This devastating 'Game of Thrones' theory about Jon and the Night King is really, really compelling

We’re officially into the Game of Thrones countdown period now and as we approach the final, epic season, due the first half of next year, fans are sifting through the very best theories out there.

And one of the juiciest – and most compelling theories – concerns our boy Jon and the guy who could destroy all the Seven Kingdoms, the Night King.

Here’s what we know so far about the shadowy villain…

According to the Game of Thrones wikia, he’s the master and the first of the White Walkers, having existed since the age of the First Men. He also serves as the supreme leader of the Army of the Dead.

We know he was created by the Children of the Forest as a weapon against the invading First Men when they took a man and pressed a dragonglass dagger into his chest, causing his eyes to turn blue.

But things eventually got out of hand and the Night King and the other White Walkers soon turned on their creators, beginning what was known as the Long Night.

Perhaps the most significant development in the Night King’s storyline was when he captured one of Daenerys’ dragons because, you know, now there’s a fucking flying zombie dragon monster roaming the skies of Westeros. Not ideal.

Well, as we turn to the final season and the inevitable battle between Jon and the Night King, one fan thinks he knows how the showdown is going to end.

Redditor u/AnghkoR_ explains: “The only way to defeat the Night King is that someone has to pull out the dragonglass in his chest which was used to create him in the first place.

“By doing this the Night King would die but unlike what happens when someone kills a normal white walker, none of the creatures the Night King created would die. Instead they would lose the mind-controlling effect the Night King has on them and they would start doing whatever the f*ck they want, i.e. rampaging around the country.”

The compelling theory goes on: “To prevent this scenario from happening someone has to take the place of the Night King by stabbing himself with the previously extracted dragonglass-dagger.

“By doing this the person (in our mind Jon Snow) would sacrifice himself for the greater good, gaining control over all of the wights and White Walkers. He would then lead them back over the Wall where they would stay like it has been before since the last Long Night (like a beast in a cage).”

The theory concludes with the suggestion that Jon, as the new Night King, would for a time retain consciousness but would eventually forget himself and probably turn into a destructive, evil force. At this point, the cycle would begin again and someone else would have to sacrifice themselves and take Jon’s place.

What can you say after reading this? It definitely fits in with the utterly bleak Game of Thrones storylines so far and it is totally, totally plausible.

And one of George R. R. Martin’s overarching themes is that, ultimately, no-one gets out of this life unscathed – even our hero Jon. 

Game of Thrones will return in the first half of 2019

(Images: HBO / Medium)