With the seventh season of Game of Thrones due to hit our screens on 16 July, HBO has been teasing fans of the show with no end of juicy tidbits.
Most recently, 15 new photos from the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, were released, prompting a wave of excitement that hasn’t been seen since… the promo they released in March. In any case, the show’s online fandom — which is roughly the size of 100 Lannister armies — has been whipped into a frenzy of speculation and excitement, and one can’t swing a sword these days without hitting a couple of theories.
So what does the next season have in store for the fans? Tyrion Lannister will make a witty comment, Jon Snow will frown handsomely and Littlefinger’s accent will inexplicably and frequently fluctuate between potato farmer and mystical leprechaun — this much we know, but the show has now traveled far beyond the reach of George R. R. Martin’s novels. As of right now, we’re treading new ground.
With that in mind, we count down 30 predictions of for Game of Thrones season 7 and discuss their plausibility or lack of.
30) Arya will wear Lord Walder’s face to murder every remaining Frey
What Walder Frey lacked in social niceties, he made up for in virility. Gross, I know. The cantankerous patriarch of House Frey sired more offspring in his time than I’ve had hot dinners. At the Red Wedding, it was Walder’s network of sons, nephews and grandsons who assisted him in the murders of Catelyn, Robb and Talisa Stark, as well as a great number of Stark soldiers and bannermen, both in and outside the castle walls.
Unbeknown to Walder, Arya Stark was also at the Twins that night, and years later she saw to it that he paid for his crimes when she opened his throat, shortly after he dined on the dismembered remains of two of his children. Again, gross. I doubt anyone watching was sad to see Walder Frey receive his long-awaiting comeuppance, but the threat he poses is far from gone. As long as numerous Freys remain to take up the mantle — and they do — the Starks will always count them among their enemies. So what’s a girl to do?
Arya possesses the rare ability to remove and wear the faces of the dead, and we’ve already seen proof that she’s not afraid to put that ability to good use when vengeance is on the table. We also know that Walder enjoyed a good old family gathering while he lived. Wearing his face – as unpleasant as that is to imagine – would make it easier for Arya to assemble his kin and do what she does best, so it almost seems like a foregone conclusion. We can only hope that the most deplorable house in the Seven Kingdoms meets a swift and satisfying end.
29) Bran Stark will revisit the White Walkers in a vision, with less dire consequences
On the surface, the White Walkers seem to be a mindless force of evil, hell-bent on destruction and widespread frostbite. That’s certainly true of the wights they create, but on-screen evidence suggests that the Night King and his generals are more than capable of intelligent thought. After all, the wildling Craster was once able to make a deal with the White Walkers that allowed him to exchange his newborn sons for personal safety, so it seems likely that the White Walkers have something akin to human consciousness.
With that in mind, why did the Night King send an entire army after Brandon Stark — a solitary, immobilized, sleeping teenager? Was it simply a showrunner decision to ensure maximum drama, or could the Night King be frightened of Bran — or what Bran can do, at the very least?
The youngest living Stark possesses extraordinary supernatural powers. Not only can he warg into animals and people alike, his head contains a streaming service like no other — a magical Netflix that can tune into any show. With Bran discovering the truth of Jon Snow’s parentage in season 6, we’ve only just started to scratch the surface of what he can bring to the table.
So what are the White Walkers hiding? What further knowledge could be gleaned from an examination of their past and present? What is Bran on the verge of uncovering and how will it help the side of the living when the final battle begins? It seems extremely likely that Bran’s continued efforts to master his power will allow him to uncover a chink in the Night King’s seemingly impenetrable armor.
Next: Necessity makes Strange Bedfellows
28) Euron Greyjoy will form an alliance with House Lannister
Who would have enjoyed watching Euron Greyjoy meet his end as Drogon’s afternoon snack? I certainly would have. Sadly, Euron’s plan to seek out Daenerys Targaryen and offer up his least impressive appendage was scuppered during his coronation. While he was bobbing for apples in the ocean, Yara and Theon Greyjoy made off with hundreds of men, most of the Iron Fleet and Euron’s credibility. Oops.
Yara’s masterful escape, and subsequent alliance with Daenerys, leaves Euron with nothing but a mediocre crown and a lot of loose ends to tie up. He once hoped to use Dany’s dragons for world domination, but those hopes are dashed, and her numbers exceed his own by thousands. If he wishes to push forward with his ambitions, his only option is to forge an alliance with another powerful house, and the only powerful house that fits his criteria is House Lannister.
Meanwhile, Cersei also finds herself at a loss, with every kingdom in Westeros but her own — the Westerlands — set against her. Though she refuses to trust anyone who isn’t herself or Jaime, she is in vital need of allies if she wishes to succeed. That’s where Euron comes in. It seems natural that these two powers will form an alliance to weather the threat of Daenerys Targaryen. It’s the only option they have.
Admittedly, it doesn’t seem likely that Euron and Cersei can establish any trust, or even like each other, but that’s not necessary when war is brewing.
27) Edmure Tully will reclaim Riverrun
This prediction really hinges on the theory that Arya will eviscerate House Frey. For the sake of argument, let’s assume that she does just that. What’s next on her to-do list?
As we saw in the season 6 finale, Arya was hanging around at the Twins disguised as a serving wench before she did away with Lord Frey. Servants are often the keepers of gossip — not being important enough to garner notice from the idle rich, they possess the ability to hear and see things virtually undetected, and tongues tend to loosen when alcohol is involved. With this in mind, it seems very likely that Arya has already learned of her uncle’s imprisonment in Walder Frey’s dungeon. She may even have seen him for herself.
