Warning: This article contains spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 that may spoil your enjoyment in discovering its plotline. Read at your own risk.
The Winterfell is now preparing for its greatest battle against the White Walkers in Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3. The previous episode showed the arrival of the wight's leaders near the House of Starks, but where is the Night King (Vladimir 'Furdo' Furdik)?
The Night King has been present at every major battle that involves the White Walkers. But, why he seems away in the most epic fight of all - the Battle of Winterfell - in Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3?
He may be flying above his army, riding on Viserion, but there is a theory saying he will not risk his undead dragon to face Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) remaining two fire-breathing creatures that can easily defeat them. A Redditor claims it will be one versus two if Drogon and Rheagal go up against Viserion in Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3. As the wights can be killed by fire, his legion can also be real dead in an instant.
Instead, the Night King may be making his way to King's Landing to create a new set of a massive army to prepare for another battle. Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and the rest of his people may win the Battle of Winterfell, only to find out that the Night King is preparing for another fight by turning the people in the capital of the Seven Kingdoms into wights.
According to Harper's Bazaar, King's Landing has a million residents, not to mention the 20,000 newly-arrived Golden Company, although there are no elephants. It may be the Night King's plan to keep the Winterfell busy to prepare for the battle to exhaust their means and resources in Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3, while he gathers more dead people for a bigger army.
There was even a premonition of this scene when Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) saw a dragon flying over King's Landing when he touched the weirwood tree in Season 4. Daenerys also had visions when she found herself in a destroyed throne room at the Red Keep covered with snow, which could imply the winter had come in the capital with the Night King's coming, in Season 2.
To add fuel to the fire, Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 trailer and other promotional images didn't give a glimpse of the Night King. Although there was a shot that showed a dragon flying above the army, it could be Drogon lurking in the dark, per Mashable.
So if the Night King will not be in the Battle of Winterfell, why Bran doesn't foresee it? The premonition of the future is said to be "fallible at best." It is vague, so Bran may be lost of what he sees, or he may be lying to let what needs to happen to be done for a "larger endgame." Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 will air on Sunday, April 28, at 9 p.m. on HBO.
