"Game of Thrones" fans have weathered many a tragedy over the past few years (R.I.P. everyone), but Sunday's episode featured a Hodor-sized twist so shocking that only the man himself, actor Kristian Nairn, saw it coming.
During Episode 5 of Season 6, "The Door," fan-favorite Hodor met his untimely end at the hands of the wights while protecting Bran Stark and Meera Reed from an oncoming attack. The episode not only provided fans with Hodor's brutal death scene, but also gave them an explanation into the origin of his much-discussed name and dialogue.
While Bran is having a vision into the past, he wargs into a young Hodor, who in his youth was called Willis. During the White Walker-wight onslaught, in the present, Hodor is told "hold the door," a phrase his younger self repeats in Bran's vision, which eventually is condensed into "Hodor."
However, for those still recovering from the loss, take solace in this 2013 interview with Nairn, in which he explains exactly how he wanted his character to die in the series. Apparently, the Irish actor is as adorable as he is prescient.
"I'd like to die fighting an army of White Walkers," he told Flicks and the City. "Yeah, just sort of a huge action scene would be nice. I’d enjoy that!”
Nairn is not alone is his ability to predict the future. Eight years ago, a fan --using the name “Myrddin” -- correctly deduced the meaning of Hodor's name on a "Game of Thrones" message board.
On Feb. 20, 2008, Myrddin wrote:
“The poor guy is just asking someone to hold the door for him, since he’s always carrying someone else around. After a while, ‘Hold the door’ became ‘Hold the doorHold the doorHoldoorHodoor. Dammit! Hold the door!’ His mind finally snapped, and now all he can say is Hodor.”
Can we organize a brain trust meeting between Myrddin and Nairn before the series ends? With their combined precognitive powers, there's no doubt they'd discover who ends up on the Iron Throne.
Watch the Nairn's full interview with Flicks and the City below:
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