Game Of Thrones: 12 Things You Learn Rewatching Season 6

5. They Don't Do Benjen/Coldhands Justice

Game of Thrones Benjen Stark
HBO

Seen briefly in Season 1, and mentioned as a means of luring Jon Snow into a trap in Season 5, Benjen Stark means his grand return in Season 6 to save his nephew, Bran, from the wights.

The actual reveal of Benjen is, in the moment, pretty cool, as he arrives a mysterious figure cutting a path through the wights, but it loses something on rewatch after Season 7.

Benjen rides in, saves, Bran, and disappears again. He then rides in, saves Jon, and dies. And that's it. Before Season 7, it at least promised something bigger, but ultimately they made him into a deux ex machina to save Bran and Jon - neither exactly a small part, in fairness - and then killed him off. Given how long he'd been missing, and the fact they also amalgamate him with Coldhands for the show (something that won't happen in the books), it does feel like they don't quite do it justice.

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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.