The Night King’s true identity isn’t revealed inGame of Thrones,butthe villain being a Stark makes a lot of sense for the HBO show— and it explains his ongoing rivalry with another character. Although the fight for the Iron Throne takes up much ofGame of Thrones’runtime, the Night King remains a looming presence for most of the series. He poses a greater threat to Westeros than any of the characters hoping to win the titular game. However, they’re too caught up in their own power struggles to see that.
Fortunately, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen manage to gather an army to take on the Night King inGame of Thronesseason 8 — but the end of this storyline proves pretty underwhelming. The Night King and his army are defeated in a single episode, and that installment reveals little about the villain’s history or motivations. This has led viewers to speculate about whether theNight King could be a Targaryenor evenhail from House Stark. The latter seems more likely, andit would fit with his journey throughoutGame of Thrones.
The Night King Could Be A Stark In Game Of Thrones (But It’s Never Confirmed)
This Is A Popular Theory About The Villain
The theory that the Night King is a Stark inGame of Throneshas a decent amount of evidenceto back it, starting with the fact that he’s likelyone of the First Men. Season 6’s flashback of Children of the Forest turning him into the Night King suggests as much, and we know that the Starks are descendants of this group. The Night King may predate House Targaryen, but he was a human around the time the Starks' ancestors were in the North. His story also overlaps with those of the Starks, with Arya killing him and Bran being his target.
Game Of Thrones: Why The Night King Wanted To Kill Bran
The Night King tried his best to kill Bran - AKA The Three-Eyed Raven - in the final season of Game Of Thrones and here’s why he wanted him dead.
The HBO show’s Night King also seems to be partly based on George R.R. Martin’s book character, the Night’s King. These are two different entities, but it’s hinted that the Night’s King is a Stark inA Song of Ice & Fire. He’s the 13th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, and we know that the Starks have held that position numerous times throughout Westeros' history. Old Nan also tells Bran that the Night’s King was a Stark, and while she’s not the most reliable source, the HBO series may have taken this and ran with it.
The Night King Being A Stark Explains His Strange Rivalry With Jon Snow
Game Of Thrones Never Properly Address The Tensions Between Them
The Night King being a Stark inGame of Throneswould explain his strange rivalry with Jon Snow, which never really gets closure in the final season of the show. The two are treated as nemeses for most of the HBO series, with Jon constantly trying to rally Westeros against the villain and his White Walkers. The Night King seems to dislike Jon as much as Jon despises him. While the Night King is hostile towards every human he comes into contact with, his repeated stare-downs with Jon suggest there’s something deeper there.
The Night King being a Stark would explain the anger and resentment he seems to feel for Jon, adding an interesting layer to their dynamic.
The Night King being a Stark would explain the anger and resentment he seems to feel for Jon, adding an interesting layer to their dynamic. If the Night King has a similar backstory asA Song of Ice & Fire’s Night’s King,it’s possible he even wants revenge on the family members and Northerners who wronged him. This could be why he relentlessly pursues Bran, as well as why he seems to hate Jon. Of course, the tensions between him and Jon could stem from how much they mirror one another, too.
Jon Snow Mirrors The Game Of Thrones Villain’s
It’s Even More Obvious In The A Song Of Ice & Fire Books
The Night King is the leader of the White Walkers, and Jon becomes the leader of the North, so their positions put them in the perfect scenario to be at odds with one another. This is true regardless of the Night King’s origins, thoughboth of them being Starks would better explain why the Night King is so committed to invading Winterfelland the North. The Night King and Jon are also both killed and resurrected, so there’s a connection between them in that regard. They mirror each other in several ways, especially if they’re both Starks.
HBO’s plannedBloodmoonspinoff would have explored the Long Night and the Night King further, but it was scrapped by the network.
Jon’s story more clearly mirrors that of the books' Night’s King, as both of them become the Lord Commander and fall in love with outsiders. However, Jon doesn’t allow his relationship with Ygritte to come between him and his ideals. He chooses duty over love, just as he does with Daenerys later in the series. By contrast, the Night’s King loses his soul to the female Other he falls in love with, allowing his feelings to corrupt him. IfGame of Thrones' villain has a similar backstory, it’s possible he resents Jon for doing what he couldn’t.
Game Of Thrones
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Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
