Game of Thrones is ending soon and I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself when it’s gone.

Good evening, humans!Game of Thrones is ending soon and I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself when it’s gone.

For those who watch Game of Thrones, I’m sure you feel the same way I do: filled with both excitement and dread for the upcoming final season.

This post is going to be FULL of spoilers so if you haven’t watched or aren’t fully caught up, be warned. This post has info in it that was revealed as recently as the S7 finale.

If we’ve learned anything from the previous seven years, it’s that no one is precious in this world. The first episode opened following Ned Stark, the apparent hero of the series. Then he lost his head by the end of the first season. And he was just the first. The list of white hat characters that have died is LONG, each death just as shocking as the last.

No one is precious, and I’m sure S8 will be no different.

When I thought about writing this post, I was going to talk about my predictions for the upcoming final season but I quickly realized I can’t do that. There is no clear frontrunner for the throne. If you think you have it figured out, you’re probably wrong. I thought I did but the more I contemplate it, the more I understand that I’m probably way off base.

For a while, I thought the finale would see Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen as King and Queen, but given her entitled attitude concerning her claim to the throne (especially toward the end of S7), I doubt she’s going to take the news too well when she learns that Jon is the actual rightful heir (and her nephew). That makes her claim bogus and I think that would instantly put him in the enemies column.

For someone so insistent on everyone bending the knee, the Dragon Queen likely won’t be quick to do so for anyone else. On the flip side, I also can’t see Jon wanting anything to do with the Iron Throne, birthright or no. He’s not a “perfumed lord”, he’s a warrior. Warriors don’t swing swords when they sit on the throne. They eat, drink, and whore their way to an early grave (…….man, I miss Robert Baratheon……).

I also can’t see Cersei keeping the throne. First, she’s almost out of allies. No one is better at burning bridges than Cersei Lannister and it will be her downfall. Her own brother/boyfriend/baby daddy abandoned ship—against Cersei’s command, mind you—and marched north solo style to fight alongside Daenerys and Jon against the Night King’s army.

Provided the show isn’t riddled with plotholes, a lot of the fan theories floating around the internet are garbage too. For instance, the theory that Bran is the Night King.

While we know it’s certainly possible for a weird twist like that to happen (Bran was the one that fucked Hodor all up by worging into him while surfing a memory from decades before Bran was even born), the Three-Eyed Raven told Bran he’d never walk again, something the Night King clearly does may times throughout the series. The Three-Eyed Raven also tells him he’ll fly and that makes me wonder if he’s referring to all the raven cruising he’s been doing. Perhaps Bran will worg into Viserion and kamikaze the Night King and the wight dragon into the Narrow Sea. They can’t swim, right?

Most of the fan theories rely heavily on information only given in the books. That’s not to say that those things definitely won’t happen but without prior events from the books, it makes no sense for them to happen in the series now. One such theory is that Catelyn Stark will return as Lady Stoneheart to avenge her family’s betrayal at the Twins.

I haven’t read the books so I don’t know if she’s supposed to be a White Walker or a wight, but the events that brought her to life in the books never happened on the show. In the books, Lady Stoneheart is brought back to life by Beric Dondarrion, who sacrifices his own life for her resurrection (homie is still alive on the show). She’s then driven by the need to punish House Frey. At this point, bringing in Lady Stoneheart would seem like a convenient afterthought they threw in randomly. Plus, Arya pretty much has the vengeance game locked. House Frey is no more thanks to the little celebration she threw them wearing Walder Frey’s face.

As a side note, George R.R. Martin has also spoken in interviews about his displeasure at the show runners’ decision to cut the Lady Stoneheart storyline, so there is that as well.

There are a few things that stuck out to me over the course of the series that I believe might be important to the upcoming final season.

One of the fan theories posits that Tyrion may have struck a deal with Cersei to ensure her unborn child is named as Daenerys’s successor to the throne in exchange for the truce. This one is definitely plausible, especially if you take into account the furrowed brow he throws at Dany’s door when she and Jon are doing the no pants dance as they’re sailing to White Harbor.

If he made the deal fans think he did, Dany and Jon hooking up would certainly throw a wrench into those plans. Dany thinks she can’t have children but as Jon pointed out to her, the witch who murdered her husband may not be the most reliable source of information. Though, she’s done plenty of boning and hasn’t turned up pregnant yet.

Additionally, Tyrion only found out Cersei was pregnant when she placed her hand on her abdomen during their one-on-one meeting. In the moment, it seemed like the gesture was an accident—an involuntary reflex that most expecting mothers experience at some point throughout their pregnancy.

But Cersei is an evil bitch who never does anything by accident.

I think the gesture was 100% intentional. I think she wanted Tyrion to think she’s knocked up. Knowing how deeply he cared for her other children, another Lannister child coming would almost be a surefire way to sway him to her side, at least to some degree. She had no reason to spare his life when they were alone in that room with The Mountain. He went in knowing he’s probably die, Jamie knew he’d probably die, Jon and Dany knew he’d probably die. I THOUGHT SURE HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE. Cersei has made no bones about concealing the fact that she wants his head on a pike. There would be no consequences to having him killed right then (he is a wanted murderer after all) and she’d have one less enemy in the world. So why let him live?

