Game of ThronesWhite Walker's best episode marked a departure from George RR Martin's books and was better for it. The White Walkers were a crucial part of the show from the beginning, appearing in the pilot's icy opening and serving as an overarching threat almost all the way through. Game of Thrones' finishing. At that point, of course, they were surprisingly only addressed halfway through the final season, a controversial decision given how important they were supposed to be.
Although their fate was divisive, they provided some truly iconic moments and were part of a series of Game of Thrones'best episodes. The army of the dead marching past Samwell Tarly at the end of Season 2, the Night King turning a baby into a White Walker, and Hodor holding the door against the creatures are all unforgettable. However, no sequel or episode of White Walker matches “Hardhome.”
What happened at Hardhome in the books
Martin doesn't actually tell this story in A Song of Ice and Fire
In A dance with dragonsJon Snow begins to receive reports of wildlings, led by a woman named Mother Mole, trapped in Hardhome. The site itself is said to be cursed in the books, with the settlement that once stood there having been mysteriously destroyed around 600 years ago. This curse is quite difficult to dispute, given what happens there.
There are thousands of free people gathered thereand Jon is not only aware that they need to be saved, but that if they are not rescued they will be added to the army of the dead. So he sends orders to a man named Cotter Pyke to lead the mission, with 11 ships in total departing Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Eventually, Pyke reaches Hardhome, but sends back news of the hell that awaited them:
“'At Hardhome, with six ships. Wild seas. Blackbird lost with all hands, two Lyseni ships ran aground at Skane, Talon taking on water. Very bad here. Savages eating their own dead. Dead things in the forest. Braavosi captains will only take women and children on their ships. The witch women call us slavers. Attempt to defeat Storm Crow, six crew killed, many wildlings. There are eight crows left. Dead things in the water. Send aid over land, storm-ravaged seas. From Talon, in the hands of Maester Harmune.
“Cotter Pyke left his furious mark down there. — Is it serious, my lord? asked Clydes. 'It's already serious enough.' Dead things in the forest. Dead things in the water. Six ships remained, of the eleven that left. Jon Snow rolled up the parchment, frowning. Night falls, he thought, and now my war begins."
Will the winds of winter revisit Hardhome?
It's possible that Martin's sixth book could conclude the story
Similar to Game of ThronesJon Snow initially planned to go to Hardhome himself. However, there was a different timeline of events here: Jon received a pink letter, apparently from Ramsay Bolton, urging him to Winterfell. Jon decides to ride south, but still plans to send the Night's Watch men to Hardhome:
“'I have summoned you to make plans for the relief of Hardhome,' began Jon Snow. 'Thousands of free people are gathered there, trapped and starving, and we have had reports of dead things in the forest.' On his left he saw Marsh and Yarwyck surrounded by their builders, while Bowen had Wick Whittlestick, Left Hand Lew and Alf of Runnymudd at his side. To his right, Soren Shieldbreaker sat with his arms crossed against his chest. , Jon saw Gavin the Merchant and Harle the Fair whispering together, Ygon Oldfather sitting between his wives, Howd Borroq leaning against a wall in a dark corner. his boar was nowhere to be found.
“'The ships I sent to remove Mother Mole and her people were destroyed by storms. We must send all the help we can overland or let them die.' Two of Queen Selyse's knights had also come, Ser Narbert and Ser Benethon were near the door at the foot of the hall. But the rest of the queen's men attracted attention in her absence. alone and bring back as many free people as possible who could survive the journey. A flash of red at the end of the hallway caught Jon's attention. Lady Melisandre had arrived. Now I find I can't go to Hardhome. The screening will be led by Tormund Giantsbaneknown to all of you. I promised him as many men as he demands.'”
If this happens when The winds of winter releases is another matter, however, because... Jon Snow is killed soon after. Unlike Jon's death in Game of Thrones Season 5, where the simplified riot is a direct response to Hardhome and brings back the wildlings (at the cost of several brothers' lives), In the book, Jon's decision to leave the Wall and ride to Winterfell (with an army of wildlings) is also a factor in the men of the Night's Watch turning against him..
Hardhome might not be something that can be ignored in the books, but it could also happen off the page, as there might not be any POV characters going there without Jon's involvement. Martin previously said that no new POV characters will be introduced in The winds of winter [via Not A Blog]so unless that has changed, it won't be seen first hand. However, the mutiny also means there is a bigger story at the Wall, so what happens to the wildlings and the brothers of the Night's Watch may take a backseat, a stark contrast to Game of Thrones.
Game Of Thrones Elevated Hardhome To Most Terrifying Episode
Game Of Thrones season 5, episode 8 is one of the show's best installments
Game of Thrones The battle in Season 5, Episode 8 comes a little out of nowhere. Audiences have been trained to expect large-scale action in the ninth episode of the season, not the eighth, and While the journey to Hardhome was certainly not without danger, few would have predicted the absolute hell that greeted Jon Snow, his brothers of the Night's Watch, and the wildlings who gathered there.. Countless creatures and a few White Walkers attacked them in what wasn't so much a fight as a complete massacre.
Game of Thrones kept elements of what was hinted at on the page - dead things, free people dying - but turned it all into a terrifying spectacle with Jon at the center.
Game of Thrones it kept elements of what was hinted at on the page - dead things, free people dying - but turned them all into a terrifying spectacle with Jon at the center. The book's vagueness works in A dance with dragonsespecially since Martin prefers to keep the Others more hidden. The show-don't-tell approach is much better suited to TV, with the general public most in need of a reminder about this threatand, especially with Miguel Sapochnik's direction, it becomes one of the greatest achievements of the entire series.
Much like the book, there is a sense of hopelessness, despair, and dread that covers the process.albeit with a brief respite found in one of the series' big, surprising hero moments, when Jon kills a White Walker. This also comes with a crucial story reveal, as it shows that they are vulnerable to Valyrian steel, not just the dragon class. The action is frenetic - it's controlled chaos and carnage - and the hordes of creatures make it one of the best zombie series of the last decade. There's also some excellent character work outside of Jon, like making us immediately care for - and mourn - Karsi.
At the end of it all, the most shocking and harrowing achievement arrives: the Night King faces Jon Snow, raises his arms and resurrects the dead. The character does not exist in the books, where the Others are more of a supernatural force with no defined leader (as far as we know), but at this time, he was one of the Game of Thrones' most epic, chilling, and memorable scenes, all thanks to just a few tantalizing teases from the book.