Kristian Nairn.
photo: courtesy of HBO
Long-deceased characters will rise from the dead
Game of Thrones fans have been wishing some of our fan favorites would return to the show for all seven seasons, but most of us have accepted that they won’t. However, some fans still believe it’s possible that long-dead characters will return, just not in a way that we’d expect or even necessarily enjoy.
If this theory is to be believed, any deceased Game of Thrones character who hasn’t been burned could potentially return to the show as a White Walker. We know that the Night King and his companions can turn the dead into one of them with just a touch, and this would definitely be the most heartbreaking way to have the living fight the army of the dead.
If this does happen, the Starks would likely be the first to rise. We know that most of the dead Stark family remains in the crypts of Winterfell, meaning that the Night King could bring any of them into his army. Even with the state of Ned’s body following his death, some fans have suggested that Ned will become a White Walker—a sad turn of events, and one that would likely lead to Jon having to face his own father figure during the war.
Hodor is another character that could return as a White Walker. Bran and Meera left him behind when the White Walkers attacked the Three-Eyed Raven’s cave. And though it seems like he was torn apart by wights, we don’t actually know what happened to him. With his size, Hodor would make a formidable ally for the Night King.
Hopefully, none of our beloved characters join the army of the dead. But on Game of Thrones, it’s safe to always assume the worst. And this would definitely be one of the worst ways for them to appear one more time.