There are clear tensions between Jon Snow and the Night King throughout Game of Thrones, and this may leave viewers wondering why the characters never fight one another in the HBO series. Whenever the Night King and Jon Snow come across one another in Game of Thrones, their interactions are limited to intense staredowns. Even during the Battle of Winterfell, Jon fights the Night King's army — but he doesn't clash with the villain himself. The same is true during the Massacre at Hardhome, and Jon considers attacking him when he kills Dany's dragon. However, he doesn't get close.

All these interactions between Jon and the Night King appear to be building towards a showdown between them later on. However, it's Arya Stark who ultimately defeats the leader of the White Walkers. This is a part of rivalry between Jon and the Night King is never explained or given closure. The Night King doesn't seem eager to clash with Jon either, which begs the question of why they never come to blows in the fantasy series.

Did The Night King Fear Jon Snow?

He Doesn't Underestimate Him During Game Of Thrones

Although Jon gets angry enough to move towards the Night King in season 7's "Beyond the Wall," the Game of Thrones villain doesn't seek out a direct confrontation with him. This raises questions about whether he's afraid of Jon. And while it doesn't seem like he's scared, it's obvious he doesn't underestimate his adversary. The Night King doesn't offer recognition to many of the characters in Game of Thrones, but he notices Jon every time the two meet in the midst of a battle. He keeps his eye on him, suggesting he knows that Jon is a potential threat.

The Night King doesn't even seem to fear Daenerys and Drogon during the Battle of Winterfell, so it's interesting that he seems to respect Jon. This could be because he knows Jon has enough influence in the North to mobilize against him. Jon also has the diplomacy skills to convince others to forces against the Night King's army, which the villain may sense. There could be more to their dynamic as well, especially if the Night King has knowledge of Jon's true parentage and claim to the Iron Throne — though it's not clear how he'd come by this.

Could The Night King Beat Jon Snow In A Fight?

Game Of Thrones Never Shows The Night King Fighting One-On-One

It's a shame that the Night King and Jon never actually fight one another, as it's hard to say who would win without seeing it unfold. Although the Game of Thrones villain is terrifying in his own right, the show never actually depicts him in combat. We see him raising the dead, and he proves to be fireproof during the Battle of Winterfell. But whether the Night King could actually trade blows with Jon Snow is questionable, as he's never seen using a sword or another weapon. It's also not clear if he has any powers that would allow him to go on the offensive.

From what Game of Thrones actually shows, most of the Night King's power seems to stem from his undead army, dragon, and inability to die.

From what Game of Thrones actually shows, most of the Night King's power seems to stem from his undead army, dragon, and inability to die. All these things would make him an intimidating opponent, but Jon has his own strengths on the battlefield. That said, the Night King killing Theon is probably the closest the show comes to revealing his combat skills. And he does move quickly and efficiently, so he could potentially match Jon's abilities. Unfortunately, we'll never know for sure, as Game of Thrones doesn't spend enough time on its White Walker story.

The Two Real Reasons The Night King Didn't Fight Jon Snow

There Are 2 Possible Explanations For This Game Of Thrones Decision

There are two main explanations for why the Night King and Jon never fight in Game of Thrones, the first being that the Night King really has no reason to face his adversary in one-on-one combat. The villain has an entire army at his disposal, and he likely uses the same logic as Ramsay Bolton during the Battle of the Bastards: "I don't know if I'd beat you. I know that my army will beat yours." And the White Walker army does nearly defeat Jon's and Daenerys' forces; it's only thanks to Arya's Faceless assassin skills that they actually win.

And Arya is the second reason that Jon and the Night King never fight, as she winds up killing the villain in Game of Thrones season 8. This seems to be because the creators wanted to subvert expectations, having a less obvious character defeat him instead of Jon. This dubious decision ensures that viewers won't get closure about the Night King's dynamic with Jon, which is one of the more disappointing outcomes of Game of Thrones.