{"id":14217,"date":"2019-04-22T12:32:20","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T16:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=14217"},"modified":"2019-04-23T13:49:33","modified_gmt":"2019-04-23T17:49:33","slug":"night-gathers-now-my-watch-begins-final-survivors-nights-watch-prepare-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2019\/04\/night-gathers-now-my-watch-begins-final-survivors-nights-watch-prepare-battle.html","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNight Gathers, and Now My Watch Begins:\u201d The Final Survivors of the Night\u2019s Watch Prepare For Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Wikimedia<\/a>
Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cNight gathers, and now my watch begins,\u201d so states the first line of the Night\u2019s Watch vows. Though they are not a house as is traditionally conceived of in \u201cGame of Thrones,\u201d members of the Night\u2019s Watch share a common bond and fierce loyalty like any of the noble houses. Commonly called \u201ccrows\u201d for their all-black clothing, they were the only ones to have the slightest idea about the real danger that was descending on Westeros from the wilderness north of the Wall for the better part of seven seasons. At the end of season seven, the Wall the Night\u2019s Watch had spent over 8,000 years guarding was finally shattered by the Night King. The few surviving members were recalled to Winterfell where those aware of the threat planned to make their final stand.<\/p>\n

The Night\u2019s Watch made up a significant portion of the cast\u2019s supporting characters in the early seasons. Jon Snow was the most notable member, but he was joined by the likes of Eddison Tollett, Samwell Tarly, Maester Aemon, Benjen Stark, Olly, Pypar, Yoren, Jeor Mormont and Allister Thorne. Of the many named characters, only Eddison Tollett and Samwell Tarly remain as brothers of the Night\u2019s Watch. Jon was released from his vows following his assassination and subsequent resurrection. The others were all killed in a variety of skirmishes with mutineers, Wildlings, wights and White Walkers.<\/p>\n

The first two seasons of \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d show the Night\u2019s Watch dealing with what have been their normal problems for some time. They are short on recruits and supplies as they are viewed condescendingly by most of Westeros. Joining the Watch was once considered to be an honorable profession, but it has increasingly become the refuge of criminals who seek asylum at the Wall. According to the laws of Westeros, any man who joins the Night\u2019s Watch is given a clean slate and will not be prosecuted for their former crimes. Most of the Night\u2019s Watch is worried about the number of recruits and supplies, but the only active enemies they tend to deal with are disorganized Wildling raids. There are, however, hints of something more dangerous lurking beyond the Wall.<\/p>\n

In season three, the Watch comes face to face with the White Walkers for the first time. The Watch is overwhelmed, and many of the survivors mutiny in the aftermath. Simultaneously, the Wildlings have banded together to attack the Wall in an organized assault in a desperate attempt to reach Westeros, the only area currently safe from the White Walker\u2019s advance. The Wildlings are fended off, but in season five, Jon Snow is elected Lord Commander of the Night\u2019s Watch, and he allows them to enter Westeros. The Night\u2019s Watch\u2019s famous vows state that members of the watch act as \u201cthe sword in the darkness\u2026the watcher on the walls\u2026the shield that guards the realms of men.\u201d Jon interprets this to view the Wildlings, many of whom are women and children, as also being worthy of the Night\u2019s Watch\u2019s protection.<\/p>\n

This decision gets Jon killed at the end of season five, but he is resurrected in season six. As he has \u201cdied at his post,\u201d Jon\u2019s \u201cwatch is ended.\u201d He is free of the vows of the Night\u2019s Watch, but he intends to continue supporting them in their battle against the Night King. Jon leaves Eddison Tollett in charge of the Wall. Tollett is on duty when the Night King finally breaches the Wall at the end of season seven.<\/p>\n

Season eight sees the Night\u2019s Watch greatly diminished, but their dedication to their purpose is greater than ever. The vows of the Night\u2019s Watch read, “Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”<\/p>\n

Neither Jon nor Sam have been terribly faithful to the vows to avoid attachment or crowns. Both Jon and Sam have a single female lover, and Sam is helping his lover, Gilly, raise her son. Jon, meanwhile, was crowned King in the North. Sam, Jon and Eddison, however, have all stayed fiercely faithful to their vows to defend mankind from the darkness. Each has faced the White Walkers and their undead wights. With the Night King\u2019s army at Winterfell\u2019s doorstep, the three surviving members of the Night\u2019s Watch are preparing, once again, to risk their lives in defense of mankind. They may not be the most experienced members of the Night\u2019s Watch, but no one can doubt their dedication to the portion of their vows that matter most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cNight gathers, and now my watch begins,\u201d so states the first line of the Night\u2019s Watch vows. Though they are not a house as is traditionally conceived of in \u201cGame of Thrones,\u201d members of the Night\u2019s Watch share a common bond and fierce loyalty like any of the noble houses. Commonly called \u201ccrows\u201d for their…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":616,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1],"tags":[3962,3963,595,131],"class_list":["post-14217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pop-culture","category-television","tag-game-of-thrones","tag-game-of-thrones-season-8","tag-hbo","tag-television-2"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cNight Gathers, and Now My Watch Begins:\u201d The Final Survivors of the Night\u2019s Watch Prepare For Battle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Night gathers at Winterfell, and the few remaining members of the Night\u2019s Watch prepare to confront their ancient enemy one last time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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