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"Hardhome"
Game of Thrones episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 8
Directed byMiguel Sapochnik
Written by
Featured musicRamin Djawadi
Cinematography byFabian Wagner
Editing byTim Porter
Original air dateMay 31, 2015 (2015-05-31)
Running time60 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Gift" 		Next →
"The Dance of Dragons"
Game of Thrones season 5
List of episodes

"Hardhome" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 48th overall. It was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and directed by Miguel Sapochnik. It first aired on May 31, 2015.

The episode's main plot focuses on the battle against the Army of the Dead at Hardhome, in which Jon Snow leads a rare cooperative effort between the Night's Watch and the Free Folk against the undead soldiers led by the Night King. The battle is mentioned, but not seen, in Martin's novel from which the fifth season is adapted, A Dance with Dragons. Other plotlines in the episode include Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen meeting in Meereen, Cersei Lannister suffering from thirst in her cell, and Theon Greyjoy revealing to Sansa Stark that her brothers Bran and Rickon are alive.

The episode received acclaim from critics and fans, with many hailing it as one of the series' best episodes, praising the Hardhome attack sequence, action, visuals, performances, final scene, and the first interactions between Tyrion and Daenerys. It achieved a viewership of 7.01 million during its initial airing in the United States. At the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, "Hardhome" was nominated for six awards, and was Peter Dinklage's pick to support his nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, which he won.

Plot

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In Braavos

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Arya takes the identity of Lanna, an oyster seller, and is sent by Jaqen to assassinate the "Thin Man," a dishonest insurance salesman.

In Meereen

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Tyrion convinces Daenerys to allow him to advise her and to spare Jorah's life, but points out that Jorah cannot be trusted and he is exiled again. Tyrion warns Daenerys that she will not succeed in taking the Iron Throne without a powerful Westerosi house backing her; Daenerys compares the rise and fall of the Great Houses to spokes on a wheel, and declares that she will "break the wheel."

Jorah returns to Yezzan and asks to fight in the fighting pits.

In King's Landing

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Cersei continues to refuse to confess to her crimes. Qyburn visits her and informs her she is being charged for incest and Robert's murder and Pycelle has summoned Kevan to serve as Hand. He also reassures her that "the work continues."

At Winterfell

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Reek tells Sansa there is no escape from Ramsay and admits he didn't kill Bran and Rickon, and he actually killed two farmboys, burning their bodies so no one would know they were not the Stark boys. Roose and Ramsay plan for battle with Stannis' army. Ramsay wants to take the fight to Stannis, and asks for twenty men.

At the Wall

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Olly expresses misgivings about Jon's alliance with the wildlings. Sam explains that the alliance is necessary to defeat the White Walkers, but Olly appears unconvinced.

At Hardhome

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Jon and Tormund arrive at Hardhome and meet the Lord of Bones, who is killed by Tormund after a tense standoff. Tormund summons the elders and Jon offers to let the wildlings settle south of the Wall if they help the Night's Watch against the White Walkers. 5,000 wildlings are convinced, but as they prepare to set sail the town comes under attack from wights. Jon and the Magnar of Thenn, Loboda, enter a hut to retrieve the dragonglass blades, but a White Walker kills Loboda and throws Jon outside. Jon kills the White Walker with his Valyrian steel sword, but Hardhome's walls fall to the wights and Jon and his remaining allies are forced to flee. As they escape, Jon turns back in horror and awe as the Night King revives the dead as wights.

Production

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Writing

[edit]
The episode was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.

This episode was written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the series' creators. It contains content from George Martin's novels A Feast for Crows, chapters Cersei X and Cat of the Canals and A Dance with Dragons, chapter The Ugly Little Girl.[1]

Like other episodes this season, "Hardhome" contained a large amount of original material that does not appear in Martin's novels. This includes the battle scene in which the Wildlings and Night's Watch are ambushed by the White Walkers and army of the undead,[2] as well as the meeting of Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister. According to Erik Kain of Forbes, "We have now fully parted ways with the books. If the rest of Season 5 hadn't convinced you that the show was forging its own path, this episode is the final nail in the coffin."[3]

Casting

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Birgitte Hjort Sørensen was cast as Karsi,[4] a wildling chieftain originally written as a male character.[5] Zachary Baharov appeared as Loboda, a Thenn leader,[6] and Ross O'Hennessy replaced Edward Dogliani as the Lord Of Bones in this episode.[7] Ian Whyte, who had previously been cast as a White Walker, played the giant Wun Wun.[8] Members of the metal band Mastodon acted as wildlings at Hardhome in a cameo appearance.[9]

Filming

[edit]
Miguel Sapochnik served as director for the episode, his second episode for the series.

