Jon Snow is dead. That’s the answer to the question that has been on everyone’s minds since the ending of season five of “Game of Thrones” last summer. HBO has teased us for months as to whether the fan favorite character would live to see another day and kept a tight lock on what events would be in store for this sixth season. Long gone are the days when readers of George R.R. Martin epic fantasy series are able to proudly predict the course of the show’s events. I for one have not read the books but I hear they make excellent door stoppers. The show’s writers, David Benoiff and D.B. Weiss, have officially run out of story and are now plunging us into the unknown. Where the show goes from here is completely up to them, meaning virtually anything is on the table as far as storylines go.
However, in typical “Game of Thrones” style, this first episode simply maps out where all our characters are in the world after the events of last years finale. So, just as a refresher, lets take a look at where everyone is at geographically and what obstacles they likely have in their way.
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The Wall
With Jon Snow dead the Nights Watch is being run by Alliser Thorne (you know, the curly haired guy who hates Jon and coordinated his murder last season). A few close comrades of Snow, along with Davos Seaworth, have barricaded themselves with Snow’s body in order to plot how they can take back control of the Wall. Joining them is the red witch herself Melisandre, who seems to be having a crisis of faith after her prediction about Stannis Baratheon’s victory in obtaining the crown blows up in her face. This section of the show continues to be the one most fans will likely try to dissect and make predictions about.
It’s no surprise that actor Kit Harington (Jon Snow) was spotted in Iceland where this section of the show typically films and something tells me the it is unlikely he flew their for vacation or to simply lie and play a corpse. For now, Jon Snow is dead but whose to say that Melisandre can’t use some of that black magic to conjure him back to life in another couple episodes.
Winterfell
With the Baratheon army defeated, the Boltons continue their reign over Winterfell. However, in the chaos of battle, Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjoy have managed to escape the psychopathic clutches of Ramsey Bolton, who has devolved into the new Joffrey. Seconds before they are recaptured, Sansa and Theon are saved by Brienne of Tarth and her loyal squire. From Theon’s talk, it seems the plan from here is to head north to the wall but you can bet that the Bolton army are going to be hot on their tale. After all, they NEED Sansa in order to secure their place in the north from a strategic standpoint.
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King’s Landing
Nothing much has changed here. The crazy religious group from last season still retains much control and keeps the Tyrell’s imprisoned. Cerise Lannister is of course freed but it would seem, at least at the moment, she is not the same ruthless and cunning leader that she was before. She is broken down and the fact that twin brother/lover Jaime has returned with the corpse of their dead daughter. Cerise’s reaction to this opens the door to a key theme this season; the idea of prophecy. As you may or may not remember, when she was a girl, she was told that she would watch all of her children die and thus far that prophecy has been fairly accurate.
Across the Sea in Dorn
Remember the crazy snake ladies from last season who wanted revenge on the Lannisters for the death of Prince Oberyn? Well, they’ve staged a revolt and taken over control of the kingdom from the current King. Look out for a possibly war brewing between the Oberyn family and the Lannisters, especially since the Oberyn women are behind the death of the Lannister girl.
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Meereen
With Deanerys gone missing, along with one of her dragons, the city of Meereen has decided into chaos. Tyrion and Lord Varys both contemplate a way to restore the city to peace, especially when faith in it’s leader seems to decrease the longer she is gone. Not much is left in this section of the episode, other than the site of burning buildings in the distance. Is is possible that the other two dragons held captive in the cities dungeon have gone free?
The Search for Deanerys
As her two best men scour the lands to find their queen, Deanerys finds herself again under the capture of the Dothraki. However, it is clear that she is not in power, even after explaining her relationship to the barbarian horse tribe. Here she is less a queen and more a slave, but how long can she remain captive before she manages to break free?