Who Dies On The Game Of Thrones Home Episode?

Another week, another episode of Game of Thrones Season 6. As with any episode, there's plenty of potential for a fatality or two before the end credits. While a significant portion of the show's narrative has caught up to or passed the George R.R. Martin's books, there's a least one death from the novels that may still be coming and seems likely to occur in "Home."

WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOLLOW

First, let's just state outright that everything I said last week about certain principal characters being safe remains the same. While the "The Red Woman" moved at a much faster past than past Game of Thrones premieres, it didn't progress anyone's story so far that they suddenly seem more or less at risk than they did previously.

On the other hand, sometimes you just can't see these things coming. If you had asked by beforehand, I would never have predicted that Game of Thrones would waste, I mean, shockingly kill off some of the major characters that they did in the Season 6 premiere.

Just like last week, Castle Black is powder keg ready to blow. There's a standoff within the Night's Watch between those loyal to Alliser Thorne and those who were loyal to Jon Snow. Rather than being resolved, the premiere may have actually seen the standoff escalate as Dolorous Edd went to seek the aid of the wildlings. It's hard to see a way in which this doesn't end with blood, and Thorne seems like the character with the biggest target stuck to him, but if it comes to battle there will likely be casualties on both sides.

But the biggest forthcoming death brings us to the Iron Isles. The Greyjoys and the ironborn were absent from the entirety of Game of Thrones Season 5, but they're back in "Home." Whether it's this episode or another, a death will set their season long story in motion.

That would be the death of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of House Greyjoy. Balon dies when he falls from a bridge during a storm. With Theon missing or dead, there is no clear successor to the throne. While Balon himself would have wanted Yara to rule after his death, there are those who do not believe a woman can rule the ironborn, leaving Balon's brother, Euron (Pilou Asbæk), the make his own claim.

There are theories that Balon's death was not an accident. Some would say that Stannis was responsible for Balon's death. Stannis cast a spell using leeches to kill his enemies, casting it towards Joffrey Baratheon, Robb Stark, and Balon Greyjoy. With Balon's fall, it would seem that the spell has completed its work.

However, there are several hints that suggest Balon did not simply fall off of a bridge by accident. In the books, there is a woman called the Ghost of High Heart who receives visions. She describes one of her dreams thusly:

"I dreamt of a man without a face, waiting on a bridge that swayed and swung. On his shoulder perched a drowned crow with seaweed hanging from his wings."

The "man without a face" could very likely be one of the Faceless Men from the House of Black and White. The bridge places the assassin at the site of Balon's fall, and the "drowned crow" could be a reference to Euron, who is nicknamed Crow's-Eye. Some believe that Euron, seeing an opportunity to climb the throne of Pyke in Theon's absence, hired a Faceless Man to kill his brother. This theory is supported by the fact that Euron should have been months away from Pyke with his fleet, but somehow manages to arrive the day after Balon's death.

So who will rule the Iron Islands? That's a question that will likely be resolved over the course of Season 6.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.