"Hardhome" was directed by Miguel Sapochnik. He joined the series as a director in the fifth season. He also directed the previous episode, "The Gift". [10] The sequence at Hardhome was filmed at the Magheramorne quarry and took nearly a month to film.[11]

Reception

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Ratings

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"Hardhome" was watched by an estimated 7.01 million American viewers during its first airing.[12]

With Live+7 DVR viewing factored in, the episode had an overall rating of 9.94 million viewers, and a 5.1 in the 18–49 demographic.[13] In the United Kingdom, the episode was viewed by 2.383 million viewers, making it the highest-rated broadcast that week. It also received 0.211 million timeshift viewers.[14]

Critical reception

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The episode received universal acclaim from both critics and viewers, with critics calling it the best episode of the series.[15] It received a 100% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes from 52 reviews with an average rating of 9.74 out of 10 and the critics' consensus reading "Following several episodes of setup, 'Hardhome' blends a sharp script with spectacular blockbuster action to offer viewers a powerful, game-changing payoff."[16]

The Atlantic named "Hardhome" one of the best television episodes of 2015.[17] Erik Kain of Forbes called this "one of the best, most exciting episodes I've seen in the entire show's run, let alone this season," citing "High action and a series of pretty crazy revelations."[3] Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode 10/10, labeling it a "masterpiece". He praised the Tyrion/Daenerys scenes but predominantly the final sequence, which he described as "edge-of-your-seat exciting" and also "quite terrifying". This made "Hardhome" the first episode in season 5 to receive a 10/10 rating from IGN.[18] Matt Fowler also named it the best episode of the entire series.[19] Both Myles McNutt and Erik Adams of The A.V. Club gave the episode the website's highest grade, "A". They called it "a welcome reminder that [the show is still unpredictable]," with McNutt citing it as his favorite episode of the series thus far.[20][21] Bridle Roman of SFX gave the episode a perfect five stars, and highlighted the character of Karsi, played by Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, as a great addition and "her death hits hard" even if "we have only seen her for a few scenes".[22] The episode received praise even from some of its usual critics: Madeline Davies of Jezebel wrote, "I feel like I haven't said this in a long time, but last night's Game of Thrones was ...cool?" Davies cited the quality of the battle scene and unifying theme of hope in desperate situations as the episode's key strengths, specifically that the abused and tormented Sansa learns that her brothers may still be alive and that though Jon faces "the seemingly impossible task of defeating a constantly growing army of White Walkers, he at least possesses a sword that can kill them."[2] Kirsten Acuna of Business Insider reports that this is the single most popular episode to date as rated by fans, noting that the "tremendous reaction is in complete juxtaposition with reactions to an episode that aired two weeks ago," which received one of the series' lowest fan ratings. Acuna credits this response to the quality of the battle scene, which featured "a fighting army of the walking dead which would easily give the AMC series of the same name a run for its money."[23]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2015 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister Won [24]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series Fabian Wagner Nominated
Outstanding Production Design for a Fantasy Program Deborah Riley, Paul Ghirardani, Rob Cameron Won
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series Jane Walker, Barrie Gower, and Sarah Gower Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series Tim Porter Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series Tim Kimmel, Paula Fairfield, Bradley C. Katona, Peter Bercovitch, David Klotz, Jeffrey Wilhoit, Dylan T. Wilhoit Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Series Ronan Hill, Richard Dyer, Onnalee Blank, Mathew Waters Won
British Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography in a Television Drama Fabian Wagner Nominated [25]
ACO/BSC/GBCT Operators TV Drama Award David Morgan, Sean Savage, Ben Wilson, David Worley Won [26]
Hollywood Professional Alliance Outstanding Sound Tim Kimmel, Paula Fairfield, Bradley Katona, Paul Bercovitch, Onnalee Blank, Mathew Waters Nominated [27]
Outstanding Color Grading Joe Finley Nominated
Outstanding Editing Tim Porter Nominated
IGN Awards Best TV Episode Won [28]
IGN People's Choice Awards Best TV Episode Nominated
2016 ADG Excellence in Production Design Award One-Hour Single Camera Fantasy Television Series Deborah Riley Won [29]
Shorty Awards GIF of The Year Come At Me Bro Nominated [30]
Cinema Audio Society Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing - Television Series – One Hour Ronan Hill, Richard Dyer, Onnalee Blank, Mathew Waters, Brett Voss Won [31]
American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series Fabian Wagner Nominated [32]
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited One-Hour Series For Non-Commercial Television Tim Porter Nominated [33]
Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing in Television, Short Form: FX/Foley Tim Kimmel Won [34]
Best Sound Editing in Television, Short Form: Dialogue / ADR Tim Kimmel Won
Best Sound Editing in Television, Short Form: Music David Klotz Nominated
USC Scripter Award Best Adapted Screenplay David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Nominated [35]
Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project David Ramos, Antonio Lado, Piotr Weiss, Félix Bergés Won [36]
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Episode Eduardo Díaz, Guillermo Orbe, Oscar Perea, Inmaculada Nadela Won

