Cleganebowl is on
Fans have spent years clamoring for Cleganebowl, the climactic showdown between beyond-estranged brothers Sandor The Hound (Rory McCann) and Gregor The Mountain Clegane (Hafthr Bjrnsson). It seems pretty likely the final season will make good on this, unless the creators would rather be pestered about it for the rest of their public lives. There have been other hints, beginning with The Hound telling his undead brother in the season seven finale, You know who's coming for you. You've always known. And in addition to that classic bit of pre-fight trash talk, Bjrnsson was asked in an Instagram Q&A about his favorite scene in the show, and replied, It happens in season 8... so I can't speak about it." Granted, thats pretty vague (maybe Bjrnsson just really loved seeing Jon and Arya reunited), but it certainly suggests the big payoff is coming. Whats more, Bjrnsson followed up with a photo of himself in his Mountain makeup, looking even more bruised than usual.
View this post on Instagram Caption this! - @thorspowergym use code summer20 for 20% off of everything at hafthorbjornsson.com A post shared by Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson (@thorbjornsson) on Jul 7, 2018 at 8:18am PDT
The whole show will be revealed as Samwell Tarlys story
Sensitive and sensible, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) probably should have been gutted ages ago. Yet hes become one of Game Of Thrones unlikeliest-and most unkillable-heroes. As Bradley himself has , If he's still around at this stage, you do suspect that there is gonna be a point to keeping him around. And while the series definitely needs someone to pore over musty tomes and well, actually... Jon, many believe Sam has a much grander purpose: writing the story of Game Of Thrones.
The shows been hinting in that direction since last season, when Sam tells one of the maesters of the Citadel that his in-progress history book, A Chronicle of the Wars Following the Death of King Robert I, could use a more poetic title. Theres also the fact that sports a gyroscope very similar to the one seen in Game of Thrones' opening credits, suggesting its the origin of the show weve been watching. And finally, Martin himself has said that, of all his characters, Sam is the one closest to himself. All of this definitely points to the show ending with Sam finally sitting down to put all this to paper-perhaps while a hundred nerds gather around him, clamoring that he hurry up.
Jaime will kill Cersei
For decades now, A Song Of Ice And Fire readers have been predicting that Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) will be driven to add Queenslayer to his rsum and kill Cersei (Lena Headey). Its to the point where some now regard it as too obvious, theres no denying that anyone besides Jaime killing his sister-lover would never be as narratively satisfying. Last seasons finale saw Jaime refusing to have any part of Cerseis latest treachery and riding off, presumably toward Winterfell.
Since then, some sharp fans have noticed that, in the recent round of production photos, Jaime appears to have traded his gilded Lannister armor for , suggesting season eight will definitely see him joining Jon and Daenerys forces. With his allegiances shifted, it seems likely that Jaime will fulfill the dark prophecy that Cersei will be killed by her valonqar (High Valyrian for little brother), as well as the inevitably tragic arc of the shows most messed-up love story.
Tyrion will betray Daenerys
On the subject of prophecies, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) has long been living under the threat of three betrayals: one for blood, one for gold, and another for love. Its widely believed shes already seen the first two-a healer killed her unborn child for revenge; Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) spied on her for gold-so theres just one more to go.
Many believe it will be Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), whose relationship with Daenerys was complicated even before he watched her having sex with her nephew, Jon Snow (Kit Harrington). There have been a few, mostly inferred hints that Tyrion is in love-or at least, lust-with Daenerys, prompting him to act out of jealousy. Though its also possible hell be moved by love for his family: In his tense reunion with Cersei last season, Tyrions mood seemed to shift the second he learned she was pregnant, and their off-screen deal sparked speculation that theyd struck some sort of secret dtente. Plus, Tyrion definitely didnt seem to enjoy watching Jaime and the Lannister army getting roasted by Danys dragons. Some kind of rift is coming.
