Game Of Thrones Wasted George R.R. Martin's Children Of The Forest, But Winds Of Winter Will Fix It (Eventually)

Published Oct 31, 2026, 6:31 AM EDT

Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. 

Of all the fascinating bits of lore scattered throughout Westeros in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, there's arguably no more unique creature as the legendary and mythical Children of the Forest. While the HBO Game of Thrones series took a swing at developing this storyline all the way through to the final season in Bran's arc, Martin's writing left the details pretty vague and the adaptation ultimately botched the Children of the Forest's potential.

Fortunately, Martin has two massive novels and plenty of room to expand and develop the Children of the Forest, the First Men, and the ancient history that binds them to Westeros. Bran's journey beyond the Wall has already opened the door to some of the saga's biggest mysteries, from the power of greenseers to the origins of the Others.

The show offered a few answers but rushed past much of what made these beings so intriguing. Whether Martin can finish both remaining books is another question, but The Winds of Winter could finally give the Children of the Forest the epic narrative arc they deserve and finally establish their real purpose in the underlying mythos.

We Still Don't Know The Children Of The Forest's True Purpose

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Martin has already established quite a bit about the Children of the Forest, particularly in A Dance with Dragons, when Bran Stark finally encounters them beyond the Wall. Living in an enormous cave system alongside Brynden Rivers, better known as Bloodraven, the remaining Children are among the last survivors of a civilization that once inhabited Westeros long before the First Men arrived.

Through Leaf, Bran learns about their dwindling numbers, their connection to the weirwoods, and their extraordinary magical abilities. Their knowledge and memories are preserved within the trees themselves, with dead greenseers becoming part of the ancient network connected to the old gods. However, their ultimate role in the larger story, particularly regarding the Others and Bran's developing powers, remains mysterious.

HBO's Game of Thrones attempted to resolve some of these mysteries in Season 6, revealing that the Children actually created the White Walkers as weapons against the First Men. By plunging dragonglass into a man's chest, they ended up unleashing the very threat that would eventually endanger all of Westeros.

It was an intriguing twist with enormous potential, but the series never really followed through. The Children were effectively written out after the destruction of the Three-Eyed Raven's cave, with Leaf sacrificing herself during the attack. Their connection to the Night King was never explained, and his eventual defeat at Winterfell offered no meaningful resolution to the ancient conflict.

Ultimately, the Children became little more than an explanation for the White Walkers' existence, despite centuries of fascinating history and mythology. Martin's novels have established a much more complicated relationship between the Children, humanity, and the old gods, leaving plenty of room for a more satisfying conclusion.

Winds Of Winter Must Build Out The Children Of The Forest Story Arc

With The Winds of Winter, Martin has an opportunity to expand on one of the most intriguing aspects of Westeros' history while potentially correcting the biggest mistakes made by HBO's adaptation. Bran's storyline is especially important here, considering that A Dance with Dragons left him training under Bloodraven and only just beginning to understand the extraordinary powers of the greenseers.

There's still so much to explore about the Children of the Forest, particularly their relationship with the Others, their involvement in the original Long Night, and the true nature of their connection to the old gods. Martin could even reveal that their intentions aren't entirely benevolent, especially considering their bloody history with the First Men and the sacrifices associated with their ancient magic.

One of the biggest disappointments of Game of Thrones was how quickly the Children disappeared from the story after revealing their connection to the White Walkers. The Winds of Winter could give them a much more meaningful role in the coming conflict, with Bran potentially discovering secrets that fundamentally change how readers understand the history of Westeros.

Of course, there's also the question of whether Martin will ever actually finish the novel, let alone A Dream of Spring. But if the Children of the Forest storyline is going to mean anything and actually have a payoff, the groundwork needs to be laid in The Winds of Winter, hopefully with a much more satisfying result than HBO's Game of Thrones series managed.

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