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hardhome

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Plot

In Braavos

In Braavos, undergoes rigorous training with the Faceless Men at the , where Jaqen H'ghar tests her commitment to becoming "no one" by repeatedly questioning her identity. When Jaqen asks who she is, Arya responds with "a girl has no name," affirming her transformation after multiple exchanges that emphasize shedding her past self. The Waif further evaluates Arya's progress through a physical , striking her with a staff each time she answers questions about her background inconsistently or dishonestly. This grueling exercise, conducted in the temple's dimly lit halls, reinforces the Faceless Men's doctrine of deception and endurance, leaving Arya battered but resolute in her lies. Satisfied with her deception skills, Jaqen assigns Arya her first independent kill: assassinating , a notorious criminal involved in against merchants. He provides her with a new face disguise, transforming her into Lanna, an orphaned shellfish seller with braided hair who peddles oysters and cockles along the bustling docks. Posing as Lanna, Arya memorizes fabricated details of her life—such as her deceased parents and daily routine—to blend seamlessly into Braavosi street life while observing the target from afar. Tracking to a seedy , Arya infiltrates the premises and stabs him repeatedly in the back and chest during an intimate encounter with a prostitute, ensuring a swift and silent execution. Upon returning to the , she discards the Lanna disguise and faces the Waif's probing questions, lying convincingly about her to demonstrate her mastery of the Men's arts.

In Meereen

In the Great Pyramid of Meereen, convenes with , Missandei, and Grey Worm to address the unstable political landscape following Daenerys Targaryen's abduction by the Dothraki after she flew away on Drogon during the reopening of the fighting pits. The group notes the rising threat from the and the encroaching fleets from Yunkai, Astapor, and Volantis, which threaten to overthrow the fragile abolition of in the city. Varys reports intelligence on the slave masters' coordinated rebellion, while Grey Worm expresses concern over the Unsullied's ability to hold the walls without their queen's leadership. Tyrion offers strategic advice to maintain control, emphasizing the importance of understanding the city's pulse to prevent total collapse. He argues that direct military suppression alone will not suffice and proposes reopening the fighting pits as a means to appease the populace and former masters, providing a distraction from the power vacuum. To implement this, Tyrion insists on personally visiting the pits to gauge public sentiment, reasoning that firsthand observation of the crowds' mood and loyalty will inform whether such spectacles can buy time for Daenerys' return or a new strategy. and Grey Worm express skepticism about relying on Ghiscari traditions, but Tyrion counters that pragmatic concessions are necessary for survival in Essos' complex politics. At the Great Pit of Daznak, Tyrion surveys the preparations amid caged exotic animals like lions and tigers destined for the bloody entertainments, prompting him to reflect on his family's history with grand spectacles in Westeros. He recalls the lavish tournaments hosted by his father Tywin and the of his nephew Joffrey's rivals, drawing parallels to how such events both unified and divided the Lannister legacy through displays of power and . These observations reinforce Tyrion's belief that Meereen's craves the familiar brutality of the pits to fill the void left by their queen's absence. Seeking to harness Daenerys' greatest assets, Tyrion ventures alone into the subterranean dragon pit beneath the , where the chained Rhaegal and Viserion have grown wild and despondent since their confinement. In a solitary , he voices his childhood fascination with dragons, describing them as "fire made flesh" from tales in ancient texts and his own about their intelligence and destructive potential, contrasting them with the dumb beasts of Westerosi lore. As he approaches, the dragons stir, their eyes locking on him; remarkably, Rhaegal and Viserion draw near, sniffing and circling without aggression, allowing Tyrion to place a hand on Viserion's scales in a moment of unexpected communion. Tyrion emerges unharmed from the dragon pit, astonishing the Unsullied guards who inform him that no one, not even Daenerys' closest advisors, has been able to enter without risk of . He declares the dragons miserable in and senses their bond to their mother, suggesting this affinity could prove vital for reclaiming control in Meereen should Daenerys return. This encounter underscores Tyrion's unique position in her court, blending political acumen with an unforeseen mystical connection to her symbolic power.

