‘Game of Thrones’ The Night King Almost Had a Different Killer, Reveals David Benioff

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I still remember when the Night King finally went down on Game of Thrones – it was absolutely shocking! Everyone was talking about it for days, and honestly, it’s still one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever seen on TV.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the climactic battle of the Long Night, and the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, carefully considered who should be the one to defeat the Night King. According to James Hibberd’s book, Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon, published by Entertainment Weekly, details about this decision have now been revealed.

Benioff revealed the team debated having The Hound (Sandor Clegane, played by Rory McCann) kill the Night King. They needed someone who could realistically wield Valyrian steel, but didn’t want it to be Jon Snow, as he consistently saves the day. While they considered The Hound, they ultimately decided that would overshadow his planned storyline—the Clegane Bowl. Benioff explained that having Jon, Brienne, or The Hound deliver the killing blow just didn’t feel right.

The creators felt it would be too obvious if Jon Snow killed the Night King, so they decided Arya Stark was a better choice. This not only surprised viewers but also justified the extensive combat training her character received in Braavos. They also strategically saved the fight between The Hound and his brother, The Mountain – nicknamed ‘the Clegane Bowl’ – for a dramatic showdown.

Although the decision was made with a specific goal in mind, a lot of fans were disappointed that Arya Stark was the one who ultimately defeated the Night King. Many believed the story had been leading up to Jon Snow being the hero, especially considering his connection to the prophecies and his previous battles with the White Walkers. Others felt Arya’s involvement came too suddenly and made the Night King’s defeat feel hurried and unsatisfying. A lot of viewers were hoping for a conclusion that felt earned after years of character development and storytelling, and Arya’s unexpected role didn’t quite deliver for some.

Despite the criticism, the creators of the show explained that Arya’s actions fit the overall story and created opportunities for other characters to have powerful, defining scenes.

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2025-11-14 17:51