The 30 most iconic moments from Game of Thrones, ranked

15. Hodor dies

“The Door” is unquestionably one of the most heartbreaking episodes of Game of Thrones. It gives us Hodor’s backstory before ripping him away from us permanently. Throughout the series, viewers’ took Hodor’s presence for granted. He was always there to protect Bran, and it seemed like he always would be.

But Game of Thrones has a way of defying our expectations, and the series does just that when it kills off Bran’s lovable companion. When the Night King and his forces attack the home of the Three-Eyed Raven, only Bran and Meera make it out alive, thanks to Hodor’s sacrifice.

During Hodor’s final scene, the audience is shown a flashback of sorts courtesy of Bran’s ability to see into the past. Bran appears to be stuck between past and present, and as he watches a young Hodor — then known as Wylis — go about his business at Winterfell, Meera’s command from the present to “Hold the door” somehow reverberates back through time, and gets stuck in Wylis’ head. He seizes up and repeats “Hold the door” over and over, until all he can say is “Hodor.”

It’s a harrowing discovery, and one that could have major implications for the show’s plot. If Bran can accidentally alter the course of Hodor’s life by going back in time, what can he do if he’s trying?

Of course, this might be exactly what the Three-Eyed Raven kept warning Bran about during their training together. But it seems Hodor’s death could serve a greater purpose beyond that of devastating Game of Thrones fans everywhere.