In King's Landing

Following her arrest by the Faith Militant in the previous episode, is released from captivity after confessing to several charges, including incest and adultery, under pressure from Septa Unella. As part of her , she undergoes a walk of atonement through the streets of King's Landing, stripped naked with her head shaved, accompanied by a bell-ringing septa who calls out "Shame" to draw crowds. Enduring public shaming, Cersei faces verbal abuse, jeers, and thrown refuse from the gathered smallfolk, who hurl insults referencing her rumored affairs and physical attributes, culminating in her bloody-footed arrival back at the Red Keep. Upon her return, former maester Qyburn greets the humiliated Cersei, assuring her that his experiments on the mortally wounded —known as —have progressed successfully, with the work "going well." He presents her with a new, mute handmaiden and a suit of armor resembling that of the Kingsguard, symbolizing her intent to reclaim power despite her vulnerability. Cersei then seeks an audience with the in the Great Sept of Baelor, demanding her immediate restoration to the small council. The denies her request, explaining that her ongoing charges prevent it and informing her that she will face trial by the Faith Militant, to be judged by seven septons in combat. He emphasizes the Faith's newfound authority under King Tommen Baratheon's decree, underscoring Cersei's diminished influence. Later, Tommen confronts his mother in her chambers, expressing guilt over her suffering during the walk and admitting his fear and helplessness as . Cersei reassures him that her actions were for his protection, but Tommen reveals he visited the seeking help to free her. During that visit, the High Sparrow subtly manipulates the young king by praising the gods for empowering the Faith Militant and casting doubt on Cersei's moral character, describing her "sins" as a barrier to true rule and positioning the Faith as a stabilizing force in the realm.

At Winterfell

In Winterfell, receives a message from Castle Black announcing Jon Snow's election as the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He briefs his son Ramsay on the news, stressing that Jon's new authority represents a direct threat to House Bolton's precarious rule over the North, as the acknowledged bastard son of the late Eddard Stark could inspire loyalty among the Northern houses and undermine their legitimacy. Ramsay initially views the development with a mix of disdain and opportunism, mocking Jon's rise from steward to and suggesting his sense of honor might compel him to execute prisoners like . However, when Ramsay requests additional men—beyond the 20 he proposes for a preemptive strike against Stannis Baratheon's approaching army—to pursue and recapture should she attempt to flee, Roose firmly refuses. He argues that further aggression against the Starks would alienate the Northern lords whose support they desperately need to solidify their position, prioritizing political stability over Ramsay's bloodlust. Alone in her chambers, grapples with profound isolation and despair, her captivity intensified by her recent to Ramsay, as she stares out at the encroaching winter landscape, symbolizing her entrapment within the stronghold. Later, —tortured and rechristened as Reek—ventures into Sansa's room under the guise of delivering her evening meal, his body language betraying intense fear and internal turmoil from years of abuse at Ramsay's hands. Overcoming his terror, Theon whispers the vital intelligence about Jon Snow's ascension to Lord Commander, igniting a spark of hope in Sansa that her half-brother now holds power at and could serve as a distant ally in any bid for freedom. This act of defiance highlights Theon's lingering shreds of humanity amid his broken psyche, though he flees immediately afterward, haunted by the repercussions if discovered.

