‘Game of Thrones:’ The War is Over, But What Was the Night King’s Endgame?

This article contains spoilers for “Game of Thrones” Season 8 episode 3, “The Long Night.” Read our review of the episode here.

The great war is over. Game of Thrones has lost some heroes. And the victors have risen. But before all that, what really was the Night King’s endgame aside from the total annihilation of the living?

“The Long Night” details quite the harrowing battle. And as seen in the previous episode, a huge part of the plan was to draw the Night King out. To do that, someone he really wants to kill should stand as bait. And it’s not any one of his most formidable foes in terms of strength. The most luscious apple in the basket in the Night King’s icy eyes is none other than the three-eyed raven Bran Stark.

Ever since Bran started using his warging powers, the Night King has seemingly been after him for an unclear reason. And with the culmination of “The Long Night,” the connection of the Night King’s endgame to him has been fulfilled. As Bran reveals, he is the living memory of Westeros. It’s his job as the three-eyed raven to not only watch over the world but also to keep it safe and keep its secrets. Sam further clarified this by acknowledging that Bran’s memories don’t come from books and his stories aren’t just stories. In short, Bran holds the past and the present of the living.

It is for that very reason that the Night King is so keen on hunting down the youngest living Stark. The Night King’s endgame is total obliteration of the living. And to completely wipe them off in the past and in the present, he has to start with its overseer. Maybe it is only then that he would truly consider his mission complete if he had only so happened to be a second quicker than Arya’s blade.

Game of Thrones continues next Sunday, May 5, at 9/8c on HBO.