Hodor Was Supposed to Come Back as a Wight, Game of Thrones Writers Say

Out of all the characters in Game of Thrones history that fans have felt a sweet spot for, Hodor is a particular favorite. The gentle giant ultimately met his demise in season 6 after sacrificing himself against an army of wights in order for Bran Stark and Meera Reed to escape, making for one of the most emotional episodes of the whole series. It goes without saying that we haven’t seen him since.

But that wasn’t always the plan for the writers behind the show, according to CBR. He was actually supposed to come back as part of the Night King’s Army of the Dead later on in the series, as CBR reports. The upcoming illustrations and concept artwork companion book The Art of Game of Thrones shows that Hodor was going to come back as a wight alongside the undead army. Karsi, the Wildling who was defeated during the Massacre at Hardhome, was set to return as one as well, as revealed by artist William Simpson’s storyboard.

It’s been theorized for a few years by fans that Hodor would make his return in the final season, although the idea was quite heartbreaking. As he was a loyal servant to House Stark for as long as he had been on our screens, Hodor becoming a wight would mean he’d be fighting against the family and their allies during the Battle of Winterfell. Thankfully, the plan never came to fruition, and Hodor’s last appearance featured his honorable death.

Although fans have been speculating that we haven’t seen the last of the White Walkers in Game of Thrones, with just one episode remaining we can’t imagine either Hodor or Karsi making an appearance. And that’s probably for the best.