GAME OF THRONES SEASON 8. Possible spoilers

[OneInAMillionYou]

Given we are only a week away from the final season, I thought we should have a shiny new thread to discuss the episodes as they are broadcast.

Anyone else going to be starting their watch at 2 am on Monday 15th?

I've watched the trailers and teasers dozens of times, and I am READY!

I have a theory that the Battle for Winterfell in Ep 3 will be lost, and they will have to move south, re assemble at Dragonstone or Kings Landing. After all, here are three episodes to fill after that!

I think Rickon was. Not sure about Ned. His bones were returned to Catelyn, so it's possible. Robb and Cat weren't, but Cat isn't a Stark anyway.

Did anyone see the way Sansa reacted to Theon.....I thought maybe there might have been a spark between them.
Also that perhaps the whole Bran and the Night King story line might be a bit like harry potter.....that they are connected.

Sansa was definitely looking at Theon like a besotted schoolgirl, not sure he'd dare to think that way of her...(might have veen more of a 'we've been through so much together' look from him really) maybe he'll redeem himself by helping bran and something will happen then. Would be a shame to kill him after hinting at a romance between them. Not that there's much time left to develop one now anyway.

Did anyone see the way Sansa reacted to Theon.....I thought maybe there might have been a spark between them.

It was definitely the most emotional reunion of the season, but hardly surprising given their shared history.

The reunion was particularly poignant as it should have come as something of a wake up call to Dany. Theon has come to fight in an unwinnable battle for Winterfell. In other words, he is loyal to the Starks and feels a duty towards them.

The Unsullied and Donthraki are loyal to her for stuff that happened way back (Dothraki think she’s some sort of God and Unsullied was back in season 3). However, the people of Westeros have no love for her whatsoever. She was fed a bunch of lies by her brother when she was growing up about how the rest of Westeros were desperate for the return of Targaryans, but it has turned out to be a load of bullshit.

In episode 1 she didn’t like the fact that the people of the north were suspicious of her but then looked oddly smug when they were all terrified of her dragon. It’s not going to win loyalty in the long run.

It is likely that her loyal subjects (Unsullied and Dothraki) are likely to be utterly destroyed in the next episode. This means her chances of conquering Westeros after the fall of the Night King will be much lessened. If she wants to take the throne, she will need to think of a new plan to win the loyalty of the people without just resorting to ‘roast them wiht my dragons’. Whether she is able to do that is up for debate. She may simply have to abandon the idea that the throne is automatically hers by birthright and everyone else should have to just deal with it.

Sansa and Theon have a sibling relationship. It's not romantic, she was just genuinely glad to see him.

I think Daenerys will be forced to reassess her end goal. As far as i can tell she only wanted the throne so much because she thought it was her birthright. She thought she was the person best placed for the job and that she would make a fair and just ruler. I don't think she ever wanted power for the sake of it - she's not Cersei.

It will definitely be interesting what Dany does next as she seemed to be getting power hungry with all the 'Bend the knee'.

Dany and Cersei's stories are very alike. Two women raised in the shadow of brothers. The brothers are born and trained to rule (well, book Jaime is), while Dany and Cersei are meant marry and bear children. This is why I can never truly hate Cersei, and have no time for Dany's birthright.

Sansa, Arya and Margery, on the other hand, had mentors to survive in a men's world. Obviously Margery's luck ran out.

Sansa and Theon have a sibling relationship. It's not romantic, she was just genuinely glad to see him.

Up till this episode I thought that but... that scene later on in the ep though (when podrick was singing) you could see she was looking at him 'in that way' though. Definitely 'like likes' him.

if it works. If not its called 'podrick sings a song' on youtube and the sansa-theon look starts just after a minute into it.

Sadly, whatever the ‘looks’ between Sansa and Theon, he is almost 100% sure to die in the next episode. He has had one of the most fantastic redemption arcs in the story and Alfie Allen has done wonders with the character, but I think his story is finished.

Same with Jorah. Sam giving him Heartsbane was the kiss of death.

I have to confess to shedding a tear or two when Pod started singing that song. The montage fit so well with it. Regardless of the criticisms I have ever had of the show, the musical score has always been top notch.

Just had a thought while reading through this.
Yara and Theon's story is a bit of a backwards Jon and Dany story.

Both Theon and Dany left their respective lands when they were young and were raised elsewhere in different customs to their home.

Both return home thinking they had the greatest claim on their respective seats.

Both cannot have children at this point (assumed in Danys case but the point remains)

Both find others with a claim to their seats.

But Theon sees that Yara who was raised in their customs was better to govern their people than himself who thought too much like his adopted family.
Dany hasn't got to that point yet, and I'm not sure she will. However Jon does understand the north much better than she does (as does sansa)

So maybe Dany needs to spend some time with Yara to adjust her vision of how things should be...

Sorry for random musings but it just occurred to me.

Flutter Very good points.

I don't think she ever wanted power for the sake of it - she's not Cersei.

