Game of Thrones' Isaac Hempstead Wright explains what Bran Stark was REALLY doing during Battle of Winterfell

The youngest Stark sibling took a back seat during the epic battle 
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The third episode of Game of Thrones’ final season brought the show’s biggest battle yet – but some characters played a greater role in the epic fight than others.

While Stark siblings Arya (Maisie Williams) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) were integral in defeating the evil Night King, some fans noted that younger brother Bran didn’t seem to pull his weight during the clash between the forces of the living and the dead.

Though Bran deliberately made his way to the Godswood in order to act as bait for the Night King, viewers noticed that the youngest Stark didn’t appear to be using his psychic Three-Eyed Raven powers to help his allies.

Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright has since stepped in to clear up any confusion about what his character was getting up to, claiming that it would have been “impractical” for him to use his powers in battle.

Psychic powers: Bran Stark spent most of the battle 'warging'
HBO

“As far as I understand it, he’s just in the ravens,” the 20-year-old star told the New York Times.

“He’s just keeping tabs on the battle. But having lots of shots of ravens flying around wouldn’t be of much interest! And it would be pretty impractical for him to be like, ‘Hey, Theon, can you run over there and tell this guy to get out of the way of that guy?’

Impractical: The actor explained why Bran couldn't use his powers in combat
HBO

“Bran recognises that all he can do is sit there and let whatever happens, happen. We saw how quickly all their plans disintegrated! There would have been no chance of an efficient communication system.”

Hempstead Wright also cast some light on the extended eye contact between Bran and the Night King before the latter’s death, suggesting that his character had sympathy for the undead villain.

Game of Thrones: First look at Season 8, Episode 5

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“Bran saw the creation of the Night King, or the first White Walker, or whatever,” he told the paper.

“He realises that he was once just a normal guy who… didn’t ask to become this raving, crazy ice killer… He was trapped into this Night King’s body, and programmed to kill everyone.”

Newly released photos from Game of Thrones’ upcoming fifth episode tease yet another epic battle, after Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke)’s forces made their way to King’s Landing to take on Cersei Lannister.

Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week, Clarke said that episode five “is bigger” than the Battle of Winterfell.

“I mean, four, five and six – they’re all insane,” she told the late night host, urging fans to “find the biggest TV [they] can” to fully appreciate them.

Game of Thrones continues on Sky Atlantic on Mondays at 2am and 9pm and is available to stream on demand via NOW TV.

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