the previous one? Or will he remain the same Jon Snow with only a few throwaway lines about the impact of death?

    It’s all a mess.

    Note to self: Do not feed a troll.

  86. SnowBowl,

    Kit Harrington is listed for all new episodes so far, 51-55. For whatever that’s worth.

    Also noting that the synopsis mentions “Jon Snow” is dead, but neither Daenerys nor Cersei get last names. Jon “Snow” dies, but is re-born as Jon Targaryen? or maybe reading too much into it?

  87. Kargaryen:
    Luka Nieto,

    Did they mention if it will be online somewhere or did you record it and can upload it?

    I thought of recording it, but it really isn’t worth it. It’s like 2 to 5 minutes long at most, and most of it is just talking heads —the cast and crew being interviewed about filming in Spain. Aside from that, we get to see some behind the scenes footage with Dothraki extras, and establishing shots from the different locations, but nothing we haven’t seen already. No direct footage from the show at all. Aside from Bran’s actor confirming his character will be at the Tower of Joy sequence, Jorah and Daario on a roof, and Dany talking to the Lazhareen girl, absolutely nothing worth mentioning.

  88. Luka Nieto:
    The Canal+ feature was quite uneventful. Just a few minutes of cast and crew talking about how great it was to film in Spain.

    I got two things out of it:
    1. We get to see someone who I believe to be the young Lazhareen woman in the Dosh Khaleen who is friendly with Dany; we saw an audition for the character months ago.

    2. Bran is confirmed to be at the Tower of Joy sequence. The actor talks about the how great it was for him to film in such a setting.

    Yes (si, lo acabo de ver)

  89. Red Viper,

    Totally made up. Just geeking out. In truth, I’m sure the mutineers would have made sure Ghost was locked up before killing Jon.

  90. Apart from the promo photo of Mel from ep 5, there’s Carice being very excited about her arc in season 6. No way would she be this happy about her character dying and her losing a lucrative, high-profile job. Enough with this Mel dies debate.

  91. Luka Nieto,

    I just watched the video on twitter. Kinda like how it was for them to film in Spain. At least we got some BTS images for Dany’s storyline.

  92. Jon Snow is dead. That’s not a lie and that’s how it is and all of them have been answering truthfully. Whether he will be resurrected or not – well, that remains to be seen. I think there are so many interesting storylines in GoT and I know new will come. Some characters I enjoyed are definitely irrevocably dead for good but it only adds to the show when key characters are removed. It makes us sit on the edge of our seat.

    but I do hope that Lady Stoneheart will come back, and I would be thrilled to see the Hound again. And fine if Jon Snow is coming back but none of it is crucial to me. I am just here for the ride where ever I might end up.
  93. Red Woman could also refer to Myrcella, who, last we saw her, was being covered in her own blood.

  94. Well Charles Dance’s name appeared in season 5 premiere title sequence, & he was a corpse too, so omitting Kit’s name altogether when the actor himself stated he will play “a dead body for a number of episodes”& he appeared in the trailer,which possibly will be the opening shot of season 6…..its making it all the more obvious.
    & the title- The Red Women…Ha! No pressure there 😉

    But I must admit, I wouldn’t mind if Jon Snow question is not resolved in the manner we expect it to, as long as it is addressed & is ..well, spectacular. TWD finale has left me thoroughly frustrated & indignant towards anticlimactic payoffs.

  95. I wonder if there will be 2+ “Red Women.” They seem to like double meaning titles as much as they’ll ever ironic ones.

  96. Laura:
    Yay! I wanted an ep title today!

    Boo! Dial down the dumb, people.

    Yep, I’m happy we got an episode title.

    I’m not sure some people are capable of dialing down the dumb.
    It may just be their permanent state of being.

    I’m realizing I may have to stay away after the Red Carpet premiere…or at least not read any comments. I’m guessing someone will show up with spoilers from the first episode, and while I know some want those, I want to wait until the episode airs.

  97. JohnnyLaw,

    Hey – it sounds good! I could definitely see it going that way…

    Ahh … how many more days again??

    #goingnutsuntilapril24th!

  98. Rich:
    SnowBowl,

    Kit Harrington is listed for all new episodes so far, 51-55. For whatever that’s worth.

    He is also listed in Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken they list all the actors in every episode. I guess we just have to wait 17 days to find out.

  99. Even when things are straightforward people feel the need to don their tinfoil hats. The Red Woman, hmm could be Mel, no Kinvara, no Myrcella…no all of them. hmm who else?

  100. Why is Lady Olenna main cast? Didn’t Natalie Dormer said Margaery won’t have her Grandma around anymore to help her???

  101. Connor,

    Books, covers, etc.

    phantomstrife,

    I think people have it in their heads that someone must die for Jon to come back. But as they showed in Series 3, that just is not the case: if the Red God wills it, then it happens. (Why it does this simply if you ask nicely is one hell of a good question.)

  102. mau: The only place where you can write like this and not be treated like a troll is westeros.org.

    I think this is too much even for Reddit.

    Seriously, what is going on here today???

    Nymeria Warrior Queen: Yep, I’m happy we got an episode title.

    I’m not sure some people are capable of dialing down the dumb.
    It may just be their permanent state of being.

