Game Of Thrones: 10 Greatest Deaths (So Far)

6. Hodor

Game of Thrones High Sparrow death wildfire
HBO

Episode - 6x05, The Door

The long running mystery of Hodor’s peculiar vocabulary was finally answered in season 6, unexpectedly bringing with it overwhelming tragedy. When wights and white walkers alike launched a devastating assault on the Three-Eyed Raven’s lair, it fell to the gentle giant Hodor to sacrifice himself and block the cave’s rear exit in order to give Bran and Meera a chance at escape.

One badly timed warg from Bran later, Meera’s words “hold the door” echo into the past and end up repeating in the mind of young Wylis as a harrowing chant that eventually slurs into “hodor". A stunner for book-readers and show-only fans alike, this time-bending twist provided both the origin and death of Hodor all at once.

After a multitude of fan theories had attempted in vain to explain Hodor, this revelation effectively meant that every time he uttered a word, he vocalised a harbinger of his own fast-approaching doom.

And that’s why Thrones fans will never again hear a request to “hold the door” without collapsing into a bawling wreck.

Contributor

Chest thumping James Bond and Haruki Murakami fanatic living in China. Once had a fever dream about riding a rowboat with Davos Seaworth. He hasn't updated this section since Game of Thrones was cool, and boy does it show.