Daenerys is pregnant with Jons baby
Surprise pregnancies are a staple of final TV seasons, and theres been a lot of mounting foreshadowing suggesting that Daenerys will have one after rocking the boat with Jon, despite long believing shes barren. Jorahs insistence that Jon keep his sword, Tyrion and Daenerys oddly specific discussion about securing an heir, Daenerys taking pains to tell Jon that her dragons are the only children I will ever have-theyve definitely laid it on a little thick in setting up the shocking reveal that she was wrong. Ditto the potentially heartbreaking ramifications that pregnancy could have. (More on that later.)
Cersei is pregnant with Euron Greyjoys baby
Speaking of incest (with Game Of Thrones, when are we not?), we learned last season that Cersei is pregnant again. She let Jaime believe hes the father, but theres a growing suspicion, first proposed by PopSugar, that this was just a ruse, and that Cersei actually laid with Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek)-either out of strategic alliance, or because she could no longer resist his sweaty come-ons.
The father of Cerseis baby would seem to be a relatively unimportant detail, except for the fact that sleeping with Euron as a power move might signify Cerseis final break with whatevers left of her humanity. And as weve seen on countless Maury episodes, it would definitely piss off Jaime-maybe even enough to drive him to murder. Lets call this one mostly plausible.
Tyrion will be revealed as yet another Targaryen
Another longstanding theory says that Tyrion is actually the son of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, whom the whole court knew had the hots for his mother, Joanna. Its already been established that Tyrions late father, Tywin (Charles Dance), suspected that Tyrion wasnt really his son. Tyrions mother also died in childbirth, which seems to be standard exit procedure for Targaryen babies. Meanwhile, fans have also seized on the fact that dragons seem awfully comfortable around Tyrion.
Theyve even (maybe, sort of) joked that his bloodline was all but confirmed in . If Tyrion doesnt end up being the one to betray Daenerys, him suddenly having a whole new family to care about would one way to clear up these muddy allegiances-even if it means cluttering the final season with two secret Targaryen reveals, not to mention complicating it with yet more incestuous longing.
Jon Snow is Azor Ahai
Back to prophecies: We've spent seven seasons now hearing advance buzz for The Prince That Was Promised from Melisandre (Carice Van Houten). This savior would, presumably, be the reincarnation of the equally oft-mentioned Azor Ahai, who once saved humanity from the Others and was predicted would one day return to do it all over again. At first, the ancient sorceress was pretty sure this was Stannis Baratheon, but more recently her attention has shifted to other candidates-beginning with Jon Snow. The shows definitely been hinting that this is Jons destiny by confirming his princely, Targaryen lineage and giving him his own supernatural resurrection. In fact, if hes not Azor Ahai, its probably because...
Daenerys is Azor Ahai
The late Maester Aemon (Peter Vaughan) once said as much to Sam upon the news of Daenerys fiery rebirth as the Mother of Dragons, lamenting that translations in those ever-iffy ancient scrolls had led to everyone mistakenly expecting a man. Daenerys claim to the prophecy is as strong as Jons, so theyre pretty much equal frontrunners for the big reveal of who will wield the magical sword, Lightbringer, against the forces of darkness. Of course, no matter who gets the call, its bound to complicate their relationship. Especially if the next theory pans out.
Jon will have to kill Daenerys to save the world
Lightbringer was no ordinary sword. In the books, its said that Azor Ahai forged it by plunging it into the heart of the woman he loved, so that her blood and her soul and her strength and her courage all went into the steel. Many fans believe that Jon will be forced to make a similar sacrifice-whether its killing Daenerys to make his own Lightbringer, or offering up their unborn child to the Night King, or according to , even turning her into a White Walker. As the theory goes, they would then achieve peace between the living and dead and go on to rule together-a king descended from fire, his icy corpse of a queen, and all the sitcom hijnks that implies-to give this story the that George R.R. Martin said we should expect.
Bran is the Night King
Ever since we witnessed Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) journey into the past to completely ruin Hodors life, a popular theory has taken hold that Bran has been wreaking similar havoc throughout the past. Maybe he is, in fact, every Brandon Stark in those tales Old Nan used to tell him-including Bran The Builder, who created Winterfell and The Wall. As with Hodor, some believe he may have even accidentally driven Aerys Targaryen crazy with his whispered warnings about the White Walkers. But all of those theories pale next to the persistent speculation that Bran is actually the Night King, having at some point traveled back in time, merged with the man who became the first White Walker, then became trapped. Its all a bit heady, involving things like , and its been backed up by shakier things like their similar gait and fashion sense. That early season eight teaser-where the Stark siblings, sans Bran, -has only reignited the theory. (For his part, Wright has called the whole thing .)
Littlefinger faked his death
The death last season of Aiden Gillans Petyr Baelish, aka Littlefinger, was one of the more surprising in the shows history-not least because the master manipulator was usually several moves ahead of everything. So its no surprise many fans believe Littlefinger even outfoxed his own death. lays out the theory, based largely around a mysterious scene where Littlefinger is seen talking to an unknown young woman, who appears to whisper, Your times up before he hands her a coin.
This was one of the iron coins of Braavos, the video speculates, the same that Arya was given by the faceless assassin Jaqen Hghar (Tom Wlaschiha). The theory concludes that Baelish (whose great-grandfather was from Braavos, after all) must have paid that young woman to take on his face. His every appearance thereafter-including when Arya (Maisie Williams) slit his throat-was actually her in disguise.
This is somewhat backed up by an interview Gillen gave to the , where he explained that he never saw Littlefinger as someone who shows vulnerability, which would seem to contradict the way Littlefinger was last seen crying and begging for his life. (In that same interview, Gillen even drops the line, Your time is up.) You can certainly see the appeal of this one, even if it would mean undoing a powerful moment-and a rare win for the Starks. And even if it doesnt pan out this way, chances are we havent seen the last of Littlefinger in some form. You think Arya will let such a valuable face go to waste?
Ned Stark will return
The death of Ned Stark (Sean Bean) has hung over the entire show, so its no surprise theres a theory that it will attempt to come full circle by bringing Ned back-be it as a White Walker, resurrected by the Night King to face off against his children, or even by revealing he never really died in the first place. Again, this theory all relies on the fact that theres a bunch of guys who can wear other peoples faces hanging around, with fans concocting some especially elaborate wishful thinking about Ned meeting Jaqen in the Red Keep, who helped him switch faces so that Ned could escape.
Supposedly, Ned has spent the past few years in hiding, waiting until he could make the most dramatic of returns. As with a lot of these theories, the how is a little more thought out than the why-although this one does hold up better than the one where Ned magically escaped execution by suddenly warging his spirit into a passing flock of birds.
Just about everybody who died will return
As long as were bringing corpses back for curtain calls, why not really go for it? Based on little more than a general belief that it would be cool, there have been a few theories floated that just about everyone whos ever died on the show could return for the final battle. Again, maybe theyll be reborn as White Walkers (which seems cruel, even for this show). But some believe that they could be brought back by Rhllor, the Lord of Light, at the behest of Melisandre and whatever true believers shes probably bringing back from Volantis.
Rhllor can supposedly resurrect anyone who died in flames (or had their bodies cremated), meaning the doors open for everyone from Khal Drogo to Margaery Tyrell to Shireen to come shambling over the horizon. Still, Jason Momoa doesnt see Khal Drogo returning, at least. he said last December. Nine years now, let him go. Probably good advice for everyone.
