Winter is here. The Great War is upon us. It’s time for the living to unite, so that they can take on the dead. The Lannisters, the Starks, the Targaryens, whatever remains of the Baratheons… may have to put aside their differences to take on the Night King. And if they succeed, then kill each other to become the person who sits on the Iron Throne. If the gigantic set-pieces of the seventh season were any precursor, the eighth and the final season will only further tear the envelope.
Before the final season drops on April 14, here are 5 of the most fascinating fan theories that could come true and give someone HUGE bragging rights.
1. Samwell Tarly is Azor Ahai – The Prince That Was Promised
The portly Sam emerged as an unlikely ‘hero’ when he saved a wildling, Gilly, and her son by killing a whitewalker and then married her. He’s now training to be a Grandmaester at the Citadel, where he’s tasked with menial jobs like cleaning up the pots and pans. But if theories are to be believed then it could be Sam, who turns out to be Azor Ahai or The Prince That Was Promised.
One fascinating theory states how the showrunners DB Weiss & David Beinoff might have used misdirection with respect to Jon and Daenerys, all the while hiding that Sam is a Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar & Elia Martell. He’s inherited his mother’s Dornish good looks, while also having Rhaegar’s love for books. Which might explain that while the Tarly’s tried to raise him as a warrior, Samwell never quite enjoyed it. ICYMI: Azor Ahai is prophesised as this mythical figure, who will defeat the Night King.
2. Melisandre will return with an army
If you remember Melisandre’s last conversation with Lord Varys where she says, “I will return, dear Spider, one last time. I have to die in this strange country, just like you.” The Red Priestess goes to Volantis which has an army called the Fiery Hand, that protects the city. It’s highly unlikely that Melisandre will sit the last season out, and she could become the hand of help that comes at a very necessary time. An army of the dead bringing the winter with them, might find their match in an army that calls itself the Fiery Hand after all.
3. Bran is the Night King
This is one of the most popular and interesting fan theories to be floating around in the realm of GoT fans. After discovering Bran’s ability as a Warg that changed Hodor’s life in that unforgettable ‘hold-the-door’ scene, the fans thought it was actually possible that Bran exists as the Night King in the future. And considering how, he can live in multiple realms given his powers as the Three-Eyed-Raven, what would be more fitting that to see a Stark take on his siblings and rule over the seven kingdoms.
4. Cleaganbowl
The duel between the Clegane brothers has been eagerly awaited by most fans. And while most of us expected to see it in the seventh season itself, the showrunners only teased us about it by showing The Hound and The Mountain meeting. And here, The Hound tells his brother – “What did they do to you? Doesn’t matter. That’s not how it ends for you brother. You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.” Seeing these two brothers take each other up on what could be described as a Shakespearean duel, is something most fans will hope for in the final season.
5. Cersei will become the “Mad Queen” and Jaime Lannister will kill her too
After losing nearly everything except her brother/lover, Jaime, Cersei might become another “mad ruler” of Westeros. And Jaime might have to kill her because of that, which would be poetic for his name as the ‘Kingslayer’. And it would be an emotionally-charged moment too, considering Jaime is the only one Cersei trusts. But the cracks between the two are beginning to appear, and the fact that Jaime has a little bit of a conscience as opposed to Cersei’s no conscience – might be indicative that Dany and Jon might not have to kill Cersei for the Iron Throne. The Lannisters will take care of that between themselves.