I think Cersei’s pregnancy is a farce. It would make sense from a strategic standpoint on several fronts. A new child would likely ensure Jamie’s loyalty, which has understandably wavered given all the monstrous shit she’s done as of late. They even had a conversation where she spoke about their dynasty and he says something along the lines of, “What dynasty? We’re all that’s left.” Then she miraculously turns up preggers several episodes later. I don’t think that was coincidence.

A new child could also help her maintain her hold on the people of King’s Landing. A baby royal means hope for a better ruler in the future, but it also means citywide celebrations. Let’s be honest, the people of King’s Landing are about as loyal as starving dogs. They’ll follow whoever fills the food dish, even if that person does shit like blow up the entirety of the church to avoid trial for crimes they’re 100% guilty of….

But most importantly, the unborn child could be used as a way to get Tyrion to work toward her own ends while serving the Dragon Queen. If he thinks Cersei is pregnant, Tyrion could use his position to stay the Dragon Queen’s hand when the time comes to do away with Cersei once and for all. Surely she wouldn’t execute a pregnant woman, right?

There is also the witch who gave Cersei the prophecy when she was a young girl . She told Cersei she’d have three children—all gold crowns, all gold shrouds—and they’re all accounted for. That would be Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen—all blonde, all dead.

There are a few things I’m reeeeally looking forward to in the final season.

Jon & Arya’s Reunion

These two haven’t seen each other since S1E2 when she left for King’s Landing and he marched north to take the black. In that episode, he gifted her with her sword Needle, which is still sheathed at her side. When he gave her the sword, she was just a little girl with no clue how to use it. Now the girl has grown into a walking weapon.

Their reunion when he returns to Winterfell is going to make me sob. I already know it. When he and Sansa were reunited at Castle Black, I sobbed, and they didn’t even like each other in the early episodes. He and Arya on the other hand were super-tight. I hope to see a little of the old Arya when she sees him. Not that I don’t love Arya as a Faceless Man (seriously, how much more badass could she get???), but if anything was going to bring out the old her, it would be seeing Jon again. We saw a tiny glimpse of her when she and Sansa are standing on the battlements of Winterfell in the S7 finale. They’re talking about their father. Her face softens and she says, “I miss him.” That look on her face. That’s the old Arya.

Cersei’s Demise

Bitch is going DOWN!

Much like Joffrey, hers is a death I’ll be wishing for every episode. She’s done so much deplorable shit that I will thoroughly enjoy seeing her bite the big one. There is no way she survives. She can’t. She’s a major villain through all seven seasons. If she’s allowed to win this whole thing, I’m going to SCREAM. As a ruler, she’s a tyrant. Literally no one is safe as long as she sits on the throne. Even with the threat of the Night King and his army, her #1 concern above all is killing her human enemies. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I’d love to see her end up as a wight. It would feel like justice, I’m just saying.

There is so much I will miss about this show when it’s finally gone. The thing I love most about this show is a certain selection of the side characters.

Samwell Tarly because he’s the quiet hero you can’t help but love. He’s got a beautiful brain on him and I can’t wait to see the role he plays in the war to come.

Ned Stark is another. Okay, I get that he’s dead but his presence is still super-strong on the show. Robb Stark died and for the most part, no one really cares. lol I mean, they do but of all the dead characters, no one really talks about him or contemplates his being gone the way they do with Ned. One fan theory actually states that Ned is alive and the guy who died in front of the statue of Baelor was a Faceless Man. It’s a stretch—like, the width of the Grand Canyon—but this would make my little fangirl heart sing.

Winterfell. Yes, a building. lol I hate snow and winter and cold and snow and cold and snow but I would totally live in Winterfell. As a viewer, the Battle of the Bastards and the reclaiming of Winterfell by the Starks made me all teary. It felt like coming home even though it’s not mine.

Tormund Giantsbane. This man is HILARIOUS and I’m going to be übersad if he dies.

Ser Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane is another one. He’s a grumpy shit but I kind of love that about him. He’s the character I never expected to give a shit about but in recent seasons, he’s become a bit of an antihero. The Broken Man is one of my favorite episodes with guest star Ian McShane and it’s really the first time that we see a side of The Hound that we hadn’t seen before.

Brother Ray: What kept you going?

Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane: Hate.

Brother Ray: No, there’s a reason you’re still here.

RAY: No, a reason. Gods aren’t done with you yet.

SANDOR: I’ve heard that before. Man was talking about a different god, though.

RAY: Well, maybe he was right. I don’t know much about the gods.

SANDOR: You’re in the wrong line of work.

RAY: Oh, there’s plenty of pious sons of bitches who think they know the word of god or gods. I don’t. I don’t even know their real names. Maybe it is the Seven. Or maybe it’s the old gods. Or maybe it’s the Lord of Light. Or maybe they’re all the same fucking thing. I don’t know. What matters, I believe, is that there’s something greater than us. And whatever it is, it’s got plans for Sandor Clegane.

SANDOR: If the gods are real…why haven’t they punished me?

RAY: They have.

And finally, Ser Bronn of the Blackwater. I know his loyalty is flimsy at best but he’s never been shady about the fact that he’s a sellsword. His loyalty goes to whomever is giving him the gold. I really dislike the fact that he’s a Lannister bitch right now. Well, the wrong Lannister anyway. I want to see Bronn and Tyrion reunited and working on the same side again but given his first encounter with Daenerys’s dragons, I doubt we’re going to see that happen. I hope I’m wrong. Plus, Bronn has some of the best quotes ever.