6 Biggest Moments From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 8, Episode 3

The Great War has finally been fought on “Game of Thrones,” and one side was officially declared as the winners—but not before some seriously unexpected and jaw-dropping moments unfolded onscreen that definitely left viewers on the edges of their seats.

Spoiler Warning: The events of “Game of Thrones” Season 8, Episode 3 are discussed in major detail below.

The living have finally faced off against the dead, and many of the show’s biggest heroes and characters that were in Winterfell for this epic stand-off may have seen their lives flash before their eyes as they faced off against the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) and his massive army of the dead. Some of the favorites that fans came very close to seeing their lives come to an end, and while many still managed to end the battle intact, the fact that there were so many survivors isn’t even the most surprising thing.

Here are the five biggest moments which unfolded during the massive episode.

Lyanna Mormont’s Final Bad-Ass Moment

We all knew Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey) was perhaps the toughest 11-year-old in the Seven Kingdoms since Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) was that age. As she commanded her troops during the battle with the dead, she was able to prove it in her final act as the Lady of Bear Island. When an undead Giant crashed into the gate, she charged him, and as he picked her up and crushed her, she managed to still plunge a sword right through his head, killing him and protecting the others assembled there in the process.

The Crypts Became The Least-Safe Place In Winterfell

The crypts were supposed to be the safest place in Winterfell—until the Night King arrived and reanimated his newest dead--which, since he was in proximity to the crypts, allowed for some of the long-dead Starks to break free from their tombs and start to attack those who were hiding inside. No one there was sacrificed thanks to Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Sansa (Sophie Turner) working together to try and fight off the dead while they could, but it proved that no battle strategy is ever 100 percent effective.

The Night King Was Able To Withstand An Unexpected Attempt On His Life

At one point, it appeared the Night King was going to be defeated when he faced off against Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and Drogon. The only things that could kill White Walkers were fire, dragon glass or Valyrian Steel. Except when Dany laid all of her fiery strength at the Night King—she was unsuccessful and he came through the flames—unburnt. Whether that means he was once a Targaryen as well or not we may never know, but it was an unexpected twist in regards to what we’ve always known about the White Walkers.

Melisandre Fulfilled Her Prophecy

Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) finally arrived just ahead of the dead to lend her hand in the battle, which she did by creating fire when needed. She also managed to serve up some very wise words that helped another character potentially fulfill a prophecy that no one saw coming (more on that later) before truly doing what she came there to do—die. Her death was somewhat anticlimactic compared to the way it could have gone, but poetic since it allowed her to do what she came to do.

Some Characters Performed Final Acts Of Redemption

In the end, while most of the characters who died were minor, like Lyanna, Beric (Richard Dormer) and Edd (Ben Crompton), two characters who may have redeemed some of their more questionable actions long ago to some were able to die with honor by making a final sacrifice. The first was Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), who was protecting Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and bravely charged at the Night King in an attempt to kill him—one that proved to ultimately be unsuccessful in the end, though it allowed him to finally make it up to Bran for the things he did when he attacked Winterfell and took it from the Starks in Season 2. The other was Jorah (Iain Glen), who Dany may have forgiven for his betrayal long before. Still, he always tried to prove he would die for his Queen, and in an effort to protect her, that was what he did.

The Night King Died—At The Hand Of The Most Unexpected Person Ever

Of course, someone had to win the battle—and someone didn’t. Thankfully, the living all prevailed, after the Night King was taken down. However, while we might have expected that he (and, as a result, every single member of the dead army) would be defeated by the Jon or Dany, the one who took him down was none other than Arya, who after a conversation with Melisandre where she realized she had to kill someone with Blue Eyes, struck out and managed to jump the Night King right as he made a move to try and complete his goal of killing Bran. He almost managed to best her—but her training as a Faceless Man served her well, as she managed to grab the same dagger she used to slit Littlefinger’s throat in Season 7 before it fell—and stabbed the Night King with it. Fire may not have killed him—but Valyrian Steel did.

“Game of Thrones” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO.