Game of Thrones season 8 episode 3: Melisandre twist explained

'I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me'

**Spoilers for Game of Thrones season eight, episode three ‘The Long Night’ ahead**

The Battle of Winterfell has come to an end. While many fan-favourite characters remain standing, a few also perished at the hand of the Night King.

One of the main characters to die was Carice Van Houten’s Melisandre. During the final moments of the episode – after Arya kills the Night King – Melisandra walks out into the empty battlefield and turns to dust, having completed her life’s mission to help defeat the undead.

While The Red Woman's death was not all that surprising (she previously told Varys she would “die in this strange country”), the revelation of who killed The Night King certainly was.

Melisandre, a follower of the Lord of Light, had long prophesied (starting way back in season two) that Azor Ahai, “The Prince That Was Promised”, would defeat the army of the undead.

First, she believed that person to be Stannis. Then Jon Snow. And then Daenerys, who Melisandra previously told during season seven: “The Long Night is coming. Only the Prince Who Was Promised can bring the dawn… I believe you have a role to play, as does another — the King in the North, Jon Snow.”

Yet, as we have been told a half dozen times, ”the Lord of Light works in mysterious ways”, and it was Arya who killed the Night King. The young Stark, who trained with the Faceless, was seemingly Azor Ahai all along.

Melisandre previously hinted that Arya would kill The Night King during season three. After buying Gendry from the Brotherhood Without Banners, she tells Arya her future: “I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me: brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes. Eyes you’ll shut forever. We will meet again.”

Those “blue eyes”, which are mentioned again during ‘The Long Night’, belonged to The Night King.

At the end of 'The Long Night', Melisandre realises that The Lord of Light has been working through her the entire time. Following Stannis, Jon and Dany led to this moment. Even Beric, who was a fellow follower and had been brought back to life multiple times, sacrificed himself to save Arya, seemingly knowing of her eventual encounter with the Night King.

When Melisandre dies she takes off her magical necklace and returns to the age she really is, her grey hair showing. We discovered during the sixth season that she is actually a very old woman. While no exact age was given on the show, co-showrunner David Benioff previously revealed that the character was “several centuries old”.

Chances are she followed many, many people over the years, believing them to be Azor Ahai. Arya fulfilled the prophecy, allowing Melisandre to finally rest.

‘The Long Night’ was a “gritty, epic and profoundly silly” episode according to our critic, who awarded the episode five stars. Meanwhile, the intense trailer for next week’s episode sees everyone turn their attentions to the Iron Throne and the fate of Cersei Lannister.

The final season of Game of Thrones continues every Sunday. The show will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK.