“Game of Thrones” readers, Hodor’s fate will be way different in the books
This past week’s episode of Game of Thrones was one of the saddest on record. Hearing the phrase “hold the door” will forever be traumatizing. But, according to George R.R. Martin, the way “hold the door” became “Hodor” will actually be different in the books.
According to a Redditor, in a thread found by Vanity Fair, George R.R. Martin explained the following at a recent event:
“He said that his name reveal in the books will differ in the context and how it happens. So while the name will still mean the same thing (Hold the Door), it will be very different from the show’s reveal.”
Dun, dun, dun.
In an interview shown after the gut-wrenching episode on Sunday, Game of Thrones series creators Dan Weiss and David Benioff discussed learning the origins of the name “Hodor” in a meeting with George R.R. Martin. Benioff said:
“We had this meeting with George Martin where we’re trying to get as much information as possible out of him, and probably the most shocking revelation he had for us was when he told us the origin of Hodor — or how that name came about. I just remember Dan and I looking at each other when he said that and just being like, ‘Holy shit.’”
Yeah, us too. It may be wishful thinking to think that the book’s version will be any less devastating.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Benioff and Weiss also said that Martin revealed a total of three “holy sh*t” moments in that meeting two years ago. The first was Stannis burning his own daughter to death as a sacrifice and the second was Hodor’s reveal and the subsequent time travel implications for Bran and for the series. The third? Who knows. Benioff said it “is from the very end.”
What does that even mean? We’re not ready! Either way, we’ll miss you, Hodor.