Game of Thrones: Why the Night King is Missing from A Song of Ice and Fire

Why Didn't The Night King Show Up In The A Song Of Ice and Fire Books?

While those who watched the television adaptation of Game of Thrones saw a key antagonist, the Night King. In A Song of Ice and Fire, (George R.R. Martin's books that have inspired the television series) the Night King isn't there. Instead, it focuses on White Walkers. This is the first and arguably biggest difference that stands out for readers of the books. Game of Thrones changed the books in a way that some fans argue had some downsides to the overall storytelling. There has also been some contention regarding the ending of the series in particular as it may have caused some tension - since it was too brief to capture the scope of this arc and how it was built.

Fans of Game Of Thrones (and especially Game of Thrones season 8), recognize that a good deal of time was given to showcase the White Walkers and how they emerged to be a threat across the realms. The inclusion of the Night King, a more central and dominant force. While it gave Game of Thrones characters more focus - in a sense it removed the need for the White Walkers to be the main element, causing some tension among readers.

How Do The White Walkers in the Game Of Thrones Books Differ from the TV Show?

Aemond Targaryen and the Night King Image

While A Song of Ice and Fire has served as the original production of the series, it was changed for the Game of Thrones television production, specifically the events that unfolded with the White Walkers. In the books - a lot of the elements surrounding these creatures are obscured - their appearance is not always shown, though, they are described as being “ethereal" in a way, though they are known to have a kind of power over ice and make sounds that evoke those haunting moments as the ice cracks - and they can create an element of dread across the kingdom. In contrast, those in Game of Thrones, often look like icy zombies, one that continues to give them the title: White Walkers.

This, perhaps, was the key to those major changes. A central focus that Game of Thrones made as it sought to depict this dangerous force and to emphasize their threat by offering those in its television series a closer look. One key element was that these White Walker characters were created as being a product of the Children of the Forest. In a unique twist of how this world unfolds, we see those that were originally created to protect a realm - but the Children of the Forest turned on those creatures, seemingly due to an attack that those they wanted to protect had brought.

Where Did The White Walkers Come From?

The man who becomes the Night King tied to a tree, facing one of the Children of the Forest holding a dragonglass dagger Image

The White Walkers are seen across A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones. Their origins are somewhat mysterious - though, both the books and the television series provide a sense of how they originate, and both touch on how they were a creation of a powerful group within Westeros. One key theme, as shown in both the television series as well as in the books, focuses on the conflict between the First Men ( the early humans that first migrated and came to establish settlements) and those Children of the Forest. The conflict between these groups often served as the origin to this war - with both of them wanting to protect and control these lands. The Children, often regarded as those beings with powerful abilities that include a form of magic - have a key role to play - their creations are meant to act as defenders, to fight off the threat of those who invade their realms.

Both books and television show, also give a similar account of the Night King. Those watching the television show can easily grasp just how much the characters were given an incredible level of power, and how their presence serves as a reminder of the power they hold, those who sought to control the Night King often made this character even more terrifying. Those in A Song of Ice and Fire , don't go as far to highlight how a leader or “king" emerges amongst these characters.

What Makes The Night King a Major Threat to the Realm?

Sam in Game of Thrones Season 2 with White Walker Image

While the White Walkers, serve as one of those dangers, those watching Game of Thrones (particularly those interested in exploring Game of Thrones season 8 or, even in reading the books) are reminded of the Night King as a pivotal force and those Game of Thrones characters have been tasked to combat these threats, often at their most desperate. It was seen in those moments where Jon Snow fought these forces and showed just how perilous it was. He came to understand the importance of how this foe was dangerous.

It's hard to make a contrast between those threats in the television series. They had almost an equal amount of influence over Game of Thrones ending. Even so, in many ways the White Walker’s purpose (especially in the books) was less about controlling. However, in the TV adaptation - the Night King , sought to do more than just simply conquer the kingdoms. He also seemed to have his own distinct ambitions for destruction as Game of Thrones sought to portray these figures through an array of terrifying, iconic and indelible scenes. There was a great deal of mystery and curiosity about his intentions.

Is the White Walkers’ Purpose Different in the Books?

Arya Stark killing the Night King in Game of Thrones season 8 episode 3 Image

One of the biggest mysteries in A Song of Ice and Fire as well as the television show: Game of Thrones, is the reason why these White Walkers exist - it seems as if they were made with the purpose of combating a threat from the world. That threat might have been humanity as they continued to spread.

This theme is evident in the series where the White Walkers’ purpose is to destroy and obliterate any civilization as they roam - it is also important to consider that the Night King has a somewhat unique vision: he seeks to destroy humanity but only after he captures the Three-Eyed Raven (Bran Stark). This is not explicitly presented in A Song of Ice and Fire. Instead, it takes on a more direct mission for those beings that exist in Westeros: destruction of humanity. There is not really any motivation to explain their actions. It is viewed as a natural course for a force of “nature”, but they appear to be “dark forces”, a significant aspect of the story and why it became such a hit in the television series and the book.

How Was The Night King Created?

In both A Song of Ice and Fire and in Game of Thrones, the creation of the White Walkers is presented to those readers and viewers through an encounter. A historical account - it often involves an instance where the Children of the Forest (a more fantastical element within Game of Thrones and those from A Song of Ice and Fire ) are forced to use their powerful, mystical abilities. It often involves a series of wars.

The Children of the Forest had a different strategy and even sought to protect their realm - especially in the Game of Thrones series, it’s shown through the Night King - his transformation - by a group of these magical creatures, making them the cause, of how this menacing figure became such a formidable, almost all-powerful entity who led these creatures in an effort to destroy humanity.

Does The Night King Die In A Song Of Ice and Fire?

The Night King as the character we saw in Game of Thrones was eliminated by Arya Stark. This serves as a major moment during The Long Night, a significant chapter, often shown in Game of Thrones season 8,, when the realms must face those creatures - the White Walkers, their powers and the danger of a potentially overwhelming battle against the Night King.

In A Song of Ice and Fire there is no official ending or a depiction of how these White Walkers will be destroyed. In fact, this is still unknown - this makes it very distinct, even considering it was one of the original inspirations for Game of Thrones, in its adaptations - a different course for how the storyline ends and it also is a sign that those who watch the show and those who read the books, may get a distinct outcome, as there's still a chance that this tale will be very different. The Night King 's story and what that means is left open to speculation.

How Does the Threat of the White Walkers Compare?

While White Walkers in both Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire have been regarded as menacing, dangerous forces within this fantastical world of Westeros, the overall perception and threat appears to be somewhat different.

In both A Song of Ice and Fire and in Game of Thrones , viewers can grasp that there's a certain level of fear and trepidation when it comes to these characters and those powers they have. They were able to bring destruction - particularly in the latter, in the television show - as we are reminded that those beings had an incredibly large level of power as a result of how The Night King has had an incredible, potentially even unending power. But there's an important undercurrent that is expressed in the book (especially those reading A Song of Ice and Fire books), there’s less of a direct and explicit threat - this almost makes those beings seem more "real", more grounded and with the potential for the readers to grasp the severity, horror, and sheer size of this potential threat.