Television

Twitter Reacts To Game Of Thrones' Battle Of Winterfell Deaths

Jon Snow
ByΒ Matthew Jackson

After years of buildup, the war finally came to Westeros with episode three of Game of Thrones' final season. Titled "The Long Night," this installment is one long battle between the living and the dead β€” full of surprises, emotions and, yes, major character deaths.

In retrospect, the Battle of Winterfell might not have been the unbelievable bloodbath many fans were left expecting after the lovefest that was "A Night of the Seven Kingdoms" the week before, but we still lost plenty of major characters, from supporting heroes to long-serving warriors. And of course, as you might expect, the internet had plenty to say about those losses.

Whether you've watched the episode once or screened it multiple times in an attempt to absorb everything, if you're a Game of Thrones fan, you're likely still reeling from the battle β€” and from one major death in particular. To help you process things, we've gathered some of the internet's best reactions to each big death in "The Long Night," discussed in the order in which they occurred. Major spoilers ahead!

Dolorous Edd

Dolorous Edd

Well, someone had to die first, and while that honor actually goes to some poor unnamed Dothraki rider who charged out into the darkness at the start of the battle, the first named character we had to say farewell to was Dolorous Edd, the last Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. His death was set up quite neatly in the previous episode, as he stood next to Jon and Sam while they recalled their early days on the Wall. They were the only three members of that group left, and he was of course the easiest target for the show to sacrifice. He went down fighting, though, saving an overwhelmed Sam from wights during the battle's earliest skirmishes outside the walls of Winterfell. Because his profile wasn't nearly as high as many of the other characters, his Twitter tributes were a bit few and far between, but some fans were quick to acknowledge his contribution.

Lady Lyanna Mormont

Lyanna Mormont

In the "Inside the Episode" featurette that followed "The Long Night," Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss noted that they'd initially intended Lady Lyanna Mormont's appearance on the show to be quite brief, but when they met Bella Ramsey they knew they'd found an actress who could maintain her presence in a longer arc. The Lady of Bear Island spent her time before the battle determined to fight alongside her men rather than taking cover in the crypts (which turned out to be a terrible strategy anyway), and she faced down death like she did everything else: In a way that outsized her young age and small stature. Lyanna Mormont spent her last moments of life facing down a giant, and she made sure she took the undead monster down with her. As a fan favorite character, her Twitter tributes were appropriately momentous.

Beric Dondarrion

Beric Dondarrion

Beric Dondarrion's final episodes of Game of Thrones were all about reminding other characters of his faith in the Lord of Light. As he ventured beyond the Wall with Jon Snow last season, he told him he still had a purpose because the Lord saw fit to keep him alive. In Winterfell with Sandor and Arya, he said the night would belong to the Lord. And then, in his last moments, he proved that he still believed he too had a purpose in the world, and that purpose was protecting Arya Stark long enough for her to fulfill her purpose. Beric wielded his flaming sword bravely throughout the battle, went the extra mile to get the Hound back in the fight, then saved Arya's life in Winterfell's corridors, taking multiple stab wounds so she could live to fight on. All those resurrections in his life built to this moment, and fans were immediately aware of the gravity of his sacrifice. They were also thankful that he carried his own ready-made light around the battle with him.

Theon Greyjoy

Theon Greyjoy

Theon Greyjoy's final arc was one of redemption at all costs. We saw it last season when he swore to rescue his sister from his uncle, and we saw it again this season when, after he did indeed rescue Yara, he professed a desire to return to Winterfell and fight alongside the Stark children he grew up with. Theon volunteered to guard Bran Stark in Winterfell's godswood, and he was the last of the Ironborn standing by the time the fight was through, using bow and then spear until the dead surrounded him and made way for the Night King. Theon met his end charging the commander of the army of the dead in what was a futile effort to defeat him, but that didn't matter, because Theon died with the ultimate mark of redemption ringing in his ears: The Three-Eyed Raven's declaration that he was "a good man." Twitter took comfort in this, and praised the long and winding road that led Theon to this moment.

The Night King

The Night King

Yes, the other deaths in "The Long Night" were major. Yes, we lost fan favorite characters, noble warriors, and brave knights. But when the sun rose on Winterfell, one death stood above them all as by far the most important: The Night King himself. Yes, the dead are defeated, all because Arya Stark denied the god of death and used her incomparable powers of stealth to sneak past the White Walkers and switch her dagger hand at the very last second. With one jab of Valyrian steel, the Night King exploded in a cloud of ice, his army fell around him, and the Great War was over. Cersei Lannister and her Golden Company are suddenly the biggest threat in Westeros, because the girl from Winterfell who wanted to play with swords instead of dolls had the strength to get it done. The internet, understandably, absolutely lost its collective mind over this massive, game-changing moment, though they weren't mourning the Night King as much as they were praising Arya Stark and her incredible moment of triumph.

Ser Jorah Mormont

Jorah Mormont

Jorah Mormont's love for and loyalty to Daenerys Targaryen knows no bounds. It transcends continents, battles, political strife of all kinds, banishment, and even a fatal illness that he managed to beat with the help of Samwell Tarly. Jorah would never win Dany's romantic love, but he was determined to serve her until his last breath, and in the final moments of the Battle of Winterfell he made every second count. Daenerys, tossed from her dragon and defenseless against the wights, had only Jorah to protect her, and he took sword after sword to the torso as he simply refused to go down. Finally, when the Night King was killed and the wights fell around him, he gave in and let death take him, knowing he'd performed the ultimate act of devotion for his Khaleesi. Dany may never fall in love with Jorah, but fans of the show certainly did.

Melisandre

Melisandre

For as long as we've known her on the show, Melisandre of Asshai has been searching for the fulfillment of her destiny, even if she wasn't always looking in the right place. When we met her, she was looking for that destiny in Stannis Baratheon, but she later learned all of her prophecies were aimed in the wrong direction. Then she looked to Jon Snow, only to be banished for her past sins. Then she looked to Daenerys Targaryen, pondered ancient prophecies, and retreated to her homeland to learn a few new tricks before coming back to Westeros. As she predicted last season, she did indeed return to the Seven Kingdoms to die, and she did it with a clearer sense of her purpose. She understood she was there to turn the tide of battle for the light, and she did it first by holding back the dark with fire, and then by reminding Arya Stark of what she was capable of. With the Night King dead and her purpose apparently fulfilled, Melisandre simply walked out into the cold dawn, took off the enchanted necklace which hid her centuries-old true form, and faded into dust. She was not always the most beloved character on the show, but with her final appearance Melisandre got her due from fans.

Recommended