The White Walker's Infamous Ritual: Unveiling Their Sinister Intentions with Babies

Summary

The White Walkers turned Craster's sons into baby White Walkers, revealing their plan to spread their kind throughout Westeros.

The White Walker subplot in Game of Thrones served as a misleading distraction from the main plot and ultimately proved to be a wasted endeavor in its execution.

Although House of the Dragon does not possess the shocking horror and unforgettable moments that the White Walker baby scene delivered, subsequent seasons may delve into more sinister visuals and concepts.

After the conclusion of Game of Thrones, fans continue to ponder the fate of the babies taken by the White Walkers. Among these infants were the sons of Craster, a Wildling who, despite his alliance with the Night's Watch, was despised by the sworn brothers due to his disturbing practices. Though the Night's Watch found solace in Craster's Keep, they had to endure his unsettling habit of marrying his own daughters and producing offspring through incest. The question of what the White Walkers did with Craster's babies seemed to be answered when one of them was transformed into a White Walker. This revelation in season 2 of the show shed light on the dark sacrifices made by Craster, offering a chilling glimpse into the potential horrors that awaited Westeros if the Night King had not been defeated by Arya, as foretold in Aegon the Conqueror's dream/prophecy. It is evident that the Night King intended to replicate his actions in Craster's story arc throughout the entirety of Westeros, further emphasizing the magnitude of his threat.

The Night King Turns Craster’s Sons Into White Walkers

The Wildling Struck A Deal With The White Walkers

The transformation of Craster's sons into baby White Walkers serves as the only method by which the Night King and his kin can propagate their species. Historically, even during the Age of Heroes, the Night's Queen failed to bear offspring for the enigmatic 13th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. The reason behind choosing infants, rather than adults, as suitable candidates for the metamorphosis into White Walkers potentially lies in their malleability, as the Night King can shape them according to his desires. It is conceivable that Aegon the Conqueror, in his prophetic dreams, witnessed the horrifying fate of babies at the hands of White Walkers, providing motivation for his relentless pursuit in preserving the dominance of House Targaryen, the Dragon's, on the Iron Throne, thereby safeguarding Westeros from the clutches of the Night King.

WHERE TO WATCH: Stream Game of Thrones on Max

Game Of Thrones Wasted The White Walkers – On Purpose

The White Walkers Were Always A Red Herring

The Night King's ultimate fate is a disappointing twist in fantasy history, downplaying the long-standing threat of the White Walkers. The horrifying act of turning Caster's babies into White Walkers was a standout moment in contemporary fantasy. However, it is worth noting that none of the central characters in the main plot died during the "The Long Night" battle, and the White Walkers were defeated by a single individual. This diversion served to shift focus away from Daenerys Targaryen's descent into darkness and marked the end of the Iron Throne's story.

Unfortunately, Game of Thrones mishandled this clever use of a red herring due to the hurried pace of the last two seasons. The White Walkers lost their menacing appeal once their mystery was unravelled, becoming just another collective consciousness. Additionally, the show missed the opportunity to further explore the shock factor of the baby White Walkers, as they never played a significant role in the series following their initial introduction. While the White Walkers successfully diverted attention from Daenerys' ultimate fate and their plans for Westeros, their potential was ultimately squandered.

Will White Walkers Be In House Of The Dragon?

The History Of Westeros Timeline Makes It Unlikely

While magic persists in the prequel and is evident in the existence of dragons in House of the Dragon, it is improbable that White Walkers will make an appearance in the Game of Thrones spinoff. House of the Dragon's storyline takes place 200 years prior to the events depicted in the original HBO series, therefore it is unlikely that the narrative will intersect with the events leading to the creation of the Night King.

While the babies in Game of Thrones faced the risk of turning into White Walkers, the infants in House of the Dragon encounter different perils, including colossal fire-breathing lizards. However, it has been unveiled that the dagger used by Arya to eliminate the Night King is an ancient relic belonging to House Targaryen, secretly inscribed with Aegon's vision in the ancient Valyrian language. Hence, the destinies of both the White Walkers and the House of the Dragon are undeniably intertwined.

The White Walker Baby Scene Shows What HotD Lacks

This Kind Of Horror Isn't In House Of The Dragon

House of the Dragon's depiction of death and political intrigue establishes it as a worthy successor to Game of Thrones. However, it lacks the unsettling horror that the White Walkers brought to the original series, in which they transformed babies into their own kind. To truly leave a lasting impact, House of the Dragon must delve into darker visuals and themes, potentially exploring the history of House Targaryen's dragon killings and internal conflicts. Game of Thrones utilized elements of horror to elicit strong emotional responses, and it is crucial for House of the Dragon to evoke similar reactions in order to be as memorable as its predecessor.

The White Walkers Taking Craster's Babies Ultimately Meant Nothing

The Craster's Babies Subplot Didn't Go Anywhere

The answer to the question of what the White Walkers did with the babies appears to have been revealed - they turned them into new White Walkers. However, the entire subplot ultimately proved to be meaningless in the end of Game of Thrones. Throughout the series, the Night King and the White Walkers were built up as a formidable threat, shrouded in intriguing mysteries. Yet, once Arya Stark killed the Night King, it seemed as though all of that buildup served no purpose and the White Walkers lost their significance.

The fate of the babies sacrificed to the White Walkers remains a subject of uncertainty and intrigue for the audience. The origins of Craster's agreement with them, their ability to transform infants, and the aging process of these transformed beings are all unanswered questions. It seems that the storyline surrounding the White Walkers and their adoption of Craster's babies was introduced without a solid plan for its resolution, leading to its eventual dismissal without explanation.