Summary
InGame of Thronesseason 5, Lord Commander Jon Snow decides to embark on a journey to Hardhome to save the Wildlings, and few stand by his side. His aide, Samwell Tarly tries to explain to the farm boy, Olly that the Night’s Watch has been fighting the Free Folk for years, only to hear in return that they are murderers. Samwell says the Wildlings are made of both good and bad people, and a rapprochement between the Night’s Watch and the Free Folk is necessary because he’s seen the Army of the Dead and the White Walkers. Olly, however, has a point as he has seen the dark side of the Wildlings enough to know that they are cutthroats.
Jon is taking a risk by going up to Hardhome and Olly fears that letting the Wildlings through the gates of Castle Black is reckless. Samwell is on Jon’s side as the countdown to the war between the Dead and the living has already begun, and the Night’s Watch is going to need every last living person to fight. Jon knows that hoping to make allies of the Free Folk and the Northmen is a hard choice that he has to make because otherwise, the living stand no chance. Very few people believe in his decision, and he pays a huge price at the end ofGame of Thronesseason 5.
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Kill The Boy And Let The Man Be Born
InGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 5, “Kill the Boy,” the newly-elected Lord Commander ofthe Night’s Watch, Jon asks Maester Aemon for his advice about making an intensely controversial decision that he knows will divide the Night’s Watch. “Half the men will hate me the moment I give the order,” he says. Maester Aemon advises him to go through with whatever it is that he wants to do, saying, “Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born.” Jon then approaches the captive Wildling leader, Tormund Giantsbane to ask him about the Free Folks' location and their leadership.
The Night’s Watch is split into two when the brothers hear about Jon’s plan, and he also faces mild opposition from Tormund. Settling the Free Folk south of the Wall is not a cakewalk, and Jon knows leaving their women, children, old and sick behind means condemning them to death. Tormund reveals most of his people are at Hardhome - a fishing village up on Storrold’s Point. He demands ships and that Jon come with him as his people need to hear about the perils of the Dead and White Walkers directly from the Lord Commander. “You come with me, or I don’t go,” says Tormund. Towards the end, Jon reminds every brother of the Night’s Watch that they can either learn to live with the Wildlings or add them to the Army of the Dead. Stannis Baratheon lends his fleet, and inGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 7 “The Gift,” Jon, Tormund, Dolorous Edd, and a few more brothers of the Night’s Watch leave for Hardhome.
The Ambush
Halfway intoGame of Thrones' “Hardhome,” Jon, the brothers, and Tormund reach the titular destination and are greeted by the Lord of Bones. Tormund beats the Lord of Bones to death for disrespect and demands they gather the elders and talk. Jon introduces himself to Karsi, Loboda, Wun Wun, and various other Wildlings in the cabin. He demands that the Wildlings join him and says that the Night’s Watch aims to settle them South of the Wall. Jon’s only condition is that they join him when the real war between the Dead and the living begins. Karsi is the first to join hands with Jon, Wun Wun shows support too but Loboda shows distrust.
As the Free Folk start to board rowboats, Jon says he has about five thousand of them with him. He fears he’s leaving too many behind, but there’s little he can do. While this is happening, the dogs start barking, and every man, woman, and child knows that they are under attack. The Free Folk shut the gates, some prepare to shoot arrows at the Wights, and some rush towards the rowboats. Jon tries to get the fleeing Free Folk in line, and those inside the cabin such as Wun Wun and Edd (played by Ben Crompton inGame of Thrones) hear the thumping and snarling of the Wights. While the Dead attempt to get through, Jon, Karsi, and the rest help people board the ships.
The Massacre
Jon draws the Longclaw and orders the Night’s Watch to follow him. The living at Hardhome are ill-equipped and unprepared. Tormund (Kristofer Hivju inGame of Thrones), and the rest try their best to prevent the Wights from getting through. Amid the fighting and chaos, Jon and Loboda see White Walkers on a cliff overlooking Hardhome. They rush to get Dragonglass from the cabin that’s engulfed in flames. As they enter, they see a White Walker walking toward them. Loboda orders Jon to get the glass and tries to kill the Walker with his ax but misses and dies. This Walker now rushestoward Jon Snowwho is grabbing the Dragonglass.
Jon is disarmed and a one-on-one ensues. Though he grabs a sword nearby, the Walker shatters it and knocks him down again. Jon struggles to get up but somehow manages to grab thelegendaryGame of Thronesweapon, Longclaw, and rushes out. He trips over and the Walker follows him outside. In the next moment, Jon shatters the White Walker into tiny fragments of ice in a quick motion of the Longclaw while the Night King witnesses the whole scene in silence. Karsi continues to slay the Wights, and in the end, she’s mauled to death by Wight children. Edd grabs Jon and a horde of Wights jump down from the cliffs above.
The Night King walks down the dock, locks eyes with Jon, and starts to raise his hands. Those dead on the ground, including Karsi twitch, and open their eyes to reveal the icy blue color. They are now a part of the Army of the Dead. Jon looks around in utter disbelief, horrified at how many more have added to the Dead, while his boat drifts away. He’s learned thatValyrian steel is lethal to White Walkers. InGame of Thronesseason 5, episode 10, “Mother’s Mercy,” Jon describes the Night King’s army as the biggest in the world. The Seven Kingdoms don’t have enough Valyrian steel to fight the Dead and Jon admits he is the first Lord Commander to sacrifice the lives of sworn brothers to save the Wildlings.
