‘Game Of Thrones’ Recap: Hodor Holds The Door

Game Of Thrones “The Door” opened in the North, where Sansa receives a letter from Littlefinger, who wishes to meet with her.

Game Of Thrones Recap

Mole’s Town

Sansa (Sophie Turner), with Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) faithfully at her side, goes to meet with Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aiden Gillen) in Mole’s Town, the rundown Northern village known for its prostitution. Far removed from the trusting girl she once was, Sansa demands to know what Littlefinger knew about Ramsay before arranging her marriage to him. “What do you think he did? What do you think he did to me?” she asks, telling Littlefinger that if he did not know about Ramsay’s ways he’s an idiot, and if he did he’s her enemy. Sansa openly toys with the idea of letting Brienne kill him, but decides against it. By sparing Littlefinger, she learns from him that her Uncle Brynden the Blackfish (Clive Russell) has won back the Riverlands.

Castle Black

In a meeting with Jon (Kit Harington) and the other members of the inner circle at Castle Black, Sansa reveals the good news about her uncle. When Jon asks how she learned about it, she claims that the news came in a letter to Ramsay. Later on, Brienne wants to know why Sansa lied to Jon. She doesn’t seem quite sure, but regardless, Brienne’s next task is to ride down to talk to Brynden.

Braavos

Arya (Maisie Williams) is still training with the Waif (Faye Marsay), but failing to show much improvement. Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha), who agrees that Arya might not have what it takes, decides to give her a second chance regardless, and hands her poison to kill an actress. Later on, Arya heads to the actress’ show – a Shakespearean-like tragedy that more or less recaps Season 1 in King’s Landing. In it, Ned is portrayed as a dunce ahead of his beheading. Arya struggles to remain unmoved. Then, when she goes to report back to Jaqen, she seems wary of killing he actress who had played Cersei in the show.

North of the Wall

Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and the Three-Eyed Raven (Struan Rodger) travel back in time to witness the birth of the first White Walker, which, as it turns out, was created by the Children of the Forest. Leaf explains to Bran upon his return to the present that they did it to protect themselves from men.

Iron Islands

With Balon dead, it’s time for the Kingsmoot in the Iron Islands to determine who will replace him on the Salt Throne. Yara (Gemma Whelan) is the first to offer herself for the position. When one of the men says he will not be led by a woman, especially with Theon (Alfie Allen) alive and well, Theon vouches for his sister. He says that Yara is the rightful ruler and gives an impassioned speech endorsing her. It appears as though he’s won the crowd over when Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek) arrives. After admitting to killing Balon, he makes his own case for being the king of the Iron Islands and gets the votes he needed. During his coronation ceremony, which involves a literal drowning, Yara and Theon race to gather a fleet of ships to flee. Where are they headed? Likely to find Daenerys Targaryen.

Vaes Dothrak

Having successfully escaped a lifetime with the widows of fallen Khals, Dany (Emilia Clarke) thanks Dario (Michiel Huisman) and Jorah (Iain Glen) for helping her. During the exchange, Jorah shows his grayscale to Dany, who is immediately terrified for him. Jorah goes on to tell Dany that he loves her and always will and then bids her goodbye. Dany stops him. He did, after all, swear to serve her for life. As Jorah remains in her charge, she commands him to find the cure and then return to her and help her take the Iron Throne.

Mereen

Meanwhile, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is doing all that he can to ensure that Dany will be in the best position possible to become the next ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Now one of his major concerns is the optics of his diplomacy achievements. He wants to make sure that people see his behind-the-scenes work as Dany’s accomplishments. In order to do that, he brings in a Red Priestess named Kinvara. She believes that Dany is the chosen one and promises to spread that word around. When she leaves them, it’s not before she manages to unnerve Varys (Conleth Hill) with an account of the ceremony that made him a eunuch.

North Of The Wall

Bran decides to indulge his curiosity and greensee without the company of the Three-Eyed Raven. He lands in a scene in which a group of White Walkers are leading an army of wights. Before he can be pulled out of the vision, the Night’s King grips his arm. When Bran is brought back to his body, an ice burn is searing into his wrist. The Three-Eyed Raven knows that this means that the Night’s King can now find them, and that Bran has to take over for him, even though he’s not yet ready.

While chatting with Hodor (Kristian Nairn), Meera (Ellie Kendrick) realizes that something is amiss. And, upon going outside, learns that that something is a mass of White Walkers and wights. Despite her best efforts, she can’t get Bran to return to his body, as he has traveled back with the Three-Eyed Raven to Winterfell. He watches as his grandfather sends his father off to be a ward at the Vale.

When Bran starts to hear Meera’s pleas for him to go into Hodor, Bran remains in the past and wargs into the young Hodor, who was then known as Wylis. In the cave in the present, Hodor scoops up the lifeless Bran while Meera helps the Children of the Forest keep the wights at bay. Giving them a bit more time, Leaf sacrifices herself with a magical grenade. Hodor pushes through the back door of the cave and shuts it behind him. “Hold the door! Hold the door,” Meera yells as she trudges through the snow with Bran. Meanwhile, young Wylis is seizing in the past, lying on the ground, arms flailing. “Hold the door! Hold the door! Hodor!” he yells. In the present, Hodor, whose fate was sealed by this night in the future, continues to hold the door as the wights start to break through it and kill him.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays on HBO at 9/8c.