HBOThe very first scene of the series introduced the White Walkers, the nearly unstoppable beings that live Beyond the Wall. Since then theyve been a background element and underwhelming secondary villain on the show. We didnt really know what they were or wat they were capable of, so it was difficult to see them as a real threat. Then we took a trip to Hardhome. At the end of that Season 5 episode it all became clear; this was the real threat. The show did a genius job in putting all the focus on the power plays and politics for those vying for the Iron Throne and then, completely unexpectedly, showing us that none of that matters at all. The White Walkers have more power, more strength and more numbers than any army in Westeros and they will only get stronger. The introduction of the Nights King also put a terrifying face on the enemy and shows that these arent just mindless creatures, but rather a fully formed army with a purpose. That purpose is to kill their way to Westeros. Now that the show has made the White Walkers interesting, more and more emphasis will be placed on them until they are the only thing anybody will be concerned with. As the Westerosi villains begin to fall and the characters begin to reunite, the attention will turn to threat that comes from the North and the impossible task of trying to stop them. Get ready for a very long winter.