At the Wall

At Castle Black, Jon Snow, the newly elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, announces his plan to sail north to Hardhome with Tormund Giantsbane to evacuate wildlings and bring them south of the Wall to bolster defenses against the White Walkers. Despite vocal opposition from senior brothers like Ser Alliser Thorne, who views the alliance as a betrayal of the Watch's traditions, Jon calls for volunteers to accompany the mission, emphasizing the greater threat beyond the Wall. Only a small group, including Eddison Tollett, steps forward, highlighting the deep divisions within the order over integrating the wildlings. In a private moment, confides in Gilly about his intimate relationship with her, revealing that she is pregnant with his child, while they discuss the potential consequences of Jon's bold wildling alliance on the Night's Watch's stability and survival. Gilly expresses concern for Sam's safety amid the growing unrest at Castle Black, underscoring how Jon's leadership decisions are straining personal loyalties and the institution's fragile unity. Tensions escalate when Jon orders Janos Slynt, the former commander of the City Watch exiled to the Wall, to take charge of the undermanned Greyguard castle as part of reorganizing the Watch's defenses. Slynt defiantly refuses, mocking 's bastard birth and authority, prompting Jon to have him seized and dragged to the courtyard for execution under Night's Watch law for insubordination. As Slynt pleads for mercy, Jon draws Longclaw and beheads him in a swift strike, staring down the assembled brothers—including a watching —to assert his command, though murmurs of discontent ripple through the crowd. Later, amid preparations for the voyage, Night's Watch members like Eddison Tollett and Alliser Thorne debate the perilous risks of the Hardhome expedition, with Thorne warning that allying with wildlings could invite mutiny or doom, while Edd quietly supports 's pragmatic vision for survival. These conversations reveal the precarious balance Jon must maintain, as his decisions test the brothers' obedience and the Watch's resolve against encroaching threats.

At Hardhome

Jon Snow, , and a small group of Night's Watch brothers arrive by boat at the wildling settlement of Hardhome, a remote outpost north of housing thousands of Free Folk. Upon disembarking, they face immediate hostility from the Lord of Bones, who demands their submission and mocks Tormund for allying with "southerners." Tormund engages the Lord of Bones in a brutal fight, ultimately beating him to death with an axe in front of the gathered wildlings, which silences the crowd and allows negotiations to proceed. Wildling leaders, including the Magnar of Thenn (Styr) and others like the spearwife Karsi, convene in a tense council with Jon and Tormund. Jon reveals his purpose: to offer safe passage south of the Wall for any wildlings who pledge to fight alongside the Night's Watch against the and their army. Despite initial skepticism and accusations of betrayal—stemming from past Night's Watch massacres—Karsi and several leaders are swayed by the existential threat, convincing thousands of wildlings to prepare for evacuation as allies. As the wildlings begin loading boats, a massive erupts with wights breaching the settlement's gates, followed by on horseback leading the charge. Chaos engulfs Hardhome in ; Jon wields dragonglass daggers to slay wights, while the wildlings and Night's Watch brothers fight desperately amid screams and flames. The giant Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun crushes numerous wights, and Karsi sacrifices herself battling a group of children. Jon encounters a in close quarters, dueling it fiercely until it kills a nearby wildling; Jon then retrieves his Valyrian steel Longclaw and shatters the Walker into icy fragments, confirming its effectiveness against them. The defenders are overwhelmed, with wights scaling cliffs and overrunning the huts, forcing survivors to retreat toward the shore. As Jon and the remaining fighters—including Tormund and Wun Wun—board boats for a desperate evacuation, the Night King, observing from afar atop his horse, raises his arms to resurrect every fallen human at Hardhome as new wights. From the safety of the boats, Jon and the escapees watch in horror as the settlement burns and the vast undead army awakens with glowing blue eyes, marching under the Night King's command.

Background

Source material

In George R. R. Martin's (2011), Hardhome is described as a ruined wildling settlement located on the northern shores of a sheltered bay along the Shivering Sea, beyond , serving as the site of a devastating historical event approximately 600 years earlier. This catastrophe involved a failed attempt by the , where rangers arrived too late to aid thousands of gathered wildlings who had been massacred. The account of the massacre, as recounted by Tormund Giantsbane to Jon Snow, portrays the wildlings either slaughtered by slavers from across the sea or potentially by the Others, with the few survivors left to endure cannibalism amid the ruins. The event left Hardhome haunted by eerie phenomena, including distant screams and unnatural cold, instilling deep fear among the free folk. Earlier references appear in A Storm of Swords (2000), where Mance Rayder warns of Hardhome's perils during discussions of wildling migrations south, emphasizing the free folk's reluctance to approach the forsaken site due to its grim legacy. Within the broader context of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, Hardhome ties into wildling culture as a symbol of their precarious existence north of the Wall, a massive ice structure erected by Bran the Builder to protect against supernatural threats like the Others. The Wall's purpose aligns with ancient defenses against the Long Night, a prophetic era of endless winter and the Others' advance, foreshadowing recurring dangers to Westeros. The episode's narrative draws from this lore, incorporating elements of wildling evacuations to the Wall as seen in A Dance with Dragons, where Jon Snow organizes a mission to rescue survivors at Hardhome, and the established effectiveness of dragonglass against the Others, first demonstrated in A Storm of Swords when Samwell Tarly uses an obsidian blade to slay one.