    I’m realizing I may have to stay away after the Red Carpet premiere…or at least not read any comments.I’m guessing someone will show up with spoilers from the first episode, and while I know some want those, I want to wait until the episode airs.

    Ahh, a sane person I recognize! I am with you. I like filming spoilers and all, but I don’t want to be spoiled on the episode 2 weeks before it airs. As diligently as Sue patrols around here, I could definitely see people posting spoilers just to ruin it for others. 🙁

  103. Gravemaster,
    THANK YOU!

    We have seen the costumes before, but wow! to the new ones worn by Tyrion, Grey Worm, Bran (in his “vision-traveling” gear) and even Daenerys (finally out of her drab white ones). Especially Tyrion and GW! Poor Missandei – no new clothes? 🙁
    It looks like Jorah and Daario are spying on a Dothraki camp in one shot.

    Laura: I could definitely see people posting spoilers just to ruin it for others.

    As a non-book reader, it’s not going to be spoiled to the same level as Seasons 1-5 were spoiled. 😉 Plus, HBO is definitely keeping a very tight lid this season, after the Season 5 fiasco of Ep.1-4 leaking.

  104. Stannis the Mannis: Do you think Kit Harrington will pull off a Jon Snow with even less character range than the previous one?

    Some would argue that’s what he was doing already.

    I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Ok, I’ll show myself out.

  105. Wimsey:
    Laura,

    Heh, the Dunning-Kroger principle says that this message never gets heeded!

    Well, Donald Trump followers are the proof in the proverbial pudding there. 😉

  106. Maggie: He is also listed in Unbowed, Unbent, Unbrokenthey list all the actors in every episode. I guess we just have to wait 17 days to find out.

    Nell Tiger Free isn’t listed even though she’s playing a corpse and we will see her in Episode 1. Charles Dance played a corpse in episode 41 and he wasn’t listed. Kit Harrington claims to be playing a corpse and nothing but a corpse but is listed for 5 episodes… so far.

    Just a little odd, IMO. Maybe a typo on HBO’s part. Indeed, we will know in about 2 weeks!

  107. Uh, I just spotted another interesting thing in that Canal+ BTS feature.

    I don’t know if we knew the who’s and the when’s of the Mesa Roldán filming, but you can see

    Tyrion, Grey Worm, Missandei, Drogon (the puppet they use instead of Drogon to help the actors know where to look at), and Miguel Sapochnik, which means the reunion between Dany and her Meereen council (if that is what’s happening here) will take place either in episode 9 or 10.
  108. I love this title!

    The Red Woman :
    – Mel (obviously),
    – The Red Priestess in Meereen,
    – Cersei (red with anger).

  109. Wimsey,

    They take ‘Only death can pay for life’ and run with it, tinfoiling that either Ghost or Mel has to die to resurrect Jon. But like you said, it’s not how R’hllor rolls.

  110. You know who was red? A Stark woman laying in a bed of blood while making her brother promise her something with her dying breath.

    Seriously though, all tinfoil aside, that would be one heck of an opening scene for the season.

  111. SnowBowl,

    We know that TOJ happens in episode 5 or 6.

    There’s only one Red Woman who’s going to have some big surprise in ep 1. Stop looking for things that aren’t there.

  112. Rich:
    SnowBowl,

    Kit Harrington is listed for all new episodes so far, 51-55. For whatever that’s worth.

    Also noting that the synopsis mentions “Jon Snow” is dead, but neither Daenerys nor Cersei get last names. Jon “Snow” dies, but is re-born as Jon Targaryen? or maybe reading too much into it?

    That’s a good catch. Going by memory, they’ve never referred to Jon as ‘Jon Snow’ in previous synopsis. It’s always been ‘Jon travels’, ‘Jon starts a new mission’. I wonder why they felt the need to refer to him by his full name this time? Maybe that is a big clue.

  113. You guys and your “expectations” with this show lol, fun stuff to read. I stopped having them.

    “The Red Woman” is a great title, and Melisandre/Carice deserves the attention and focus. An underrated character.

  114. Laura,

    Hahaha. It’s been a long time since someone referred to me as “sane.” 🙂

    And, yes, despite the best efforts of the powers-that-be around here, it seems unfortunately inevitable something will slip through.

  115. Luka Nieto: but you can see Tyrion, Grey Worm, Missandei, Drogon (the puppet they use instead of Drogon to help the actors know where to look at), and Miguel Sapochnik,

    Good catch on Miguel Sapochnik being in that moment. That definitely places the scene in one of the last two episodes. But…. how can you be sure that’s DROGON? By this time, Rhaegal and Viserion will also be set free, and if one of them likes to hang around Tyrion, then it could be him/her. That said, I vaguely recall an earlier spoiler that said Daenerys will reunite with the Meereen folks in Episode 9/10. This would suggest they meet away from Meereen.

  116. phantomstrife,

    lol Lighten up Francis, I was just playing along with the game of loosely connecting every female character with possibly being considered a “red woman.” Although I was serious in that it would be cool if they opened up the season with an epic flashback scene like ToJ.

  117. Neat episode name! For the casual viewer people who have lost all hope… it puts some dots together. Can’t believe not one of us picked this for an episode this year…did anyone guess this one ever?

