Bran Stark Does Some Savage Time-Hopping

The next Game of Thrones episode has just released its photos, and man, it looks like a doozy. Sansa and Petyr Baelish are united once more and having a tense standoff, Bran Stark is up to some savage time-hopping with the enigmatic Night’s King, there’s a new Red Priestess in town, and Jon looks more worried than ever. We’re at the halfway mark in Season 6, guys. Put on your dragon-riding belts; “The Door” look like a big one.

Here is the official episode description:

Tyrion seeks a strange ally. Bran learns a great deal. Brienne goes on a mission. Arya is given a chance to prove herself.

Let’s dive into these photos, shall we?

Bran learns a great deal

This photo is the most savage of all. The mysterious Night’s King is making his first appearance of the season in another one of Bran’s visions. As Isaac Hempstead-Wright previously said, they will be of the past and the future, so perhaps he’s seeing a future Westeros under a White Walker invasion. When he spoke to Inverse, Hempstead-Wright told us that shooting this scene was scary and “we’re going to get a look into the mystical other side of Westeros than we’ve seen before.” At long last, we might finally find out what the deal is with the Night’s King and what the Others want.

Daenerys is still here

Yep, there she is. Still kicking. That’s pretty much all we have to say about her, consider the fact that last episode’s fire rebirth rendered her last five seasons moot.

Sansa and Littlefinger play the game

Sansa and Littlefinger are reunited, but Sansa’s not about to stand there passively as he kisses her, not anymore. She’s developed past that and become far too kickass. Perhaps she’ll beat him at his own game and for once, the man who has smooth and vaguely accented words for every occasion will be left speechless.

A Girl Becomes A Faceless Man

Arya’s storyline has been spinning its wheels for several episodes too, but unlike Daenerys, she’s finally making progress and changing. Judging from this photo and from the episode description (“Arya is given a chance to prove herself”), we might see her don another face for the first time.

“Tyrion seeks a strange new ally”

All we know about this new Red Priestess is that her name is Kinvara. But with Jon as the living confirmation of their powers, Red Priestesses have never been more intriguing. And check out that necklace — she could very well be a crone in disguise just like Melisandre.

“Brienne goes on a mission”

Skip this one if you don’t want spoilers — little birds tell us Brienne and Jaime Lannister will meet once again in the Riverlands, along with House Tully’s remaining relatives. We don’t know why Brienne will go, but perhaps she’ll take her leave of Sansa now.

Sad Jon is still Sad

Death has changed Jon, pushing him toward anger and existential despair in equal measure. It looks like that won’t be changing any time soon. You can take the Lord Commander off his watch, but you can’t take the tendency to mope out of the former Lord Commander.

“The Door” airs on Sunday the 22nd on HBO.