‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6, Episode 1 Recap: Who is Khal Moro, and where is Vaes Dothrak? (Review)

The “Game of Thrones” Season 6 premiere took the viewers for a sneak peek into the lives of several characters – some are dead, some are living. A new Dothraki khal is introduced. Who is Khal Moro, and what happens next to Daenerys Targaryen? Here is a quick recap of GOT 6, Episode 1.

Spoiler alert: This recap and review contains HBO’s GOT 6 spoilers. Details include highlights of the new season premiere. This recap is focused on Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Davos (Liam Cunningham), Melisandre (Carice van Houten), Khal Moro (Joe Naufahu) and Daenerys (Emilia Clarke).

Is Jon Snow really dead, or will Melisandre a.k.a. The Red Woman bring him back to life?

The lifeless body of Jon Snow lays where it was left by his so-called brothers at the Night’s Watch. The mournful howling of his direwolf Ghost cuts through the sky just before sunrise. Ser Davos is alerted by Ghost’s wailing. He steps out and sees Jon. This is the opening scene of “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 1.

It hasn’t been 24 hours since Davos learned that his princess, Shireen Baratheon (Kerry Ingram), is gone. There is a lot to take in, but he makes a decision. He will protect Jon Snow’s body against Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale). And he is counting on Melisandre to help him do that.

The Red Woman tells Davos she saw Jon in the flames, fighting at Winterfell. Ser Davos does not seem convinced it could happen. Even Melisandre herself could not believe it. She touches Jon’s face as if to say farewell. At this point, Melisandre is still reeling from the defeat of Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane). She fears she is losing her touch.

Meanwhile, the (very optimistic) fans are still waiting for Melisandre to somehow revive Jon Snow. It doesn’t happen, though. At the end of the episode, the real Red Woman reveals how she really looks like without her mystical necklace. She is looking extremely exhausted and very, very old. Will she get up before Davos and Alliser wage a mini war at Castle Black?

Who is Khal Moro, and where is Vaes Dothrak?

Readers of “A Song of Ice and Fire” were expecting to see Khal Jhaqo in “Game of Thrones” Season 6. In George R.R. Martin’s fifth book, “A Dance with Dragons,” Daenerys encounters Jhaqo’s khalasar. Perhaps Khal Moro appears in the premiere to remind viewers that this GOT season is going to be remarkably different from the book series upon which the show is based.

Khal Moro is portrayed by New Zealand actor Joe Naufahu. His face-off with Daenerys reminded fans of Jason Momoa, who played Khal Drogo in Season 1. Daenerys tells Moro she is Drogo’s widow. Just like that, Moro stops insulting her and starts acting like a prospective ally. But then he hints that Daenerys should make her way to Vaes Dothrak. By the end of their dialogue, it does not seem like Daenerys would be back in Meereen to strategise with Varys a.k.a. the Spider (Conleth Hill) and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage).

Vaes Dothrak is where Dothraki widows live the rest of their days. Daenerys should be there, but she breaks rules, chains and other things. The place, however, is relevant to her history with the late Khal Drogo.

Vaes Dothrak is where Daenerys ate a raw horse heart soon after her wedding to Drogo. It is an interesting place for Dothrakis who value their nomadic culture and traditions.

"Game of Thrones" Season 6, Episode 2 airs next Sunday on HBO.