Setting her penchant for murder aside, Arya Stark is a pretty decent kid at heart. She rescued Jaqen H’ghar and his vicious cellmates when the wagon they were locked in was set alight. She refused to kill Lady Crane because she had not done anything to deserve death. She champions her friends and sticks up for them, even after they’re dead and gone. It’s not a stretch to believe that she’d free her uncle and allow him to return to Riverrun.
As Tullys go, Edmure was the least competent of the bunch, but he has ensured that his family name will continue by siring a son, and the Starks need all the allies they can get right now. With her mother’s brother installed in Riverrun and indebted to her, Arya could ensure that alliance continues for decades to come. Whether the Tully army will forgive Edmure for ceding the castle is another question altogether….
26) Hodor and Summer will return… as members of the Night King’s army
Watching Hodor and Summer perish at the hands of the Night King’s army, whilst simultaneously learning the truth of Hodor’s origins, was one of the most genuinely heartbreaking moments in the show’s six-year history. If the television gods are listening, I’d like to formally request that direwolf deaths be given a permanent ban. My heart just can’t take it.
Hodor was brought to life on our screens by the excellent Kristian Nairn, who was arguably one of the most popular members of the Thrones family among fans. While we’re all sad to see him leave, it seems hard to believe that we’ll never see the iconic stable boy on our screens again.
We saw in “Hardhome” that the Night King resurrects his victims and adds them to his own numbers, and I’ve also mentioned that he appears to understand the way the human mind works. This isn’t surprising. After all, he was human once, and the way in which he coldly taunted Jon — as he and a small number of survivors sailed away from the massacre — indicated that he’s not averse to a bit of mental torture. A physical attack is not always the best way to hurt one’s enemy.
Keeping this in mind, it’s unlikely that a resurrected Hodor and Summer will be pushed to the back of the Night King’s army. He’s sure to position them front and center – not just because a fully compliant Hodor and Summer would make excellent additions to any army – but because it would hurt Bran immeasurably to see them as undead monsters. Tissues at the ready.
Next: Oh Brother Where Art Thou
25) Cleganebowl WON’T happen
Since their short-lived duel in season 1’s “The Wolf and the Lion,” it has been prophesied (by the internet) that Sandor and Gregor Clegane would come to blows once more, with one (preferably Gregor) losing his life in the process. It’s easy to see why – the Mountain is a brutish monster who loves nothing more than he loves brutal, bloody murder, while the Hound would love nothing more than to kill his brother, who is responsible for the hideous facial scars he has borne since childhood.
The old Sandor Clegane — the one who mentored Arya Stark — may well have been more than willing to fight and kill his elder brother, but the most recent season has seen him open his mind to the idea that he was made for better things. Sandor has been a dog with nine lives, surviving his trial by combat against Beric Dondarrion, and the horrific injuries he sustained in a fight against Brienne of Tarth. As Beric himself suggested when they met for the second time (“The Broken Man”), the Hound seems to have a higher purpose, and I can’t help but feel that his purpose is tied to House Stark, and by extension, the upcoming war against the Night King. After all, Sandor has gone to great lengths to protect both of the Stark girls at some point in the past.
So while Sandor heads North with the Brotherhood, in search of purpose and redemption, Ser Gregor remains in the South with Cersei and Qyburn, his personal Dr. Frankenstein. It doesn’t look as if these two will cross paths, and if they do, I think it’s more likely to happen in the final season.
Next: The Blacksmith: An Unexpected Promotion
24) Gendry will return and be legitimized as a Baratheon
We last saw the unluckiest blacksmith in Westeros in season 3, when Davos Seaworth helped him to escape from Dragonstone and Melisandre’s clutches. Since then, popular consensus is that he’s been rowing aimlessly around Westeros, with arms like Popeye and a heart that burns with love for Arya Stark. That last part was my own personal fantasy, please excuse me.
After the sixth season brought back Benjen Stark, the Freys, Edmure Tully and the Blackfish, and in doing so proved to the doubters that Game of Thrones does not abandon character arcs, merely delays them when suitable, fans (me) were more than a little put out to see that Gendry remained AWOL. If you ask me, now is the perfect moment for Gendry’s reappearance.
With House Baratheon dead, the Stormlands are without a liege lord, and an outsider like Daenerys Targaryen will want all the support she can get if she wishes to take the throne. Though Robert Baratheon ignited a rivalry between the two great families and killed Dany’s brother Rhaegar, Gendry is not his father, and Dany is not hers. If Tyrion Lannister convinces Daenerys to form an alliance with the Stormlands, it’s possible that Robert’s last living son could be legitimized for that purpose, and handed Storm’s End into the bargain.
Plus, if he needs a highborn wife, we know one scrappy she-wolf who’d be more than suitable.
Next: Not so Much as a Scratch
23) No Starks, Targaryens or Lannisters will die in season 7
This is a bold claim, considering that a Stark, Lannister or Targaryen has died in every season but the second (or every season, if you consider Alton Lannister), but it would be odd if any member of these three formidable families met their end in the upcoming season. Why? Because, since the beginning, the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryens have been the very core of the show and have remained the major players despite the best efforts of other houses. While the Tyrells, Martells, and Baratheons have fizzled away, the golden trio has survived by any means necessary. Now that winter has arrived and the White Walkers draw closer, these characters will likely be vital additions to the eight and final season.
