Game of Thrones Final Season – Theories, Endings and Broken Things
Well we are now less than 2 weeks away from the end of one of the greatest journeys a TV show has ever taken viewers on. I just finished a re-watch that I did with my Dad to get him on board for the final season. Really happy I did bc the memories of us bingeing the show will be ones I treasure and are a nice connection to have to the show. This is going to be event TV for every episode, the world is definitely watching. The Game of Thrones generation will remember where they were for the final season until we’re done on this earth.
But before we start I want to throw out all my theories I have for the big mysteries of the show, even the over the top ones but whatever gotta have some fun. Also want to say I’m sure the explanation for these theories is much more simple than I’m thinking. I remember the creative gymnastics I did to try and explain Arya being stabbed by the Waif and surviving. Then watched the episode and the result was pretty simple and straight forward lol but one of the great things about this show is the fuel for thought it provides. So here are all my theories for what’s coming in the final season:
THE NIGHT KING
Might as well start with the biggest questions first, who is the Night King and what does he want. We saw his origin on the show when the Children of the Forest drove a dagger in the heart of a man they captured, turning him into who we know as the Night King. We know that the Night King raised an army of White Walkers and led an attack on both the First Men and the Children of the Forest, leading to peace btwn them so they could fight together and defeat the Others. They were successful in defeating the Night King and his army, driving them back to the Lands of Always Winter, thanks to a Great Hero. To ensure safety for Westeros and the people living there, a Wall was constructed by Bran the Builder, who was a Stark, and the Children of the Forest using ice and magic. This Wall meant the Others could not pass by it and were basically trapped in their own lands.
My theory is that the Night King is a Stark and that the Stark family are kind of the bad guys of the story in the long run. One of the Children of the Forest says to Bran after he asked them who was trying to kill them, ‘You, Men.” She specifically separates the words You and Men when referring to Bran leading me to believe she actually meant, ‘Starks, Men.’ I think the Starks were leading the hunting of the CotF which is why they chose one of them to turn into the Night King. Starks have generational magic abilities like warging so they are different than other families in Westeros. The remaining Starks would know what kind of power this new monster the Night King would have with his abilities as a Stark, which is also how Bran the Builder knew how to construct The Wall to keep them out. This is also why ‘a Stark must always remain in Winterfell,’ to protect the dagger that created the Night King. I saw in one of the trailers released today, Arya holding what looked to be that dagger saying about death ‘ I cant wait to see what this face looks like.’ Only way to undo the magic that created the Night King is to reinsert the dagger into his chest, but tNK will only do this once everyone else is dead so there is no danger to himself.
***UPDATE: I have actually thought of a change to the theory about the dagger. I’m thinking that the Night King can’t undo the magic that made him with the dagger, but he could create an endless army of Night Kings with it that nobody would be able to stop. I kinda like that better but I don’t want to delete what I wrote so I’m adding it as an update like this.***
After the Night King’s army was defeated in the first Battle for the Dawn, he needed to wait to rebuild it before he could make his move. By the time he was ready Dragons were gone from the world and the Night King had to wait until they returned. When Bran the Builder constructed the Wall, he made it so that the only way to bring it down was with undead Dragon fire. They knew the odds of the Night King getting access to a Dragon were very unlikely esp as the years passed by so it was a solid plan. We know the Night King has similar abilities to the 3 Eyed Raven so I’m sure tNK had foresight about the birth of Daenerys and what that would bring. That’s why the Others started becoming more active starting around the time of Daenerys birth increasing activity to what we saw in S1E1, they knew the chance at a Dragon was coming.
Here is my next big theory – Melisandre is the Night Queen aka the Lord of Light and everything she has done is to make sure that Daenerys would fly her Dragons North of the Wall so The Night King could get his undead Dragon. We saw her out of her disguise, she is very old in her actual form. Melisandre targeted Stannis bc he was a big threat to their plan, if Stannis ever takes the Iron Throne he gives the Nights Watch the men they need to defend the Wall and there is never a reason to go beyond it, let them come. That’s why she leads to complete disaster at every turn for him, except the 3 leaches but those helped the Night King’s plan more than Stannis. Then she is there to bring Jon Snow back to life, obv crucial to getting tNK the Dragon he needs. Melisandre even says to Varys, ‘ my job is done, I have brought Ice and Fire together,’ she just has to sit back and watch at that point. The “Lord of Light” allowed Beric Dondarrion to be brought back by Thoros so many times bc he was a big part of getting the group to the spot where the Night King could get the Dragon. Everything is about the Dragon, it’s the only thing that matters bc if the Night King doesn’t get it then his army can’t cross the Wall and he is stuck where he is for eternity.
