Game of Thrones Theorycraft: How will Rickon be Reintroduced into the Show? 

Season 6 is shaping up to be the season of returns. There’s the return of Bran and Hodor from their Season 5 sabbatical, during which one can only assume Bran was learning some wicked-cool greenseer tricks and Hodor was…well…Hodoring. Then there’s the return of the Ironborn, or as I like to call them, the Jerks from Asshole Island. Also, Jon will obviously return because…duh, and let’s not forget the not-at-all-confirmed-but-never-forgotten Lady Stoneheart.

While Jon’s comeback is still shrouded in mystery, there is one Stark family return that seems like more of a sure thing. Art Parkinson, the actor who portrays Rickon Stark, the youngest Stark child,

has been seen in Belfast with his guardian, the wildling spearwife Osha (Natalia Tena). This sighting is our cue that the actors are going to be filming scenes for the upcoming season of

…which isn’t hard to believe. Knowing this, let’s speculate on how Rickon, Shaggydog, and Osha will re-enter the story after being gone for so long.

The last time we saw wee Rickon and his direwolf, along with Osha, they were ordered by the prince of Winterfell—Bran—to go to the Last Hearth, the seat of House Umber, where Bran was sure they would be safe. Bran needed to travel north of the Wall and he knew that it would not be safe for his younger brother, plus he knew that Osha did not want to return north of the Wall, a place she had recently fled.

You may remember that episode…it was the one with the infamous Red Wedding, “The Rains of Castamere.” So what has Rickon been doing at Last Hearth since the events of the Red Wedding, and why have we not heard from him? I believe the answer lies with Greatjon Umber, with the possible help of his son, the Smalljon. Since we know Rickon was sent to House Umber, and we know that that Greatjon was a die-hard Stark loyalist—he was the first person to declare Robb King in the North back in Season 1—I believe the Greatjon has been training Rickon in the ways of war, so that he can march on Winterfell and retake it and the North from the Boltons when the time arrives.

Allow me to expound: the North has always been a wild and unruly place. While Torrhen Stark (aka the King who Knelt) wisely bent his knee to Aegon the Conqueror and his dragon, the Northern people have always had an independent streak—they keep the religion of the Old Gods, worshiping weirwood trees in their godswoods, and adhere to old traditions like guest right and the idea that he who passes the sentence swings the sword. These are the ways of the North, and the tenets a Stark ruler must follow in order to gain the loyalty of the great northern houses. I believe the Greatjon has been training Rickon in these ways.

Rickon is a Stark through and through. All one need to do is look at his description, to see just how much “wolf’s blood” courses through his veins. He is described as naturally aggressive and angry, and his direwolf Shaggydog reflects this. He lets his hair grow long, not allowing anyone to cut it, and hides in the darkness of Winterfell’s crypts. In the beginning of

, his feelings of abandonment cause both him and Shaggydog to lash out, which results in several inhabitants of Winterfell receiving nasty bites from the direwolf. I think he’ll use his natural aggression to mount an attack on the Boltons.

There was a major clue supporting this theory in a recent filming leak:

Kit Harington has been spotted around Saintfield, a village in Northern Ireland. A couple days ago, we reported that the production was laying down fake snow in a field near the village, and that it was crawling with horses and extras. According to the sources at Watchers, the production is shooting a big battle scene in the area, a battle that will include Umbers, Boltons, wildlings, and more. Purportedly, the battle will feature in Episode 9 of Season 5, long reserved for Big Important Things.

Let’s see. Umbers: check. Boltons: check. Jon Motherf@@king Snow: check. To me, this indicates that the North has had enough, and that the Umbers are leading the charge with their Lord Stark (Rickon, who will obviously be riding Shaggydog) against the Boltons on one side, with a resurrected Jon Snow leading Tormund Giantsbane (riding his giant member—HAR!) against the Boltons from the other side, making what I like to call a Ramsay and Roose Sammich.

In all seriousness, I have long thought that Rickon will be the Stark to survive all of this, and become the Stark in Winterfell. I firmly believe Jon will become Rickon’s advisor, and that Sansa will come home to help Winterfell and House Stark rise to power and prestige once again. Does this sound all too tidy and neat for George R.R. Martin? Probably, but look at what House Stark has already been through, and consider how much material is left…there is still so much that can happen between now and the end of

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Has anyone got the phonenumber of Osha (Natalia Tena) for me; ggrrr ;-)

And I hope that WunWun will pull of every parts of Ramsey in that battle…

Liked Natalie Tena since About A Boy. She’s got a sexy voice.