    I’ve got to pick a Registered name for my new puppy and the theme is the letter Z
    I think I’m going to go with “Kennelname Zealot of R’hllor” Call name “Melly”… now this depends a bit on how this season plays out… 😉

  118. Kay: But…. how can you be sure that’s DROGON? By this time, Rhaegal and Viserion will also be set free, and if one of them likes to hang around Tyrion, then it could be him/her.

    Good point.

    Kay: I vaguely recall an earlier spoiler that said Daenerys will reunite with the Meereen folks in Episode 9/10. This would suggest they meet away from Meereen.

    Possibly. It could also simply be one of Meereen’s walls and the rest will be CGI. Difficult to say, really. Though if I had to guess, I’d say this is somewhere close to Meereen but not actually Meereen.

  119. I love the premiere title! Never would have guessed it, but it seems obvious in retrospect. As they usually do. 😉

    The cast list matches the list on HBO’s website, minus Kit Harington, of course. I wonder if Diana Rigg and Jonathan Pryce will be in the opening credits. My guess would be no, because Rigg’s been credited as a series regular in the press releases for the past couple of years and hasn’t appeared in the opening credits yet. Still, perhaps this will be the year.

    The synopses continue to be wonderful sources of black comedy. I’m not sure anything will ever top “Sam and Gilly meet an older gentleman” but “Jon Snow is dead” is definitely some Grade A trolling (even if it’s technically true, titling the episode “The Red Woman” is just begging for a sharp jab in the ribs).

    “Cersei sees her daughter again?” Oh come on. That’s just mean.

  120. SnowBowl,

    Nice catch. Jon has simply been ‘Jon’ in previous episode summaries. Now suddenly it’s ‘Jon Snow’. Jon Snow is dead, long live Jon The Reborn/The Undead/Stark/Targaryen/Stargaryen/The White lol like Gandalf The Grey/Gandalf The White. Even the cast has been saying ‘Jon Snow’. It’s all in the wording.

  121. ElEisandFire:
    Why is Lady Olenna main cast? Didn’t Natalie Dormer said Margaery won’t have her Grandma around anymore to help her???

    Well, she is incarcerated at the moment. So Olenna’s not really able to help her, although she did give it a go. I think Marge makes a go all on her own this year.

    The title seems bland but I’m sure it is smarter than we realize. Sansa, Kinvara, Mel, Myrcella, some random other person we don’t even know, etc. could fulfill the title beautifully.

  122. Victarion Greyjoy,

    They’re in one scene. HBO wasn’t confirming every single new addition for season 6, only regular or recurring characters or the major new actors like McShane.

  123. SnowBowl,

    I’m thinking they should open up with the flashback of young Ned and Benjen (or is it Brandon?) sparring with little Lyanna nearby. They need to set up ToJ and Ned’s relations with Lyanna.
  124. janarchy,

    Thanks for that, I needed a good laugh this pm 🙂

    Curious as well about any of the Dorne characters, and Hound. mmmmm

    You know who was red? A Stark woman laying in a bed of blood while making her brother promise her something with her dying breath.

    That would be interesting. Also thought of another meaning for Red Woman – Miss Scarlet Letter herself, Cersei Just saying

  125. When Jon Snow becomes undead/alive/resurrected/reanimated/warged/cyborged/however returned to life, it will be in such a way that KH has been telling the literal truth, even though the result is JS becomes no longer dead.

    Then the show folks can say triumphantly,”Told ya so. Haha.”

  126. Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival

    *cough*JonandSansa*cough*

  127. Sounds like HBO is going to take a line from Bill – “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”

  128. Apt but boring title. The color ‘Red’ could apply to multiple females in the series – Melisandre, Cersei(Lannister coat of arms) and Dany(Red dragon). Then it would be ‘Red Women’, which is kinda funny.

  129. I’m starting to buy into Melisandre glamouring, and becoming JS… for some reason… I don’t like it if that IS the case…

  130. Caution…

    Popular theory wrong. No misdirection from these people. KH is telling the truth…in a way. Worry at potential reaction exists. Significant risk. Initial December 2015 teaser.
  131. Stannis the Mannis: You think they care? This is a Hollywood dumb-show for the groundlings. They do what will give them ratings and that means playing to the “tropes” that GRRM wanted to challenge! A magical blonde princess riding a dragon and a handsome good-guy prince are going to save the world using magic! That’s what the people want!

    They don’t want the good-guy prince to be rezzed by burning an innocent little girl with a medical problem alive (as it will be in the books)! They don’t want the good guy prince sitting around in the castle while someone else does the dirty work of uniting the North and defending the realm (as it will be in the books)!

    Here’s a question for the Game of Thrones fandom: remember how Beric Dondarian was not his full self after being rezzed? Do you think Kit Harrington will pull off a Jon Snow with even less character range than the previous one? Or will he remain the same Jon Snow with only a few throwaway lines about the impact of death?

    It’s all a mess.

    Oh I think Jon Snow will be different than how we know him, definitely.

  132. phantomstrife,

    That is not an official poster. I just did a gis and looked it up on HBO’s website its nowhere to be found.

    If you guys buy this stupid crap you must really be getting desperate.

