The outside of the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven is constructed in a quarry close to Ballymena, Northern Eire—an nearly good bowl-shaped hole now stuffed with surroundings, tents, and cabins. The cave’s inside and its numerous tunnels have been constructed on the studio in Banbridge, and it’s there the place we’ll spend the vast majority of our time. The partitions have been coated in moss and the ground strewn with actual animal bones. On our first day, we’re additionally joined by the 85-year-old actor Max von Sydow who performs the Three-Eyed Raven—one of many outdated guard of actors I like to observe a lot. Bodily, Max appears extra frail than even Margaret John had been, and I fear about him sat for hours within the chilly. However similar to Margaret did, he can snap into character like an outdated professional.
Since I’ve returned to the sequence, that is the primary scene the place Hodor has to work together. Meera will speak with him concerning the meals she’s been dreaming of after they attain residence. The point out of residence and sausages lights up Hodor’s face.
It’s imagined to be a beautiful, lighthearted second earlier than all hell breaks unfastened and the undead descend on us, however I simply can’t loosen up. In actual fact, I really feel suffocated by the enormity of every part that’s anticipated of me. Jesus fucking Christ, Kristian. It’s worthwhile to be in your A recreation, I inform myself, however I’m agitated, a lot in order that Jack notices I’m struggling.
“Are you OK?” he asks after just a few takes, which I’ve barely managed to get via. “Are you having issue?”
“Sure, it’s terrible,” the phrases tumble from me. Hodor’s refined tics used to come back simply to me, however now I’m tying myself in knots making an attempt to specific them. I clarify to Jack the mad journey I’ve been on for the previous 12 months, and the non-public journey I’ve been on, too. I’m discovering stepping again into inhabiting somebody aside from myself very exhausting. Then I cease. Did I simply say all of that … to a director I don’t know? I feel. Years in the past, I might have stored silent, like when my again was breaking within the Nice Corridor. I cease speaking and watch Jack’s eyes fastidiously. Is he going to grasp? Assist me work this out? Or dismiss me and transfer on?
“OK, simply take it straightforward,” he smiles.
“I’ll be positive, however everybody may should be a bit affected person,” I say rapidly. Jack provides me a shoulder squeeze.
“Simply loosen up. It should all come flooding again,” he reassures me.
Jack is correct, similar to John Ruskin had been years in the past. And after some time, I do begin to bear in mind: Don’t overthink Hodor; don’t overthink your efficiency. Because the morning wears on, Hodor reappears like an outdated pal.
[My stunt double] Brian can be value his weight in gold. As quickly because the magical defend protecting us secure within the cave vanishes and the wights and White Walkers come for Bran, we have to hotfoot it out. This implies take after take of me pulling Isaac on the sled, which is hooked up on runners to the tunnel flooring. Fortunately, Brian will take the reins on many of those photographs—the photographs the place my face shouldn’t be in view. My again hasn’t but utterly recovered, and this additionally provides me the possibility to focus on what’s forward. Moreover, Isaac has gotten even heavier within the intervening years.