This 'Game of Thrones' fan theory could mean our heroes won't be facing the ultimate villain on the next episode

• Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season eight, episode two, "A Knight of Seven Kingdoms."
• Sunday's episode of the HBO show ended with the army of the dead in view of Winterfell.
• But the Night King and the undead Viserion were both not shown.
• Some people believe the Night King is on his way to King's Landing.
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Sunday's episode of "Game of Thrones" ended with the army of the dead approaching Winterfell, setting up a massive battle, but the fight may not be what the heroes are expecting.

As some fans noticed, the Night King and Viserion were conspicuously absent from the shot of the White Walker army approaching the castle. One theory posits that the Night King may be skipping the battle at Winterfell and is instead heading down to King's Landing with some of his troops to take the Iron Throne from Cersei Lannister.

Read more:Next week's 'Game of Thrones' episode will be nearly 90 minutes of epic battle. Watch the new teaser here.

Bran has had visions of events in King's Landing that have yet to happen

Back on season four, when Bran started having visions, he saw a glimpse of the throne room in King's Landing covered in snow and eerily empty. He also saw the shadow of a dragon pass over the city.

On season six, Bran had a series of visions that quickly flashed scenes from both the past and the future. He once again saw a dragon's shadow over King's Landing during that vision. As of now, Cersei is still on the Iron Throne, and no dragon has made it down south, so Bran's visions could be of the Night King arriving in the city.

Daenerys also had a vision similar to Bran's

On season two of "Game of Thrones," Daenerys had some visions when she entered the House of the Undying in Qarth. In one of them, she walked into a deserted throne room of King's Landing and saw it covered in snow. The Iron Throne sat empty, like what Bran saw in his vision. Maybe Dany was seeing winter come to King's Landing because her former dragon, Viserion, was going to end up in the hands of the Night King.

If the Night King isn't in Winterfell, Bran's plan is all for naught

During Sunday's episode, as Winterfell's best leaders and fighters discussed their battle plan for fighting the Night King, Jon said their best bet is to defeat the Night King to take down the entire army. Jaime said that the leader of the dead wouldn't expose himself in battle, but Bran interjected to say that he could be used to lure the Night King out into the open.

"He'll come for me," he said. "He's tried before, many times, with many Three-Eyed Ravens."

Read more:'Game of Thrones' finally delivered some key answers about the Night King and what he wants

Bran's plan is to sit in the godswood and wait for the Night King to come to him. Theon offered to stand guard with the Ironborn soldiers with him.

If the Night King has instead gone down to King's Landing, using Bran as bait won't work. That also means that Jon's hope of ending the battle as quickly as possible can't happen.

"Game of Thrones" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

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• Everything you need to know about the haunting song featured on Sunday's 'Game of Thrones' episode
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