So to sum up so far, the Night King is a Stark and the dagger that turned him is in Winterfell. The Night King needs that dagger to undo that magic that made him(***UPDATE: or to create an army of Night Kings) but wants everyone dead first. Melisandre is not a servant of the Lord of Light, she is the Lord of Light and the Night Queen. She has been in Westeros to put the plan into place that will free them from their prison and give them freedom once and for all.
Coming into S8 we know the Battle of Winterfell happens in episode 3, so either the Night King/White Walkers gets wrapped up inside the first half of the season and the War vs Cersei is the climax to the series or there is something we don’t see coming. Highly unlikely it’s the former so it’s definitely closer to something we don’t expect. Here is my next theory: the Night King has 2 armies – 1 of the dead(wights) and 1 of White Walkers. The army of the dead has thousands, they are are easily killed but great for the dirty work. I believe the Night King has now built up an army of 1000 White Walkers, foreshadowed by Sam. Sam says to Jon at one point, ‘I’d rather face 1000 White Walkers than see that look on Gilly’s face.’ Well I think Sam is going to have a chance to see if he really would. There are, or were 99 for sure. Craster said he had 99 sons and he gave them all to the Night King but I’m sure they weren’t the only ones. Little Sam was supposed to be the 100th so maybe he is more special than we realize, they did try and chase him down and get him from Sam and Gilly. Could be a key to the magic or the army, or they could just want as many as possible.
This is how I think the final season will go. I believe that the living will win the Battle of Winterfell and defeat the army of the dead but not after suffering heartbreaking losses. I think Sansa will kill a White Walker with the Valryian steel dagger to save Arya. But before our guys can celebrate they will be attacked by the Lannister/(Euron)Greyjoy/Golden Company armies combined with the Second Sons led by Daario who is now fighting against Dany. Our guys have to abandon Winterfell and retreat to Moat Cailin.
Jamie tells them what Cersei will do to King’s Landing if she thinks all hope is lost. Arya and the Hound go to King’s Landing to stop Cersei. This is where we get Cleganebowl. Arya finds Cersei as Cersei is learning of the news her army was massacred by White Walkers. The Hound wins the Cleganebowl and kills the Mountain but is close to mortally wounded. Cersei tells Qyburn the world is over and to ignite the wildfire under the city. Arya tells the Hound to stop Qyburn but bc of his injury he cannot stop Qyburn in time. Arya finally crosses one of the original names off her list and kills Cersei before King’s Landing is consumed by wildfire. Jon riding Rhaegal shows up to rescue Arya before she dies in the fire.
Euron/Daario think they’re king shit in Winterfell now that the army of the dead and the Night King is defeated. Or not. The Night King shows up with his 1000 White Walker army and massacres everyone at Winterfell. The final battle is fought at Moat Cailin, which gives the living more a chance bc it’s a smaller battlefield. You need Valaryian Steel to beat them so I think we are going to see more created, they have Dragon fire and I’m sure Sam will find the instructions so Gendry can get er done. The result really depends on how GRRM planned to end it, it wouldn’t shock me at all if the Night King wins and everyone ends up dead as the show fades to black.
But my theory is I think Daenerys is the Princess That Was Promised and will be alive at the end. Daenerys will have them close to victory but The Night King will get the advantage back and be about to kill her when Jamie, who is near death, will put a sword through his back, ‘The Kingslayer sends his regards.’ At some point in this battle Rhaegal will be killed while Jon Snow is riding him and Jon will eventually succumb to those injuries. Daenerys will be too injured to ride so Bran will warg Drogon and fulfill his prophecy of never walking again, but flying and kicking some major ass. Bran will sacrifice himself to ensure victory –the Lone Wolf dies but the pack survives.
Obviously a huge part of my theories is my own imagination so they are probably way off. But I try to take facts the show has given us and plot out the most likely direction. I have a few other theories that are less likely but still fun:
Jon or Jamie kills Daenerys as she becomes the Mad Queen – During the battle Daenerys is frustrated they are losing and wants to light the Wights/WhiteWalkers up. Jon or Jamie say that their men, their friends are amongst them and she angrily responds, ‘ THEN I’LL BURN THEM ALL!!! I’LL BURN THEM ALL!!!’ and goes to ride Drogon when Jon or Jamie kills her. Jon/Jamie killing Daenerys/Cersei is more important/relevant in the books bc of Azor Ahai prophecy and how it requires killing of that person’s love to ignite Lightbringer I think. Azor Ahai not mentioned in the show so only going by what prophecy the show has talked about. Don’t think Lightbringer is a thing in the show so prob not likely this happens.
Lannisters have a similar DEAL as Craster with the Night King – in exchange for safety when the Night King came again, they would take babies from low born mothers and give them to the Night King. Remember, it was Tyrion’s idea to go beyond the Wall to get “evidence.” Only victory Dany had to start was when she listened to someone other than Tyrion. After the living defeat the army of the dead, the Lannisters join the Night King’s White Walker army as living members to fight our group. This is what leads to Qyburns horrified expression in the trailer.
