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Odds Say Bran Stark is Not the Night King in Game of Thrones

Chris Amberley

By Chris Amberley in Entertainment

Updated: March 28, 2020 at 2:59 pm EDT

Published:


Isaac Hempstead Wright Game of Thrones
Isaac Hempstead Wright plays the character Bran Stark on HBO's Game of Thrones. Photo by Gage Skidmore (flickr) [<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC License</a>].
  • One of the most controversial Game of Thrones theories is that Bran Stark is actually the Night King
  • You can wager on the theory at some sportsbooks, with the odds heavily stacked against it
  • Is there any reason to bet that Bran is the Night King?

Game of Thrones has been on hiatus for almost two years, which has given hardcore fans plenty of time to conjure up conspiracy theories about TV’s most popular show.

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The most controversial theory suggests that Bran Stark is actually the Night King, and you can wager on whether or not that will be revealed in season 8.

Is Bran Stark the Night King?

Is Bran Stark the Night King Odds
Yes +300
No -400

*Odds taken March 9.

As unpredictable as this show has been through seven seasons, this theory has some major holes in it and can’t possibly be true given how the events have played out so far.

The Night King was Created Thousands of Years Ago

We know that the Night King was originally captured by the Children of the Forest and turned into a White Walker to help them in their war against the First Men. Tell me, does this look like Bran Stark to you?

Proponents of the theory will argue that Bran warged into the Night King during one of his visions and never left.  The problem with that notion is that Bran and the Night King could no longer exist in the same timeframe if that were the case.

When Bran is warging, he’s stuck in whatever form he assumes, and cannot function as a normal being. If he can’t function, there’s no way he can be interacting with Sansa or Arya in Winterfell, while the Night King and his undead dragon burn down the wall.

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They Have Conflicting Interests

Both Bran and the Night King are Demigods guiding opposing sides. Bran, now the Three-Eyed Raven, uses his supernatural powers for good, while the Night King is 100% evil, and determined to destroy the living.

If they were the same character how do you explain this interaction?

And how do you rationalize which side they’ll chose in the Great War to come. By killing thousands of soldiers, Wildlings and Night’s Watch brothers already, it’s pretty clear which side the Night King is on.

If they’re the same character, you then have to assume that Bran’s motives are ultimately evil as well, something that I can’t get on board with.

Straight From the Horse’s Mouth

Isaac Hempstead Wright, the actor who plays Bran Stark, is on already on record debunking the theory that Bran is the Night King.

Sure, he could just be trying to throw us off the scent, or perhaps it’s another clear indication that this theory is bogus. Personally, I’ve been skeptical about this theory from day one, and will happily lay -400 against it.

Chris Amberley
Chris Amberley

Sports Writer

As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.

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