The Battle of Winterfell is almost upon us, “Game of Thrones” fans, and you know what that means, don’t you? Yes, you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that several of your favorite characters will meet an untimely end this Sunday during the fight between the living and the Night King’s army at the Starks’ ancestral home.
But because TheWrap knows Episode 803 is gonna be a rough one to handle, we’re going to try to prepare you with our guess for who is most likely to make it through the 1-hour, 22-minute installment in the best way we know how: by reminding you who is currently in possession of Valyrian steel weapons, composed of the only metal that can kill a White Walker or wight.
The lucky few equipped with these rare items are: Jon Snow (who was given his sword, Longclaw, by the late Commander of the Night’s Watch, Jeor Mormont); Arya Stark (who is in possession of the now-dead Littlefinger’s dagger); Jaime Lannister (who owns Widow’s Wail, a sword originally given to Joffrey, which is one of two made from the slain Ned Stark’s blade, Ice); Ser — that’s right, Ser — Brienne of Tarth (who has Oathkeeper, the other sword made from Ned’s, which was given to her by Jaime); and Jorah Mormont (who received the Tarly family’s sword, Heartsbane, from Samwell on last week’s episode, as he doesn’t plan to fight with it himself).
We also know the team at Winterfell has been hard at work forging weapons made from all the dragonglass — the only other substance we know of that kills both White Walkers and wights — that Jon and Daenerys brought over from Dragonstone. So it’s not like everyone without some of that nice Valyrian steel doesn’t have a shot at survival.
And let’s not forget that at least wights can be killed by Dany’s two remaining dragons, Rhaegal and Drogon, but we don’t yet know if dragon fire has the same effect on White Walkers. (As Bran put it last week, “no one has ever tried.”) Or what the Night King’s possession of the undead Viserion will mean for our friends at Winterfell.
OK, so you’re all prepared for the bloodbath now, right? Of course you’re not, but just remember: what is dead may never die.
“Game of Thrones” airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.