How can there be a final battle without Jon and Bran? How will Winterfell survive if Sansa isn’t there to keep things running smoothly? Who on earth could kill Arya Stark if a Faceless Man couldn’t manage it? How will Jaime’s arc come to a satisfying end if he dies right in the middle of it? How would Dany decide to assist Jon in the fight against the White Walkers without Tyrion to guide her, and how could her armies and dragons partake without Dany to lead them? How will all of this happen without another antagonistic force, aka Cersei, actively making things harder for everyone? Kill any one of them, and the whole balance is thrown off.
As we get ready to battle the Night King, it makes sense that season 7 acts as a precursor to the action, a preparatory season, one in which the key characters meet, plan and assume their positions, rather than die off. That’s why I don’t think we’ll lose any of the big names just yet.
Season 8, however, has all the potential to be a bloodbath. Batten down the hatches.
Next: We're Having a Family Meeting!
22) Jon Snow and Daenerys will meet… before he learns of his parentage
If Jon were to hear of Dany’s arrival in Westeros and not seek her out to ask for her assistance in the war to end all wars, he’d be a fool, and while he knows nothing (allegedly), we know he’s smarter than that. If Dany were to arrive in Westeros and not find it pertinent to seek an alliance with the North, she’d be a fool. She’s not, and neither is Tyrion, so it seems inevitable that Jon and Daenerys will — at the very least — meet in season 7.
Unbeknownst to Jon, his little brother-turned-cousin, Bran, has recently discovered the secret of Jon’s parentage. He is, in fact, the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, and might have a different name into the bargain. This makes him Dany’s nephew, and that blood-tie could go in one of two ways — either they’ll be delighted to find a new family member in one another, or Dany will believe that Jon is attempting to take her rightful position as heir to the Targaryen throne, and become defensive.
As this wouldn’t be a good starting point for these two fan-favorites, and because Bran is a slow mover, it’s likely that Jon will leave Winterfell before Bran can reach the castle and tell him who his mother is. From a viewer’s perspective, that’s the most frustrating outcome possible. From a story perspective, it’s delicious. If this prediction is true, Jon and Dany’s future relationship will be based on a foundation of nothing. They may like each other, they may hate each other, they may even begin a romance, but once the truth is revealed, it’s likely to throw them into a big, dramatic tailspin. And we all love a bit of drama.
21) Arya and Nymeria will reunite
Like all the Stark children, Arya had a strong and immediate bond with her direwolf, Nymeria. In season 1’s “The Kingsroad,” she became the first Stark to lose her wolf when possessed the foresight to send Nymeria away, following a run-in with Joffrey that left him with a bloodied arm. Since then, Lady, Grey Wind, Shaggy Dog and Summer have all bitten the dust, with only Jon Snow’s Ghost remaining as an occasional on-screen presence.
If any direwolf was going to survive the dangers of Game of Thrones, my money would have been on Summer, whose connection to Bran was beyond any we’d seen between the other Starks and their pets. But Summer is dead, having sacrificed himself for his master. Meanwhile, we haven’t seen Nymeria in years. With Arya back home and traveling through Westeros by herself, surely the time is ripe for her to cross paths with her wandering direwolf?
Though they’ve been apart, Nymeria’s early departure from the show directly symbolized Arya’s own exit from King’s Landing, as she was also forced to run away for her own safety. She has remained on the run ever since, as Winterfell was taken by Theon Greyjoy, and then the Boltons, and her mother and brother were killed before the Hound could deliver her to them. Now that Sansa and Jon have retaken Winterfell, Arya has a place to call home for the first time in years, and she’s finally able to stop running. Therefore, it would be fitting, and poetic, if she and Nymeria were to unite. They’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
Next: Shot Down in a Blaze of Glory
20) Tormund will make a bid for Brienne’s heart… and get rejected
Season 6 saw fans of Tormund Giantsbane (isn’t everyone a fan of Tormund?) in a tizzy after he fell for Brienne of Tarth at first sight. The unlikely pairing has become one of the show’s most popular ever since, but don’t hold out hope for a romance between these two. Why? Because the lady ain’t interested. Those eagerly awaiting the arrival of an impossibly tall, ginger-haired baby may be waiting a long time.
Tormund’s lustful glances and awkward attempts at charm fell flat on Brienne, who seemed outright disturbed by the wildling’s interest. Perhaps she thought he was making fun of her — that’s certainly what she’s been used to — or perhaps she is still too innocent in the ways of romance to understand his true intentions, but either way, she’s made it clear that she isn’t desirous of his attention. Brienne is a female character with a tremendous amount of power and agency; she chooses to devote herself to those she feels deserve her loyalty. Right now, she is loyal to Sansa Stark and is more interested in serving her than in the possibility of romance.
Plus, Tormund isn’t Brienne’s type. She was once in love with Renly Baratheon, a man who couldn’t be more different to Tormund if he tried. Renly charmed her with his acceptance and kindness, and while Tormund isn’t exactly unwilling to accept people for their differences, he lacks the gentle, courtly charm that Renly possessed in spades.
And of course, there’s also the matter of the man with the golden hand. Fans who doubt Brienne’s love for Jaime Lannister may want to re-watch seasons 3 – 6.
19) Yara Greyjoy will die, and Theon will be forced to lead her men
“What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.” This is the motto of House Greyjoy, and it fits no character as well as it does Theon, Balon Greyjoy’s youngest son, and Ned Stark’s former ward. Theon began his story as a cocky, careless boy who betrayed Robb Stark and lost Winterfell to the Boltons in the process. He was then ‘killed’ by Ramsay Bolton in every sense but the physical. Ramsay mutilated him, tortured him and stripped him of his identity, piece by piece. By the time Theon met Sansa Stark in the fifth season, he was fully immersed in his new identity of Reek, Ramsay’s lowly slave. His old self was dead and buried.
