The White Walkers are through the Wall. It will only be a matter of time, likely early in the eighth season, before they reach civilization … or an army to fight them back. But, of course, this is Game of Thrones, so there is a third, much grimmer option: that they encounter an army to defeat and swell their own undead ranks. And, as the latest report from the new set at Magheramorne shows, that may be exactly what’s happening! Needless to say: spoilers ahead! Meet the Night King’s new soldiers below the cut…
Before moving on to Magheramorne, let’s stop by the new King’s Landing set just outside Titanic Studios, as A Red Priestess brings us an update on the city gate construction:
The gate is nearly there. It was first built broken; we’ll see it in both states. Photo: A Red Priestess
The gate (from inside) in its breached state (left); and now (right.) Photo: A Red Priestess
Now, back to Magheramorne! Diligent Tweeter Hogwort has been taking the highest quality photos yet — from a place located over two kilometers from the green screen set. Early on, he claims to have witnessed the Unsullied army, just as we reported last week, as well as fire on set and Jon and Daenerys, though he is unsure of the latter. The fire, however, was photographed, as well as a dialogue scene with unknown cast members:
Fire elements can be shot against a green screen and added to any scene in post-production. In this case, however, they’re being used for more realistic, fire-motivated lighting. Photo: Hogwort
Notice the microphone over the two characters who stand apart from the army. Photo: Hogwort
Yesterday’s photos are the most telling, however, and the main reason for today’s report, as they star the Night King’s army in action. But there’s more to it than that…
Photo: Hogwort
Photo: Hogwort
Photo: Hogwort
The big deal here is that we have never seen wights on horseback. And I mean never. That’s not to say they’re mindless zombies — they use weapons, after all. Still, whenever we’ve seen the army of the dead, whether they are marching or fighting, the only ones riding are their masters. So why are the green-suited stuntpeople on horseback?
First of all: these are definitely wights. White Walkers are just guys in prosthetics and make-up (except for their eerie bright blue eyes, which are added in post-production.) The green suits are used for wights — that is, the undead thralls of the White Walkers. Granted, some fresh wights are purely make-up jobs, like their masters, but the decayed, skeletal kind are achieved with the help of visual effects. Hence the green suits. Some of these horsemen have only certain body parts covered in green, which points to partial decaying, cut, burnt, or maimed body parts. If these were new creatures, or computer-generated White Walkers for some reason, they’d all wear full-body green suits.
Photo: Hogwort
Photo: Hogwort
Even though it would be unprecedented, the only thing that makes sense to me is that we’ll see wights on horseback in season eight. But why do that now, after so many years? I can only think of one great reason for debuting these undead riders: Dothraki wights. The clothing and saddles fit the Dothraki style; the photographer suspects as much; and what a powerful image it would be to see the Dothraki turned against their queen!
So, if the Night King’s new undead cavalrymen are indeed Dothraki as speculated, how will they will fall under his spell in the last season? Will they be the first to fall in battle for their queen? Will the Unsullied survive the onslaught? Even if they are not Dothraki, the White Walkers definitely have a new mounted company! What do you think?
