The Fate of Wights and White Walkers if the Night King is Killed

In the world of Game of Thrones, if the Night King were to be defeated, what would happen to his army of wights and the White Walkers? This article delves into the intricacies of these supernatural beings and discusses the implications of the Night King's demise on both of these entities.

Wights: The Controlled Army

Wights, the reanimated corpses under the control of the Night King, would be annihilated if he were to be killed. This is a direct consequence of the Night King's death, as evident in the episode where Arya Stark kills the Night King during the Battle of Winterfell. A collapse and subsequent disintegration of all wights and the White Walkers under his command demonstrates this.

White Walkers: Distinct Entities

Unlike wights, the White Walkers are distinct entities created by the Children of the Forest. They are not directly tied to the Night King as wights are, who exist solely to serve his command. When the Night King is eliminated, the White Walkers are also typically destroyed, but this is more of a consequence of his demise rather than a direct effect of his death. The end of the TV series saw all White Walkers being eliminated upon the Night King's demise, but this appears to be a result of the removal of their leader rather than an independent rule.

Theories and Speculations

The fate of the White Walkers has been a subject of much speculation. In the books, the motives of the Others (White Walkers) are not definitively clear. However, the TV show has largely followed the narrative established by George R. R. Martin, albeit with some short cuts.

Some theories suggest that the Night King might have left behind a White Walker as a backup plan. However, considering the focus on the Night's Watch and the resettlement of the North by wildlings, this seems unlikely. The new Night's Watch is tasked with protecting the resettlement and maintaining peace. Some, like Jon and Tormund, do suspect the presence of White Walkers.

Another theory, which aligns more with the books, is that if the series were to continue, the White Walkers might remain ambiguous. They would likely not have a single leader, making their presence more elusive and threatening.

Considering Future Possibilities

If the series were to continue, the defeat of the Night King might not necessarily mean the end of the White Walkers. The showrunners have openly stated that they want to end the series in a way that aligns with the books. Thus, the possibilities of the White Walkers remaining could be a valid scenario.

Furthermore, the use of the Obsidian sword, which possesses the ability to kill the Night King, has raised questions about its efficacy against the White Walkers. With the Night King already having a shard of the sword in his chest, the threat remains uncertain.

Concluding Thoughts

In summary, the Night King's death would result in the destruction of both his wights and the White Walkers under his command. However, the ultimate fate of the White Walkers remains uncertain, especially if the narrative were to follow the books' ambiguous nature. The speculative nature of the show leaves room for continued discussion and interpretation about these mysterious and powerful beings.

Note: This article is for entertainment purposes and based on the TV show and books. For more detailed information, refer to the official sources of Game of Thrones.

Learn more about the White Walkers

Learn more about Wights