What followed was Theon’s rebirth. Inspired by Sansa’s own fortitude in the face of despair, Theon saved her from the vicious Myranda, and together they escaped Winterfell. Since then, he has been learning, slowly, to become Theon Greyjoy again — albeit a wiser, stronger, more loyal Theon Greyjoy. From his excellent sister, Yara, he has received genuine support and assurance, and he supports her claim to the Iron Islands in return. There’s no doubt that she deserves to rule.
But the show hasn’t been following Yara Greyjoy from the beginning, it’s been following Theon. This is very much his tale, and as we inch closer to the inevitable finish line, it’s only natural that the show divests itself of any ‘extra’ characters. Margaery and Loras were the most recent victims of the cull, and it seems sadly inevitable that Yara will be the next. Although she’s great, and very clearly suited to lead the Ironborn, her death would be the much-needed catalyst for Theon’s ascension, pushing him to assume the role of leader.
18) The Stark siblings will reunite (as an unstoppable force)
The final episode of season 6 saw Bran Stark deposited close to the Wall by his uncle Benjen, and Arya Stark at the Twins, swiftly disposing of Walder Frey. It seems only right that the next stop for both Stark children to travel to Winterfell, where their older siblings, Jon and Sansa, anxiously await their arrival. Once they do arrive, their individual strengths provide all the ingredients necessary for a dream team of epic proportions.
At this point, Bran doesn’t have anywhere else to go. Once he arrives at Castle Black, Jon’s loyal buddy, Dolorous Edd, will ensure that Bran is escorted to Winterfell at once, where he can sit by the Stark family’s weirwood and hone his greenseeing skills as much as he likes. As for Arya, she could go to King’s Landing and knock Cersei off her list, but I suspect the draw of Winterfell and her family will be a stronger motivating force.
Arya and Sansa may have had their differences as children, but the trials they have suffered have seen them both grow into powerful, hardened women with a desire to punish their enemies for their transgressions. This means they begin the seventh season with a lot more in common than they once had. If they reconvene at Winterfell, it’s easy to imagine that Sansa, more than anyone else, will celebrate Arya’s actions at the twins. Where there was once hostility, we could see a strong, sisterly bond begin to form. As for Bran, he has always had a positive relationship with all of his family, and Jon and Arya have been besties since Arya was a very little girl.
Each of the remaining Stark children has impressive resumes. Sansa is a paragon of mental strength, intelligence, and experience, Arya — who is impervious to manipulation — has a myriad of skills as a trained assassin, Jon’s gift for winning loyalty has won the North to his side, and Bran possesses untold magical powers. With the four united as a unit, it’s difficult to imagine how they could ever be toppled.
17) Jorah Mormont will return… and recover from greyscale
Though last season saw the gravelly-voiced, ever handsome Ser Jorah Mormont, seemingly accept that he was doomed to succumb to greyscale and end his life as a stone man, Daenerys Targaryen was having none of it. She ordered him to find the cure to his ailment and return to her, and we’ve never known Jorah to defy his queen’s wishes. By commanding Jorah to live, Dany has basically guaranteed his survival. That’s a pretty special kind of loyalty.
In season 5, Stannis spoke to his daughter Shireen of the greyscale she contracted in her infancy, and in doing so told the audience that the disease can be cured, although how it can be cured remains a mystery. Shireen, of course, was burned to death and Stannis was executed shortly after – in hindsight, it seems that the purpose of that conversation was to set us up for Jorah’s survival. Game of Thrones loves to foreshadow with dialogue, and if any man can be as determined as Stannis Baratheon, it’s Jorah Mormont – especially where his beloved queen is concerned.
So fans of Jorah – and I’m one of them – may be spared from his doom yet. With Ser Handsome on the hunt for a cure, and plenty of intelligent people milling about in Westeros (for example, Samwell Tarly, or even Davos, who may be able to recall the healer who saved Shireen), we could see survival on the horizon for Dany’s most loyal companion.
16) Sam and Gilly will discover crucial information about the Prince that was Promised
As we saw in the season 6 finale, the library in the Citadel of Oldtown is Samwell Tarly’s Disneyland, and he’ll be spending as much time as he can perusing its shelves. If the recently-released photo of Sam and Gilly is anything to go by, Sam’s going to find a way to circumvent that pesky ‘no women’ rule, which is no surprise. Where his lady love is concerned, Sam can be as formidable as a direwolf.
Shireen Baratheon taught Gilly to read in the fifth season, and what’s interesting about this photo is Gilly is reading a document that mentions Azor Ahai. In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Azor Ahai is another term for the Prince that was Promised – a prophesied hero to whom Melisandre has referred on a few occasions. As we know, Melisandre believes that Jon Snow is the hero of this prophecy and that he is the key to destroying the White Walkers. We also know now that Jon Snow is not Ned Stark’s son, but Rhaegar Targaryen’s. If he and Lyanna Stark married before Jon’s birth, this would make Jon a prince. A heroic and recently resurrected prince. It’s easy to see why Melisandre believes in him.
Oldtown is the place where records are kept, and if Rhaegar Targaryen had married Lyanna Stark (or annulled his marriage to Elia Martell), it’s Sam and Gilly who stand the best chance of making this discovery. Moreover, the library of the Citadel contains ancient tomes and manuscripts that few bother to peruse, but Sam is a singular sort of man – he’s on a mission to beat the White Walkers with the best weapon in his arsenal, knowledge. The more mysterious the White Walkers remain, the harder it will be to defeat them, but if any duo in Westeros can uncover the secret to their downfall, it’s Sam and Gilly.
