The time has come — the Battle of Winterfell. Find out who of your beloved Game of Thrones characters survived the battle, and who wasn’t so lucky.
Warning: This article contains Game of Thrones spoilers.
Tonight was the night, dear Game of Thrones fans. Winterfell vs. the Night King’s army. We knew this night would come, and we knew it would be full of terrors. But no matter how much we prepared for this episode, how many tissue boxes we had at our side, the death toll was far worse than we ever could have imagined.
Let’s start from the top folks.
Game of Thrones – “Dragonstone”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Edd Tollet
Jon Snow and Samwell’s Night Watch BFF is the first of many to fall as the army of the undead attack Winterfell. This isn’t the saddest nor the most shocking death — but definitely was graphic nonetheless. Edd’s death will likely hit Samwell the hardest, seeing as the two were bickering just before the battle went down, as boys will do before battle and all.
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Beric Dondarrion
The Lord brought him back for a purpose, as Melisandre says, and now Beric’s purpose is over. We have to give it up to Beric for fighting literally until the very end. Thanks to him, Clegane and Arya are able to escape a flurry of wights coming for them within the halls of Winterfell. Beric takes not one, not two, but many, many stabs before he finally dies.
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Jorah Mormont
We can’t believe Jorah’s journey has come to an end. Daenerys’ right hand man from season 1 died doing what he did best — defending his Khaleesi. We had a sliver of hope he might survive to help advise Daenerys as she took back King’s Landing, but it looks like Tyrion will remain as her Hand. Can we just say that scene of Daenerys crying over Jorah, as Drogon wraps himself around the two of them, will go down as one of the saddest scenes we’ve ever had to witness on this show?
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Lyanna Mormont
This is honestly the death we are *the* most upset about. Lyanna? Lyanna. Game of Thrones – you really went there, and you broke our hearts with this. The Lady of Bear Island is a fierce fighter against the Army of the Undead, and she fights valiantly until the very end — literally stabbing a giant wight in the eye as she’s being crushed to death herself. Now that both she and Jorah have perished in battle, we’re not sure what will happen to the House of Mormont. Or our hearts. Because seriously, they’re broken.
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Melisandre
The Red Woman returned to Winterfell, knowing Davos Seaworth would want to kill her the moment she showed up. But as she predicts and explains to Davos, she’d die before dawn. Melisandre doesn’t go out without helping out Winterfell though. Thanks to her, the Dothraki’s weapons are lit on fire (granted, that doesn’t help them for too long), and later, her prayers help light up a trench that helps Daenerys find her way back to Winterfell while riding Drogon. At the end of this epic episode, we see Melisandre walk out of Winterfell, take off her necklace, and fall and die in the snow as a withered old woman.
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Theon Greyjoy
Tissues went flying everywhere for the fallen Greyjoy, whose redemption arc was completed tonight. There was a time we didn’t think we’d shed a single tear for Theon, but given he’s been on an apology tour, had one last sweet hug with Sansa, and defended Bran until the end, we’re sad to see him go now.
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Viserion
The ice dragon will no longer cometh. Viserion, one of Daenerys’ three dragons who is named after her deceased brother Viserys, was taken out once another epic death occurred tonight, which we note below.
Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
The Night King
And finally, the biggest kill of all tonight was the Night King HIMSELF being taken out by none other than the Queen of Death — Arya Stark. Once Arya went in for the kill, not only did the Night King fall, but so did his entire army as well as Viserion.
We weren’t fully sure when or where or how the Night King would be killed, but the fact Arya Stark of all people kills him is by far the most fitting for this show. Who’s smirking now, buddy?
Game of Thrones continues next Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
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