Who exactly is the Night’s King?A former Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, the Night’s King is said to have been a Stark of Winterfell also named Bran. The legend says that he betrayed his vows after falling in love with a woman "with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars" and declared himself king of the Nightfort. Giving up his soul in the process, the Night's King committed many atrocities during his reign before being deposed by an army of both Northerners and Wildlings.
Why is this a big deal?
George R.R. Martin has only released five books in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series, and by showing the Night's King on-screen, the HBO series is now treading in territory not yet covered by the novels. In the books, a legendary character called the Night’s King is mentioned in bedtime stories told to the Stark children, but having him actually appear on screen in the TV show is a complete game-changer. The episode’s spine-chilling ending confirms that not only is the Night’s King real, but apparently he’s leading the White Walkers and building an army out of sacrificed children.