This 'Game of Thrones' Fan Theory Suggests the White Walkers Will Return
Note: Contains major spoilers for Game of Thrones episode 5, 'The Bells'.
Could it be that we haven't actually seen the last of the White Walkers in Game of Thrones? Well, one fan's theory certainly suggests so.
The icy zombies appeared to be completely defeated during the Battle of Winterfell earlier this season after Arya Stark plunged her dagger into the Night King.
However, one Reddit user has mused that they may not all have been defeated, and that Gilly's baby Little Sam – who was meant to be sacrificed by Craster to the Night King earlier on in the show–may actually have White Walker blood.
"As we know, [George RR Martin's] writing is often influenced by the works of famous historical writers, as well as history itself. When I was reading about Gilly, I came to understand that her name originates from the real-life plant known as gilliflower/gillyflower," they suggest.
"Gilliflower is mentioned in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale, in which they are 'cross-fertilized by humans, rather than by Nature: I have heard it said/There is an art which in their piedness shares/With great creating Nature ... I'll not put/The dibble in earth to set one slip of them'."
They go on to say that "in genetics, the word 'pied' is used to describe something (like a cockatiel bird, or a houseplant) that shows/has mixed colours".
The theory then continues: "I'm almost certain that this is a subtle clue that might strengthen a suggestion that Gilly and Little Sam have White Walker blood in their veins.
"It also made me wonder whether the [Night King] came to Bran/[Three-Eyed Raven] at Winterfell not to kill him, but to take ownership of his property - namely Little Sam.
"Whether there's any significance to him being the 100th child (who would have been) sacrificed to the [White Walkers] by Craster, I'm unsure. But Gilly's name and the mention of gilliflower in a Shakespearean story certainly can't be a mere coincidence."
Perhaps a greater significance for Little Sam could play out in the final episode – though with only 80 minutes left of the entire show, we think it may be a bit of a stretch to cram that all in so last minute with everything else that's going on.
Still, White Walker baby Sam on the Iron Throne? Now that would be a twist and a half.
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