As filming on Game Of Thrones eighth and final season comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to unpack the wildest and scarily possible theories circling the Westeros web.
With the White Walker armies having penetrated The Wall, the show’s final season looks set to be an icy assault as Jon Snow, Daenerys and company push themselves to breaking point for Iron Throne dominance.
How season eight will bring an end to the biggest TV show ever has unsurprisingly sparked theories far and wide – so here’s all the best which could, perhaps worryingly, still happen.
Jaime Lannister will kill Cersei
Many fans believe Jaime Lannister is primed to kill his twin sister Cersei, essentially killing the ‘mad queen’ like he killed the Mad King Aerys II.
This is based on the valonqar theory, where Cersei receives a prophecy from Maggy The Frog stating she will marry a king, become queen, have three children and watch them all die.
One part not mentioned in the show which features in the books is Cersei will die by the hands of ‘the valonqar’ which translates to ‘little brother’ in Valyrian. Every other part of the theory has come true so far, and with Jaime now riding solo after leaving King’s Landing – will he return for the ultimate revenge?
Arya will kill Cersei by using Jaime’s face
Putting a Faceless spin on the valonqar theory, some believe Arya Stark will utilise her assassin ways to kill Jaime Lannister, before making a mask of his face and murdering Cersei in disguise to knock off another name on her kill list.
It would still fulfil the prophecy while tying nicely with Arya’s mission, and would also potentially overcome the hazardous plot turn of making audiences believe Jaime would be driven to kill his half-sister.
Jon Snow will be killed by Euron Greyjoy
A moment in past episodes has indicated Jon Snow could be biting the dust once again, this time at the hands of Euron Greyjoy.
In episode five of season seven, Samwell Tarly overhears the maesters discussing a prophecy from Lordos which says the Drowned God will return to ‘destroy Aegon the Conqueror’.
Jon Snow’s real name was confirmed to be Aegon in the last season, with Euron having referred to himself as the Drowned God in the past (even though it could technically refer to Yara or Theon too).
It feels like Euron’s part to play in events has yet to truly emerge, so we wouldn’t be too surprised if he’s responsible for a huge death.
Bran Stark is the Night King
One of the more common theories is Bran’s potential relation to the Night King, which harks back to the Three Eyed-Raven Bran having travelled back in time and warging himself into the man who later becomes the White Walker leader.
It’s believed this could be the first step of their connection, with a Stark sigil appearing in the White Walker formations also teasing a potential link between them. Or it’s an easter egg, just saying.
Bran Stark is actually responsible for Game Of Thrones
Reddit user NegativeKarmaSnIIfer goes one step further on the Bran revelations, believing he’s the sole reason events in Game Of Thrones have spiralled like they have.
It’s established in season six episode Oathbreaker how the people in Bran’s visions might be able to hear him, with the theory stating the voices the Mad King Aerys Targaryen heard inside his head was actually Bran trying to help – before he technically became the Three Eyed Raven.
Jaime Lannister kills Aerys to save King’s Landing, with Robert Baratheon taking the throne – so could Bran have caused Aerys’ madness and, essentially, sparked the entire chain of events?
Jon Snow and Daenerys are related on a deeper level
It was revealed in the last season how Jon Snow and Daenerys are related as aunt and nephew, but a theory believes this could be smoke and mirrors for a closer connection.
Some fans have noted how there’s inconsistencies in Dany’s childhood – with her saying she grew up in Braavos with a lemon tree, even though lemon trees only grow in Dorne.
It’s led some to believe Daenerys might not have the childhood she was told, possibly because her father isn’t Aerys, but Rhaegar, making her Jon’s sister.
Alfie Allen, who plays Theon Greyjoy, also referred to Jon Snow’s parents as a ‘Luke Skywalker’ situation. While possibly referring to his surprise parentage, some have taken it more literally as indicating, like Luke and Leia, Dany and Jon Snow are actually brother and sister taken into hiding and separated by different families (Targaryen and Starks respectively).
Why would the show want to make this manoeuvre, you ask? A brother and sister partnership atop the Iron Throne? It’s a possibility.
Varys is a merman
Okay, let’s get silly. One theory via Nerdist believes Varys is simply a merman who wants to free his fellow sea dwellers, otherwise known as ‘merlings’ in A Song Of Ice And Fire.
The main crux of the theory focuses on the speed Varys travelled from Dorne to Dany’s ship. The showrunners may have given the whole show pacing excuse, but isn’t it more imaginative to imagine Varys has a tail which allows him to speed across the high seas?
Season seven has teased Varys has an odd secret to drop through conversations with Melisandre, so could he secretly be of fish-kind?
Jon Snow is The Prince That Was Promised
It’s pretty obvious Jon Snow is important in the world of prophecies, but which exactly does he fit the bill for?
The Prince That Was Promised prophecy from the Lord Of Light touts a hero reborn ‘amidst salt and smoke’ to combat the darkness, who will essentially be Azor Ahai reborn.
Azor Ahai is a legendary figure in the faith of R’hllor, the Lord of Light – who, thousands of years ago, forged the sword Lightbringer to the defeat a great evil.
In an episode of season seven, Melisandre even suggested Daenerys could be The Prince That Was Promised – remarking how the translation from High Valyrian isn’t gender specific.
Gendry will be legitimised by Jon Snow or Daenerys
Its common knowledge Gendry is actually the bastard son of former king, Robert Baratheon, meaning he has a claim to the Iron Throne in his own right.
He however needs to be legitimised, with many believing Daenerys or Jon Snow could give Gendry the boost-up he needs for their own gains. It would re-establish one of the great houses of Westeros and allow them to use the castle at Storm’s End for strategic purposes, along with having more influential power in winning over smaller houses.
Cleganebowl
Will this ever happen? The theorized battle between Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane and brother Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane.
Gregor is responsible for giving Sandor his burnt scars after thrusting his face into burning coals, leading to his lifelong fear of fire. Their bitter hatred of one another has remained ever since, and a battle between them has been touted by fans, and hinted at, ever since.
Season seven gave us our biggest indication it will happen after the pair reunited in the Dragonpit, with Sandor remarking: ‘What they did to you doesn’t matter. It’s not how it ends for you, brother. You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.’
Samwell Tarly is writing Game Of Thrones like Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit
Many clues have been picked up around Samwell Tarly’s adventures with the maesters, but one theory reckons Game Of Thrones is taking a leaf out of JRR Tolkien’s book.
The maesters write the histories of the world, with the second episode in season seven causing many fans to believe Samwell could be chronicling the history of this period as it happens.
In the episode, Archmaester Ebrose tells Sam writing with style and accuracy is the key to making sure your work is read in the years to come, remarking: ‘I’m not writing “A Chronicle of the Wars Following the Death of King Robert I” so it can sit on the shelf unread.’
After Sam pulls an unimpressed face, Ebrose asks what he’d name the book, with Sam replying: ‘Possibly something a bit more poetic?’
This has led many to believe Samwell is ‘narrating’ George RR Martin’s A Song Of Fire And Ice series, due to its more poetic title.
Tenous? Possibly. A pretty cool idea to close this chapter? Most definitely.
Game Of Thrones season eight is set to be released in 2019.
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