This Question Still Haunts 'Game of Thrones' Fans: Was Sam Spared by the White Walker for a Reason?
Perhaps Sam was meant to play a much bigger role.
Over its eight seasons, Game of Thrones unfolded an epic saga filled with dozens of characters. But George R. R. Martin’s universe was so vast, not even its many-hour-long seasons could capture every arc in full. As a result, several storylines that initially felt important were left dangling without proper resolution.
Maybe future books will finally offer some answers, but in the series, certain subplots simply hung in limbo — and Sam’s was one of them.
Why didn’t the White Walker kill Sam?
One of the show’s most puzzling scenes took place in the season 2 finale: a White Walker came face to face with Sam… and simply walked past him. The moment still leaves fans scratching their heads.
According to the show’s logic, every living human was a potential soldier for the army of the dead. Even a clumsy fighter like Sam would’ve been a valuable addition.
So why was he ignored? The writers never offered a clear explanation. Was the Walker dismissing Sam as too weak to bother with? Or was there a hidden meaning that was never explored? Some fans have theorised that Sam had a crucial future role to play in the battle against the dead — but the series never followed through on that possibility.
What did the Night King really want?
From its opening episode, the White Walkers loomed as the ultimate threat — mysterious, ancient, and relentless. Their leader, the Night King, became the face of impending doom. But when it came time to explain his true motives, the series gave only the briefest answer.
Bran Stark claimed the Night King merely wanted to plunge Westeros into eternal darkness. But why strike now? Was he driven by revenge, power, or something else entirely? And more importantly: what was the endgame once Westeros fell?
It seems likely George R. R. Martin intended a much deeper mythology in his books. Yet the show’s rushed final arc only amplified the sense that this villain’s story — like so many others — was never fully told.
