The pervasive online theory is that Bram is the Night King. Somehow.
I can’t help but wonder how the leftist producers will insert an anti-Trump message into an episode this season. It WILL happen, as leftists in Hollywood have to earn their bona fides.
Here’s my prediction.
The Night King & Snow Zombies win. Bran is either involved or becomes the new Night King. A remnant of humans retreat to islands - Iron Islands maybe or more southern islands. The Night King & Snow Zombies have their civilization. (Remember Not our universe! - a GRR Martin universe!). Their civilization runs it’s course. They dread or have uncomfortable misgivings regarding the coming of Spring\Summer. (Summer is coming! Arrgh!) It comes, the cycle begins again.
Thus Martin continues his theme of the rise & fall of civilizations. His loose parallel with Global Warming continues. (Martin remember is a liberal. It would not surprise me that somehow he blames his universe’s humans for the cycle!) Right now his Ice Age style cycle where its just part of their universe seems to me where’s he’s going with the story. So many Starks, many Lannisters, many Tagaryons, etc. This story is one cycle! I think this explanation fits what I see in his style of story telling.
Nah. The Night King laid dormant for a thousand years. In fact the new series which takes place a thousand years before GOT will likely reveal who and how the Night King came to be. This franchise is making a lot of people very rich and making many famous. I bet the next series after the 2nd one will be in the future after GOT.
I don’t think Bran is the Night King now, but he might become his replacement to lead the dead away from the living. Or even sacrifice himself once he has control of the leader of the dead so that the threat can be eradicated.