Warning: This article contains spoilers from “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 2
The wishes of “Game of Thrones” fans came true — maybe too soon — when Jon Snow was resurrected from the dead in Sunday night’s episode.
While some of the show’s “scholars” believed the dramatic turn of events would not take place until Episode 3, the final scene of Episode 2 showed the hero gasping and his eyes wide open.
This is how it went down: Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) approached a weary Melisandre (Carice van Houten) in her chamber and asked if there was any magic spell she knew of that could bring back his Lord Commander (Kit Harington).
Melisandre was already referring to Snow as the “former Lord Commander,” but Davos’ heartfelt entreaty made her really think hard about who in the magic business might be able to help. Finally, she took it upon herself to take a crack at it.
First, she cleaned Snow’s body of all the dried blood, exposing his grievous, still-bleeding wounds.
Then she gave him a haircut, throwing those rock-star locks into a burning, sacred fire and even trimming his beard. She began performing the ritual, saying prayers in another language and resting her hands on Snow’s ripped cadaver. Nothing.
Fed up, Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) left the room. Then Davos followed, accepting the reality of Snow’s death. Even Melisandre took off, tired (after all, we now know she’s ancient). Just when everyone left and Snow was left on the table, the sleeping direwolf cried and Snow awoke with a start.
And what a world he’s coming back to: The Wildings have taken Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale), the man who led the mutiny against Snow, prisoner. Castle Black really never will be the same.
This mostly slow episode also confirmed that Ramsay Snow (Iwan Rheon) has eclipsed the late King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) as the most hated character on the show. First, he killed his father, Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton), after the elder Bolton was told his wife had given birth to a baby boy. Then, he summoned for the baby to be brought to him. He led Roose’s widow, Walda Frey (Elizabeth Webster), into the kennel where he keeps his hunting dogs while the mother begged for mercy, saying that the new baby was his brother. Ever the narcissist, Ramsay coldly said, “I prefer being an only child.”
Over on the Iron Islands, there was another power play afoot when Marty Feldman look-alike Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) met his death at the hands of his brother, Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek). Watch out for those rope bridges, they can be slippery.
Burning questions: How was Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) able to unlock the dragons? Absurd. The dragons almost bit off Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) hand off when she tried to visit with them after locking them up — and she’s their mother.
And are we seeing the flashback of Lyanna Stark through Bran’s (Isaac Hempstead Wright) eyes because we’re going to learn the truth of Jon Snow’s parentage?
There’s always next week.