Game of Thrones fans were left shocked at how easy the Night King (played by Vladimir Furdik) was killed in episode three, The Long Night, and many expected his storyline to run longer.
He was killed by Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) at the end of The Battle of Winterfell, just as the Night King approached her brother Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright).
Why the Night King was seemingly after Bran was left unanswered, but some fans believe they have a theory which goes someway to explain what happened.
Many fans believe the real Night King wasn’t killed as Bran is the real villain of the piece.
In a shock twist, fans think the Night King’s death was a decoy so that people think the war is over and The Long Night is dead.
It would explain why it was seemingly so easy to kill him.
Fans have theories as to what would have happened if Arya had not killed him.
One viewer saw that the scenes did not really make sense, sharing on Twitter: “Can someone tell me what the #NightKing plan was at the #BattleOfWinterfell? The army of the dead was winning, he had no reason for being there and the #WhiteWalkers lost as a direct result of him sauntering up to Bran to take him out.”(sic)
Another fan introduced a new theory: “Bran said he spends most of his time in the past. Is that because he’s with the Children of the Forest becoming the #Nightking?”
Another added: “What if the purpose of Bran being alive still is so the Children of the Forest end up making him the new Night King after ‘humans destroy everything with war’ in episode five?”
Other fans think the Night King was going to bend the knee to Bran: “What if the Night King was about to take his sword out hand it to Bran and bend the knee #GameofThrones #GOT.”
Another added: “All you people whining about #GoT S8E3, what if the #NightKing isn’t dead and that was just a facade (will explain why it was so easy to kill him)? What if #Bran actually is the Night King and wanted everyone to think they’ve won the war?”
They think Bran will be revealed as the real Night King and resume the Battle of Winterfell.
Bran has been a peripheral figure in this season so far and it would make sense he is lying low to strike when the enemy is at its weakest.
He could strike while everyone else has turned their attention to King’s Landing to try to usurp Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey).
Fans think Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is about to betray Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and seek revenge on him after he revealed to his siblings he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.
She wants the throne for herself and a scene in which she glares at the popular Jon worried fans as they fear she is turning into the Mad Queen.
However, she might have to do with just one of her dragons after Rhaegal was shot down by Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek) after being ambushed.
The episode five trailer teased something terrifying coming from the sky, though, and it could be Rhaegal returning from the dead.
Game of Thrones continues Sunday on HBO in the USA and the following day on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK.
