The meeting between survivors of the Night’s Watch (including a very dolorous Edd) and Tormund and Beric’s group at Last Hearth revealed just how fast the dead and White Walkers were moving south, and poor young Lord Umber was killed and cruelly (although somewhat awesomely) posed to send a message.
The dead are very, very, very fast-approaching.
The army that broke through The Wall in the Season 7 finale is on the move, and Game of Thrones’ pacing issue from last season that had characters all but teleporting from place to place isn’t going to do the living any favors.