Game of Thrones season 8 spoilers: Is the Night King really dead amid Azor Ahai prophecy?

Season eight, episode three of Game of Thrones was titled The Long Night and saw the Battle of Winterfell take place as beloved characters died. The Long Night saw many characters bravely fighting off the wights and the Night King’s (played by Vladimir Furdik) army of the dead. But perhaps the biggest moment came when the Night King was lured into the Godswood and killed by Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Game of Thrones season 8, episode 3

Arya killed the Night King after she stabbed him with a Valerian steel dagger she’d been given by her brother Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) previously, hinting he knew what was coming.

As soon as Arya had stabbed the Night King, he shattered into thousands of tiny shards of ice and his reanimated wights all collapsed.

However, he seemed to have died too easily after eight seasons of build-up when Arya took him out in the strategic scheme which went to plan without a hitch.

The downfall of the Night King also seems to contradict the Azor Ahai theory which prophecised the Prince (or Princess) who was promised would save the world and end the Long Night.

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According to legend, the warrior Azor Ahai plunged his sword Lightbringer through the heart of his beloved wife Nissa Nissa to imbue it with the power to defeat evil.

The Azor Ahai prophecy reads: “There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword.

“And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.”

Ahead of season eight, many thought either Jon Snow (Kit Harington) or Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) could be Azor Ahai reborn.

But none of this happened. That is, unless, Arya Stark was the one who was promised to save the world.

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Melisandre (Carice van Houten) previously wrongly suggested Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) could be Azor Ahai but her visions turned out to be incorrect.

In The Long Night, Melisandre clearly knew the importance of Arya and Beric Dondarrion’s (Richard Dormer) role in taking down the Night King, but there was very little suggestion that she could be the legendary warrior.

Instead, there were suggestions Melisandre thought Jon was the one to save the world.

Others have suggested that even though Ayra has killed the Night King, he will rise again to cause havoc which would make sense.

There have also been theories that Bran is actually the Night King, a long-held view by many. In the episode, he was seen warging for quite a while with many wondering what was going on.

According to one Game of Thrones fan on Reddit: “This was truly an amazing episode and the director did a fantasic job on the battle.

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“But.. they hyped up The Night King for seasons upon seasons, years upon years and this is how he goes out? There’s just no way. This plot is so stupid. I think there’s more going on then what meets the eye.

“Why else was Bran warged for so long? Could it be going back in time to prevent all this bloodshed? Could he have been making a deal with The Night King?

“When The Night King walked up to Bran, he looked like he accepted his fate. I just feel like The Night King is Bran, The Night King was going to kill Bran to destroy himself.

“I mean the way The Night King just looked at Bran, it felt like he had to do it when he didn’t want to. Arya ruined the plans for Bran.

“After all this and then they’re already going to battle with Cersei? Something just doesn’t feel right.”

The theory does offer some food for thought and is worth considering given there are still three episodes left in the series and plenty more to come.

Otherwise, the half of season eight – which is the last one ever – could be quite a letdown.

Game of Thrones season 8 airs on HBO in the US on Sundays 9pm ET and on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK on Mondays at 2am & 9pm BST

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source: express.co.uk