Sunday’s ‘Game of Thrones’ episode paid off big time for book readers

HBO

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season six, including theories and speculation of future events. 

In what some fans are calling the biggest episode of the series to date, the second episode of "Game of Thrones" season six showed viewers a wide range of shocking events. From returning to Bran Stark and his training in greensight, to the resurrection of Jon Snow and death of three Boltons, it was a jam-packed hour. 

Service to the regular viewership aside, "Home" seemed to be a time when the showrunners took every opportunity to incorporate hints, theories, and scenes straight from the book series. 

Keep reading see how Sunday's episode was a huge pay-off for book readers. 

Bran's vision of Winterfell was a long-awaited peek into the past.

Helen Sloan/HBO

Ned, Lyanna, and Benjen Stark were all featured in Bran's vision to Winterfell — a brief moment from the books. This was the first time readers saw any version of Lyanna on screen. Why does it matter? There's a running theory (practically accepted as fact at this point) that Lyanna is the real mother of Jon Snow. 

She's described in the books as a wild, strong-willed girl (not unlike Arya). The show has only given offhand mentions of her, when King Robert reminisced on their engagement and expressed anger at Rhaegar Targaryen for taking her away. Lyanna died right after Robert's rebellion, leaving a sad mark on the war. 

Seeing a young Hodor for the first time was sweet and heartbreaking all at once.

HBO

Fans have long theorized about what happened to Hodor to make him, well, Hodor. In the books we know his name used to be Walder, but the show's flashback revealed that it's been changed to Wylis. 

This was also the first time we saw Hodor speak regularly, joking and teasing alongside young Ned, Benjen, and Lyanna. When Bran returned to the present, he asked Hodor what happened to him. Though we don't have an answer yet, Bran's questioning makes us believe that we may learn the truth soon. 

Wun Wun the giant wreaking havoc in Castle Black was an adapted book scene.

HBO

In the books, Jon Snow's assassination plays out a little different. Wun Wun has an altercation with some of Stannis' soldiers, and when Jon rushes out to the courtyard he sees the giant "dangling a bloody corpse by one leg." Amidst the chaos of the scene, several Night's Watch men take advantage of the distractions and kill Jon. 

A cool factoid about Wun Wun's victim in the books has to do with George R.R. Martin's love for the New York Giants football team, and his friendly rivalry with a man who loves the Dallas Cowboys. The man Wun Wun killed has heraldry similar to the Dallas Cowboys' blue and white stars. Martin intentionally included a "giant" killing a "cowboy" after he lost a bet.

Even though the details were left out, the showrunners' inclusion of Wun Wun's rage killing was a fun book nod.

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