After spending season five of Game of Thrones on the bench, Bran Stark is set to return to the show for season six. Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive first photo of Isaac Hempstead-Wright back in character, and the 16-year-old looks like he’s officially through his awkward teenager stage.
Bran played a pretty heavy role in season four of the show, with his group venturing north of the Wall in search of the Three Eyed Raven. Bran, Hodor, Jojen and Meera got captured by Karl fookin’ Tanner and had a near run-in with Jon Snow along the way. In the end, they were saved from wights by the Children of the Forest and brought under a heart tree where the Three-Eyed Raven told Bran he’d never walk again… but he would fly.
Since then, nothing. Bran and his posse joined several other characters who have disappeared completely from the show for a season. Hey, it could be worse … we haven’t seen Arya’s bestie Gendry since Davos put him in a boat off the coast of Dragonstone back in season three. And Isaac Hempstead-Wright should feel honored he didn’t end up getting replaced with a new actor like Tommen and Myrcella were.
Bran’s return couldn’t come at a better time. With the Others seemingly no longer content to just chill north of the Wall, the realms of men could really use some magic on their side that doesn’t require burning people alive. Daenerys won’t be landing on the shores of Westeros any time soon, so hopefully Bran gets a Rocky-style montage or two that gets him ready for the winter that has finally arrived.
