Is Ghost Still Alive? 'Game of Thrones' S8, Episode 4 Teaser Clues Us In
by Mae AbdulbakiThe Stark direwolves have been a part of Game of Thrones since Season 1, but only one of them made it to the Battle of Winterfell in Season 8’s “The Long Night.” Ghost, Jon Snow’s pet direwolf, has been through a lot, but he was right there alongside the Dothraki army charging into the fight against the Night King and his army. However, Ghost didn’t emerge from the darkness of battle and disappeared from the rest of the episode. While everyone’s favorite direwolf could very well be dead, an image from the Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 4 teaser trailer says otherwise.
Ghost is one of the last surviving direwolves, and whether or not he survived the Battle of Winterfell means a lot to fans. Arya Stark’s direwolf, Nymeria, went on to become the leader of another wolfpack, though she briefly appeared in Season 7.
Ghost holds a special place in fans’ hearts. Charging off with the Dothraki to fight the White Walkers could’ve been a valiant send-off for the beloved pup, but the show’s writers had a different idea.
Is this a pigeon?
After it was clear the Dothraki had been dispatched by the White Walkers (RIP; they deserved better), Ghost’s chances of survival seemed slim to none. Direwolf or not, the White Walkers were a force to be reckoned with, and no human or beast stood much of a chance. Fans speculated whether Ghost was alive or not, but the Season 8, Episode 4 teaser trailer saved us from further questioning his survival.
In a screenshot from the teaser, Ghost is seen standing near Varys and behind Samwell Tarly and Daenerys Targaryen just outside the gates of Winterfell.
Ghost is alive and well and still in Winterfell.
There’s a slim chance this could be a misdirect or an editing goof, but we don’t think HBO would spend extra money on Ghost’s CGI in the promo if he wasn’t still alive in Episode 4. Assuming he’s still alive, though, why didn’t “The Long Night” make that clear? (Answer: The CGI budget was gobbled up by dragons.)
When it comes to Ghost’s experience during the Great Battle of Winterfell, there are many questions that will probably never be answered. Where did he run off to afterwards? How was he able to survive? Now that we actually have visual proof of Ghost being alive, we can rule out an offscreen death and pray to the Lord of Light that he remains that way until the series finale.
Game of Thrones Season 8 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO.
