Jon Snow encountered a similar pattern in Season 3, episode 3, titled 'Walk of Punishment.' Jon is beyond The Wall, far out in wildling country when he stumbles upon a circular design of dead horse remains, during which wildling ruler Mance Raydar comments on the artistry of the White Walker token pattern, hinting at having seen it before. They ignored it, only to later be killed by the wights when they came back to life. In the beginning scene of the Season 1 opener, 'Winter is Coming,' a trio of Night's Watch rangers stumbled upon a spiral of chopped wildlings north of The Wall. The first time the spiral pattern was spotted on the show was all the way back on the very first episode. However, the meaning behind the symbol is still fairly cryptic. The fire engulfed the White Walker and the body parts circling him, bringing to light an interesting spiral symbol GOT fans have seen a number of times on the show. Moments later the little Umber returned to life as a wight and tried to attack Tormund, causing Beric to set the undead boy ablaze with his fire sword. However, young Lord Ned Umber, who was earlier commissioned to return home and bring his people to safety in Winterfell, was discovered dead, hanging on a wall with a spiral of human remains surrounding him. In the final moments of Season 8's first episode, titled, 'Winterfell,' Tormund Giantsbane, Beric Dondarrion, Eddison Tollett and a number of Night's Watch members arrived at Last Hearth-ruled by House Umber-where they find no sign of life remaining.

The Night King and his growing army of White Walkers have advanced since the undead was last seen bringing down The Wall with the help of the Night King's new pet dragon, Viserion, last season. Although the Season 8 premiere on Sunday marked a reunion of sorts for several characters in Winterfell, the episode also chillingly revealed the evil currently ravishing the North. Winter has officially arrived on Game of Thrones.

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