The Night King is Game of Thrones’ Darth Vader

The Night King wasn’t seen in Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 1 but that doesn’t mean his presence wasn’t felt. He remains the most dangerous character of all and is the show’s version of Darth Vader.

Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 1 has been and gone. As we get ready for the next episode, it’s important to look at each of the characters. One character that wasn’t in the episode was the Night King, but his presence was certainly felt in a way that Darth Vader’s presence is always felt in Star Wars.

This has been the case since the very beginning of the series. The opener for the series immediately drew me in. Seeing the dead bodies there and then gone made it clear this was something to be worried about, that the Night King was the most dangerous character on the show.

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It took until the fifth season to realize just how dangerous he was. But while we and Jon Snow know the dangers, many other characters have never witnessed it. The Night’s Watch and wildlings have before and most recently did in the Game of Thrones Season 8 premiere. Tormund, Beric, Eddison Tollett, and other members of their groups found House Umber’s Last Heath deserted except for one body.

Lord Ned Umber was staked to a wall of spiraled body parts. It was a clear message from the Night’s King. He had been there and he had risen the dead. By leaving the little lord, the Night King was making it clear that nobody was safe. He doesn’t care about the house loyalties or who people are. Everyone will die and he’s heading for the south — whether for Winterfell or he’s going to bypass Winterfell for now and head straight for King’s Landing isn’t clear, but he’s heading south.

While Cersei complains about her lack of elephants, Yara Greyjoy heads to the Iron Islands as a last defense for the North, and the Northern people forget about the bigger picture now that dragons are in town, the Night King has one goal in mind. He will destroy Westeros and force the dead to follow him. His goal has never changed and he’s never fallen off his path. Until everyone else gets behind Jon Snow and agrees to fight against the army of the dead, the Night King is the one with all the power.

We don’t need to see the Night King to know how powerful he is or to feel he’s there. He doesn’t need to be present for every battle. The Night King’s army is dangerous in its own right.

However, like when Darth Vader shows up in Star Wars and makes it clear nobody will get out alive, that’s the exact same feeling gained in Game of Thrones. You know it’s going to be a fight you’re likely not going to survive.

What was your favorite moment from Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 1? What do you think of the Night King not being present in the premiere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Game of Thrones Season 8 continues on Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.