Next: An Offer he Should Refuse
15) Cersei will order Jaime to give her another child
As the meme goes, Cersei came here to blow things up and love her children… and she’s all out of children. But, as Cersei has told us before, her children are her only reason for living, and her role as their mother was the only thing that prevented her from throwing herself to her death. As dark as she is, and as low as she stoops to take what she wants, nobody watching the show has ever doubted her love for Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen.
Cersei now reigns supreme over Westeros and its many kingdoms. This means that she and Jaime no longer need to hide their true relationship from the world. Hell, she can marry him if she wants to — she’s the ruling monarch, which means she makes the law, which means marrying whoever she wants and naming whoever she likes as her heir. Monarchs need heirs to inherit their thrones, and Cersei is more than aware of this.
With this in mind, it’s not difficult to believe that Cersei will decide to have another child by him, a child who could be acknowledged by his or her father and serve as her successor should she pass away.
What’s doubtful is that Jaime will agree to it. Seasons 3 – 6 have seen a shift in his personality as he struggled to figure out who he is away from Cersei (who he is = madly in love with Brienne of Tarth) and as she insulted, derided and rejected him on a regular basis. His loyalty to her and to his family may keep him by her side for a while longer, but it’s unlikely that he’ll agree to father another of her children. And while nobody could blame him for that, Cersei is certainly not likely to take it well.
Next: Pride Comes Before a Fall
14) Daenerys will make a bid for the iron throne… and fail
It stands to reason that Dany’s top priority once she arrives in Westeros, will be to take the iron throne from Cersei Lannister, so we can expect her to mount an attack very early in the series. Everyone is expecting Cersei to fail and Dany to succeed, which is why I think the opposite – that Cersei will win a surprise victory and send a shocked, cowed Dany running to Dragonstone with her tail between her legs.
The key to Cersei’s hold on King’s Landing is, in my opinion, Qyburn, whom she has named her Hand. Qyburn is something of a genius. Not only was he able to save the Mountain from a deadly poison and transform him into some sort of Frankenstein’s monster, he assisted Cersei in blowing up the sept of Baelor and a huge chunk of his queen’s enemies, effectively creating the equivalent of a modern bomb using caches of wildfire and some strategically placed candles. In terms of sheer ability, this guy is almost as mysterious as the Night King and there’s no guessing what else he’s got hidden up his sleeves.
Daenerys is a woman who overthrew Slaver’s Bay, birthed three dragons and leads the Dothraki and the Unsullied, so her trip to Westeros is not going to remain a secret. Word of it will undoubtedly reach Cersei’s ears, giving her and Qyburn time to prepare their defenses. With Cersei hell-bent on defeating her enemies and Qyburn brimming with knowledge and skill, I’d put good money on an early victory for this audacious pair.
13) Either Missandei or Grey Worm will perish in season 7
Missandei and Grey Worm are one of the show’s most adorable – albeit least interesting – couples, and their tentative romance has brought us some genuinely sweet and emotive moments. I never knew how much I cared about Grey Worm until his life was in peril in season 5’s “Sons of the Harpy,” but apparently, I did, and Missandei did too.
Alas, it seems unlikely that their romance has much further to go. Game of Thrones is a show that loves to shock and appall us, and it usually does so by divesting itself of a few characters every year. Grey Worm and Missandei, whilst undoubtedly important to Daenerys, aren’t exactly vital to the main storyline in the same way that Tyrion is important. The show could easily drop one, or both, of them and carry on with little difference to the story, something they’ve already done with characters like Barristan, Myrcella, Grenn and Wun Wun.
Grey Worm and Missandei are undoubtedly heading into treacherous territory as they cross the narrow seat with Daenerys, and with Cersei as an enemy and Euron Greyjoy gearing up to exact revenge on his niece and nephew, they may find themselves in danger rather quickly. If one of them does die, my money is on Grey Worm for purely logistical reasons. As the leader of Dany’s Unsullied forces, he’s sure to be in the thick of the battle, and therefore ripe for the picking. Let’s hope this is one prediction that doesn’t come true – these two characters have been through enough hardship as it is.
12) Melisandre will join with the Brotherhood without Banners
The character of Melisandre is a fascinating one, and it can be difficult to determine if we should love her or hate her. Though she has done evil things – most notably, burning Shireen Baratheon to death – she does so in the name of saving the world. She truly believes that her god, the Lord of Light, moves through her and requires such sacrifices. Everything she does is done in the hope that she can assist in the war between the living and the dead, which makes her morals more difficult to judge than, say, Ramsay Bolton’s.
Though Melisandre believes that Jon Snow is her god’s chosen one and has devoted herself to him, Jon banished her when he learned of Shireen’s death. She now heads south and stands an outside chance of encountering the Brotherhood without Banners on her travels. Thoros of Myr is a fellow practitioner of Melisandre’s magic, and the two know one another. It’s possible that she will join the Brotherhood and assist them in their quest.
Look, Melisandre may be banished, but we’d be naïve to expect her to stay away from Jon. The cogs in her brain will be working overtime to figure out a way to be at his side again, and through the Brotherhood, she may find a way in. Beric Dondarrion made it clear in season 6 that their current aim is to travel North and fight the White Walkers. If Melisandre were to bump into them and offer her services, they’d be unlikely to turn her down.
Plus, we know that Mel is adept in the art of disguise. Perhaps we may see her shape-shift into a different form as she strives to return to Jon Snow.
