The Battle of Winterfell, the climactic clash between the forces of the living and the army of the dead, takes place in Game of Thrones season 8, episode 3, "The Long Night." The episode received several criticisms from audiences members, many of whom felt disappointed that no human character faced off against a White Walker in single combat, with Theon Greyjoy's (Alfie Allen) sacrificial charge towards the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) coming the closest.
Several fans believed that Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) would be the one to face off against the Night King, as their rivalry had been teased since season 5's "Hardhome." However, Jon and the Night King never cross blades during the battle, with Jon's "sister" Arya (Maisie Williams) ultimately delivering the killing blow against the White Walkers' leader with a sneak attack that shattered both him and all the undead soldiers he'd brought to life. While a Jon/Night King fight would certainly have improved "The Long Night," a different character in addition to Jon should have to face off against a White Walker in an epic, one-on-one duel, especially with some of the setup from the previous episode.
Sam gives Jorah the Valyrian steel sword Heartsbane
Back in season 6, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) brings Gilly (Hannah Murray) back to his childhood home of Horn Hill on their way to the Citadel. After Sam's father Randyll (James Faulkner) acts especially rude towards Gilly when he learns she is a wildling, Sam leaves Horn Hill for good, and, in an act of defiance, steals Heartsbane, House Tarly's ancestral Valyrian steel sword.
Heartsbane does not come into play at all throughout season 7, though this is when Sam, during his time at the Citadel, meets Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen). The two become friends after Sam risks his life to successfully cure Jorah of Greyscale, allowing him to leave the Citadel free from infection to rejoin his beloved Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in her quest to conquer the Seven Kingdoms.
Sam and Jorah reunite in Winterfell, shortly before the battle. As the forces of the living prepare to fight, Sam gifts Jorah with Heartsbane, asking him to wield it against the undead. Sam calls on the memory of Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo), Jorah's late father who served as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Jorah agrees to wield Heartsbane in Jeor's memory.
This is a huge moment for Jorah, whose past crimes and failures have kept him from possessing a Valyrian steel sword. When Jeor initially presents Jon with Longclaw, House Mormon's ancestral Valyrian steel sword, back in season 1, he explains that it was once wielded by Jorah, but after selling men into slavery and fleeing to Essos, Jorah proved himself unworthy of the blade and left it behind when he fled to Essos. Jorah turns Longclaw down once again in season 7, when Jon Snow offers it back to him during their expedition beyond the Wall. He believes that Jon is more worthy to wield the weapon than he is. In season 8, once Jorah finally accepts a Valyrian Steel sword, he has reckoned with his past, not forgiving himself for his heinous crimes, but ready to move forward and claim the valuable heirloom for himself.
Jorah doesn't get to use Heartsbane for long
Jorah only ends up wiedling Heartsbane during the Battle of Winterfell. He is killed towards the end of the episode, after successfully defending Daenerys from a swarm of wights. While Jorah's last stand is undeniably badass, audiences have seen him fight off wights before during the expedition beyond the Wall in season 7, meaning Jorah never uses Heartsbane for anything new and exciting during the Battle of Winterfell.
As such, Jorah should have wielded Heartsbane against a White Walker. His acquisition of the sword is a huge character moment that ultimately feels swept under the rug amid the chaotic carnage of the Battle of Winterfell. Giving him the chance to use his new weapon to face off against a terrifying undead foe he's never directly fought before would have provided more payoff to Sam's gift.
Additionally, Jorah fighting a White Walker would have brought his relationship with the North full circle. Initially, Jorah fled the North, his home, after betraying its customs and morals. If he had ended up fighting a White Walker, he would have returned to the North to defend it from its greatest threat, fighting alongside Jon (who, again, should have faced off against a White Walker himself as well), the "son" of the man who exiled Jorah in the first place, Ned Stark. This display of Northern strength would have made the Battle of Winterfell feel more cathartic in regards to multiple character arcs, and created more significance for Heartsbane, Jorah's redemption, and Sam's bravery in stealing the sword in the first place.
For more from the world of Westeros, make sure to stream House of the Dragon season 3 on HBO Max.
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