WARNING: Spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8, episode 4.

The last war has begun in Game of Thrones, and it certainly looks like King’s Landing will be destroyed before the season is over. But who will light the match or utter the fateful words - and who will be really to blame when the dust settles?

Now that the White Walker threat is dealt with, Daenerys and Jon’s focus shifts south to Queen Cersei. In Game of Thrones season 8, episode 4 itself, there’s only the setup of the battle, but throughout there are mentions of King’s Landing’s destruction: multiple times from those safe in Winterfell, as a quickly-stopped plan of Dany’s and baited by Cersei holing up the citizens in the Red Keep. Just as the Winterfell crypts before them, it certainly looks like the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms is doomed.

But who will be responsible? Daenerys and last remaining dragon Drogon are the most obvious candidates. The threat of Dragonfire on King’s Landing has been present since Dany’s dream of an ash-filled throne room (or was it snow?) and Bran’s vision of a dragon flying over the city, and with “The Last of the Starks” ending on Missandei’s death, the motivation is there. Her final words were even “dracarys,” the command for Drogon to unleash his fire.

This would be very damaging for the young Targaryen’s cause. As highlighted by Varys and Tyrion, to make such a move would poison public opinion against outsider Dany, hurting her hopes of having a peaceful rule. In fact, for Drogon to level King’s Landing may be the motivation for the Queen’s advisers to turn their allegiances to rightful ruler Jon Snow aka Aegon Targaryen.

However, Dany’s not the only contender for Game of Thrones’ last bout of destruction, nor her dragon’s the only possible fire source. Cersei has form when it comes to leveling parts of King’s Landing by the use of wildfire and could conceivably add the Red Keep to that damage total to undercut the invaders, perhaps rationalizing that destabilization of the realm is worth it to retain power. This was a similar move attempted by the Mad King in his last days, with only Jaime Lannister’s Kingsguard sword stopping the fire. With Jaime now traveling south to be with Cersei, could he turn Queenslayer as well?

That said, it’s possible the destroyer will be neither Queen. Both make clear their understanding of what King’s Landing’s destruction would mean to their rule, and even as both have had their brash qualities highlighted in Game of Thrones season 8, it would be a leap to cause such desolation. Given the talk of blame, the door is open for members of one party attempt to destroy the city in a bid to frame the other. Could Tyrion, who once saved King’s Landing with wildfire, make good on his vitriol during his trial - and mention of city destruction - and blow it up to undermine his sister?

At the moment, this is all just theory, based mostly on overt winks. As previously mentioned, Game of Thrones season 6’s finale already saw Cersei destroy the Sept of Baelor, so something similar may be a little too much. There’s plenty of other ways for the key players to cause upsetting death and destruction that renders the Iron Throne moot - if none quite so spectacular.

Next: Game Of Thrones: What Did Daenerys Say To Jorah?

Game of Thrones continues Sundays at 9pm on HBO.