Game of Thrones season 7 episode 6: Who died if anyone? An explanation [spoilers]

The episode was accidentally broadcast early by HBO Spain

Game of Thrones season 7's sixth episode ended up online four days early today after accidentally being set live for an hour by HBO Spain.

We try not to discuss spoilers when they're stolen - as with the HBO hack - but given the network did actually broadcast the episode, we'll be covering it for those who did manage to watch.

As such, please take this opportunity to click away if you haven't watched episode 6 yet as major spoilers are ahead.

There were three major deaths in the show this week, and the saddest one didn't involve a human.

As Daenerys rescued the White Walker kamikaze squad expedition from an army of dead, the Night King grabbed an icy spear and hurled it at one of her dragons, striking it in the neck and downing it.

It wasn't made abundantly clear which dragon died (Drogon, Rhaegal or Viserion), but we can safely say it was Viserion, identifiable by his lighter body and red wings.

Viserion dies...

...Before being dragged from the water...

...And turned into a wight. (HBO)

Drogon (who Dany was riding) and Rhaegal howled as their brother slid under the ice, Dany forced to watch her child (the most merciful one at that) die in front of her.

Worse still, the end of the episode suggested that Viserion will return as a wight.

Side note: It felt like a missed opportunity to not have Rhaegal rescue Jon given, like Drogon, he can presumably sense Jon's Targaryen blood. Going from three dragons down to two does quite neatly leave one dragon for Daenerys to ride, the other (named after his dad) for Jon to ride though, as we head into the final season.

Aside from a couple of anonymous freefolk and a ton of wights, the other deaths this week were Thoros of Myr and Benjen Stark.

Seven men were never going to make it back alive from that mission and Thoros of Myr froze to death not long after sustaining injuries from the wight bear the group encountered. Benjen Stark meanwhile made a very convenient unexpected return, saving Jon from marauding wights and putting him on a horse before being engulfed by wights himself. The jury's out on whether he's now dead or a wight.

Looking beyond bloodshed this week, Daenerys debuted an incredibly badass winter outfit.

Read more: R.I.P. Viserion - an obituary