Editing Others (section)

==''Game of Thrones''==
[[File:Other HBO WhiteWalker.jpg|thumb|400px|White Walker as depicted in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]

There are notable differences between the Others in the novels and [[w:HBO|HBO's]] television adaptation, ''[[Game of Thrones]]''. In the television adaptation, the Others are known only as '''White Walkers'''. In the audio commentary for "[[Winter Is Coming]]", producers [[w:David Benioff|David Benioff]] and [[w:D.B. Weiss|D. B. Weiss]] explained that the change was made to avoid confusion that may arise between references to the race known as the Others and "others" meaning other groups or people within the show. Additionally, [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that the change was decided upon early in the development process to avoid confusion with the Others from [[w:American Broadcasting Company|ABC's]] show ''[[w:Lost|Lost]]'', the mysterious inhabitants of the island on which that show mostly takes place.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/12432 Stockholm and Archipelacon Report], June 28, 2015</ref>

Unlike the strange beauty Martin describes them as having in the book series, the White Walkers of ''Game of Thrones'' are depicted with frightening, emaciated appearances. In ''[[Valar Morghulis]]'', the tenth and final episode of the [[Game of Thrones - Season 2|second season]], Others appear looking like undead men without skin, their bones and muscles white from ice and snow. Their eyes are bright blue. They wear little armor and no camouflage.{{Ref|hbogot|s02e10}} In "[[Oathkeeper (TV)|Oathkeeper]]", several White Walkers appear dressed all in black.{{Ref|hbogot|s04e04}}

The language spoken by the Others, unnamed in the book series, is called [[Skroth]] in the TV series.<ref name=blackwater/><ref name=screenertv>[http://screenertv.com/television/game-of-thrones-language-creator-white-walkers-dont-speak/ ‘Game of Thrones’ language creator explains why White Walkers don’t speak]</ref> Although it was created for the first episode of [[Game of Thrones - Season 1|Season 1]] by [[w:David J. Peterson|David J. Peterson]], it was eventually not used. The language has been described to sound "ice-cracking" and "pretty scratchy".<ref name=blackwater>Entertainment Weekly: [http://ew.com/article/2012/05/27/game-of-thrones-blackwater-2/ 'Game of Thrones': How producers pulled off 'Blackwater' (May 27, 2012)]</ref><ref name=screenertv/>

The leader of the White Walkers is known as the Night King in ''Game of Thrones''. He is first seen in "Oathkeeper", transforming Craster's last son,{{Ref|hbogot|s04e04}} and next in the [[Game of Thrones - Season 5|Season 5]] episode "[[Hardhome (TV)|Hardhome]]". He differs in appearance by having a ring of small icy horns atop his skull that form a natural crown.{{Ref|hbogot|s05e08}} The synopsis for "Oathkeeper" on the HBO Viewer's Guide originally listed this specific character as the [[Night's King]], a legendary figure that has been mentioned a few times in the novels, though this was later removed. It is unknown whether this was due to an error in identification or the fact that this would be a major spoiler.

While in the novels, the backstory of the Others has barely been revealed, the [[Game of Thrones - Season 6|Season 6]] episode "[[The Door]]" has [[Bran Stark]] seeing a vision of the [[children of the forest]] creating an Other from a captured [[First Man]], in an attempt to create a defense against the invasion of the First Men.{{Ref|hbogot|s06e05}}