11) Olenna Tyrell, Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes will bite the dust
I love Lady Olenna. Everyone loves Lady Olenna. The matriarch of House Tyrell has been a firm favorite amongst Game of Thrones fans since she first appeared in season 3’s “Dark Wings, Dark Words,” and Diana Rigg has been a tremendous asset to the show.
Unfortunately for the prickliest rose in Highgarden, House Tyrell is basically dead, as Olenna is unable to carry on her family line. Once she dies, House Tyrell will follow the Baratheons, Boltons, and Martells into the great abyss.
Because Cersei killed Margaery, Mace, and Loras, Olenna is hell-bent on getting revenge and as nice as it would be to see Cersei pay for her crimes, it’s not likely to happen. If Jon Snow convinces Dany to turn her attentions to the North, will Olenna and Ellaria Sand be amenable to that suggestion? They joined forces with Dany to exact revenge on the Lannisters, and in the case of Olenna, we know that she’s not overly concerned with the fates of other people. Margaery and Loras were all that mattered to her, and since they’re dead, it’s not likely that she’ll be willing to help Jon Snow in what she’ll deem a pointless battle.
Ultimately, the character of Olenna Tyrell doesn’t have much to offer in terms of the White Walker plotline, which is very likely to overtake the eight season. The war that Cersei has waged on the Dornish and the Reach will need to be resolved before then, so as to devote the proper amount of time to the war to end all wars. It looks as if we’ll soon be saying goodbye to the excellent Queen of Thorns.
As for Ellaria and the Sand Snakes, they’ve been an unmitigated disaster since season 5, and it would really be kinder at this point to put their story to bed.
10) Either Jon or Sansa (or both) will develop unexpected romantic feelings for the other
It’s widely accepted amongst fans of the show that Jon and Daenerys are going to meet and fall in love, and on the surface, it’s easy to see why. They’re both attractive, they’re both protagonists, and they’re both leaders. In fact, it seems so obvious that it’s difficult to believe that it will happen. Game of Thrones is a show that subverts common tropes and messes with our expectations. Allow me to present an alternative pairing – Jon Snow and Sansa Stark.
While Jon was extremely close to Robb, Bran, and Arya growing up, he and Sansa were often at odds, and it’s clear that they did not share a close, sibling-like bond. The idea of a Jon/Arya pairing is strange because they truly felt like siblings, but Sansa and Jon didn’t feel that way about each other, which means a romance is far more likely once they discover that Ned is not Jon’s father. Though their relationship has been fraught at points in season 6, they still trust one another, and it’s entirely plausible that some of the tension comes from one or both of them having confused, romantic feelings for the other.
Look beyond the fact that they were raised as half-siblings, and this pairing makes a lot of sense. Not only does Jon perfectly embody the brave, loyal hero of the younger Sansa’s dreams, but a Stark/Targaryen marriage (should Jon accept his lineage) would be the ideal way to forge a bond between these two families and carry on the Targaryen family name, something that Daenerys is unable to do. Supporters of a Jon/Daenerys pairing surely can’t turn their noses up at Jon/Sansa because they’re related – while Daenerys is Jon’s aunt, Sansa is his cousin, and it’s common practice for cousins – for example, Tywin Lannister and his wife, Joanna – to marry in Westeros.
As for Sansa, she is fierce, strong, capable and unafraid to speak her mind to Jon, traits that we know Jon enjoys in a woman. Besides, she’s a redhead, and Jon Snow certainly has a weakness for ginger women. Who could blame him, really?
9) Cersei will still have the throne at the end of season 7
If Cersei wasn’t one of the ‘bad guys’ in the show, she’d be widely considered an underdog. Sold into marriage at an early age, forced to comply with her father’s every wish, unable to be with the man she truly wants and consistently devalued by less intelligent people because she is not a man, she fits the bill in almost every way. Her story actually bears a lot of similarities to Sansa Stark’s, but unlike Sansa, Cersei chose to blame Tyrion and recently committed an act of terrorism, so she’s a little less sympathetic.
Regardless, she’s still an underdog, and as she begins the seventh season with little support from her subjects, many are of the opinion that she’s done for. Surely, Daenerys Targaryen will sweep into King’s Landing with her vast armies and her three dragons and snatch ultimate power from Cersei’s cold, dead hands? I think not. From Ned Stark to the High Sparrow, people are always counting Cersei out, and she’s always proving them wrong.
Cersei is a survivor, a fighter, and an intelligent woman, even if she’s not as smart as her baby brother, Tyrion. With her children dead, she has nothing but power to cling to, and she will not be willing to let it go easily. She is determined to purge the world of her enemies, she always has something up her sleeve, and she has the wily, mysterious Qyburn on her side, ready and willing to create more weapons of mass destruction. If you’re eagerly anticipating a new queen in season 7, it might be worthwhile to shelve your expectations.
8) …. and Jaime will finally leave her
In season 5, when Myrcella died in Jaime’s arms and Cersei was arrested by the Faith Militant for sleeping with Smug Cousin Lancel, I thought she and Jaime would be done for, but they limped on. I don’t want to make the same mistake twice, so as we march towards season 7 I assume that it will open with Jaime standing by her side. I assume this because Jaime doesn’t know any different — his life has always been about Cersei and his sole aim has always been to serve her.
However.
Every person has a breaking point, and Jaime Lannister reached his, before, when Aerys Targaryen tried to burn thousands of innocent people to their deaths. Granted, Jaime did not love Aerys or feel a fraction of the loyalty he feels for Cersei, but his sister knows him so intimately that there is no way she never knew how he felt about what Aerys did, and what it cost Jaime to kill him — namely his reputation, and the glowing, heroic future he once envisioned for himself. It’s clear that when she blew up the sept and everyone in it, she didn’t spare a thought for Jaime. As usual, he meant less to Cersei than she did to herself, while he devotes his life to putting her first.