Varys will be revealed as a merman
One of the most venerable fringe theories around Game Of Thrones is that Varys, that oily eunuch spy, is so slippery because hes literally a fish-or technically merling, squisher, or Deep One, as the books call them. These sea creatures exist mostly around the margins, mentioned only in passing in Martins novels and, as yet, never discussed on the show. Still, some fans have suggested Varys might actually be one, thanks largely to an exchange he had with Tyrion back in season two: When Tyrion threatens to throw him into the sea, Varys huffs, You might be disappointed in the results. The storms come and go, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling. Sure, maybe hes just employing a vivid metaphor there. But implausible as it is, its certainly a lot more fun to believe that season eight will see Varys at last casting off those suspiciously long robes and swimming off into the sunset.
Jon and Cersei will get married
Bored with theorizing over how Jon and Daenerys romance will play out, some have moved on to speculating that Jon will sidestep that whole messy, incestuous business and wed Cersei Lannister. Most of this theory seems to rest on the idea that both characters would find the alliance advantageous, combining their forces in order to bring peace to Westeros-Jon gaining a much larger army to take on the Others, and Cersei gaining the appearance of stability and maybe even some goodwill from a people who have grown to fear and despise her. Pairing them off would definitely be a calm, diplomatic solution to the problem, and you know how much Game Of Thrones loves those!
And the Iron Throne goes to... Gendry
As long as were talking anticlimaxes, the fact that the show has kept the bastard son of Robert Baratheon hanging around this long suggests it still has a larger fate in mind. Joe Dempsie, the actor who plays Gendry, has implied as much, hinting to that Gendry will play a substantial role in the climax. But what, exactly?
Some have seized on Martins recently published Fire & Blood, which relates , a blacksmiths son with a porn stars name whose tale could maybe, potentially point toward Gendry being the one to bring down the Night King by wielding his own giant warhammer. Gendry might also be the one who forges the dragonglass weapons to fight the White Walkers. . But theres also a popular theory that says his claim to the Baratheon monarchy will be legitimized, and the show will then end with Gendry ruling the Seven Kingdoms. After so many years of debate over which major character will ultimately win the Game Of Thrones, it would certainly be a surprise to see it go to some guy who spent four seasons . Not a good surprise, mind you.
Actually, Arya will take the Iron Throne
This one involves taking more leaps than most, but after Maisie Williams posted a goodbye photo of her bloody sneakers on Instagram with the hashtag #lastwomanstanding, some began wondering whether this was a hint that Arya Stark will inherit whatevers left of Westeros. (Adding fuel to the fire, Lena Headey then commented, YAAAAAS QUEEN.)
Theres also the fact that Williams told The Guardian that, in her final scene, shes alone-Aryas always bloody alone-suggesting that maybe the entire series could wrap with a shot of her sitting on the Iron Throne, game over. For what its worth, Vegas bookies tracking the odds currently place Arya at ninth-most-likely, lagging well behind Bran, Jon, Daenerys, Jon and Daenerys as-yet-unconfirmed child, Sansa, Tyrion, and Gendry. We literally wouldnt bet on it.
View this post on Instagram goodbye belfast. goodbye arya. goodbye game of thrones. what a joy ive had. heres to the adventures to come #lastwomanstanding #barely #immasleepforthenextfouryears #justkiddingidontsleep A post shared by Maisie Williams (@maisie_williams) on Jul 7, 2018 at 4:53am PDT
Or wait, The Night King will take the Iron Throne
Aryas chances are even worse than The Night Kings, although some cynics still believe he could render eight seasons of twists and machinations completely moot by just killing everyone, plunging the Seven Kingdoms into a new age of permanent, nigh-Midwestern wintry darkness. True, ending Game Of Thrones with one last, surprise death of a beloved character-all of them!-would be a thematically appropriate way for the show to go out. Well give you that. But as tempting as it might be, our own ancient prophecy foretells that this would seriously damage its rewatch value.
Everything will end happily ever after
Of course, if Game Of Thrones really wanted to surprise us, it could just end with everyone setting aside their ancient grudges, handily defeating the White Walkers together, pairing off into romances uncomplicated by incest, then dedicating themselves to developing a new, functioning system of government thats based in cooperation and mutual respect. But then, thats not why we watch this show, is it?