Let us go back many years ago, back when HBO’s Game Of Thrones was just beginning. When Jaime Lannister was one of the most hated characters, when Bran had just woken from the terrible fall. Back in Season 1, Episode 3, Old Nan told him stories to keep him entertained, distract him from the fact that he would never walk again. Bran always did enjoy the dark stories, and this one in particular still haunts us.
– Old Nan, Game Of Thrones [Season 1, Episode 3]
“Oh my sweet summer child, what do you know about fear? Fear is for the winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides for years and children are born and live and die, all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little lord, when the white walkers move through the woods. Thousands of years ago there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts. And women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept and felt the tears freeze on their cheeks. So is this the sort of story you like? In that darkness, the white walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds…”
This terrifying tale stayed with us over the years for many reasons, but now more than ever a question looms over us. We’ve seen the White Walkers. We’ve seen their horses…are the giant pale spiders next?
Spiders are a pretty common enemy in most fantasy tales, and there’s no doubt as to why. Arachnophobia is quite common, and even people who don’t have a phobia of spiders can agree that they aren’t exactly cute. Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit, and Harry Potter have all made use of the terrifying creature, and Thrones might be next. At least, that’s what it’s looking like thanks to creator George R. R. Martin’s tweet. Take a look.
Illustrated by legendary artist John Howe, who also worked on Peter Jackson’s Rings and Hobbit trilogies, these spiders are even more huge and terrifying than we imagined. No word yet on if these horrifying beasts will be seen in the eighth and final season of Game Of Thrones, but we wouldn’t put it past them. We’re giving up on sleep for a while after this.
Game Of Thrones Returns To HBO In April 2019.
