The eighth season of Game of Thrones has already provided plenty of topics for discussion and episode three did not disappoint in this respect. The long awaited Battle for Winterfell finally took place in ‘The Long Night‘, bringing the White Walkers and the Night King to the Stark fortress in a confrontation that was set to decide the fate of the world. With so much action taking place in this 82 minute episode, as well as the large amount of darkness that shrouded everything, it was incredibly easy to miss some of the finer details.
Fear not, though, as our weekly round up of everything you might have missed from Game of Thrones is here to get you up to speed. Obviously, there are major spoilers ahead. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Arya’s Finest Moment Has Long Been Foreshadowed
While most people would not have guessed that Arya would be the one to kill the Night King, especially considering how much the show has focused on Jon, this moment has been hinted at for a very long time. Melisandre first said that that she saw a darkness in her eyes way back in season three. That dagger she used to kill the Night King also has plenty of history. It was the blade that an assassin used to try and kill Bran in the first season and was ultimately used to protect him at his most vulnerable moment. He even gave the dagger to Arya last season in the Godswood without telling her why, which she used to pull off the same sleight of hand move against Brienne that proved the Night King’s undoing. There were other callbacks to her training as well, such as when she tells Sansa to “stick ‘em with the pointy end.”
The Night King Died As He Was Created
A flashback scene in season six of Game of Thrones gave us a glimpse of the creation of the Night King himself. The Children of the Forest plunged a dragonglass dagger into his heart to transform him from a human into a White Walker. This was done at a great weirwood tree and the same kind of tree is present in the godswood at Winterfell where the Night King dies. It is a kind of poetry that George R. R. Martin has constantly used through the series and is only emphasised more considering that the Night King’s death came about by being stabbed again, this time with Valyrian steel.
Bran Was Warging For The Whole Episode
https://twitter.com/Memesanquotes/status/1123047631234772993
Other than a brief conversation with Theon, Bran stuck to his usual routine of sitting quietly in his chair. He did mix things up a little bit this time. The Three-Eyed Raven was in a constant state where it looked like he was warging. Although he was shown to warg into some birds to spy on the Night King, it is hard to believe this is what he was doing for the entire battle. Exactly what he was doing will likely be revealed in the coming episodes but that hasn’t stopped fans speculating that he could have been in communication with the Night King or putting other plans in place. Perhaps he was just catching up on Avengers: Endgame before he was killed.
The Iron Throne In Snow
When Melisandre arrives at Winterfell to help the forces of men against the army of the dead, there was a brief scene that hinted at a change in focus for the show after this episode. As she walks through the gate to the castle, a collection of footprints can be seen in the snow. They meld together to create an image that looks suspiciously like the Iron Throne. With the Night King dead and the White Walker threat removed, the rest of the episodes could well focus on who will sit on the Iron Throne.
Sansa And Tyrion Got Very Close
Sansa and Tyrion have had a troubling relationship throughout Game of Thrones but the Lady of Winterfell did admit during “The Long Night” that he was the best of those she had been thrust upon. Tyrion always tried to treat her with kindness and respect and this has clearly left an impression on Sansa. With death all around them and the wights breaking into the Crypt, the two had a frank discussion about their marriage and then looked as if they were preparing for some kind of suicide pact. They were ultimately saved when Arya took down the Night King but this seems like it is foreshadowing something that will happen in the next few episodes. Will Tyrion remain with Dany or will he join Sansa if it turns out the Dragon Queen is the real villain?
Not As Many People Died As You Might Have Suspected
The way this episode was built up led many to believe that a lot of characters would die. While the armies of Winterfell were almost entirely destroyed, most of the main characters managed to survive. Even those whose stories appeared to have come to an end saw through the night. The likes of Jaime, Brienne, Grey Worm, and Davos all came through unscathed. A brief trailer for next week also provided some glimpses of both dragons and the direwolf Ghost, meaning they also made it.
The full list of casualties in terms of named characters includes:
– Lyanna Mormont
– Jorah Mormont
– Beric Dondarrion
– Theon Greyjoy
– Eddison Tollett
– Melisandre
– Night King
– Qhono
Cersei’s Plan Is Working So Far
The Ringer
Cersei didn’t make an appearance in the entire episode but the plan she came up with to survive and stay on the Iron Throne seems to be working out very well for her. She betrayed Tyrion, Jaime, and everyone who came from the North by refusing to send her troops to help in the battle. She chose instead to let the “monsters kill each other” so that they could then with whatever remained. The Night King is no longer a threat and her foes have lost pretty much all of their manpower.
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– Game Of Thrones: Season 8 – Episode 3 Death & Sex Stats
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– 11 Best Moments From Game of Thrones Season 8: Episode 3
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