Game Of Thrones Season 6: 6 Crazy Fan Theories About Bran Stark

What else is he responsible for?

Game of Thrones Bran Mad King
HBO

Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 5 is one that's long going to be remembered.

It contained one of the most emotional moments of the entire series, and perhaps the biggest show-exclusive tragedy to date, as we learnt the origins of Hodor and bade him farewell at the same time.

While the words "hold the door" won't be leaving our minds anytime soon, there are also bigger things to consider here. The episode was called The Door, and it has certainly opened one now that leads to far-reaching possibilities and consequences.

The series already had a number of fantasy elements - magic, dragons, White Walkers - but just incase that wasn't enough, it's now introduced time travel. The idea of this device existing in Game of Thrones has been around for some time now, but this episode has moved it beyond tinfoil theories and into the realms of reality, and at the heart of it all is Bran Stark.

Despite Bran's book chapters and show storyline often being among the dullest (sorry, but, come on...) he's always been one of the most enigmatic characters, holding the promise of so much more to come, and the potential to be one of the most important and powerful characters in the entire saga.

The Door only makes that argument stronger, and naturally given what he does there, it's given wave to a number of theories about what Bran might do, and who he really is.

6. He Made Jaime Push Him Out Of The Window

Game of Thrones Bran Mad King
HBO

This one has been around long before The Door, and admittedly it's one I've always dismissed as absolutely ridiculous.

Now... well, it's still utterly bonkers, but there is a bit more basis for it.

Jaime pushing Bran out of the window is one of the series' truly iconic moments, an event that told viewers just what sort of a show this was, and setting into motion a number of events that have since played out (and continue to do so). But what if that wasn't an act of cruelty from Jaime, but caused by Bran himself?

This one envisages Bran in a future where Westeros has been entirely destroyed by White Walkers. However, through his connection to the weirwood tree, he's able to see an alternate timeline, where things work out better (as 'better' as things get in Westeros). Thus he goes back in time, wargs into Jaime, and has him push young Bran out the window, thus starting the Game of Thrones but saving the Seven Kingdoms.

Even after the events of The Door, this one still seems pretty 'out-there' - how come Jaime wasn't altered? - but then if you stretch you could see maybe a leap of logic: without being paralysed, would Bran ever go to the weirwood tree? The biggest downside, of course, is that Westeros still seems to be headed for a huge battle against the White Walkers, so even if this is true, the alt-future isn't that much of an improvement.

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.