The last episode of Game of Thrones set us up emotionally for the bloody Battle of Winterfell in episode 3, which was expected to claim many lives.
The story-lines of many of the major characters were neatly tied up and some were left hanging (like Jon and Dany’s conflict) for later.
Episode 3 was one of the darkest episodes to date, and quite literally so too. We saw the end of some of our beloved characters from the HBO show.
Here’s looking at all the dead and the significance of their deaths. Spoiler alert!
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The Night King
While not everything went according to the plan in the battle of Winterfell, Bran Stark's assessment that the Night King would go after him in the Godswood in order to wipe out the memory of human civilization, did turn out to be right.
After surviving everything on his way to the Godswood, including a full on fire attack from Emilia Clarke's dragon Drogon, the Night King finds himself standing face to face with Bran.
In a moment of perhaps the biggest surprise for fans, just as the Night King is about to draw his sword, Arya Stark leaps out of thin air to attack him.
Just as we think that it will be the end of Arya, as the Night King holds her by the throat, Arya releases her Valyrian steel dagger (remember it was the same one that was meant to kill Bran in season 1, and Bran handed it to Arya) from one hand and catches it with the other.
Arya quickly "sticks the pointy end" into the ice-cold heart of the Night King, the same place where the Children of the Forest pierced him when they created him. The Night King is destroyed.
"What do we say to the God of Death?" Arya: "Not today!"
Theon Greyjoy
If anyone has had the hugest character arc, it would be Theon Greyjoy. You go from hating the cocky guy, to being disgusted by him to feeling sad for him, to finally rooting for him.
The same man who attacked Winterfell, and wanted Bran dead when he took over in the first season, stood by Bran and did all he could to protect him.
Bran forgives Theon, tells him he is a good man, and thanks him. That’s probably all of us in that moment. At peace after Bran says these words to him, Theon runs in to attack the Night King, and gets killed.
His redemption was a long time coming. “Don’t die far away from the sea,” his sister Yara had said a long time ago.
Melisandre
Early into the episode, Melisandre tells Davos not to execute her because she would be "dead before the dawn," and she stays true to her word.
Well its not the first time she has hinted at dying at Winterfell though. “Oh, I will return dear Spider. One last time. I have to die in this strange country, just like you,” the Red Woman said to Varys in season 7 episode 3. Varys is alive for now, but not Melisandre.
Despite being infamous for her weird blood magic and atrocious crimes in the past (apart from the one good deed of bringing Jon Snow back to life in season 7), Melisandre proves very useful during the battle against the Night King.
Melisandre sets the Dothraki’s swords on fire (what a moment that was!), and then lights up the trench around Winterfell. Her contribution is important. It definitely helps slow down the hordes of dead if not kill them completely.
After playing her part, she reverts to her true self - a frail old woman - and surrenders herself to winter.
Jorah Mormont
Jorah, who started off as a character spying on Daenerys Targaryen for Lord Varys, went on to love the Mother of Dragons unconditionally, and become her protector.
Jorah dying while protecting Daenerys was one of the most organic events of this episode.
Its sad that he went down despite holding Samwell Tarly's Valyrian steel sword. But he fought till his last breath. He dies in Dany’s arms once the battle is over. Perhaps a death he would have hoped for - his unrequited love fulfilled in that moment.
Lyanna Mormont
Lyanna has always been a ferocious young girl. Her significant moment in the war came when she ordered the Winterfell gates open to allow their army to retreat. But the dead too managed to breach the gates, and among them is the Free Folk giant, Wun Wun.
Even as Wun Wun crushes her in his hand, the brave girl stabs the giant’s eye with dragon glass.
Despite being one of the minor characters, Lyanna made quite an impression in the show for standing up to the adults and commanding respected despite her young age. Her death does justice to what she stood for through the show.
With Lyanna's death, the house of Mormont has now been wiped off.
Eddison Tollett
Edd was the first known character to fall during the Battle of Winterfell.
Edd had survived a lot of fights, including the white Walkers’ assault at the Fist of the First Men, the mutiny at Craster’s Keep, the Battle of Castle Black, and Hardhome. But this time around he wasn't so lucky.
Edd was on the front-lines, fighting alongside Sam, who joined the battle, despite being warned against it.
Sam was as good as dead, but Edd managed to save him, right before he is stabbed by a blade through his back.
Beric Dondarrion
The leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners had already died six times, but was revived by Thoros of Myr each time. He wasn't so lucky the seventh time.
Without Thoros to bail him out again, Beric finally dies trying to hold off the wights so Arya and The Hound can escape. This proves to be one of the most important moments of the episode.
The Lord of Light obviously brought Beric back so may times so he could serve his life's purpose to save Arya, who soon went on to bring down the Night King.
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