Flashback news! The Internet exploded today at the revelation that Game of Thrones will feature flashbacks in its new season. Not since Lost messed with viewers with its jumps back and forth in time has there been so much attention paid to the narrative strategy of the flashback on television. Fans had been speculating on the possibility of flashbacks ever since Charles Dance hinted that he might be returning to the HBO fantasy series, even though his character, Tywin Lannister, was dispatched while on the privy at the end of season 4.
Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss confirmed the flashback story while filming scenes for the series in Spain this week. “Making the first season, we set a rule: No prophecies, dreams, or flashbacks. We already failed the first two, and this season we broke the third. So yes, this season will finally have flashbacks.” It remains to be seen what scenes will be covered in those flashbacks: which beloved characters will return? What plot developments will be covered? Will we finally learn the identity of Jon Snow’s mother? Considering that the show has a pretty high body count, this could be an excuse for HBO to bring some of the show’s popular actors back to the set for a few days. Should Sean Bean and Jason Momoa be dusting off his swords?
