"Game of Thrones" returns this Sunday to kick off season two, as if you needed to know (here's six clips, the Best TV Poster Ever, the Seven Devils trailer, a "Game of Thrones"-inspired "The Simpsons" intro, and a whole lotta photos). One of the many George R.R. Martin characters we are looking forward to returning is Hodor, who has somehow become both character and mantra. What does the "Hodor" mantra mean? There are a lot of interpretations, but when I hear "Hodor" being repeated, what I hear is this: "Sack up, peons. You're about to get an eye-full of awesome."
Hodor himself is the show's lovable dolt. He's a stableboy and servant to the House of Stark. His responsibility is to provide mobility to a paralyzed Bran Stark. Hodor is capable of only one word: "Hodor." He is slow of wit, gentle, and unyieldingly loyal to the House of Stark.
It's a familiar archetype: The big dumb lovable and loyal lug. It's been around in literature forever: Queequeg in Moby Dick, Morgante in Don Quixote, Lennie in Of Mice and Men, and even the Ents in Lord of the Rings. Some Hodors are played straight; and in some, there are subversive twists. What's remarkable about all these Hodors in films and television, however, is how they're all fan favorites. Everyone loves a Hodor.
In honor of the Giant with a mind of a child in Game of Thrones, we look back now at film and TV's 10 Greatest Hodors of All Time.
10. Francis Lawrence "Larry" Kubiac III, "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" -- Originally a big dumb bully, the 6 foot 7, 270-pound dolt with a sweet disposition eventually came around as Parker Lewis' biggest defender, often providing muscle for Parker Lewis' schemes.
9. Mongo, Blazing Saddles -- Initially an enemy to Bart, the black railroad worker, Mongo becomes his assistant after Bart defeats him. Mongo is an immensely strong and loyal assistant to Bart. He can also punch a horse in the face. In a twist on the archetype, Mongo is also surprisingly philosophical.
8. Warren Jensen, There's Something About Mary -- Mary's brother Warren is actually mentally retarded, doesn't like his headphones being fiddled with, and can never seem to find his wiener.
7. Jayne Cobb, "Firefly"/Serenity -- Cobb is a physically intimidating mercenary, a simple thug under the naive belief that his knit cap is conniving. Although he fits most of the archetype's elements, there are hints of an undercurrent of complexity to his character.
6. B.A. Baracus, "The A-Team" -- The muscle for "The A-Team," B.A. Baracus is an intimidating force, but he's also surprisingly cuddly, terribly afraid of flying, and he loves milk. He's actually most loyal to Murdock, with whom he disagrees most.
5. Sloth, Goonies --Sloth, the most lovable monster of your childhood, is the deformed brother of those dastardly Fratellis. He eventually befriends Chunk and becomes the slow-witted defender of The Goonies.
4. Ludo, Labrynth -- Ludo is a giant beast who looks terrying, but is actually gentle and playful. He speaks in broken English, and although he's not very bright, he has the ability to summon rocks and defeat goblins in defense of Sarah.
3. Hagrid, Harry Potter -- Not quite as dumb as the typical Hodor (in fact, he's eventually made a professor), Hagrid is a half giant wizard who is easily duped but a fierce defender of Harry Potter, Dumbledore and Hogwarts.
2. Chewbacca, Star Wars -- Even less verbose than Hodor, Chewie is as fond of giving bear hugs as he is tearing people apart. After Han Solo rescued him from slavery, Chewbacca becomes a loyal and lifelong companion.
1. Fezzik, The Princess Bride -- A simple giant and another lovable dolt who speaks in broken English, Fezzik is at first an enemy to the main protagonist in The Princess Bride, but becomes loyal to him after losing a fight. He later helps Westley infiltrate the castle and rescue Buttercup. He is a better Hodor than Hodor.
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If Hodor is supposed to be loyal, you can cross Jayne Cobb right off this list.
He’s loyal to money?
Snuffleupagus or GTFO.
Mongo at #5 is an outrage. Mongo is top five.
Honorable mention: Bull from Night Court plus it gives me an excuse to post a pic of Markie Post
Ah, Markie Post from Night Court. My second love.