  133. Luka Nieto,

    I think its somewhere close to Meereen yeah. Those dothraki riders from the second trailer/teaser suggest they are near that aerea. It could mean Dany arrives in Meereen with her Dothraki horde to save the day.

  134. Halfman:
    So Kit is in the cast list for the first five episodes. Ok. Obviously staying dead then….not!

    http://www.hbo.com/search?type=schedule&seriesIds=PMRS1663&q=Game%20of%20Thrones

    There is an obvious explanation for that. His body will be exhibited at Castle Black where various characters will make a pilgrimage to see it. If they make a donation to the coffers of the Night’s Watch, they will get a lock of his hair to take home and remember him by. That’s why Kit is listed for all those episodes. In episode 6 they’ll finally burn his body, though by that time he’ll be bald due to the sheer number of pilgrims.

  135. Jerkface,

    Where did I say it’s official? I actually mentioned it’s fanmade. I just thought it’s cool looking hence I shared it. Chill out, jerkface.

  136. Kamali,

    Agreed.

    Red also implies blood and perhaps a Lannister’s need for vengeance.

    I can’t believe the level of whinging.

  137. Mr Fixit: There is an obvious explanation for that. His body will be exhibited at Castle Black where various characters will make a pilgrimage to see it. If they make a donation to the coffers of the Night’s Watch, they will get a lock of his hair to take home and remember him by. That’s why Kit is listed for all those episodes. In episode 6 they’ll finally burn his body, though by that time he’ll be bald due to the sheer number of pilgrims.

    Found the HBO writer.

  138. Sean C.,

    You are right. She is not his true love. It would however be interesting if Mel sacrifices herself sometime in the future to facilitate what ever needs to happen in the final battle – and poetic justice.

  139. ds4,

    There are so many popular theories that are practically gospel amongst certain fans. Which one are you saying is wrong? I am anticipating at least two extremely popular theories to be incorrect. Can you give us a little more hint?

  140. Sarah,

    Oh I know… But you never know with these people
    With kits latest interviews and what he has said, I fear we won’t see him alive again till after season six, and whatever “filming” he was doing was as a corpse or vision

  141. Hmm, to get away from the dead Jon scenario for just a bit, I was more interested in the new actors featured. I didn’t think the two actors (Richard E Grant and Essie Davis) playing the leads in the theatre troupe would have been listed as main cast. Perhaps their roles are more significant. My apologies if this has been discussed before.

    Davis’ role is described as “an elegant actress in her 40’s” while Grant’s is for the “larger-than-life leader of a troupe of actors” who “specializes in portraying drunken aristocrats.”

    In this troupe we also have:
    ” Young Blond Juvenile Lead. Aged 18 – 25. A handsome blond juvenile lead in a theatrical group. He is sweet and noble, but his stage acting probably isn’t very good. We’ll see him playing a heroic young lead on stage, and then also see all the offstage politics between the actors in the dressing room.

    Pure tinfoil speculation follows but what if D&D are introducing more than one storyline here:

    What if the troupe’s inclusion not only introduces Arya’s Mercy storyline but also the Mummers’ Dragon (Jon Con/LemoreAshara/fAegon)? They would be true Mummers in the sense that they are in disguise as actors!! I know that this young man playing the juvenile lead isn’t featured in the credit list but if he did play f/Aegon they probably wouldn’t include him at this point anyway.
    Will these three be the ‘new characters (that) will emerge to challenge the balance of power (from) the east’?

    Pure speculation I know, but what a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

  142. Laura: Maybe Arya gets her period too.

    I’m still laughing – definitely the funniest post today.

    Thank you Laura.

  143. Jerkface:
    phantomstrife,

    That is not an official poster. I just did a gis and looked it up on HBO’s website its nowhere to be found.

    If you guys buy this stupid crap you must really be getting desperate.

    The premiere title isn’t on HBO’s site either…

  144. Kay,

    Given that highly contradictory nature of different fan conjectures, this is pretty much inevitable! If nothing else, then we can conclude that most fan conjectures are going to be wrong from first principles Fan conjectures come in three basic varieties:

    1) Those conjectures that contradict things established in the show and/or books. These would be plot holes, and so far the production has been very good about avoiding plotholes. So, these will probably be wrong.

    2) Those conjectures that assume things that a fan imagines to be true but for which there is no evidence that Martin, Benioff and/or Weiss imagines to be true. These ideas have two strikes against them. One, the show and the books have avoided Deus ex Machina so far. Two, if they do go to some arbitrary plot-twist, then the odds of them imagining something out-of-the-blue that matches what the fan has imagined out-of-the-blue is very low.

    3) Those conjectures that are premised on things that the show and/or books (but particularly the show) has shown to be true. These idea are probably wrong. Why? Well, simple: cats can be skinned many ways, and most of the issues at hand have 2+ alternatives for fixing them.

    So, even if you’ve based your idea on Chekhovian Guns that the show and books have hung firmly on the storytelling wall, then chances are still pretty good that a different gun will be fired!

  145. Halfman:
    So Kit is in the cast list for the first five episodes. Ok. Obviously staying dead then….not!

    http://www.hbo.com/search?type=schedule&seriesIds=PMRS1663&q=Game%20of%20Thrones

    All of the actors names are repeated in all 5 of those episode descriptions. It doesn’t mean they’ll all appear in them. For instance, John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) is listed but he most certainly won’t appear in all 5 episodes.

