Liam Cunningham, Carice van Houten Talk Davos’ and Melisandre’s Season 6 Journeys

SPOILERS ARE COMING

Everyone knows that the big mysteries of Game of Thrones Season 6 are all variations on the question “Does Jon Snow come back?” Whether you believe he’s dead and going to be resurrected, or that he somehow survived his assassination, the prevailing opinion is that he’s returning, and someone’s going to have to help him along the way.

Melisandre’s sudden departure from Stannis’ camp just prior to Stannis’ demise is suspicious—her return to Castle Black puts her where she is in the books when Jon Snow is stabbed. Many fans are banking on her bringing Jon back from the dead. Davos’ arrival there just ahead of her has also piqued interest. And although both Carice van Houten, who plays Meisandre, and Liam Cunningham, who plays Davos, have not been forthcoming with details, van Houten is clearly trying to temper expectations. Speaking to Empire Magazine, she warns fans they should not raise their expectations too high.

I’m afraid I’m gonna disappoint a lot of people. Why so much pressure on my character? I mean, I understand that he’s the good we want in this crazy world. And me and my mother and my sister want him to come back very desperately. But Melisandre has never brought anyone back to life. Why does it have to be me?

Because why else did the show deliberately send you back to the Wall so you would be where you are in the books, if not because the show and books need to hit the same plot point at this juncture? Just saying.

Meanwhile, speaking in a much lengthier interview with Vulture, Cunningham says Melisandre is on “an extraordinary journey you’re going to see from very, very early on in the new season.”

"Very surprising. It’s really cool. When I read it, I went, “Whoa!” And then I was given a little bit more evidence … but I haven’t seen the first episode. We haven’t seen it. Nobody’s seen it. We’re all in it together."

Speaking of no one having seen the first episode, Cunningham is still under the impression that at least *one* Game of Thrones fan will be getting preview screeners. “POTUS! He gets DVD copies before we do. And we’re in it! [Laughs.]”

On a more serious note, Cunningham talks about Shireen’s death last season, and how long it will take for Davos to find out, especially now that he and Melisandre are sort of in the same boat following the death of Stannis (which is also Melisandre’s fault.) He also reflects on the religious fundamentalism that had taken over the Baratheon family.

Going into season six, the audience is going to know what he doesn’t know, and that’s a great thing to watch, especially if there’s any sort of relationship build up. What happens when he finds out? And how long are they going to hold that one out for? That elastic has just been stretched the whole time…. Dan said it’s about religious fundamentalism, extremism, and what it can drive a human being to do. In this case, it was an intelligent man, Stannis, agreeing to do that to his own daughter, and finding an excuse to do it. And you saw his reasons for doing it, which is what makes it very, very dangerous. It has a resonance in a way, in the real world, when you look at ISIS, you know?  It’s always wrong. The justification of it. The repercussions of doing something like that are never going to be good. You take away a chunk of your humanity when you do things like that. It makes you less of a person, even if it works temporarily. And they had cultivated this gorgeous relationship with Davos and Shireen, which I loved as well. It was a little island of beauty and sanity in this sea of moral grayness, and to have that stolen? It was extraordinary.

And as for that “mic drop” moment at the end of the Season 6 trailer, when Davos draws a sword and looks like he’s about to defend Jon Snow’s body from some hostile Night’s Watchmen? Cunningham is clearly chuffed about it. “It’s not his bag. I’ve always had in my mind that he was a Tom Hagen character from The Godfather. He’s not one of the boys. He’s not one of the soldiers. He’s a consigliore. He commands respect because of his loyalty and his decency and his lateral thinking, and because he’s not fearful of his own demise. He tells hard truths. So it’s, “What?! Davos is pulling a sword?” What a teaser!“

What a teaser, indeed. Let’s hope Davos knows what he’s with Longclaw.