Game of Thrones has been making rounds all over the internet after the season premiere that happened on HBO. It was a short 50-minute long episode which ended sooner than anyone would have thought. But it was still very fulfilling as not only did it give us some major epic moments that we were waiting to watch for years now, but it also set up certain mysteries to be paid off in the coming future.
One of the major moments of the episode was the murder of young Ned Umber by the Night King. The boy was supposed to gather his troops only to march them to Winterfell, but they clearly faced the wrath of the Night King and the Walkers who impaled the boy and the limbs of men and women upon a wall shaped as a spiral. This was a big moment because the “Writings on the Wall” were meant to be a message for Winterfell that the Great War is here.
Also, an amazing jump scare was planted as Ned Umber turned into one of those undead only to be burnt and killed for good. But what people noticed here is the spiral designed by the walkers. It clearly has a deeper meaning because this isn’t the first time that we’ve seen these spiral patterns on the show.
This pattern was first used by the Children of the forest that were featured in Season 6. This ancient race stabbed a man with dragon glass, and the first white walker/the Night King was born. Then later this symbol was adopted by the walkers and we’ve seen it plenty of times
During the creation of the Night King
The Slaughtered Horses
The Cave Drawings
So what could be the significance of these symbols? According to Screen Rant, the White Walkers use these symbols to portray violence and signify hatred against their creators, i.e. the Children of the Forest. While this is a compelling theory, it is also believed that this Symbol actually has some powers, extending the cold weather to the south.
Another theory that spawns of an already prevalent theory states that the Night King was an ancient Targaryen and that is why he was able to ride Viserion. So, him being a Targaryen formed his own spiral symbol which is related to the Targaryen family sigil. This could be a believable theory but perhaps the first one is the most fitting of all 3. Rest we’ll only learn more when the next few episodes arrive.
This season is going to be full of epic moments, but it will also be a massively emotional ride. Here’s what Kit Harrington had to say about it:
“The last season of Thrones seemed to be designed to break us. Everyone was broken at the end. I don’t know if we were crying because we were sad it was ending or if we were crying because it was so fucking tiring. We were sleep deprived. It was like it was designed to make you think, Right, I’m fucking sick of this. I remember everyone walking around towards the end going, ‘I’ve had enough now. I love this, it’s been the best thing in my life, I’ll miss it one day – but I’m done.’”
This season will bring about the end of this storyline, and Director David Nutter did mention that he was completely satisfied with the way that the show comes to an end:
I’m completely satisfied with how season 8 ends. I think that [the showrunners] did a tremendous job, and they took into consideration what the fans want, as well as what is right as far as storytelling is concerned. I guarantee there’s going to be lots of surprises and shocking moments, but it’s really very compelling stuff.”
The next episode will premiere next Sunday, April 21. Be prepared for a sad and emotional ending as that’s exactly what it’s going to be.