Differences from the novels

The "Hardhome" episode significantly diverges from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels by inventing a real-time depiction of the battle and wildling evacuation at Hardhome, transforming a historical referenced only in retrospect into a visceral, present-day action sequence. In the books, particularly , the massacre at Hardhome is described as a past event from four hundred years ago, with recent failed attempts by Mance Rayder to rescue survivors mentioned secondhand through reports to Jon Snow at Castle Black, without any on-page battle or evacuation effort succeeding. This show invention allows for a dramatic visualization of the ' assault, including wights rising en masse and a direct confrontation with an Other, elements condensed and accelerated for television pacing. Jon Snow's role is expanded dramatically in the episode, where he personally negotiates with the wildling leaders, leads the evacuation, and fights hand-to-hand against a using Longclaw, ultimately discovering that Valyrian steel can kill them. By contrast, in the novels, Jon remains at , learning of Mance's unsuccessful mission through letters and scouts, and grapples with the implications through internal Night's Watch debates rather than direct action. The episode also omits key book elements of wildling society, such as internal divisions among factions like the Weeper's cannibals or Mother Mole's group of spearwives and children, presenting a more unified wildling force under Tormund to streamline the narrative toward the battle. Non-Wall plotlines in "Hardhome" feature original developments and condensations from later book events. Arya's storyline in Braavos introduces her disobeying a Faceless Men assignment to pursue Meryn Trant, setting up her unauthorized kill in the subsequent episode, an invention absent from the books where Arya remains focused on and her targets like Trant are not addressed in Braavos at this stage. In Meereen, Tyrion's advisory role to Daenerys during her council and his presence at the fighting pits—leading to his formal introduction to her—accelerates events; in the novels, Tyrion does not reach Meereen or meet Daenerys until much later, after extensive travels and without this early integration into her court. These changes reflect broader adaptation choices to heighten dramatic immediacy, combining scattered book hints about dragonglass, Valyrian steel, and the Others' threat into a single, high-stakes sequence at Hardhome, rather than the novels' gradual, off-page reveal of the northern peril. This approach visualizes the existential danger of the White Walkers earlier and more explicitly than in Martin's slower-building narrative, prioritizing spectacle and character agency over the source material's emphasis on rumor and anticipation.

Production

Writing

The teleplay for "Hardhome," the eighth episode of Game of Thrones' fifth season, was penned by series co-creators and showrunners and , adapting material from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Script development for season 5 occurred year-round but intensified in early 2014 following post-production on season 4, with and overseeing outlines and revisions in their small before filming began in 2014; as the penultimate episode, "Hardhome" was crafted to heighten tension in the ongoing threat, surprising viewers with its scale. A pivotal writing choice involved transforming the Hardhome massacre—a brief, off-page report in Martin's books via Jon Snow's correspondence—into an extended action sequence, allowing the first major on-screen depiction of the Others and their wight army in a visceral confrontation at the wildling settlement. To ensure narrative cohesion, the script balanced converging Essos plotlines, such as Arya's training in Braavos and Tyrion's counsel to Daenerys in Meereen, against intensifying Westeros conflicts like Jon's diplomacy beyond the Wall and Cersei's imprisonment in King's Landing. Thematically, the episode underscores leadership strains through Jon's fraught alliance-building with wildlings amid existential peril and Tyrion's strategic maneuvering in Daenerys' , while illustrating power's toll via Cersei's humiliating and Ramsay Bolton's brutal consolidation at Winterfell; dialogue scenes, such as Jon's tense with Tormund or Tyrion's reflections on , amplify the series' signature moral gray areas in and . Benioff and Weiss sought input from Martin on wildling cultural details and White Walker mythology to align the expanded sequence with established canon, drawing on his annual consultations during script phases.

