Game of Thrones: 5 details you missed from the Battle of Winterfell

After nearly 90 minutes that made most episodes of Game of Thrones look tame, it’s more than possible you missed some little things in “The Long Night.”

Warning: We fully intend on spoiling the third episode of Game of Thrones season 8, entitled “The Long Night.” Be warned.

We know, we know: Game of Thrones aired a really dark episode this week, and we’re not just talking about the deaths that formed the price of defending Winterfell. Amidst all the nail-biting and possible covering of eyes, you may have missed some things.

Rather than have to re-watch the entire hour and a half again and stress through it, let’s break it down into some key details that you can point out to your friends. We all need at least 24 hours of break time from having to re-watch (probably).

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Ghost and Rhaegal are okay, everybody

This came up on Take the Black React, but “The Long Night” is very careful to show that people like Theon are dead. Why wouldn’t that same courtesy extend to Rhaegal and Ghost, two of the living animal companions?

It’s pretty simple: because they’re not dead. Fans have found both of them alive in the preview for episode 4. Breathe easy, everyone.

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Arya’s weapon callback

We all get a brief look at Arya’s weapon design earlier, but this is the episode where she puts her new wight-killing weapon to work. It seems like a callback to some of the stick training she did in Braavos, but modified to incorporate some of her water-dancing and swordfighting skills as well.

Carice van Houten as Melisandre. Photo: Courtesy of HBO

The silence of the episode

Unless you spend most of your watch-time of Game of Thrones screaming (which we can’t fault), you may have noticed that this episode relies heavily on sound design, music, and even silence at points. Sometimes there’s no breath to yell, and when there is, it’s because there are retreats to be made and orders to be given.

Note also that when there are times of dialogue, it’s pointed and meaningful, like Bran calling Theon “a good man” right before Theon bites it.

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

The Night King has “slow hands”

For all that we’ve seen the Night King pull his resurrection trick before, there is something very pointed about how slowly he raises them during the battle as Jon approaches. Perhaps it’s what he needs in order to reach the dead down in the crypts of Winterfell, which are much more difficult to bring back, presumably.

Perhaps it’s a way of taunting Jon, much like the smirk is.

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark and Vladimir Furdik as The Night King. Photo: Courtesy of HBO

Arya’s second weapon callback

It’s the moment that had everyone reacting: Arya’s killing the Night King. But did you catch which weapon she does it with? Nicknamed the catspaw dagger, it’s a piece of Valyrian steel that originally shows up in the assassination attempt on Bran way back in season 1. Arya gets it in season 7 as a gift from Bran, and it doesn’t pay off until this very moment, where, in the same place she got it, she uses it to end the Night King once and for all.

What tiny thing did you love the most about “The Long Night”?

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