I could easily see Sansa becoming the power behind the throne. She could use Rickon (who doesnt seem all there sometimes) as an effigy to rally the North against the Boltons.

Hopefully recasted, bc the actor is looking more and more like waldo

Rickon and Osha must be hiding with the Umbers in the show. Greatjon loved Grey Wind when he bite his fingers, so he must love how aggressive Rickon and Shaggydog are. Rickon must be really tough by now. I wish Sansa is found by friendly northerners and sent to the Umbers to reunite with Rickon. The first Stark siblings to reunite. I believe Rickon could want to kill Theon and Sansa convinces him to let Theon go back to the Iron Islands.

It would not be wise to have Rickon in the battlefield though, specially if the rumours are true and Jon is already there. Jon should be the Stark that leads the northerners until Rickon is older.

I also want to know what happened with the letter of Robb where he said Jon was his heir. Ned protected Jon and now it’s his turn to protect Ned’s children.

Just read on watchers on the wall. Kit harrington spotted shooting huge battle scene with boltons, umbers etc..suprised it hasnt been updated on WIC yet.

It is actually, in the article about Liam Cunningham. I read Richard E. Grant is playing the manager of the theater crew… and gossip that Arya will travel with the actors to the Riverlands, perform for Walder Frey and kill him .. That sounds awesome, but pure speculation …

Ooooh, I like that rumor… Arya pulling a Meryn Trant on Walder Frey? Then perhps they could head up to Winterfell and perform for the Boltons too.

Unfortunately there is also a rumour that something that happens will absolutely bother us, we will be pissed about it … But they don’t give any specifics. It could be so many things…

I believe the Greatjon was captured at the Red Wedding and remains a prisoner of the Freys. Smalljon, however, could indeed have been training Rickon and that would make an interesting way of bringing him into the story.

Well, in the books Greatjon was captured and Smalljon was killed at the Red Wedding. In the show, neither was there. I believe they are both set to film this season.

Which is another flaw in the shows plot, the Bolton take over was plausible in the books because the Northern aristocracy and army was wiped out or taken hostage. The show has the entire North and Riverlands roll over because three houses have turned on them. Game of Thrones biggest flaw is the lack of consistency in it’s own internal logic. I still haven’t been able to figure out how Yarra managed to sail to the Dreadfort so quickly. Did they carry the boat across the North or sail around Westero’s?

That is a good question. If D&D considered this, as I’m sure they would have, sailing all around the southern part of Westeros would be the most plausible way of getting to the Dreadfort. Another possibility would be to have ships stored somewhere along the coast of the Bite, in relative proximity to Moat Cailin.

In any case, very few viewers will have bothered with this conundrum.

Well, I assumed watching the show that all the men killed during the Red Wedding were various Northern Lords, and that the Greatjon was either among them or already dead. The show can’t go through and list every casualty like the book can.

We haven’t seen Greatjon on screen since end of season 1, so if he does return, we may be looking at a recast, unless whatever issue that kept him away has been resolved for him to return. If not, then it’s likely they’ll use Smalljon to lead the Umbers or something.

I for one can’t wait to see Art Parkinson return as Rickon, I love that they kept the same actors for all the Stark kids, they are such the central family that I think it’s important actors don’t change when viewers can build up emotional connections to seeing these young actors grow up on screen. Besides, Art has become a great actor and he’s already been in some big roles on movies, no reason GOT wouldn’t keep him on or waste time to acclimate a new actor into the role and environment when Art is already familiar and has the acting chops needed to deliver the scenes.

Having Rickon older is going to be interesting. In the books he’s so young and mostly unaware but Rickon on the show is more than aware of all that’s happened, to see what Rickon will be like, maybe even having a plan of his own, it’s far more fascinating

It would be interesting to watch a really tough and aggressive Rickon, planning to kill the Boltons, Freys and Lannisters … while Tommen is weak and sweet and … depress about Myrcella’s death.

In the next generation, the Stark children could become the bad in the story and Tommen the victim. Joffrey was evil, but both Myrcella and Tommen are sweet kids that will pay for their parents sins…

I love art Parkinson. This young actor nailed his final scene (to date) in GOT. can’t wait to see more of him.

Hi there I really l,ke what you have done with site and also your theories I have one question in the end you mention your overall idea about stark but don’t include arya and bran what you think about them thanks

I’ll stick every last stark like a pig. I’m a fooking legend

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