    This is all getting exhausting. I’m just ready for the show to begin.

  146. Why are people suddenly believing glamouring will definitely happen! It may, but it’s never been set up as well as resurrection.
    If Jon does come back (most likely) he will be a different man, I.e: death changes people. Examples Lady Stoneheart, Beric, Mountain.
    So what kit has been saying could still be true in a twisted way. In the summary it says “new characters will emerge from the NORTH, south east and west”

    Remember GRRM ‘bittersweet ending’ much like Lord of the rings Frodo never recovered from being stabbed by the wraith, so it’s likely if Jon does come back, he will never recover from the trauma of death.

  147. In the books, people get dead, but they don’t always stay that way. When the show says someone is dead, who knows what that could mean.

  148. Deesensfan: With kits latest interviews and what he has said, I fear we won’t see him alive again till after season six, and whatever “filming” he was doing was as a corpse or vision

    The audience will not buy it at all if Jon is not brought back quickly. After all, his corpse would be rotted and his brain desiccated or gone after a few weeks, never mind the several months that elapse each season.

    Nathanbc22: Remember GRRM ‘bittersweet ending’ much like Lord of the rings Frodo never recovered from being stabbed by the wraith, so it’s likely if Jon does come back, he will never recover from the trauma of death.

    The comparisons between Rings and Song can be very limited at best. Rings was a plot-driven story lacking any protagonists. Song is a character-driving story, and Jon is one of the chief protagonists. There will be no “metamorphosis” of character in the way that Tolkien did: this will mark a major point in the evolution of Jon’s character, but it’s going to be evolution, not revolution. Daeny, Tyrion, Arya, Bran and Show!Sansa are going to be showing parallel evolution after the parallel traumas that they’ve suffer, too.

    Nathanbc22: Why are people suddenly believing glamouring will definitely happen!

    See my #2 above! For some reason, the fact that the show does not set up things (and that the show only does things that it sets up first) seems to get left out of many people’s ideas.

  149. Dissecting minor nuggets and clues is fun in October and so tiring in April. GIVE ME THE SHOW

  150. My guess, without having any real evidence, is that Mel will sacrifice herself to resurect Jon. She will feel bad about Shirin and with Stannis dead. Maybe her purpose from the lord of light is to sacrifice herself to rise Azor Ahai…just a guess. Probably wrong but it’s fun to speculate.

  151. phantomstrife:
    Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival

    *cough*JonandSansa*cough*

    Not in E1. They’re talking about Theon/Sansa & Brienne/Pod.

  152. Jay: Maybe her purpose from the lord of light is to sacrifice herself to rise Azor Ahai…just a guess. Probably wrong but it’s fun to speculate.

    Indeed, probably: we know that sacrifice is not needed for reviving the dead.

  153. Wow the season premiere is pretty short (50 mins), I’m guessing the focus will be on the Wall, Dany. The North and KL. Although episodes 4&5 seem to be pretty long.

  154. Wimsey,

    Absolutely. I complely agree. The show has set up likely one scenario for a resurrection. It hasn’t set up Jon warging. It hasn’t set up Melisdandre glamouring. It hasn’t set up Bran/Bloodraven warging into any animals/humans at Castle Black, etc. Non-book scenes that are show-only (i.e., Melisandre, Thoros, Beric, Gendry, and Ayra meeting) generally can be assumed to have additional weight. They spent a lot of time on the Brotherhood. If they only needed king’s blood for the leeches, they could have created the Edric Storm character. Now, could they do something else? Could the gun not fire? Sure, but, as you said, there is less liklihood of that than of it not.

    Now any resurrection in TWoW, whenever it may be published, may differ in some aspects. No meeting of Melisandre and Thoros and Melisandre in SoS still states that “only death can pay for life.” Jon has been able to unconsciously warg into Ghost (to see the wildlings in the Frostfingers), fan theories exist regarding Bloodraven warging into Mormont’s bird, etc. But, that doesn’t mean there will be a difference, only that something else is possible.

  155. I hope we get to spend a bit of time on Mel’s own story – what she’s just been through – because it’s interesting in its own right not just because of the link to Jon. To have been certain about Stannis, did what she did to achieve it and then fallen flat on her face. We’ve only had a couple of reaction shots to it all. Does she lose faith, become less of a zealot, lose confidence in herself. Would it be right for her to transfer her hopes to Jon without any change to herself. It is a great thing to explore.

  156. Darkrobin,

    Yeah, this is the one case that I can see where the show has set up one thing and one thing only. (That written, there still are variants on that one “thing.”)

    I would go further and state that this is true for the books, too. Moreover, if the book was planning on doing things differently (and if I, say, completely misread some of the chapters), then it seems improbable that the show would go a different route. A lot of the changes that the show has made has been to establish important plot points firmly on screen: if GRRM was thinking to do something different to bring Jon back, then the showrunners would have made that possibility abundantly clear last season or earlier.