Casting

Kit Harington returned as Jon Snow, preparing extensively for the episode's extended battle sequence against the White Walkers, which he described as the most intense scene of his time on the series due to its physical demands and emotional weight. The fight choreography required a month of filming, involving grueling stunt work that tested the limits of the cast and crew. Peter Dinklage reprised his role as Tyrion Lannister, bringing emotional depth to the pivotal scene in Meereen where Tyrion confronts and communicates with Daenerys's dragons, showcasing his character's vulnerability and strategic insight in a moment of quiet intensity. The episode marked the debut of guest star Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as Karsi, the fierce wildling chieftain who leads her people during the Hardhome evacuation and battle; Sørensen, known for her role in the Danish series Borgen, portrayed the character as a protective mother and warrior, drawing from an expanded version of the figure in George R.R. Martin's novels. Ross O'Hennessy appeared in a recurring capacity as the Lord of Bones (also known as Rattleshirt), recast for season five and featuring prominently in the tense negotiations at Hardhome. Casting for the wildling and Night's Watch forces prioritized physicality and combat readiness, with around 800 extras auditioning specifically for "Hardhome"; approximately 400 underwent training in sword fighting and , from which 220 top performers were chosen, supplemented by 50 professional stunt performers for the chaotic sequences. Production faced logistical challenges in assembling the international cast, including scheduling British actress for her scenes as in Braavos alongside the primary Northern Ireland-based shoots, while stunt doubles handled the high-risk elements of the confrontations to ensure actor safety. Showrunners and , who co-wrote the episode, highlighted how Emilia Clarke's absence as allowed greater emphasis on Tyrion's advisory arc and Jon Snow's leadership evolution amid the escalating threats. To depict the wights in the Hardhome assault, the production cast dozens of extras who endured rigorous practical makeup processes, often lasting up to eight hours per application, testing their stamina during long days of filming the undead horde's relentless advance.

Filming

The filming of "Hardhome" was helmed by director , marking his second episode on the series after "The Gift," for which he was selected due to his demonstrated skill in handling intense action sequences. Principal photography for the episode's key Hardhome battle sequence occurred at Magheramorne Quarry near , , where production constructed an elaborate wildling village set to depict the remote settlement beyond . This location choice allowed for expansive, rugged terrain suitable for large-scale combat, though the quarry's steep edges required stringent safety protocols for stunt work, including harnesses and supervised falls. Additional scenes, such as Arya's training in Braavos, were shot in the historic streets of , , leveraging the city's narrow alleys and coastal architecture for authenticity. Meereen interiors, including the Great Pyramid sets, utilized standing builds at the Paint Hall studio in , supplemented by exterior shots in , , to capture the city's arid, monumental scale. The Hardhome battle itself demanded a rigorous two-week shoot in early 2015, mobilizing around 400 extras and 50 stunt performers to portray the chaotic clash between wildlings, Night's Watch members, and the . Crews employed practical snow machines and artificial rain to evoke the frozen, stormy environment, despite real-world challenges from Belfast's inclement weather, including horizontal rain and unexpected delays that compressed the schedule. Horse handling for wildling charges added further logistical hurdles, with animal welfare teams enforcing strict guidelines amid the quarry's uneven ground. Core fight choreography, particularly Jon Snow's duel with a , was rehearsed extensively over multiple days to ensure fluid, high-stakes swordplay that blended practical s with minimal digital augmentation. Production integrated practical effects for immediacy, outfitting performers with blue sclera contact lenses to achieve their eerie, glowing eyes, while stunt coordinators coordinated group assaults using prosthetics for wounds and debris. CGI enhanced pivotal moments, such as the Night King's gesture raising the fallen as and the tense boat evacuation across the stormy bay, with teams at El Ranchito layering digital hordes onto practical plates for scale. Extras in heavy furs and armor endured grueling conditions, often filming less than a minute of final footage per day due to the sequence's complexity. Post-production wrapped efficiently, with finalized by early May 2015 to meet the air date, as sound designers amplified the assault's horror through layered screams, cracking ice, and echoing clashes to heighten tension.

Reception

Viewership

"Hardhome" aired on in the United States on May 31, 2015, serving as the eighth episode of the fifth season. The episode drew 7.01 million live + same-day viewers in the US, marking a substantial increase of approximately 30% from the previous episode, "The Gift," which had 5.4 million viewers. This rebound came after a dip in viewership earlier in the season, positioning "Hardhome" as one of the strongest performers up to that point, though it fell slightly short of the season premiere's 8 million viewers. Globally, "Hardhome" contributed to season 5's robust international appeal, with the season averaging over 20 million viewers per episode across all platforms, including strong audiences in and where the series was a top-rated program on pay TV. Including DVR viewership, the episode's total audience reached around 8.5 million, highlighting HBO's increasing reliance on digital platforms and delayed viewing, which boosted season 5's overall average to 9.51 million in live + 7-day metrics. The audience skewed heavily toward the 18-49 demographic, earning a 3.4 rating in that key group, with a notable portion shifting to DVR and streaming for delayed consumption amid the episode's intense action sequences.