Few relationships can survive this kind of imbalance, and with Cersei always going out of her way to make Jaime feel worthless and incompetent, it can’t be long before her twin decides he’s had enough and makes a break for it. If he were to leave Cersei, Jaime would have a chance to do the right thing — make peace with the Starks, reunite with his brother and fight alongside Jon Snow in the war against the Night King.
Perhaps, if Jaime is really lucky, he may even have the chance to be with Brienne of Tarth, the woman he truly loves, who taught him to be a better person and sees goodness and honor in him. Jaime is not a stupid man. Eventually, he’ll realize that he has a better option before him, one that does not involve his twin. We can only hope it happens soon.
7) Tyrion will fall for Daenerys
Earlier, we discussed the possibility that Jon Snow and Sansa Stark may be destined for a romance, now let’s look at a second unlikely pairing – that of Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen.
What we’ve seen of Tyrion and Daenerys so far is a relationship of mutual trust and respect. Dany is frequently surrounded by people who pander to her and refrain from criticizing her actions. In season 6’s “Battle of the Bastards,” it was Tyrion who was unafraid to tell her that her plan to defeat and punish the slave masters was too brutal, and it’s clear that Daenerys appreciated his honesty. She may be the queen and he may be sworn to serve her, but theirs is very much a meeting of equals. Any relationship, be it romantic or platonic, is bound to thrive on such a foundation.
Tyrion is clever and cunning, but he’s also soft-hearted, and a bit of a romantic. In previous seasons, we’ve seen that he has a sincere desire for love, but he has been perilously unlucky in his previous relationships. We don’t need reminding of how his tumultuous romance with Shae turned out.
Another thing that Tyrion has long sought is respect. He has spent an entire lifetime being mocked, derided and disrespected by the smallfolk, the other lords of Westeros and even his own family. His life has been a constant battle to be taken seriously, but in Daenerys, he has found exactly what he has always longed for – recognition, respect, and admiration from a true peer. For this reason, not to mention Dany’s beauty and strength – it’s not hard to imagine that Tyrion may fall in love with his queen.
Whether Daenerys is likely to feel the same way is another question, but she’d be a damn fool if she didn’t. Tyrion Lannister is a catch like not other.
6) Jon will convince Daenerys to delay taking the throne so they can face the White Walkers together
Jon and Daenerys approach season 7 with entirely different aims. Daenerys wants to take the throne from Cersei and assume leadership of Westeros, while Jon’s only priority is to fight and defeat the White Walkers. One aim is arguably more important than the other, although Daenerys is not likely to think so at first.
If Jon does fulfill our expectations and ask Daenerys to join his side in the great war, Dany will probably be suspicious. It’s easy to understand why – a stranger turning up on her doorstep and making claims about mythical ice beings is bound to be suspect. Luckily for Jon, Tyrion Lannister is in Dany’s employ. He knows and respects Jon, and has heard of the wights from Jeor Mormont, another man he trusted. If he believes Jon – and he probably will – he should be able to convince Daenerys to delay her plans for the throne to offer assistance to Jon.
Changing tack so suddenly is going to be hard for Daenerys. She has spent years dreaming of her ascension and has finally started to make headway after years of delay, so she won’t be happy about being asked to stall her plans again. Ultimately, though, she doesn’t have a choice. If she wants to rule Westeros, she needs to prove to the people that she’s willing and able to fight for them. She also needs support from its largest kingdom, the North, if she wants to stay in power. Jon Snow is not stupid; he won’t agree to throw his weight behind Daenerys if she’s not willing to grant him the same favor.
5) Littlefinger will die
It’s only fitting that Petyr Baelish, who was instrumental in starting the War of Five Kings, meets his end in the penultimate season.
Over the course of six years, Littlefinger has proved himself a worthy villain, always keeping one step ahead of the pack, dancing nimbly between alliances and silently igniting rivalries with masterful skill. But in the end, Petyr pales in comparison to the threat of the Night King and his army. There isn’t much he can offer in the upcoming war between the dead and the living, and from a story perspective, he seems to have expended his usefulness. His job was to incite chaos, and he did it well. There’s not much left for him to do.
All people have their weaknesses, and Petyr’s weakness is Sansa Stark, daughter of the woman he once loved, but could never have. He believes he loves her, but as with Cat, has made the mistake of assuming he knows what Sansa wants. Therefore he has placed an inordinate amount of faith in her — inadvertently befitting her with the tools she needs to bring about his downfall.
At the end of season 6, Littlefinger told Sansa in no uncertain terms that he wants two things — the iron throne, and her hand in marriage. In doing so he undid six years of mystery, for although we assumed that Petyr wanted the throne for himself, he never explicitly confirmed or denied it. As Petyr himself advised us, allowing your foes to know who you are and what you want is a foolish move, and Sansa Stark is his foe, even if neither of them knows it yet. He is still the man who deceived her father. There will be no going back for Sansa once she learns of this betrayal.
4) We’ve seen the last of Jaqen H’ghar (and Daario Naharis)
Fans are on the fence as to whether Jaqen H’ghar genuinely wanted Arya Stark to become a Faceless Man, if he was trying to push her to leave or if he was grooming her for another, unknown purpose all along. Regardless, he didn’t seem to mind when Arya reclaimed her sense of self and left him in the House of Black and White, bereft of employees and with one hell of a bloody mess to clean up. Will he come after her and punish her for her actions? Unlikely.