    Darkrobin: Jon has been able to unconsciously warg into Ghost (to see the wildlings in the Frostfingers),

    Ah, but even then, the book says “no” to this popular fan conjecture. Warg skills are not innate: wargs have to work hard to master them. We can see that in the huge difference between what Bran is able to do despite warging a lot (when he still cannot “remember” to get Summer to bring them food or concentrate hard enough to get Summer to do things), and what wargs who can actually use their animals as spies can do, then the idea of Jon (who is far, far behind Bran) doing this is pretty much a plothole!

    That written, I do suspect that when Jon comes back, he will start warging more frequently and more willingly. Moreover, I suspect that warging will help Jon remember who he is (I am expecting some amnesia when he gets back: it’s pretty common), and because Ghost remembers Jon, this would be easy for the audience to accept as a catalyst for Jon remembering how to be Jon.

  157. Did anybody think that after the ressurection Jon will look different and be played then by another actor ? Then nobody has lied that Jon Snow is dead (but will be ressurected or else) and Harrington doesn’t appear in the series anymore

  158. LordDavos,

    I disagree that the show has established only one way for Jon Snow to be resurrected.

    You know who else can also resurrect dead people? And who has also shown an interest in Jon Snow?

    The Night King.

    I suspect that Melandrise is going to fail to resurrect Jon Snow, but the Night King will. Only instead of coming back as a wight, Jon Snow will come back as mostly himself.

    My guess is it will be played as a mystery as to why Jon Snow didn’t come back as a wight, and the answer will lie in the ToJ flashback.

  159. Now I don’t think this is true but

    imagine if that spoiler photo of Jon on the battlefield with Melisandre next to a flayed man is actually just a scene being filmed to show her having faulty, unreliable visions. A glimpse of what she saw in the fire that she no longer believes in.

    Wouldn’t that suck if kit was actually telling the truth and he is dead for good?

  160. I’m calling it: first credit after the screen goes black will be
    “Special Guest Star Kit Harington as “the corpse of Jon Snow”

  161. What!? Kit Harington put so much effort on playing the role of Jon Snow’s corpse and they don’t even mention him? Well, we’ll do it!

    Kit Harington (corpse)

  162. Mr Fixit: There is an obvious explanation for that. His body will be exhibited at Castle Black where various characters will make a pilgrimage to see it. If they make a donation to the coffers of the Night’s Watch, they will get a lock of his hair to take home and remember him by. That’s why Kit is listed for all those episodes. In episode 6 they’ll finally burn his body, though by that time he’ll be bald due to the sheer number of pilgrims.

    Sounds legit.

  163. Jon Snow is dead
    daed si wonS noJ
    Jon Snow is dead
    daed si wonS noJ
    Jon Snow is dead
    daed si wonS noJ
    Jon Stark Targarean lives

  164. Stannis the Mannis: You think they care? This is a Hollywood dumb-show for the groundlings. They do what will give them ratings and that means playing to the “tropes” that GRRM wanted to challenge! A magical blonde princess riding a dragon and a handsome good-guy prince are going to save the world using magic! That’s what the people want!

    They don’t want the good-guy prince to be rezzed by burning an innocent little girl with a medical problem alive (as it will be in the books)! They don’t want the good guy prince sitting around in the castle while someone else does the dirty work of uniting the North and defending the realm (as it will be in the books)!

    Here’s a question for the Game of Thrones fandom: remember how Beric Dondarian was not his full self after being rezzed? Do you think Kit Harrington will pull off a Jon Snow with even less character range than the previous one? Or will he remain the same Jon Snow with only a few throwaway lines about the impact of death?

    It’s all a mess.

    Ooh, I know a good one to this one! Ahem. “If I wanted to watch a show about a man with a middle-age crisis cheating on his wife and destroying his family, I would rewatch Mad Men, Sopranos and/or Breaking Bad.”

    Ok, so it may still need some working on. But you probably get the gist.

    Other than that, yay premiere title!

  165. Noticed how they said “Jon Snow is dead” but for Dany and Cersei they didnt put in the last names? I doubt it means anything but it’s an interesting thing.

    Maybe a hint that Jon Targaryen will live…..

  166. Yahoo.com has an article on this subject. The best thing about it is the comments left by casual watchers.

    By reading them you can understand and appreciate the marketing for Season 6 and the insistance by HBO that Jon Snow is dead.

    There are some really upset people.

  167. Vegodread:
    Yahoo.com has an article on this subject. The best thing about it is the comments left by casual watchers.

    By reading them you can understand and appreciate the marketing for Season 6 and the insistance by HBO that Jon Snow is dead.

    There are some really upset people.

    Link to the article? I want to see their comments lol.

  168. Marlana,

    Yes of course, but why cast such credible and well known actors for these roles unless the troupe’s function is more significant to the narrative going forward. These actors will be seen over three episodes – so their roles could involve a decent amount of screen time. The actual play will most probably jolt Aria out of becoming ‘No One’ but I can’t help feeling that there is more of a backstory to the troupe members themselves.

    It doesn’t fit the timeline either, but perhaps they somehow fit with the Red Priestess (“”I will summon mummers and appoint priests.”).

  169. Josh L

    Interesting idea but why would TNK want to do it. Also how would he achieve a ressurrection where Jon seemed mostly like himself? I kind of think if the set reports are correct NewJon is going to have to be convincing to a lot of people.

