‘Game Of Thrones’ Fan Favorite’s Return Confirms Heroes Rise In Season 6 [Spoilers]

This article contains spoilers for Game of Thrones season 6.

Production of the sixth season of the hit show Game of Thrones is well underway, and while the powers-that-be at HBO have tried desperately to keep the next season under wraps, that hasn’t stopped anonymous sources close to the production from revealing which characters are well and truly dead, and which will live to fight again in Westeros. Most season 6 spoilers have focused on the fate of Jon Snow, and how he survived an assassination attempt by the brothers of the Night’s Watch at the end of season 5, but another fan favorite is about to re-enter the battle for Westeros.

According to Game of Thrones fan site Watchers on the Wall, Brynden “Blackfish” Tully will return to Westeros in Game of Thrones season 6. Blackfish Tully was last seen in Westeros in season 3 during the Red Wedding. Blackfish managed to escape the Red Wedding with the well-timed visit to the bathroom, his nephew, Robb Stark, and his niece, Caitlyn Stark, were both murdered by the Freys and the Boltons at the request of the Lannisters.

The return of Blackfish confirms suspicions that Game of Thrones fans have long had about the plot of season 6 and the source material, A Song of Ice and Fire. In late September, fans spotted red tents outside of the set rumored to be Riverrun, House Tully’s seat of power. Reports emerged that Jamie Lannister and Bronn would travel to the Riverlands rather than Kings Landing following the death of princess Myrcella, presummably to end the revolt in the Riverlands.

In the source material, A Song of Ice and Fire, Jamie Lannister, doesn’t travel to Dorne as he did on Game of Thrones, but instead focuses on ending the revolt in the Riverlands. In A Song of Ice and Fire, the revolt was led by Blackfish Tully. But the return of Clive Russell as Blackfish could have further reaching implications for the plot of Game of Thrones season 6.

At least one other bannerman of Robb Stark survived the red wedding, his uncle, Edmure Tully. But while Blackfish apparently escaped the wrath of Walder Frey, Edmure was imprisoned. Actor Tobias Menzies, who played Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones season 3, has been busy filming Outlander since his time on Game of Thrones. So the return of the character seems unlikely. But Blackfish’s presence could confirm one long-standing fan theory.

According to the theory, known as the grand northern conspiracy, the lords of the Riverlands and the lords of the north are committed to both the fall of House Lannister and independence for the north. Central to this theory is the implication that, Before his death, Robb Stark legitimized Jon Snow and made him his heir. If true, that would mean that lordship of Winterfell passed to Jon Stark after Robb Stark’s murder.

If the grand northern conspiracy is true, it would explain many of the spoilers that have leaked during production of Game of Thrones season 6. Show runners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have insisted since the finale of season 5 that Jon Snow is dead. For nearly as long, fans have assumed somehow Jon would survive his assassination attempt. But what happens to Jon if he lives? He certainly can’t return to his position as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, and he can’t hope to challenge the White Walkers alone. But if Jon Snow considers himself freed from his vows after his technical death, that frees him to pursue vengeance for his father and brother. The road to both begins at Winterfell, and he’s sure to gain more allies if he can use the name Jon Stark.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, fans spotted Kit Harington filming battle scenes at the Winterfell set in Belfast. According to fans who saw Harington, he wore a costume more like the clothing of his father, Nedd Stark, than the black costumes he wore as a member of the Night’s Watch. Of course, this is all still speculation, but it certainly looks like in Game of Thrones season 6, the heroes will finally triumph.

Find out more about Blackfish Tully, Jon Snow, and the grand northern conspiracy when Game of Thrones returns to HBO in April, 2016.

[Image via HBO]