Starks will have to fight their family in the crypts – bodies weren’t burnt so I think they’ll be fighting them, skeleton of Ned and all.
Jaqen H’Ghar is Syrio Forrell – Not my theory but I love it. If you watch with it in your mind, totally makes sense. Jaqen shows up right after Arya leaves King’s Landing, helps her escape her enemies and gives her future a focus. Going to Braavos allowed her to survive and gain skills she would need for the future. Jaqen/Syrio told her she was no-one until she remembered who she was, definitely a Syrio lesson. But I’m not getting my hoes up I’m sure he is dead. Buuuut we never saw Syrio die and the clang of a metal sword on the ground means Meryn Trant got beat. Plus Arya gets punished for killing Trant, she had him on her list for a death that did not happen. Only death can pay for life. At the very least hope Jaqen and the other Faceless men show up to help – A man can fight…
Bran is the Night King – maybe the Night King cant ever undo the magic so that the Night King and White Walkers cease to exist. But maybe it’s possible to have a replacement and that is why the Night King wants Bran, he is a Stark that has demonstrated the magical abilities of their family. So Bran is not the Night King now, but if the Night King wins he will switch places with Bran. So Bran would become the Night King and whoever was the Night King would become the 3 Eyed Raven. This could be where Little Sam comes in as being important to the transition, maybe they need exactly 100 Walkers for something or the 100th is more important than the others. Fuck what if the Night King wants to plunge the knife into Little Sam and that’s how he will make the switch even though Little Sam is not a Stark.
Varys kills Melisandre – he will realize who she really is and that it was her voice that answered the sorcerer. The Night King will kill Varys in retaliation fulfilling the prophecy Melisandre told Varys about, that they are both meant to die in Westeros.
Hodor as a Wight – It’s happening, you know it is. And I don’t think that will be the only tough one, prob a bunch we aren’t thinking about.
THE ENDING
My official guess for the ending is that the Night King wins, everyone is dead except for Sam, Gilly, Little Sam and the show fades to black as they huddle together with no idea how to survive from here. It’s my guess bc they say they loved the Sopranos/Breaking Bad finales and they are going to be hiding when the finale airs. This would be open ended enough to drive some people nuts but at the same time still provide some finality, just like Sopranos/BrBa. GRRM said the ending is bittersweet and this was intended to not be like other fantasies. The bad guys winning with only 1 man, woman and child lasting to the end would accomplish that bittersweet ending.
Happy Ever After ending – Dany/Jon survive and are married. Arya/Pod survive and fall in love. Brienne/Jamie survive and fall in love. Sansa/Gendry survive and fall in love. Davos kills Melisandre. None of this is happening lol
Not so happy ever after ending – Dany survives, Jon/Jorah dies. Sam survives, Gilly dies. Sansa survives, Arya/Gendry/Pod dies. Tyrion survives, Jamie/Brienne/ dies. Missandei survives, Greyworm dies. Bronn dies and never gets his castle. Bran dies, Little Sam survives destined to be the last 3 Eyed Raven that will help lead the world into the future.
Fck the Friendzone ending – Lady Mormont restores Jorah in their House. Dany/Jorah survive and fall in love. Sansa/Tyrion survive and fall in love. Greyworm/Missandei survive and get married. Arya/Gendry survive and fall in love. Tormund/Brienne survive and fall in love. None of this is happening lol
Scooby Doo ending – They have the Night King surrounded but Arya notices something and pulls off the Night Kings face to reveal Tywin Lannister! He had gone to Braavos as a young man and trained with the Faceless Men. ‘I WOULD HAVE GOT AWAY WITH IT TOO! IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU DAMN STARK KIDS’
Cheech and Chong ending – 3 Eyed Raven’s not here, man
Lol Ok I think I’ll stop there. Pretty sure I addressed everything but I’m sure once I post I’ll remember a theory I really wanted to talk about. Hopefully I didn’t lose anyone and everyone enjoyed reading. As I said, 1 of my favourite things about Game of Thrones is the fuel for thought it provided. I have had so much fun, not only leading up to this final season but throughout all seasons thinking of theories and trying to predict what is coming next. I will seriously miss it when the show is over but thanks to the depth of the World of Ice and Fire, we should be experiencing stories from this world for many years to come.
I am beyond excited for the final season to see what happens and if any of my theories are even remotely close. I have a big imagination so I doubt it but I had fun with it. After the season I am going to post a big retrospective blog on the entire show so that I can talk about the story with all of the puzzle pieces in place. There will also be a What’s Up in the World Today episode talking about the seasons and some of these theories. Only a few weeks left of the original run so I am going to make sure I enjoy and appreciate it as much as I can. Love going around and reading all the theories and breakdowns, Game of Thrones fans are def a different breed haha
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