I swear to God I originally had Bull Shannon in, but went with Kubiak instead thinking no one would remember Bull Shannon.
I guess the irony in that is I don’t remember Kubiac.
@Dustin, I don’t blame you. I’m pretty sure us GloMos in their late 30s/early 40s are a minority here.
no one would remember Bull Shannon
You underestimate us, sir. I dropped a Bull Shannon reference into a comment on FD only yesterday.
My first comment should read Mongo at #9, I’m an idiot.
Glad to see other Markie Post fans.
Bull is actually who I thought of once I somewhat understood the category.
Oh, “Night Court” all day long, people.
Especially if we can discuss the episode where Markie Post showed off her considerable legal talents.
Leaving Bull Shannon off the list is like kissing a light socket.
No, that feels different.
Ah, Jennifer Connelly from Labyrinth. My first love.
Andy Dwyer is a total Hodor.
Come to think of it, he totally is.
Now I want to see Andy carrying Tom around in a whisker basket.
Whisker basket!
Best Freudian slip today.
Whisker basket sounds like a Haverfordism for…something.
A whisker basket is a goatee with attached mustache. The beard section holds the mouth and the ‘stache is the basket handle.
Actually, after further review, I want to change my Haverfordism definition to a plate (or platter) of catfish.
Warren Jensen is W. Earl Brown, who was also Dan from Deadwood. I learned this in a Deadwood commentary, but haven’t seen the movie again since.
Holy. Crap.
Was about to say the same thing. Once you’ve seen Warren beat The Captain to death in the street you never are quite the same.
And neither was he. Poor sad, naked Dan.
Dammit, I searched for “Dority” and got nothing.
Blown. Away. Would never have thought this in a million years. Talk about a wide range!
Also, I expected this list to just say “Hodor” over and over.
Dude, the Hero of Canton does not belong on this list. For shame Rowles.
His name’s even Dragon!
SWOOP ME!
TO THE NUTS!
What about Tom Cullen form the Stand? Played by Bill Fagerbakke M-
O-O-N that spells I fucked up my comment
Shaquille O’Neal.
What?
That’s Doctor O’Neal.
Also, this guy.
try it again
again
This guy? And essentially 90% of the other roles Brad Garret plays?
Hm. Well, it was Dim from Bug’s Life, I’m not going to work as hard as Upstate to get the pic up.
How about that dude from Happy Gilmore? Happy’s ex-boss from his construction job, from whose foot Shooter McGavin has to play a ball.
And you can count on ME waiting for YOU in the parking lot.
Hell yeah. Dude was Jaws in James Bond too.
And Amil Muzz in Dragnet
I feel like the term is confusing. If it means big slow-witted person, why did you reference the ents in the intro? Those guys were slow of tongue, sure, but they don’t resemble Hodor from GoT in the slightest. They were super wise. Similarly, Chewbacca may not speak English, but he’s not dumb, in fact he’s probably one of the best pilots/mechanics in all of Star Wars.
/nerd rant over
Second… Really only similar to Hodor in that they’re all really big.
No, keep it up. Putting Queequeg on this list is, I hope, a mere mistake.
Ogre from Nerds/Revenge of the Nerds.
Master (of Masterblaster) from Mad Max.
How did Danger let you post this without including Ox from Saved by the Bell?
Anybody want a peanut?
Hodor just pawn in Game of Thrones.
Well said.
So we’ve got Sloth (John Matuszak) and Mongo (Alex Karras) as former pro football players, and both Karras and Mr. T wrestled professionally. But Karras has the advantage of being the person Lana Kane imagines Pam Poovey as being when they sleep together.
(Thanks, Wikipedia!)
The sweet retarded brother in There’s Something About Mary was played by the actor who later gouged out a man’s eye as Dan Dority on Deadwood.
/The More You Know
HODOR HODOR. HODOR HODOR HODOR HODOR!! HODOR… (Hodor hodor
)
You missed Kenny from South Park. He’s the Hodor to Jimmy’s Bran. He only knows one word.
Then again you could make a case for Butters as Cartman’s Hodor.
What about the dude that carried Martin Short around on Arrested Development?