Critical reception

"Hardhome" received widespread critical acclaim, earning a 100% approval rating on based on 51 reviews, with the site's consensus stating that the episode "blends a sharp script with spectacular blockbuster action to offer viewers a powerful, game-changing payoff." On , the episode holds an average score of 92 out of 100 from 12 critic reviews, signifying "universal acclaim" for its visuals, tension, and escalation of the supernatural threat. Critics extensively praised director Miguel Sapochnik's handling of the Hardhome battle sequence, lauding its horror elements, scale, and visceral intensity; for instance, a Vanity Fair recap described the White Walker assault as delivering a "zombie avalanche" that heightened the terror of the undead horde. Kit Harington's performance as Jon Snow during the fight was highlighted for its emotional depth and leadership, with Paste Magazine noting his portrayal of an "honorable but unsure boy who became a true leader." Similarly, the emotional payoff in Tyrion's scene with Daenerys and her dragons was celebrated for its character-driven tension, as IGN called the interactions "spectacular" and pivotal to their alliance. Notable reviews underscored the episode's strengths in advancing key narratives. The A.V. Club awarded it an A grade in its newbies review, commending the battle's tight focus and its role in amplifying the threat to reverberate across the series. praised Arya's progression in her Faceless Men training, likening her enthusiasm for her first kill to a rare moment of joy amid the darkness, while appreciating the episode's blend of intimate dialogues and epic action. Some reviewers pointed to minor flaws, such as the rushed handling of non-battle subplots; observed that while the Hardhome sequence dominated, elements in King's Landing felt secondary and less gripping by comparison. Pacing issues in Meereen were also noted occasionally, though they did not overshadow the overall impact. Thematically, critics appreciated "Hardhome"'s emphasis on unity against existential dangers, contrasting the wildlings' and Night's Watch's fragile alliance with the political fractures in southern storylines; highlighted how the episode forces characters to confront the "real threat" beyond their disputes, underscoring survival over division. This focus on collective peril was seen as a narrative pivot, elevating the from background menace to immediate horror.

Accolades

"Hardhome" earned recognition at the in 2015, receiving nominations in six technical categories, including Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series (Tim Porter), Outstanding for a Single-Camera Series (), and Outstanding for a Series, Limited Series, or Movie (Jane Walker, Barrie Gower, Sarah Gower). The episode also secured wins in Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (Tim Kimmel, Paula Fairfield, Bradley C. Katona, and team) and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) (Ronan Hill, , Onnalee Blank, and ), highlighting the episode's immersive audio during the battle sequences. Additionally, submitted "Hardhome" as his episode for the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category, which he won. At the 14th Awards in 2016, "Hardhome" won Outstanding Supporting in a Photoreal for the Hardhome battle sequence, credited to supervisors Eduardo Díaz, Guillermo Orbe, Oscar Perea, and Inmaculada Nadela, as well as Outstanding Effects Simulations in an , Commercial, or Real-Time (David Ramos, Antonio Lado, Piotr Weiss, and Félix Riera). The was also nominated for Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal for the Hardhome settlement (Jason Eberly, Dominic Martinno, Thrainn Kolbeinsson, and Matthew A. Ward), underscoring the 's innovative blend of practical and digital effects in depicting the assault. The episode received nominations at the in 2016, including for Best Supporting Actor ( as , reflecting his season 5 performance) and Best DVD/Blu-ray Release for the complete fifth season, with broader acclaim for the series' genre excellence in supernatural storytelling exemplified by "Hardhome." "Hardhome" was nominated for the for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in 2016, praised for its dramatic reveal of the ' threat and the ensuing battle, though it did not win; the category honored the episode's narrative tension and visual spectacle within the fantasy genre. Further accolades included a at the 63rd Golden Reel Awards in 2016 for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Dialogue and ADR for Episodic Long Form Broadcast Media for the battle's audio layers (Tim Kimmel, Paula Fairfield, and team). The production crew's effects work on "Hardhome" was highlighted in broader industry praise, contributing to the series' recognition at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards for innovative visual effects across seasons. The technical successes of "Hardhome," particularly in VFX and sound, influenced HBO's increased budgets for subsequent seasons, elevating the scale of supernatural elements like White Walker battles from around $6 million per episode in season 5 to $10–15 million by season 8, enabling more ambitious effects integration.

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