  170. Sean C.,

    Yes you’re right not all of them, Lord Snow for example (this is also i believe the only episode title that directly refers to a specific character)

    Edit: Mhysa too now that i think of the matter.

  171. I remember the director saying we pick up right where we left off (i.e. With Jon) but I would really like it to start w a Bran vision. Maybe Bran can see Jon die again. Kind of like Gandalf’s death being repeated at the beginning of The Two Towers.

    I also like the proposed opening w Ghost. Someone said they would have been sure to lock him up. But if they did that one would assume he would end up dead like Gray Wolf, and the pics they released a while back suggest Ghost lives (thank the gods. Gray Wolfs death was so upsetting for me, even though I knew it was coming on the show).

    I like this title. I like the ideas others have posted about it. I don’t know how to interpret it, but it makes me think that backstory might be a part, even though I think glamour has no place on this show. I had always been hoping for the resurrection right away, but Carices last interview ‘it’s not what you think’ gave me pause. Maybe she uses her powers to do something else. Something way more flashy than drinking poison or being warm. Or if her fire of faith burns low, maybe that affects the way she looks and feels? I don’t know but it’s fun to think about.

  172. The Mummers’ Dragon,

    In addition to the possibilities you suggest – the fake actors working their own agendas, such as spying, recruiting to a cause and murdering those included in a litany, mayhaps the mummers can use drama to inform and incite the warring houses to team up and defend against the WW.
    The mere fact of mummers suggests so many variations, all outside of the boundaries of what houses do, what knights do, what armies do, what religions do. Mummers may represent finally the opportunity to break out of the assumptions and rigidities that have been controlling the narrative and do something different.

  173. Connor: Link to the article? I want to see their comments lol.

    Just type in yahoo Game of Throns in Google then scroll down to “comments”.

  174. LordDavos: why would TNK want to do it.

    He wants to turn Jon into a White Walker to help lead the army of the dead because he’s a good leader and fighter.

    phantomstrife: One can’t warg into a dead body.

    not even The Night’s King?

    I like the episode title. As soon as I read it, I thought Davos. He will have a big part in this episode as well.

    Davos Seaworth: But if your Red Woman told him to leap from the crow’s nest-
    Stannis Baratheon: (impatiently) She has a name.

  175. caliopesnow, Are tvMel’s powers stronger at the Wall? I don’t think that’s been established, but if they are, why do her fires burn low, and if they do, maybe she is too weak to heal the dead.

  176. LordDavos: Interesting idea but why would TNK want to do it. Also how would he achieve a ressurrection where Jon seemed mostly like himself? I kind of think if the set reports are correct NewJon is going to have to be convincing to a lot of people.

    My guess is that TNK will resurrect Jon Snow thinking he’s getting another wight, intending to use Jon’s corpse to dishearten people, but it doesn’t go as expected and Jon Snow returns to life not as a wight but as himself.

    The reason will be because of Jon’s Targ blood, which will be revealed in the Tower of Joy flashback sequence.

  177. Jarl Stark,

    Very interesting theory you are the first person I’ve seen mention that but I believe bran and raven where involved in the toj scenes so more than likely not Mel but I do like the creativity and it would relayed to Jon alot faster if that was the case but I’m sure bran will tell him when the time is right

  178. By the time I get off work and able to catch what’s new the party’s basically over lol. Haven’t gone through the comments yet but after reading this article and the description of 1st ep I really need to just vent…

    Why does boring Dany Targ get to LIVE and the exciting Jon Snow have to DIE?

    *stomps feet and yells that it’s just not fair*

  179. Melisandre is my favorite women character. I really wonder what will be her next move…

    For Cersei everything looks clear in the beginning of the new season – she will seek for revenge so we are gonna see her stronger.

  180. It’s not like them to be so obvious with the titles. Then again they gave one title “Lord Snow” which was named after a character, but it ended up just being a nickname. This episode title could have double meaning related to the “transformation” we were told about. “Red” or even “woman” could take on new meaning. The “Red” wedding…. We know she’s not going to die, at least not this episode so does she get like fatally wounded or something but heals right away, revealing that she’s immortal and not entirely human? Do we see that underneath her “glamour” effect she’s really a man? I dunno, they talk about this “Coldhands” dude. Is he a legendary BR type character? Then again, she’s always warm so…

  181. Deesensfan:
    If Jon is actually dead, then they are spoiling it!

    I don’t get it.

    #annoyed

    The dead Jon Snows stays dead. Perfect title. Or maybe:

    A song of tits and dragons. Perfect title for every episode.

  182. Blanks,
    ..”Now I don’t think this is true but..”

    Yes you do, Lol. Or at least you’re worried it could be. I have the same tbh.

  183. phantomstrife,

    I had noticed that in the show itself he’s often called by first and last name. Even Ygritte was formal like that. There’s a certain amount of weight purposely given to the bastard name of “Snow” it seems.

