Game Of Thrones season eight has many intriguing possibilities — so it’s time to do a Three-Eyed Raven impression and look at some of the cool events that should happen.
Most of these WILL happen … although some of them we just hope will happen. See if you can tell the difference.
So, release the spoilers and let’s get going …
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READ NOWARYA WEARS LITTLEFINGER’S FACE
Come on, this has to happen. It’s too good an opportunity to miss. He’s dead and he won’t even notice that’s Arya is wearing a Littlefinger mask. Plus, there could well be a need to get into King’s Landing to confront Cersei (and finish off some others on her Kill List).
Watching her kill off the Freys wearing a Walder mask was fantastic. Watching her kill, say, Qyburn in a Littlefinger mask would be priceless.
CLEGANE BOWL
Do we need to say more? When The Hound faced up to The Mountain in the Dragonpit, millions of fans were chanting for a Clegane Bowl. It didn’t happen then but it has to happen. Just listen to The Hound: “What did they do to you?” he asks his brother.
“Doesn’t matter. That’s not how it ends for you brother. You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.”
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Obviously The Mountain is Cersei’s personal bodyguard. Cersei has to die next season, so The Mountain has to go first. Did The Hound see this vision in the fire? Who knows? Let’s just savour the anticipation for when these two giants go for it.
WINTERFELL FALLS
It seems a shame when they’ve just rebuilt it. But the Night King is coming with zombie giants, zombie bears and a zombie dragon, plus about 100,000 wights.
It has seen some good battles, including the slaughter of Stannis Baratheon and of course the Battle of the Bastards, where Ramsay got smashed. But this is going to make that look like a couple of toddlers squabbling over Lego in the back seat of a car.
We’re going to see the Unsullied, Dothraki, Northerners and Wildlings, supported by dragons, taking on a horde of wights. Remember Hardhome? That wasn’t even the entree for this battle. That was the hors d’oeuvre. It is going to be bloody fantastic.
JAIME KILLS CERSEI
She is destined to die at the hands of the “Valonqar”, Valyrian for Little Brother. Yes, she could die at the hands of Tyrion. But those are lame ways for such an incredible character to go.
Tyrion could kill her but nothing he can do to her would top the way he shot his dear old dad Tywin on the dunny with a crossbow. No, she needs to die at Jaime’s hands. Of course the anguish will kill him as well but it will be an incredible scene.
THEON KILLS EURON AND FREES YARA
This is the pay-off after seven seasons of cowardice, torture and whimpering from Theon Greyjoy. Fired up by some wise words from Jon Snow, he’s off on a mission to free his sister and wipe the smirk off his uncle’s face.
Not sure how he’s going to do it, but it will be fun to watch. Plus he’ll save everyone’s arse by stopping the Golden Company from turning on Jon and Dany.
JON RIDES A DRAGON AND DRAGONS FIGHT IN THE SKY
The Night King has Viserion, while Daenerys rides Drogon. This season Jon Snow-Targaryen, will get to ride Rhaegal.
There is a theory that he couldn’t escape with Dany on Drogon last season because you can only ride one dragon in your lifetime — and now he’s got one left waiting for him. Now, once they are both in the air, they are going to take on White Walker Viserion.
JON KILLS DANY/DANY KILLS JON
When they discover that the Night King can’t be killed by dragon fire, then it’s on to Plan B. Melisandre will explain to them about Lightbringer, the magical sword that can kill the Night King — and how it needs to be endowed with the soul of the wielder’s true love by plunging it into their heart.
So, whichever one of these two is Azor Ahai, the Prince/Princess That Was Promised, will have to kill the other to make it happen. We know it’s inevitable, because they spent so long last season talking about how they were going to defeat him “together”.
Technically that will be true, because one of their souls will be living in the magical sword. Of course there is always the possibility that Beric will sacrifice his resurrected life to bring one of them back, the way he does in the books to bring back Catelyn Stark.
JON/DANY KILL THE NIGHT KING
So, whichever one of them survives will then take on the Night King in single combat, no doubt while many of our other favourites sacrifice themselves to make that happen. On that basis, it appears that Daenerys will be Azor Ahai.
If Jon was taking on the Night King sword to sword, it wouldn’t be dramatic enough. Jon’s too good a fighter. But Dany is not a warrior.
The idea of her duelling with the Night King, with the spirit of Jon Snow in her magical sword, is intoxicating.
She could even be pregnant with Jon’s child, to make it more poignant. Of course she/he has to win but it will be a close-run thing. And when she gives birth to Jon’s son it will become the “bittersweet” ending that George RR Martin promised.