One of the best Game of Thrones episodes quietly nods to a major early foreshadowing

Game of Thrones' sixth season had the highest stakes yet. The show had outpaced the available source material and required Martin's books as a basis starting from the sixth season; it was complete freedom for the showrunners Benioff and Weiss.

While risking losing fans' approval was challenging, some of the series' most iconic moments were introduced during this time. These include “Battle of the Bastards” and its intense warfare in season 6 episode 9. Aside from the breathtaking battles, there was also one of the most underappreciated callbacks hidden in the episode.

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The battle that redefined the North

“Battle of the Bastards” places Jon Snow and the forces of House Stark against Ramsay Bolton and his cruel hold over the North. The battle is set amid the snow-capped fields, outside Winterfell. It popularized Jon's and Stark supporters' hope after years of suffering, betrayal, and exile, which inflicted Stark’s dynasty. While the intense, specific nature of warfare, raw emotion, and cinematography make the episode iconic, the episode's inner meaning holds even greater value.

Bolton's flayed man emblem is brutally replaced by Stark’s sigil, and that marks the reclaiming of Winterfell. That is something every Game of Thrones fan will cherish. However, Stark's family sign evokes another powerful transformation moment for Stannis Baratheon.

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Stannis’ vision, reborn

Back in Season 5, right before Stannis marched his army toward Winterfell, Melisandre showed him the fires and said that she could see Stannis walking along the battlements of Winterfell, and Bolton banners were being lowered. That is the height of his disaster and delusion, and we all know how that ends when Brienne of Tarth cuts him down.

At the time, the vision felt like one of many failed attempts from the red priestess, but when Series 6 comes around and Snow, who gets resurrected by Melisandre, assumes that role, it gracefully turns the tide for the narrative.

It gives Stannis closure for his delusional thoughts, but he does not misinterpret the rest, and it is strikingly clear that it’s Jon. His outcome was sealed since the beginning, and it’s during Winterfell that Melisandre, noting her previous blunders, starts to piece things together.

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Why this moment matters

This brief callback, concealed under scant seconds of screen time, reflects a characteristic feature of Game of Thrones at its peak: merging long-term strategies of storytelling through complex character journeys and rich imagery.

Certainly, this is not the sort of moment that devours focus, but it is the kind that is a reward for those who have chosen to stay invested throughout. In a world where betrayal is rife and death regularly lurks around the corner, these delicate threads of narrative are what provide structure and purpose.

However, the most poignant detail is that it illustrates the shift in Melisandre’s arc. Her faith in the prophecy catalyzes one of the most brutal moments in the series—the devastating sacrifice of Shireen Baratheon—and she is left faithless in the aftermath.

To her, watching Jon Snow’s triumph becomes a quiet moment of solace; an acceptance that whilst her visions were indeed flawed, they were merely misinterpreted.

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A reminder of what the show once was

The last season of Game of Thrones has been particularly lambasted for losing the pacing, nuance, and detail that marked the earlier seasons. In contrast, Season 6 represents a peak, when the show seemed to care about details and emotional payoff felt well-earned.

“Battle of the Bastards” is not only a stunning visual and narrative execution; it proves that amidst the chaos and evisceration, Game of Thrones never strayed from its core tenets.

The lowering of the Bolton banners is more than just a victory—it’s a promise kept. Not for Stannis, but for the viewers.