If you've been absorbed in the sixth season of Game of Thrones, you'll know that we're in the midst of a badass season, and there's plenty more action to come [1]. You might also be aware of the fact that the internet can't seem to go more than a day without coming up with some sort of insane theory about the show. In the past month alone, we've seen wild speculation on Hodor, Jon Snow, Lady Stoneheart, and more. Listen, I'm all for a good theory, but only when it's plausible and well researched, like this one about Jon Snow's parents [2], or even this one about his twin sister [3]. But every random thought does not a solid theory make. To settle some scores, we're examining a few of the more dodgy theories we've seen of late.
Hodor Warged Into His Horse, and He's Trapped There
- The Origin: Reddit [4]
- The Basic Idea: Hodor wargs into Lyanna's horse and gets stuck there, and that's why he is the way he is.
- The Problem: According to warging mythology [5], the term "warg" applies only to a person who can transfer consciousness into a wolf or dog. The correct term is "skinchanger," but it seems highly unlikely Hodor is even that. Skinchangers are very rare — one man in a thousand is born a skinchanger. What's more, there has been no evidence to suggest Hodor is at all magically inclined. Even something as traumatic as the horse's death might damage Hodor mentally but wouldn't necessarily prevent him from ever skinchanging again. If you want a legit theory about Hodor, try this one [6].
Arya's Training With the Waif Alludes to Danger For Rickon Stark
- The Origin: Reddit [7]
- The Basic Idea: During her training with the waif, Arya is told to name her brothers. The injuries she sustains after each name correlate directly to the grave injuries inflicted on the other Starks.
- The Problem: It's kind of insane to boil Robb Stark's injuries down to a stab wound in his left side. It's completely undermining the fact that he takes like, five arrows to chest first. Furthermore, if you look really close at Arya's injuries in this scene, the waif actually thwacks her on the left shoulder. This is coincidence at best. Rickon will not likely sustain a leg injury.
Bran Stark's Time Traveling Has Set All the Show's Events Into Motion
- The Origin: Reddit [8]
- The Basic Idea: Bran influences the events of the past as he witnesses, thereby causing some of the present-day occurences on the show. Namely, Bran drives King Aerys mad and convinces his father to foster Jon Snow as one of his own.
- The Problem: The only evidence we have that Bran can influence the past is that young Ned Stark seems to hear him during a particularly crucial flashback. It's all assumption though. Maybe Ned's looking to see if anyone was around. Maybe he just hears a whisper on the wind. And even if Bran could be heard, how much can he actually change? We're leaning way too far into these visions. The Three-Eyed Raven has already told Bran plain and simple: the past is already written. Furthermore, these visions seem an awful lot like dreams. Bran goes to sleep to project his consciousness. Even if he's interacting with these individuals in his visions, there's a big chance his dreams are not the same thing as the actual event in reality. Plus, how could Bran cause so much damage under the Three-Eyed-Raven's watchful gaze?
Ramsay Snow Actually Isn't the Sender of That Awful Letter
- The Origin: Medium [9]
- The Basic Idea: Ramsay Snow did not write that awful letter [10]. Someone else did.
- The Problem: First of all, this is in direct line with how Ramsay behaves in all areas of his life. He is aggressive, brash, unthinking, violent, and mean. This letter checks all those boxes. Plus, how would the purported letter writer know about Ramsay's relationship with Sansa, Sansa's escape to Castle Black, and the fact that Ramsay feeds people to his dogs? Still not convinced? One of the show's director's recently participated in an "Ask Me Anything" session [11] on Reddit, and went on record: "It was written by Ramsay. No idea why this theory has gained traction."
Arya's Former Instructor Syrio Is Actually a Faceless Man
- The Origin: Reddit [12].
- The Basic Idea: Syrio is a Faceless Man [13]. He never died after all. In fact, he might have disguised himself as the waif who's training Arya.
- The Problem: While the two moments in the included GIF certainly look similar, they're actually pretty different. Syrio is flipping his weapons outward, and his palms end face up. The waif twirls hers inward, with her hands aimed downward. They hail from Braavos, so it could easily be chalked up to a similar fighting style.
Also, consider this: the fact that we don't witness Syrio's death isn't necessarily a sign that he's alive. Stannis Baratheon dies at the end of Brienne's sword in the season five finale. Though we never witness, she confirms his death in season six. It just goes to show you an offscreen death doesn't necessarily mean it didn't happen.
Sansa Stark Is Doomed to Become Lady Stoneheart
- The Origin: All over the Internet, and notably The Huffington Post [14]
- The Basic Idea: After taking a "dark turn" and drowning in a freezing river, Sansa gets resurrected as Lady Stoneheart.
- The Problem: When Sansa dons darker hair and black clothing at the end of an earlier season, many took it to mean she was reborn as some evil, vengeful being. But it really isn't so, seeing as she goes on to be imprisoned and constantly brutalized by Ramsay Snow. As for that river scene? Sansa is worried she'll die, but she doesn't. She makes it to Castle Black safe and sound. If she does die in the coming seasons, she'd still have to somehow get resurrected, and she'd have to have enough bitterness in her heart to exact her cold-blooded revenge. It's just not very likely.
Jon Snow Will Become King of the White Walkers
- The Origin: Multiple places, but a rather fleshed-out version appears on Daily Dot [15]
- The Basic Idea: Some believe The Night's King [16] is is directly connected to the Stark line and used to be Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. The logic follows that Jon Snow might suffer the same fate.
- The Problem: Well, Jon Snow has not been resurrected as a White Walker, and he's very reluctant to take any sort of leadership role, let alone that of the White Walker King. Plus, he's headed over to Winterfell to take back his home. As he retreats from The Wall, his chances of running into The Night's King any time soon are slim. If you consider the Night's King's legend, which states that he fell in love with an Other, or a White Walker, it seems like a pretty far-fetched path for Jon Snow.