  184. I just don’t see how

    Jon can rally northern armies for The Battle of the Bastards without keeping certain aspects of his personality in tact.
  185. not sure if this has been picked up but Joanna Robinson ‏@jowrotethis has posted Extended Davos Trailer Scene on twitter

    sorry, I just saw that it was posted on another thread

  186. VegoDread,

    I’ve got it. Mel convinces Davos to get intimate with her, and he agrees (ok for no other reason than they are both grieving) and as they’re in the act she’s able to warg into him and takes over his body. Is really her when Davos says he’s never been much of a fighter. The combination of the two (good and evil) produces R’holler, in human form on planet Westeros. So then, while she is Ser Davos she goes to her own body, which is lying in a comatose state and plunges a sword through it. When she does this her/it’s eyes open and pulls it out the sword from the wound, which is magically healed, thus declaring itself to be Azor Ahai reborn. This reborn AA then goes over to Jon’s body and plunges the sword into him, with it’s (AAR’s) blood on it, but he doesn’t bleed, only smoke comes from wound, and all of a sudden Jon opens HIS eyes, rises and gets declared by those around him as tPtwP. The Holy trinity of Melisandre/Davos/Jon= Melidavojon. Has a sort of ring to it huh? No? Lol.

  187. I’m happy with the episode title. I’ve been hoping they start the season with one of Mel’s visions, either a new one or a flashback to where it all started for her and why she started looking for Azor Ahai. The viewers will have to realise why Davos is fighting for Jon, so we should get a glimpse of what makes Mel think Jon is worth her time. Mel has to have a lot of screentime in the first episode.

  188. I don’t know how does it work in American television.
    How many episodes an actor must be in to be considered a series regular?

  189. I suspect that Melandrise is going to fail to resurrect Jon Snow, but the Night King will. Only instead of coming back as a wight, Jon Snow will come back as mostly himself.

    My guess is it will be played as a mystery as to why Jon Snow didn’t come back as a wight, and the answer will lie in the ToJ flashback.

    and what do you think the answer to the Night’s King epic fail will be?

  190. lalla:
    I don’t know how does it work in American television.
    How many episodes an actor must be in to be considered a series regular?

    I’d say more than half or around half of the episodes.

    I think that in order to be considered for an Emmy nomination, you have to be in more than 50% of the episodes (so 6 episodes minimum in GoT’s case). GoT actors are submitted in the supporting category.

  191. Faulkner as Tarly is just perfect. Anyone who saw him as the Pope in Da Vinci’s demons knows this very well

  192. I love the way the actors are listed with the word ‘include’, instead of ‘are’ :

    “Returning series regulars include Peter Dinklage….”

    “Additional returning series regulars this season will include….”

    ‘Include’ is a great word when you want to have a partial list!
    Of course they are not going to name Kit and this was a brilliant way to avoid that!

  193. JemFX:
    “The Red Woman” … sounds unspectacular somehow. I expected something more ambiguous. Or does is not refer to Melisandre’s twist in episode 1 that she teased before? What do you guys think? And what could it be?

    Melisandre is not the only red woman we’ve seen on the show. I think her meltdown and whatever follows it will be really important, but probably other R’hllor priestess(es) could come up as well.

  194. Perhaps Jon snow is dead. But with the TOJ coming, perhaps he finds out his true lineage( thrrough one of Mels visions maybe she sees the truth and relizes Jon is the chosen one). Jon Targaryn is born(resurrected). Hence new power in the North

  195. Winter rose,

    Awesome. Ghost is going to kill them, those traitors. Thats one hell of an angry direwolf! But still, best thing should be as his black bro and wild sis come over to assist him on a rampage.

  196. Cumsprite:
    For those looking for a forum to participate in, check out http://houseofblackandwhite.freeforums.net/

    They desperately need the members, I’d join myself, but it looks like freeforums has some kind of blanket ban on me for reasons that defy understanding.

    Cumsprite, I tried joining too, but I’m having the same issues. I hear they have marvelous threads and theories.

  197. Kit is listed for a lot of episodes. I like the name of the episode because Davos is the only one who calls her “the red woman.”

  198. JohnnyLaw:
    Episode 601:
    Starts with the camera following a concerned Ghost trotting from one of the lower rooms of Castle Black, into the courtyard and around a corner to find a dead Jon.Ghost lets out a mournful howl – camera flashes to Davos in his room and then Edd and a couple Jon loyalists gathered in the dining room.All parties stop what their doing and walk outside to investigate.From a distance they see Jon in the snow and as the camera pans out it transitions to a quick shot of Mel, who is in her room and seemingly aware of what happened.Immediate transition to the opening theme.

    Get hype.

    It be cool if later in the scene Sansa hears a wolf howling.

  199. Don’t worry all you winter doodles out here!!!

    Even HOUND is not mentioned in the cast list !! And he for sure is slated to return this season !!! He is gone rip apart some more bodies !!! *Why doesn’t someone hand him a chain saw, you will get a chain saw massacre*

    So JON SNOW name being buried under all that snow and not showing up, is just a thing !!! RED WOMAN is gonna GHOST out the JON out of the SNOW !!!

  200. It just occurred to me (apologies if someone already called attention to this) that often times important stories in an episode are not the focus of the synopsis. So it’s possible that a different storyline might dominate the screen. Of course, the title and the clips suggest otherwise. I’m anticipating something awesome at the wall, as well as a focus on the new red woman, possibly in Mereen.

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