The idea that a Faceless Man can be No One seems dubious at best, as being No One requires the individual to become a blank slate. The Waif couldn’t do this, as she became preoccupied with her hatred (and jealousy) of Arya, and it’s likely that Jaqen could either. After all, he seemed to care about his young charge, and Faceless Men aren’t supposed to feel such attachments. My belief is that he always intended for Arya to go back home, albeit with the skills she needed to keep herself safe, and that there is no need for him to follow her there. Whatever Arya’s final purpose is, Jaqen’s role was to mentor her, hone her skills, and assist her in a journey of self-discovery. He’s fulfilled that purpose, and so his time on Game of Thrones appears to be done.
From one face-changer to another, Daario ‘Dear John’ Naharis was well and truly dumped by Daenerys in the season 6 finale and has been left to safeguard the re-liberated cities of Slaver’s Bay while she attempts to take Westeros. With only thirteen episodes left until the show ends forever, it’s not likely that we’ll ever see her return. Farewell, old pal.
3) Jon Snow will name Davos Seaworth as his Hand
Davos Seaworth is the father Westeros deserves. His combination of loyalty, sage wisdom and common decency is a rare find in Game of Thrones, which is one of the reasons why we fear for his life more and more with every passing season. The show isn’t going to let such a good and honorable character live, right?
Maybe, maybe not, but one thing that’s easier to predict is Davos’ role in the show for the foreseeable future. In season 6, he protected Jon’s body from whatever awful plans Alliser Thorne had for it, and bravely risked his own life to take a stand against them. He then stuck with Jon for the duration of the season and is his man through and through. In Jon, Davos has found a leader more worthy than Stannis Baratheon, and in Davos, Jon has found as loyal and intelligent a companion as he could want.
Jon is now the King in the North, and though Robb Stark never appeared to name a Hand, appointing a Hand is what kings tend to do. Jon has more than one good option for the role – Sansa, for example, has amassed a wealth of experience and would be well able to in deal with the Cerseis and Littlefingers of the world, but she is Lady of Winterfell, and should Jon wish to travel anywhere, it is imperative that Sansa stays home to hold down the fort. Sam would be another solid choice, but he is still a man of the Night’s Watch and he’s miles away in Oldtown.
That leaves Davos Seaworth, a man who possesses a wealth of good sense and is almost as adept at talking to people as Tyrion Lannister. To see Jon name him as his Hand would be a lovely thing, and Davos certainly deserves the honor.
2) The White Walkers will kill — then resurrect — one of the dragons
If White Walkers can be killed by obsidian and Valyrian steel, it’s not hard to imagine that they could also be killed by dragon flame. We already know that the wights – the undead army created by the Night King and his generals to serve them – can be destroyed by fire. This means that Dany’s three dragons could be vital weapons in the upcoming war against the dead. Considering their size (and apparent imperviousness to everyday weaponry), their presence could go a long way in tipping the scales in favor of the living.
As we’ve already covered, it seems likely that Daenerys Targaryen will agree to join forces with Jon Snow and take on the Night King, in exchange for his support when she claims the iron throne. If she does, her dragons could guarantee Jon’s victory, which seems far too neat and easy for this show. What made “Battle of the Bastards” so tense and exciting was Ramsay Bolton’s clear advantage over Jon’s army of wildlings, and with the Night King presenting an even more formidable foe than Ramsay, it’s unlikely that Jon will begin the final battle with any comforting safety nets.
So how do we get past that problem? Kill a dragon, and give it to the Night King as his reanimated, magical mount. The only thing more terrifying than a dragon is a dragon under the control of the Night King, and whatever mysterious, unexplored powers he has jet to exhibit. Granted, I’m not sure of how he’d get his hands on Viserion or Rhaegal, as Daenerys is likely to touch down in Dragonstone, hundreds of miles away from the lands beyond the Wall, and let’s face it, Drogon’s untouchable at this point. Still, if she and Jon do meet, it’s plausible that they may travel to Winterfell or beyond together, giving the Night King a chance to stake his claim.
1) The Wall will come down
If what Benjen Stark said about the Wall is true — and it’s reasonable to assume that it is — then the magic that is imbibed in the ice is doing a great job of keeping the Night King and his army at bay. It’s fun to imagine the White Walkers attempting to get near the Wall and being blasted back through the air, or simply standing there, scratching their heads as they try to figure out how to get past, but it also makes for a very dull show.
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For Bran Stark to continue to build and shape his powers (or even understand them), he needs a weirwood tree, and he needs relative safety. He’s not safe beyond the Wall, with the Night King’s tracking spell on his arm, which means his next option is Winterfell. This means he’ll have to cross the Wall at Castle Black. If the tracker works in the same way it did in “Home,” this means that the White Walkers will finally have a way to pass the most formidable barricade in the Seven Kingdoms. How else will the final battle commence, if not after the Night King takes his first step into the civilized world?
The Night King and his fellow White Walkers possess powers untold, and after six seasons, we can’t even be sure of the full extent of those powers. But it stands to reason that a creature who can raise the dead with a sweep of his arm could also bring down the Wall, once the magic it contains is weakened.
As a potential season-ender, nothing could be more shocking, exciting or ultimately necessary. The threat of the White Walkers will not go away until they are defeated, once and for all, and Jon and Bran can’t defeat them if they cannot meet in battle, so it looks as if the Wall, sadly, must come tumbling down.
We’d love to hear some of your predictions for Game of Thrones season 7, so feel free to sound off in the comments below, and on Twitter and Facebook. Season 7 hits HBO on July 16.