The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones is less than a month away, which means it’s about time to brush up on all the loose plot threads and unfulfilled prophecies that the show has yet to tie up.
For a series that made a name for itself by subverting viewers expectations – often in the most gut-wrenching of ways – literally anything seems possible going into the final stretch. But let’s take a look at some of the more popular theories about how it all could end and examine which ones are still possible headed into the last six episodes.
Can’t Happen: The Other Aegon Targaryen Claims The Throne
There are so many Aegon Targaryens floating around Game of Thrones that it can be hard to keep track of them all. While Jon Snow’s birth name was actually Aegon Targaryen, there was another Aegon that was born before him to Rhaegar Targaryen – this time, to Rhaegar’s first wife, Elia Martell.
While this Aegon is long-deceased in the show, he’s still alive in the books. In fact, last we heard, he’s on his way to claim the Iron Throne before his Aunt Dany can get there first. Of course, the show seems to have skipped over this plot-point entirely to better highlight Jon Snow’s storyline instead.
Can Happen: Tyrion Is The Third Targaryen
In the books, Dany is told during a vision that “the dragon has three heads,” pointing to the possibility that she will conquer Westeros with two fellow Targaryens — just as Aegon did ages ago. Now that Jon has been revealed to be her nephew, that still leaves one more Targaryen for this prophecy to come true.
With everything we know, Tyrion seems to have the most evidence in his favor. Like Jon and Dany, he is the outcast of his family whose mother also died while giving birth to him. Tyrion also has an unexplained connection with Dany’s dragons.
Can’t Happen: The Horn Of Winter Brings Down The Wall
The Wall coming down at the end of season seven definitely signified the beginning of the Great War – which could also be the last war ever fought in Westeros should the Seven Kingdoms not get their acts together.
In the show, the White Walkers use Dany’s resurrected dragon to bring the Wall down at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. But there has long been the theory that the Walkers have/ will discover the mythical Horn of Winter, which might also be capable of collapsing the Wall. This could still come to pass in the books, but that possibility has already come and gone in the series.
Can Happen: Bran Is The Night King
With the distinct abilities to warg and Greensee, Bran Stark is currently one of the most powerful beings in Westeros. No doubt, he will play a vital role in trying to defeat the White Walkers. But is there a possibility that in doing so, Bran dooms himself to become the Night King?
Bran has learned that he can affect past events, which has led to no shortage of theories about his role in the Game of Thrones mythos. So there’s always still the chance that Brans tries to prevent the creation of the White Walkers, only to have a part of himself trapped within the Night King’s body.
Can’t Happen: The Three-Headed Dragon
Game of Thrones if overflowing with prophecies, one of the most prominent of which points to the existence of the three-headed dragon. This is the belief that there are three Targaryens alive and at play in Westeros. Tyrion is certainly a favorite, as he is the black sheep of his family who also has a strong connection with Dany’s dragons.
But the theory that these three Targaryens would mount up on Dany’s dragons to battle the White Walkers is totally shot now. Unless, of course, the Night King ends up being the third Targaryen – which seems very unlikely.
Can Happen: Jon Forges Lightbringer (With Dany’s Heart)
Lightbringer is the sword of the legendary hero Azor Ahai, who — not unlike the Prince Who Was Promised – delivers the world from darkness. As the story goes, Azor Ahai spent one hundred days and one hundred nights forging the sword before he thrust the blade through his wife’s heart in order to create the legendary weapon.
With many believing Jon to be the story’s ultimate hero, some have speculated that he may need to sacrifice Dany at some point to save the realm. After all, there’s no telling how Dany will react when Jon’s claim to the throne is revealed to be stronger than hers.
Can’t Happen: Littlefinger Is Still Alive, And He Wins The Throne
Ever since Littlefinger met his demise last season, fans have been speculating that the master of deception is somehow still alive. After all, there was an open-ended scene where Littlefinger seems to hand a coin to a mysterious blonde woman in exchange for information. So might Littlefinger have hired a Faceless man to take his place? Could he be making his final play for the Throne after all?
This seems highly unlikely considering that Faceless men need the face of the person they’re going to impersonate. Though it’s very possible that Arya utilizes Peter’s likeness at some point in season eight.
Can Happen: Jaime Betrays Cersei
When Cersei was a child, a witch named Maggy the Frog told her that she would have three children and that they would all meet their demise during her lifetime. However, in the books, there is another part to this prophecy, which says that Cersei will be choked to death by the “Valonqar” – which is the Valyrian word for “little brother.”
Many suspected this to be Tyrion for a number of years, but it’s looking increasingly likely that the prophecy will be fulfilled by Jaime. Being born second, Jaime is still technically a little brother to Cersei.
Can’t Happen: Meera Is The Third Targaryen, And Jon’s Twin
Howland Reed is one of the most important characters to not appear in Game of Thrones outside of a flashback. Howland was at the Tower of Joy with Ned, and he was one of the few to escape the scene alive.
With many fans speculating over who the third Targaryen is, some have hypothesized that both Meera Reed and Jon Snow were the twin children of Rhaegar and Lynna. But at this point in the series, we’ve explicitly seen that Jon (then known as Aegon Targaryen) was the only baby to be born at the Tower of Joy.
Can Happen: The White Walkers Win
Anyone who thinks that Game of Thrones will have a happy ending has clearly not been paying attention. While a number of characters seem dead-set on destroying the White Walkers, many still remain obsessed with acquiring power for themselves. Could this spell ultimate victory for the Night King and his army of Undead? Even if it doesn’t, we can’t imagine Game of Thrones ending without the White Walkers knocking off a number of our favorite characters in the process.
