Season 6 Game of Thrones Casting News Brings a Long-Buried Plot Back from the Dead 

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casting call have started making the rounds. They’re vague and general enough that they can be posted here at the top without any spoiler warning on them, and we’ll get to more in-depth analysis about what it all means below. So here, via the very reliable Watchers on the Wall Web site, are some vague hints to pique your interest for Season 6.

Pirate: “Man in his 40s to late 50s. He’s ‘an infamous pirate who has terrorized seas all around the world. Cunning, ruthless, with a touch of madness.’ He’s a dangerous-looking man. A very good part this season.”

Father: “Aged 50s to 60s, he’s one of the greatest soldiers in Westeros—a humorless martinet, severe and intimidating. He demands martial discipline in the field and in his home. It’s described as ‘a very good part’ for next year and that he’s ‘centrally involved’ in a protagonist’s storyline.”

His Family: “Mother in her 50s. She’s a sweet, plump, and adoring mother, and has a soft spot for one of her children who benefits from her decency. Sister in her early 20s. She’s a kind, friendly and unpretentious woman. Brother in his early to mid-20s . Athletic, a good hunter, an excellent swordsman, manly, not particularly bright but the favourite child of the father.”

Priest: “In his 40s or 50s. A gruff ex-soldier who found religion. Now a no-nonsense rural priest who ministers to the poor of the countryside. He’s salt-of-the-earth man who has weathered many battles.”

Various: “Leading Actress in her early 40s, she’s an elegant actress with a traveling theatre company. Fun, charismatic, rum-drinking actress in the troupe. Priestess, mid-20s to early 30s. Any ethnicity—she’s beautiful, intense, and magnetic. Fierce Warrior, a tall man in 30s or 40s with a powerful physique. They’re looking for someone with ‘mixed ethnicity’ for the role.”

A Trio of Boys: (1) “large boy, with an actor who is 10-12 but playing 7 or 8. He’s described as ‘a clever boy’ who seems too large for his age. He’s big and tall but not fat. ‘Characterful squat features’ are a plus for this part. It’s specified that this is a one-time appearance.” (2) “12 year old boy, with brown hair and blue eyes. He needs to use a Northern accent. He has scenes where he has to spar with a wooden sword. The length of the role isn’t specified.” (3) “7 year old boy with dark brown hair, a narrow face and green eyes. He also has a Northern accent. He also spars with the wooden sword, so it’s safe to assume it’s the same scene. This role is similarly open-ended, the description only stating that the character is being ‘introduced.’”

There’s a lot to unpack here, and book readers may already be chomping at the bit to discuss that Pirate, so here’s your spoiler warning.

Are they gone? O.K.! Here’s what we know!

That Third Leech May Finally Pay Off: Does this mean a Kingsmoot is on because that Pirate is

everyone’s favorite eye-patch-wearing uncle, Euron Greyjoy, a.k.a. Crow’s Eye? Book readers have been a little surprised that Balon Greyjoy, Theon’s father, has lasted this long. He’s

dead in the books. The three leeches Melisandre and Stannis threw on the fire back in Season 3 were for Joffrey (R.I.P.), Robb (R.I.P.), and Balon (still hanging in there!).

A healthy chunk of book four deals with the Kingsmoot, a.k.a. the internal battle between many of the Ironborn (including Theon’s uncles and sister) to gain control of Balon’s throne. The actors playing Balon and his daughter, Yara, are on the cast list for Episode 10 of this season, so this might be when we finally see Balon kick the bucket. (There are some fun theories how.) It’s significant that Theon’s other uncle, Victarion, isn’t listed here since he’s the one who travels to Meereen to court Daenerys on Euron’s behalf, but I suppose we could just as easily cut out the middle man or, since Dany’s plot has been majorly accelerated, cut that courtship plot entirely.

We’re Going to Oldtown: That Father character is pretty clearly Randyll Tarly, Sam’s father. Stannis made a point to bring him up a few episodes ago when he had a stern one-on-one with Sam. The family is therefore probably Sam’s mum, brother Dickon, and a Tarly sister. We know from some scouting-location reports that Sam, Gilly, and the baby will be hightailing it to Oldtown next season. (Or probably before the end of this season to make room for the mutineers to kill Jon Snow.) We also know that Euron Greyjoy invades the Reach (the region where both Oldtown and the Tyrell family home, Highgarden, sit), so it’s possible the Greyjoy and Tarly plot will intersect next year with a side of Lady Olenna and possibly even Arya.

The Hound Returns: The Priest character is possibly big news for those of you who miss Rory McCann’s Hound character. This is pretty clearly Septon Meribald, a man Brienne meets on her travels. He’s significant because there’s a strong book theory that a scene involving Meribald reveals that The Hound has survived his wounds and is living out his days in anonymity as a gravedigger at a monastery. This means that Brienne will probably make it through this season alive (phew). There’s no other real reason to involve Meribald that

Arya’s Future as an Assassin: The “various” characters sound like people we might meet in Essos. In a future book Arya is part of a theatrical troupe so the Leading Actress character sounds like it might tie into her plot. The Priestess and the Fierce Warrior are a little more ambiguous, but based on the casting description I’d say we’re talking about the more ethnically diverse Essos than the lily-white Westeros. But the warrior might be part of a new khalasar for Daenerys.

More Flashbacks Are Coming: Given the positive reaction to Cersei’s flashback this season, it’s not surprising the show would want to dabble with flashbacks again next year. The “trio of boys” sound like they could be Ned Stark (green eyes like Sean Bean), Robert Baratheon, and Ned’s brother Brandon. They could also be Ned, Brandon, and their brother Benjen. Benjen Stark was last seen riding north of the Wall in Season 1, Episode 3, “Lord Snow,” but the actor is on the cast list for Episode 10 of this season. He may be Coldhands, he may be himself, but if he returns he certainly will have some stories to tell Jon Snow. Finally, it might be two Stark brothers and Littlefinger fighting over Catelyn in that flashback. (Aiden Gillen has blue eyes.) I’d rather

see this dynamic (a) because the boys described here are too young and (b) it’s a little too reminiscent of young James Potter and Severus Snape fighting over Lily, and I prefer it when my fantasy series don’t mix.

So what do you think? Are Oldtown, the Ironborn, flashbacks, and the possible return of The Hound enough to get you excited for Season 6?

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