Does Tormund Love Brienne On ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6? Actor Kristofer Hivju Isn’t So Sure

“Game of Thrones” doesn’t have a lot of light moments. It’s often dark and kills everyone fans love, so viewers tend to cherish any moment of happiness. It makes sense that fans have latched onto Brienne and Tormund’s flirtation because it’s literally the only source of joy in the HBO drama. Unfortunately, they might not be headed for a happy ending in Season 6.

Actor Kristofer Hivju said he isn’t so sure it was love at first sight, but that doesn’t mean his character Tormund lacks feelings for Brienne (Gwendoline Christie). “I don’t think Tormund differentiates between love and lust. That’s one thing to him. It’s one big bowl of nice things to him,” Hivju laughed to the Hollywood Reporter. “It’s definitely ‘love-lust at first sight.’”

He also points out Brienne isn’t exactly reciprocating those feelings yet. “If both parties have the same interest, there is no conflict, so somebody has to resist!” Hivju added. “But the great thing about them is, if they fought, you don’t know who would win. That’s a great start of a relationship.”

It seems Christie enjoys the relationship more than her character does. The actress revealed she had a blast playing up Brienne’s awkward reactions. “That was a very fun thing to play,” Christie told Entertainment Weekly last month. “He’s a wildling. He’s very sensual and animal-like and very forthright with his emotions and feelings — which is really the opposite of [Brienne]. I enjoyed trying to navigate that and the beauty of her embarrassment. She can totally deal with the situation, and with him, but she’s just so embarrassed about it.”

Fans seem to enjoy it just as much. From fake gossip articles to memes to romantic comedy trailers, it looks like the “Game of Thrones” fandom is all aboard this ship. With such a quick, strong response, it’s surprising to know episode 4 director Dan Sackheim didn’t know if fans would see any romantic vibes.

“I wasn't even sure that when I delivered the episode it was really clear,” Sackheim admitted to TV Guide. “It was like a fun little bit, but I wasn’t sure it was really clear that he had these amorous feelings for Brienne. I’m always amazed what fans pick up.” It’s safe to say that they not only picked up on it, but they can’t wait to see more.

“Game of Thrones” Season 6 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO.