This post contains spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8.
In the existential nightmare that was Game of Thrones season 8, episode 3—and much to everyone’s shock—Arya Stark took out the Night King in the Battle of Winterfell—wiping out his entire undead horde in the process.
It’s the last anyone thought we’d see the White Walkers, especially with just three episodes remaining, but Game of Thrones showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff cast some doubt over their future in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live this past Thursday.
There’s a lot of good chatter in their conversation, including a humorous anecdote about Grey Worm and Mike Pence, but it’s the Q&A portion that we want to focus on.
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Kimmel asks Weis and Benioff three questions: Will someone take the Iron Throne? Did Bran know that Arya was going to kill the Night King? And have we seen the last of the White Walkers?
For the Iron Throne and Bran questions, Weiss simply answered “possibly,” with a somewhat humorous tone. When Kimmel asked if we’d seen the last of the White Walkers, Benioff gave a considerably more solemn “we’re not going to answer that.”
That throwaway statement was enough to offer the slightest, smallest, most infinitesimal sliver of hope that the Night King will have his revenge somewhere in the next 3-6 hours of Game of Thrones.
https://twitter.com/BertramBernard/status/1124517310608412672
https://twitter.com/YouGotSnowd/status/1124378970886103040
https://twitter.com/thtguydarius/status/1124491380687036416
Jimmy Kimmel: Are we for sure done with the White Walkers?
— deanz (@iamdeanzz) May 3, 2019
D&D: We’re not gonna answer that.
THERE’S STILL HOPE LETS GO
Hm, just saw D&D interview at Jimmy Kimmel and they didn’t want to answer if the White Walkers are gone for good, what reinforces my belief that they are not entirely gone…
— Carol X (@carolices) May 4, 2019
Jimmy Kimmel: are we, for sure, done with the white walkers?
— FRS (@feliciarichs) May 5, 2019
*David Benioff & D.B Weiss hesitated for a few seconds* : we can’t answer that
Me: pic.twitter.com/hdZPL0SDzC
Is it actually possible? The Hollywood Reporter laid out a few reasons why we shouldn’t write-off the White Walkers just yet. It essentially boils down to one scene from the season 4, episode 4 “Oathkeeper,” which doesn’t take place in the books. In it, the Night King transforms the son of the wilding Craster at the White Walkers’ home well north of the Wall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLqPu8KY_-Y
What exactly does he transform the infant into? That’s the key question, and given how the scene mirrors the creation of the Night King, it lends itself to interpretation.
We couldn’t agree more, Mr. Night King. What the heck, indeed.
In any case, make sure you’re prepared for the continuing onslaught of murder and intrigue with our guide to watching Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4 for free.
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