Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Game of Thrones fans had no way to prepare for the HBO show’s latest episode, “The Door,” which aired on Sunday, May 22. In a surprising twist, viewers found out one character’s heart-wrenching fate in a brutal sequence.
At the end of the episode, Hodor (Kristian Nairn) saves Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) while the two are being chased by White Walkers. The friendly giant tries to give Bran time to escape by holding the door closed against the heinous creatures.
Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick), meanwhile, drags Bran’s body to safety while screaming out “Hold the door!” Hodor’s hands bust through the sides of the rock door and he appears to meet his demise.
Simultaneously, young Hodor was experiencing in the past what adult Hodor was experiencing in the present. Young Hodor was having a seizure and saying “Hold the door,” which eventually morphed into “Hodor” — the only word he could say.
Nairn has starred on the fantasy series since its 2011 debut. Needless to say, audiences were shocked and saddened by his death.
“Hodor will stay the greatest hero of #GOT. None of the other characters will be as honourable. #TheNorthRemembers,” one commenter tweeted on Sunday night.
A second added: “Just watched GOT and now im crying… #Hodor.”
Read more reactions below:
Employee: I’m Not Coming To Office Today.
BOSS: Why?
E: Someone Died!
B: Who?
E: #Hodor#GameofThrones #GoT— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) May 23, 2016
Ohhhhh. “Hodor” means “I will never stop crying my face off.” Got it.
— DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny) May 23, 2016
Great. Now doors are ruined for me. #GoT #Hodor
— Fusilier (@blakeful) May 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/funfetticupcake/status/734567775063117824
https://twitter.com/addie_jade/status/734566608962625538
Oh Hodor … that might just have been the saddest moment in all of Thrones so far ? #holdthedoor #GOT
— AC (@aaroncarroll) May 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/BanksAdel/status/734491210606338049
Finally I Got To Know The Meaning Of #Hodor = Hold The Door (For Me).
I Can Now Die Peacefully.#GameOfThrones #GoT— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) May 22, 2016
Sad to knew his name would be his ultimate fate ;( we will miss you Hodor …#GOT #RIPHodor
— nurullah (@Alkolian) May 22, 2016
Hold the door.
Hold the door.
Hold the door.#Hodor.?
Best explanation EVER. #GoT— Adi (@LukeShawalker) May 22, 2016
HODOR = Hold the door. I cried in last 30 secs. #got
— r (@PlsNoBokwas) May 22, 2016
Can’t believe they left hodor behind. And can’t believe Hodor came from “hold the door”. S06e05 of GOT got me in some inception trance. Haha
— Matt Attaway (@amattisaiah) May 22, 2016
#HoldTheDoor #Hodor has me in tears. Gosh darn you @GameOfThrones #GoT #GameofThrones #crying #sosad
— Tara K (@tarasaurus235) May 23, 2016
The saddest part of GoT S06e05 is that you’ll finally figure out why Hodor says only Hodor. :'(#insertmanlytearshere
— Daddy Without Sugar (@glrhn) May 23, 2016
I’ve got a broken heart ? Hodor ❤️
— Posie (@_eisor_) May 23, 2016