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Here's why Jon Snow's direwolf, Ghost, wasn't in Game of Thrones, season 6, episode 9

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:48 IST

Warning: Spoilers are coming.

--It is a commonly acknowledged fact in Westeros that the Starks are the WORST humans to have pets. In happier times, when all the Starks were alive - the family had five direwolves - one for every Stark kid and one for Snow.

But it seems Valar Morghulis comes with a secret clause - it's not just 'all men' but all direwolves who must die too. At least that's what it's felt like post-Lady.

For those who've lost track, here's the R.I.P. list:

  • Lady: Sansa's gorgeous direwolf met her maker soon after she was introduced to us in season 1. As punishment for Arya's direwolf Nymeria attacking her demon-child Joffery Baratheon, Cercei demanded Lady's life in return.
  • Grey Wind: Robb's 'better half' was the ferociously loyal grey direwolf on whose back he rode onto battlefields. He was taken from us too early by the worst hosts on the planet - the Freys - at the Red Wedding in season 3.
  • Shaggydog: Like his master, this direwolf was wild, unmonitored, and received very little screen-time. After Osha and Rickon reached the Umbers who seek refuge, they were captured and Shaggydog's head was chopped off. #SevenHellsToTheUmbers
  • Summer: The last act of sweet Summer who stuck by his selfish master, Bran the Useless for so many years, was to defend him till death do them apart. Both Shaggydog and Summer were taken from us in season 6.

The only two direwolves alive at this point are Ghost - the albino Jon Snow owns and Arya's runaway wolf Nymeria who hasn't shown up since she was shooed away in season 1. We're hoping at some point when the north rises against the White Walkers, a pack of wolves led by Nymeria will show up to help the Starks. Or maybe not. They've proved to be pretty shi**y masters.

This brings us to the direwolf in question: WHERE was Ghost during the Battle of the Bastards? In fact, we haven't seen him since Jon came back to life. The answer, it seems, is ridiculously simple.

Talking to the Business Insider, Miguel Sapochnik who directed the battle episode, explained: "Ghost was in there in spades originally, but it's also an incredibly time consuming and expensive character to bring to life. Ultimately we had to choose between Wun-Wun and the direwolf, so the dog bit the dust."

So basically, money matters. Also since Wun Wun is dead, we're quite okay with this decision, really. Stay alive Ghost.

--

Edited by Abha Srivastava

First published: 23 June 2016, 11:00 IST