This is a blog I’ve been meaning to write for quite some time now but was afraid because of how long it’s going to be. But now that the trailer has been out for two weeks, and I suspect it is the only trailer we are going to get, I figured now is the time to delve into this blog.
Thrones is my favorite show. I got into it late- started watching before season 6- and have become a full fledged thrones nerd. I’m talking deep dives into reddit theories, watching every “Alt-Shift-X” video, and rewatching the entire series a dozen times to see if I missed anything in season 2 that could be relevant to season 8. I never thought I would like a show more than Always Sunny, but here we are. So what is going to happen in season 8? Who sits on the throne when the dust settles? What happens in the war between the living and the dead? Who dies and who lives? I’ve asked myself these questions so many times and have changed my answer each time. As I write this blog I know my mind will change tomorrow on one of my opinions, but that’s the beauty of the show- it is so unpredictable that nobody really knows what is going to happen. But I’m going to give it a shot.
We know the ending is going to be bittersweet- George Martin said so himself. Now, what bittersweet means in the sick, twisted mind that gave us the Red Wedding, Shireen burning to death, and Grey Wind being slaughtered, neither myself or any redditor knows.
For starters, I don’t think the White Walkers win. That would be too easy and not really bittersweet. For something to be bittersweet there needs to be some good with the bad. Assuming the night king wins means every character we have come to know and love will die. Jon, Dany, Tyrion, Tormund, etc. will all fall to the NK. That is thrown out the window in my opinion.
I also don’t think Cersei stays on the throne because, again, that would mean every character we actually like will die. I do think she dies, though. The show left out the third part of the valonqar prophecy Maggie the witch told Cersei when she was a kid which was that her little brother will strangle her to death. I do think we get a flashback in one of the episodes that show this third part being read to Cersei this season. She clearly thinks Tyrion is the brother in question but remember, Jaime is younger than her as she came out of the womb first. It will be Jaime that ends up killing Cersei when he realizes whatever it is she has planned.
I also am more torn on Jaime than any other character. His character arc has been the best in the show and killing Cersei would be one way to complete his arc, as well as have his Kingslayer moniker come full circle in that he killed who was on the throne. But I could also see him fulfilling the Azor Ahi prophecy that states the Prince that was promised will kill the night king. I could go on and on about that so I wont, but if you aren’t familiar and want to learn about it check this out.
Most people think Jon will be the one to fulfill this prophecy and as much as I would love to see it be Jaime, I too think it will be Jon.
From the first trailer of season 1 to the last episode of season 7, we have seen Jon become the main character of the show. He is the literal Song of Ice and Fire. It wouldn’t make sense for him to not be the one to kill the Night King and end The Long Night. Part of the bittersweet ole George is talking about comes into play here, in my opinion, in that in order to kill the Night King he will have to kill Dany.
The last time the white walkers came to Azor Ahi defeated them by yielding a sword called Lightbringer, which was forged by plunging his sword into the heart of the woman he loved. Dany, after realizing she isn’t the rightful heir to the throne, will sacrifice herself for the people, further cementing Jon’s history of shitty luck. He doesn’t want to lead the Nights Watch, or be King In The North, but is elected to do so and because of his honor fulfills his commitments.
Out of those main characters I see it like this:
Jaime helps defeat the white walkers, ends up having to kill Cersei, then kills himself because he wants to die with her.
Jon is forced to kill Dany to defeat the Night King and ends up on the throne (if there is even a throne left).
Tyrion will go home to Casterly Rock and live out his life as a winemaker like he wishes to be in season 5, and finally finishes his honeycomb joke.
Sansa becomes Warden of the North and ends up marrying Gendry. In season 1 Rob Baratheon says, “I have a son. You have a daughter. They’ll marry.” Everyone thought that was Joffrey and Sansa but no, it’ll be Sansa and Gendry, which will make people sad because Arya and Gendry are supposed to be together. Buuuuut…
Arya’s gonna die. I can’t see her plot going in any direction but this. She’s not a politician, doesn’t want to marry a lord, and only skill is being a trained assassin. She will help defend the north but at some point in the season die along the way.
I could keep going as there are a bunch more characters that are still involved in the show. But those characters are the ones we’ve been with since season 1 and who everyone wants to see live or die. While there is no certainty in Game of Thrones you can be sure than there will be more unpredictable events that unfold throughout season 8 that will make you laugh, cry, yell, and, curse Martin, Benioff, and Weiss for putting you through an emotional rollercoaster for the last 8 years.
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