Only one day remains until the epic confrontation between Jon Snow, representing House Stark, and Ramsay Bolton, representing the sadistic Bolton family. HBO has taken full responsibility for documenting this highly anticipated battle, and it has been confirmed that episode 9 will be the “super-sized” episode in terms of scale and length. Below are some essential details to know before watching the episode, as well as relevant insights on the storyline.
Preview of “Game of Thrones”
Key Statistics
Episode 9 of season 6 reportedly has a crew of up to 600 people, including those working on the production design. An additional 500 individuals will be involved in battle scenes, resulting in an impressive total of over a thousand people for a single episode of this series.
The previous seasons were filmed in Northern Ireland, using the stunning landscapes to their advantage. For this episode, around 70 horses were involved in the production along with 160 tons of soil for the filming of battle scenes.
To enhance the battle scenes featuring the heroic Kit Harington, up to 25 stunt performers were utilized for the intense action sequences.
A typical episode of the series takes about 8-12 days to complete. However, for the Battle of the Bastards, the preparation for this battle alone took over 25 days. The budget for episode 9 is expected to be significantly higher than the average of 10 million dollars allocated for each episode in season 6.
Comparative Analysis of Power Dynamics and Strategy
Naturally, there are high hopes for Jon Snow’s victory as he faces the sadistic Ramsay Bolton. However, even if Jon Snow secures victory, it is likely to be a bloody affair. Rickon is currently at the forefront of this “death list,” followed closely by Ghost the direwolf, Ser Davos, the giant Wun Wun, Tormund Giantsbane, and other characters deemed “expendable” in the episode.
While Ramsay Bolton will be commanding his forces, Jon Snow’s army comprises a coalition from House Mormont, the surviving members of House Stark, and others who have pledged allegiance to him. This coalition notably includes 62 men from House Mormont who are “in dire need” of support.
It’s also noted that Ramsay has managed to gather a significant number of troops and mercenaries, similar to Stannis Baratheon. In the preview, we also see Ramsay’s army arranged in a phalanx-like formation reminiscent of ancient Greek warfare, creating a wall of shields against Jon Snow’s forces.
It appears that Jon Snow faces significant challenges if we consider the military strategy, as evidenced by the newly released images showcasing Ramsay’s confident demeanor. However, some speculations suggest that Littlefinger may return to assist Jon Snow.
Another theory suggests that Ramsay may face immediate retaliation from within his own ranks. The two major houses currently allied with the Bolton forces are House Umber and House Karstark. House Umber was responsible for delivering Rickon to Ramsay, while House Karstark has a history of betrayal against Robb Stark. Thus, other minor houses such as Manderly, Glover, or Cerwyn might also be involved. In the original text, Manderly is a wealthy house that has connections with House Bolton but secretly plots against them.
Nevertheless, the current situation does not allow for any definitive predictions regarding the outcome of the battle. Anything can happen, and as everyone knows, no character is safe in Game of Thrones. If Jon Snow were to experience a “fatal blow,” it would indeed be one of the most devastating deaths in GoT history as he still has much yet to achieve. Conversely, if Ramsay Bolton were to perish, the show would lose a very significant character. The stakes in this “Battle of the Bastards” are incredibly high, and we must wait until episode 9 airs to see the full unfolding of events. One comforting thought is that there are only two episodes left before season 6 concludes, meaning we will have to wait a whole year to explore the next chapter of Game of Thrones.
(Source: Kenh14 – Trí Thức Trẻ)
