First it was Daemon Targaryen. Then King Viserys Targaryen. Then Aemond Targaryen. And even Ser Criston Cole. Now fans believe House of the Dragon‘s Ser Otto Hightower could be the Night King or a White Walker in Game of Thrones.
The rich world of Westeros is full of unforeseen connections, mysteries, and enigmatic characters. A hundred more conundrums appear for every question that gets an answer, leaving even more legends in their wake.
Despite its rushed pace in the final season, Game of Thrones expanded the lore behind the White Walkers considerably just as the series reached its conclusion. Even so, there are still many unanswered questions regarding them, such as what exactly was their endgame, and where they came from.
A common misconception regarding the White Walkers is that they are mere zombies, just like we’d see in The Walking Dead or any George Romero film. They might be undead, but there’s a lot more nuance to George R.R. Martin’s mysterious hordes of the dead than that.
One popular fan theory online claims that Ser Otto Hightower, from House of the Dragon, would eventually become the dreaded Night King from Game of Thrones. As much as we’d like that this theory was true, there are some holes in the basic facts that would indicate that there’s just no way for Ser Otto to become the master of the undead hordes.
Be warned, though: from this point on, numerous House of the Dragon spoilers abound for non-readers.
RELATED: What is Aegon Targaryen’s Relation to Daenerys Targaryen?
Otto Hightower has been the Hand of the King to three monarchs already. He’s served under King Jaehaerys I, Viserys I, and Aegon II. As one of the most notable members of the Greens, Ser Otto has drawn the attention of the political elite of King’s Landing, for better or for worse.
His ultimate fate in the show hasn’t been revealed yet, but if the books are anything to go by, he doesn’t get a happy ending. He gets beheaded by Rhaenyra Targaryen, as do most of the Greens for treason. This presents a problem for the theory that claims that he’s an undead warrior by the events of Game of Thrones. First, there was the theory that Daemon Targaryen was the Night King. Then fans questioned whether or not Viserys Targaryen could be the White Walker with the spear. If that wasn’t enough, Aemond Targaryen was also accused of being the Night King. Now fans are throwing Ser Criston Cole
We might not know much about the White Walkers, let alone the Night King, but Bran Stark’s visions in Game of Thrones paint a clear picture of who the Night King might be.
Although the character is completely different from his book counterpart, we know that the Night King – and the White Walkers – was created by the Children of the Forest. Even if we only got a small glimpse of the creation of the leader of the army of the dead, we can see that the Night King was alive when he was created – and had his head intact.
For these reasons, it’s highly unlikely that Ser Otto Hightower could be the Night King, let alone a White Walker. From what we know, the White Walkers that accompany the Night King have always been White Walkers – First Men turned into undead abominations by the Children of the Forest.
So, even though House of the Dragon is great for establishing events that happened a couple of hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, we’d have to travel further back into the history of Westeros if we’d hope to uncover the mysteries of the White Walkers.
RELATED: Who Is Father to Helaena Targaryen’s Children in House of the Dragon?
What do you think? Is House of the Dragon‘s Ser Otto Hightower the Night King or a White Walker in Game of Thrones? Read our full review of House of the Dragon Season 2.
The night king and the white walkers were made by the children of the forest as a weapon against the first men and it all happened hundreds/thousands of years before the Targaryens came to Westeros. So, come on!!!!
I think it’s Aegon the conqueror
Maybe throw a theory that one of the characters is a descendent of the Night King, that would be more likely than any of them being him. Sheesh do we need to do a PowerPoint timeline presentation for them?
There is no way…. The white walkers were already there. If you watched game of thrones you got the story of who created the night king and why. And it was years and years and years before house of the dragon. These posts I see are very frustrating. Geez the white walkers were mentioned in the first few episodes of house of the dragon. The war that’s coming? The winter? Yes white walkers there already. And the wall is there already.
Yeah its mind boggling that it shows you who the night kings is, and how the white walkers were made, and yet everyday I see some dumb new article about is this person the night king. It’s like watching all the starwars movies then theorizing who Darth Vader is. You dont need to theorize on who the night king was because they literally had Bran watch him being made. I cant compare to anything other than watching anakin burn then get put in his armour and then going… but who do you think Vader really is though? Game of thrones and House of the Dragon probably takes the prize for having the most ridiculous theories of any show. I remember before the final season of Game of Thrones came out, I kept seeing theories that the Night King would fly to kings landing, burn everyone in it then reserect them as an million strong army of the dead. Yes that’s right they thought he was going to burn them all… the one thing that stops bodies from being reanimated and then reanimate them. Maybe some audience members should just stick to things like fast and furious.
The white walkers have been hiding and rebuilding their army north of the wall. Since the first men fought them. So when Aemond has a blue crystal in his eye. People think white walker. I’m not a book reader but to my knowledge if you watch Jon Snow and Danny in DRAGONSTONE there shown drawings of the first men I think and children of the forest fighting them. As far as I know that was the 1st long night 1000 years before Jon fight. So unless a house of the dragon character was sent to the wall and got hit by a whitewalker maybe. But I can’t imagine any of the house character been whites when Viserys is trying to pass along the Aegons blade ? to King’s to tell future people of the North fighting against human kind. Now as I say I’m no measter here and some of my words and what I said could be wrong as iv not seen Game of thrones since it aired that awful last year. So sorry if I got stuff wrong. But I’m trying to explain as someone says in GOT they have been sleeping for years and now there awake I can’t see Otto been send a raven to join up OK end of all this nonsense please
Why are people so intent on linking characters with the night king? He was created a LONG time before any events in the show. In all likelihood the Others will play no part in HotD. They aren’t required. IMO GoT dropped the ball with the Others, but for the love of God people, stop with these nonsense theories and just enjoy the show as it it.
Who thinks anyone in House of the Dragon will be white walkers and or The Nights King? Did any of you watch more than a couple of episodes of Game of Thrones? I’m genuinely curious how anyone could beleive this if at the very least you watched Game of Thrones through season 5.
I believe Otto Hightower is the night king. The man had red hair and he certainly does look a LOT like the night king in the scene they showed in GoT when the children of the forest shoved the blade of dragon glass in his heart. Only difference was his hair was much shorter in the scene of the story of the night king creation when Brandon Stark saw it in a vision.
You’re not serious right? That event was hundreds of not thousands of years before this show.
It’s not him, it’s not any of them. Those 2 dudes don’t even look similar and the GOT guy was half the age of mr traitor AND the children of the forest have already been trapped behind the wall. If the wall is up then we are too late in the timeline…
That’s the easiest way to solve this. Is the wall up? Yes? Not him.
I’m starting to wonder if the ‘fans’ that are coming with these theories are just trolling and seeing if sites will pick it up as a theory. Since they have a simple answer. No obviously not. He was made thousands of years ago and it shows us him being made and how he was a first man. So no one in House of the Dragon could possibly be the night king but I bet if we put it on reddit some dumb site will go ‘fans are wondering if xyz is the night king. I wouldnt call all the evidence and actually showing us what happend a ‘hole in the theory’ it outright tells that the answer is just, NO.