Fans of HBO’S Game of Thrones have been wondering what happened to one of the remaining Stark’s, Bran, since season 4. Well, just like Winter, answers are coming in what EW.com calls “the biggest and most crucial season yet.” The site also released the first ever look at Bran after an extended absence on screen.
Season 6 (premiering in April) will feature the return of the young boy, who now looks more like a man. The actor portraying Bran, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, has grown to 6 feet tall during his hiatus, and has chopped his locks.
Last we saw him, Bran was about to embark on his Jedi training with his version of Master Yoda – the Three-Eyed Raven (played by Max Von Sydow, who narrates the Season 6 Teaser). Bran’s sixth sense / psychic powers will continue to develop throughout the season. So far, we’ve seen him enter the mind of animals, but what else can he do? Will Bran be riding one of the Khaleesi’s dragons like the hero of How to Train Your Dragon? The young actor says his experience reading the scripts for this season went like this, “Oh! That’s the best scene I’ve ever done! … Oh! That scene is even better!” It sounds like we have something exciting to look forward to.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the actor revealed that producers have decided to skip the Empire Strikes Back-style training montages and skip right to Bran being able to control his magical powers (let’s hope Star Wars: Episode VIII does the same with Rey).
Apparently there is also an “Inception-y” like narrative twist to the story. Hempstead-Wrights hints at what’s in store for viewers, regarding Bran’s visions:
“Now we’re given very important events in the past, present, and future of this world … Bran is beginning to piece them together like a detective, almost as if he’s watching the show. Equally, he’s now discovering how crucial he could be in the Great War.”
We got a tease of flashbacks last season during the premiere, learning a bit more about Cersei Lannister. This look into the past proved pivotal in framing the emotions of Cersei’s Walk of Shame in the finale. Will these psychic flashbacks showcase some of the illustrious lore George R. R. Martin has crafted for his novels?
Will Bran discover that Stark blood still flows? Will he reunite with Sansa? If Jon Snow returns as a frozen zombie prince, will Bran somehow control the undead army? We’ll have to tune into Season 6 once it debuts to find out.
For now stay tuned to That Moment In for the latest breaking news and nerdy theories.
Hungry for more theories & analysis? Check out my review of the Season 5 Premiere or Season 5 Finale.