Game Of Thrones: 8 Things We Learned From "The Watchers On The Wall"

4. Sam Is War-Hardened

Before the battle begins, Sam and Pyp are notching arrows into their crossbows. Pyp asks Sam how he€™s not afraid, but Sam replies that he is. Pyp then asks how he was able to kill a White Walker while being afraid, and Sam responds that he didn€™t have a choice with Gilly and her baby in danger. When he killed that Walker, he ceased being Samwell Tarly and was simply nothing. When you€™re nothing, you€™re not afraid of anything. Now, Sam is not nothing. During the battle, Pyp and Sam hold a position near the gate. Pyp shoots the arrows and Sam reloads the crossbows. Unfortunately, Pyp can€™t make a shot, and as the wildlings draw closer, they€™re forced to abandon their position. Retreating further into Castle Black, the two take up another position and continue their sniping. Pyp finally hits someone, but as he aims for his next kill, he is shot in the neck by Ygritte. Sam holds him and tells him help is on the way. Minutes later, Pyp is dead. Sam sets his body down and runs to the Wall elevator system. He is noticed by a Thenn, and the cannibal rushes towards him. Barely loading his crossbow in time, Sam shoots the Thenn in the head just as he reaches him. Later, on Jon€™s orders, he releases Ghost to help take down the wildlings. Sam has never been skilled in combat, and even once admitted that he was a coward. As a steward of the Night€™s Watch, he€™s been able to avoid fighting for the most part, aside from killing that White Walker. However, despite being terrified, Sam was able to channel that fear and help his brothers during the battle. Obviously he€™s not the best soldier, but he performed his duty and fought diligently. No one can accuse him of being a coward anymore.