Warning – Major Game of Thrones Spoilers Follow!
Videos by ComicBook.com
Game of Thrones has aired the episode fans have been anticipating since the series began: the battle between the Starks of Winterfell (and their many allies), and the Night’s King army of the dead, The White Walkers. That battle ended in most unexpected fashion, as Arya Stark sprung form the shadows and delivered a fatal blow to the Night King, destroying his army of White Walkers in the process.
So ends Game of Thrones‘ major overarching storyline about the battle between the living and the dead. While there is still a final battle to be fought between the Starks in the North and Cersei Lannister in the South, a good number of Game of Thrones fans are now feeling a little cheated.
The theories about the significance of The Night King’s role in series, and importance of his identity, have never faded as Game of Thrones had its run – but they should have. Game of Thrones has already explained all that needs to be said about the Night King’s origin, which is probably something fans need to be reminded of.
This is the Night King
If you don’tย remember this, it’s a scene fromย Game of Thronesย season 6 episode 5 “The Door”, which probably sticks in most fans’ minds as the episode where poorย Hodorย meets aย grisly end, even as we learn the tragicย backstoryย to hisย monosyllabic speech (“Hold the door” = “Hodor”). However, what you may notย remember is that what brings theย White Walkers down onย Hodor, Bran,ย andย Meeraย Reed is Bran exploring his new power as the Three-Eyed Raven, going back in time to learn the Nightย King’sย origin.ย
Bottomย line: The Night King was one First Men (the originalย humanย inhabitants ofย Westeros) who was captured by the mystical Children of the Forest. One of the Children (Leaf, the girl who brings Bran to the Three-Eyed Raven)ย plunged aย dragonglassย dagger into the man’s chest, transforming him into the Night’s King. There’s no more mystery to it than that. THE END.ย
The real “twist” to the Night King’s origin is that the White Walkers were created by the Children of the Forest, to be theirย weapon against mankind.ย The White Walkers turned on the Children and caused “The Long Night,” which then forced the Children to unite with humanity in the great “War for Dawn.” After losing that war, The Night King and his army have been hiding in the “Land of Always Winter,” biding his time to strike back.ย Game of Thronesย chronicles the moment when he returns.ย
That’s the origin story of the Night King – but apparently its significance was lost on a lot ofย Game of Thronesย fans… as you can see below:ย
Are We Ever Going to Know?
but are we not going to know the identity of this night king ? Like imma be upset if we donโt.
โ โุนุงุฏู (@_aadii) April 29, 2019
It’s crazy that some fans are actually agonizing over this like it’s some kind of unsolved mystery. You already know!ย
But The Promised Prince…
So what about all this Azor Ahai theories? The prince/princess that was promised! ๐ค To think of it the Night King’s arc now seems weird. Atleast his identity would have been a real revelation, so I think.
โ Subhadeep (@mechanicalsc) April 29, 2019
P.S ๐ Arya ๐
The other big hangupsย a lot of fans are having is how Aryaย defeating the Night King fits into the implications of the prophecy surrounding the “Prince Who Was Promised.” Everyone thought Jon Snow beating the Night King was what that prophecy was all about; but now…
But Bran Tho…
Iโm giving HBO the benefit of the doubt with Bran & Night King. What was Bran doing with the ravens? We waited so long for Night king identity info?? Need answers
โ Beanie Melo (@CountOnVic) April 29, 2019
Other fans are mad that some deeper connection between Bran and the Night King was never revealed. In case your wondering: The connection was The Night King wanting to erase humanity from memory – and killing the Three-Eyed Raven (who remembers the entire history of humanity) was necessary to do that.ย
Game of Thrones: The Night King Spinoff?
I need to know more about the Night King tho. Bran was staring at him for a long ass time so Iโm hoping heโll tell us his history, identity, and purpose. Cus that is a HUGE plot hole if they donโt address who he even was (even tho we know,now, that he was a Targaryen at least)
โ Chandler M-Aspiring Model (@NotA_CHANce) April 29, 2019
Apparently the Night King has so much of a fanbase that fans now want moreย Game of Thronesย content dedicated to fleshing out his character. Because that works so well for villains and monsters in general…ย
Clapback is Coming…
i have so many unanswered questions that if they’re not answered by the end of the show I will be writing a letter…like i guess the identity of the night king was unimportant and very anti climatic pic.twitter.com/dGSS7ROgG9
โ Danny V (@DannyEVazquez) April 29, 2019
Theย Game of Thronesย creators are going to be reading angry letters / tweets about this for years to come…ย
I Watched All This???
not even a big reveal on the identity of the night king? like come on.
โ Jane Lytvynenko ๐คฆ๐ฝโโ๏ธ๐คฆ๐ฝโโ๏ธ๐คฆ๐ฝโโ๏ธ (@JaneLytv) April 29, 2019
Getting through the “Battle of Winterfell” was apparently a fruitless endeavor for some fans – because they didn’t get this one thing.ย
The Simplest, Easiest Explanation…
Will we ever know the identity of the Night King, or is he truly the man that the Children of the Forest created years ago?
โ TMTG (@Jo_GotGame) April 29, 2019
Yes, my friend. Everything is as easy and obvious as it has been since season 6.ย
R.I.P. Night King – a.k.a.ย ‘That Random First Man Guy’. It’s been emotional.ย
Game of Thrones final episodes are airing on HBO Sundays at 9/8c.
—–
Have you subscribed to ComicBookย Nation, the official Podcast of ComicBook.com yet? Check it out by clicking here or listen below.
In this latest episode, we go all in on Avengers: Endgame! This is the spoiler-filled discussion you’ve been waiting for after coming out of the movie and we cover a ton of ground. Make sure to subscribe now and never miss an episode!
