Warning: Spoilers ahead for the "Game of Thrones" season six premiere.
Sunday's "Game of Thrones" episode left fans on edge, waiting for a hint about whether we'll see Jon Snow come back to life. Aside from Davos, who took charge of the situation upon discovering Jon's body, there was one character who will certainly play a significant role in the coming episodes.
We're talking about Edd Tollett.
Since there are literally hundreds of characters in "Game of Thrones," it's fair to assume not everyone watching knows Edd's name, let alone why he is the main person jumping at the chance to avenge Jon's death.
Edd — nicknamed "Dolorous Edd" for his dour demeanor — first appeared among the Night's Watch in season two. He's been a part of Jon Snow's bro-crew ever since. Their other friends, Grenn and Pyp, were killed during the battle against the wildlings in season four. And now that Sam left for Oldtown, Edd is the only main friend Jon had left in the Night's Watch.
In the premiere episode of season six, "The Red Woman," Davos and Edd band together and decide they have to fight against Alliser Thorne and the other mutineers who killed Jon.
Edd makes it clear from the get-go what his intentions are. "If you were planning on seeing tomorrow, you picked the wrong room," he says. "We all die today. I say we do our best to take Thorne when we go."
But Davos believes there's a way out of the room without participating in a suicide mission. "You're not the only ones who owe your lives to Jon Snow," Davos says with a pointed look at Edd.
Davos was clearly referencing Tormund Giantsbane and the rest of the wildlings. Jon went beyond the wall last season and offered them safety — on the condition that they help fight against the White Walkers when the time came.
Though Alliser Thorne isn't a White Walker, right now he's ranking pretty high up there in evilness. Edd leaves to go inform the wildlings about Jon's death, and hopefully bring back an angry mob to help avenge the Lord Commander.
At a point the in the series when everyone is looking for a new hero, it's a bit ironic that Edd is here to save the day. Book readers have been longtime fans of Edd's, but not because he is a great fighter or a strong leader. His bleak sense of humor is what really endears him to fans.
As HBO's recap show "After the Throne" hosts Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald point out, the first real introduction to Edd was an anecdote he shares about how his mother, on her death bed, farted so loudly that the whole bed shook. When Sam Tarly tries to change the subject, Edd chastises him for interrupting a "serious" conversation.
In the books, Edd has some equally great deadpan jokes. In the second book, "A Clash of Kings," Edd is talking to Jon about a brother of the Night's Watch he knew who died.
"There are worse ways to die than warm and drunk," he says. "I knew a brother drowned himself in wine once. It was poor vintage, though, and his corpse did not improve it."
"You drank the wine?" Jon asks.
"It’s an awful thing, to find a brother dead," Edd replies. "You’d have need of a drink as well, Lord Snow."
So what will happen in the next episode with Edd and his fellow Jon Snow loyalists? Well most bets are on Jon being resurrected somehow. For that to happen, his body will need to be intact and out of Alliser Thorne's hands. We're hoping Edd will return to Castle Black in the next episode with a band of angry wildlings at his back.
The wildlings wreak havoc on the Jon Snow murderers, Davos and friends go get Melisandre to work some magic, and Alliser (and maybe Olly) die in the process. These are the dreams Edd can make reality! Maybe.
Tune in on Sunday May 1 for episode two — titled "Home" — to see whether or not Edd can be the hero we both deserve and need.
