'Game of Thrones' fan drops the mic on that Rickon storyline with this epic theory
Warning: Contains spoilers from Game of Thrones season 6, episode 3.
LONDON -- If this doesn't settle the argument about whether SmallJon Umber is a good guy or not -- at least for the time being -- then frankly, we don't know what will.
We've been back and forth on this one since episode 3 aired on Sunday. After Shaggydog's head was grimly presented to Ramsay -- along with a captive Osha and Rickon -- by SmallJon Umber, the theories immediately started picking up steam on social media.
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Although many thought that Shaggydog is still alive, Art Parkinson (the actor who plays Rickon) appeared to dash those hopes in an interview on Wednesday.
So what's the deal? Is Shaggydog dead or not? And is SmallJon Umber really siding with Ramsay, or is there something bigger going on behind the scenes?
Luckily, Reddit user DanDampspear has broken everything down once and for all. In an epic thread in the r/gameofthrones subreddit, DanDamspear presnts a whopping 23-point-argument -- basically a miniature essay -- arguing why the Umbers are in fact not siding with Ramsay at all. And why Shaggydog might still be very much alive.
After laying out the argument, DanDampspear jumps right into it. First up, some seriously impressive foreshadowing observations.
Is all this talk of foreshadowing giving the show too much credit? It's always possible, but at the same time, Game of Thrones has always been about the little touches and details. Is it really such a stretch to believe that a close-up of Ramsay casually wiping blood onto his father's notes might hold a deeper significance?
Next, DanDampspear dives into SmallJon Umber's possible motivations for a back-stabbing.
Pretty strong arguments, right? Ramsay is the sociopath to Roose's psychopath; where his father was cold, emotionless and tactical, Ramsay is cold, emotionless and impulsive -- it's easy to imagine him doing something stupid like foregoing a tactical advantage because of his eagerness to enter the fray. The Umbers will be aware of this.
Next up, some talk of the beloved Shaggydog.
Look at points 16 and 17, about characters' expressions. DanDampspear has a point. Umber does look pretty intense when Ramsay's turning around (we've lightened the image because the whole scene was so damn dark) -- it's almost as if he's readying himself to act if Bolton reacts badly.
And just look Osha's side eye. If that doesn't say "I know more than I'm letting on," then we don't know what does.
Finally, some more thoughts on Shaggy... and that Art Parkinson interview.
If you can bring yourself to look, here's a lightened close-up of the severed wolf head.
Well, we're convinced. The whole scene was suspicious enough to begin with -- and when you look at the enormous stack of evidence it seems increasingly likely that Ramsay is indeed being swindled.
Reddit seemed to support the theory, too.
One final thought: Given Ramsay's predilection for having people fed to his dogs, wouldn't it be a fitting end for him to be snacked on himself? Possibly by something even bigger and meaner than a dog?
Ghost, Nymeria, or possibly a not-in-fact-dead Shaggy -- we're looking in your direction.
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Topics Game Of Thrones