Really? I would say she started out like that. But in the latter series'...seems to have been about nothing bar power. Her character has grown arrogant, and annoying. And its certainly about power, now. At one stage it was a kind of 'The people of Westoros WANT Targaeryn rule and I am the only one'. However, shes just been self centred for a long time now, which will happen when you surround yourself with people who lick your backside. Her reaction to Jon kind of proved its just about power for her, as if it really was still just about whats best for the people, she wouldn't have looked like she wanted to murder him for daring to be another Targ. I also found how 'your claim' was the first thought, rather than 'ahh fuck I am screwing my nephew'

And on the subject of Yara....

I wonder how Sansa will react when she finds out Dany promised that the Iron Islands could have independence in return for Yara’s support...

Yeah she is 100% power hungry now. I don't even think Jon is safe now that she knows he has a claim to the throne.

Elenade Thank you.

And SweetSummer I think that that's going to be a major point of contention at some point when someone (and my money is on Theon) let's it slip to Sansa.

I think considering what she went through with Ramsey, Sansa feels safe with Theon as he can't abuse her in the way Ramsey did, and is also a survivor of torture by the same person.

I also found how 'your claim' was the first thought, rather than 'ahh fuck I am screwing my nephew'

But Daenerys wouldn't think "ahh fuck I am screwing my nephew", that wouldn't even cross her mind - she was brought up believing she would marry her brother and coming from a long line of inbreeding. So of course her mind would go to her claim.

I do wonder if this is another red herring - like the Arya/Sansa tension of last season which ultimately was much ado about nothing. Daenerys was raised to be a pawn in getting Viserys on the throne. She sees the throne as her family's birthright.

And Jon didn't even want to be Lord Commander or King in the North so I'm not sure he'll want to be King Aegon!

I'm surprised more hasn't been mentioned about a marriage between Jon and Daenerys (at least before this revelation). They love each other and politically it would be an astute move. I know they have more pressing concerns but a quick ceremony in the godswood at Winterfell would suffice.

Hmm I forgot about the Targaeryn obsession with shagging family members. Lannister speciality too it seems.

Even without the shagging nephew part, would still have thought there would be a bit more of 'family I didn't know I had', rather than immediate annoynce and deathstaring as he has a stronger claim than her. If, we are to not think Dany is obsessed with power and such of course, but obviously thats where shes at and has been for ages.

Nah, Jons not going to want it, that much is very clear.

Would Jon want to marry Dany? He doesn't want to even be king in the north, let alone get stuck in Kings' Landing ruling with Dany. Should have just stayed in the cave, Jon...

I have a feeling that neither Jon nor Dany’s ‘wishes’ for the throne will come to pass. I wonder what Bran said to Tyrion in their offscreen conversation and whether Tyrion may use this to manipulate the final endgame. There are other ‘manipulators’ as well - including Varys and Sam (who rigged the election of Jon to LC in the books).

Let’s face it, Tyrion has been bloody useless over the last two seasons - he must have one more ace up his sleeve.

So what would be your parallel universe game of thrones with mostly happy endings?

Mine - The crypt surprise is lady stoneheart but noone in the crypt dies. Aryas wolf pack will be with lady s possibly.
Theon protects the one eyed raven/Bran, giving Bran time to warg into the icy dragon and turn him against the wigts and drive them all back. Jon and Dany work together killing most of the white walkers. Uncle Ben or whatever his name is will also turn up and give them some help then go off into the snow with Lady Stoneheart. The knight king will regain control of the dragon and fly off but the north is safe

During the battle gendry, davos, Jorah and greyworm die. Davos dies trying to saves lyanna M but she goes on to protect others.

The north is set up with Sansa as Lady Winterfell and Theon by her side.

The team go over to the island where Yara has taken back control then plot how to overthrow Cersei/ find night king. I am not sure what I want to happen to cersei, I think it might involve Jamie throwing them both off a tower so they die together, maybe to help Brienne. Tyrion will be key in them finding cersei and Brienne will kill euron. The hound will have a big fight with his Frankenstein brother and win.

Arya will somehow turn out to be be the night king or become him in a selfless way. Jon will have to regretfully kill her/him. Jon might die too but if he does dany will have a baby boy with blue eyes and brown hair. Tyrion is the hand. Bronn kills the creepy qyburn (?) hand.

The nightswatch dude will go back with Tormund (?) to rebuild the wall but it will be pushed back so the wildings are now protected. There will be a hint that Brienne is softening to him but she will remain in kingslanding in jamie's old role as head knight.

Missendi will go back with her people and the unsullied and be a ruler. Sam and gilly go off to the citadel to take control.

I think the writers knew exactly what we'd all be thinking when the family sword was returned to Jorah, and Theon offered to defend Bran, and Grey Worm and Missendei made their plans for the future.

At least some of those scenes will be red herrings. If we've learnt anything from previous series it's that you can't predict anything, certainly not deaths.

FWIW I think Dany will re-evaluate her claim, that whatever is in the crypts is not reanimated Starks (I hope not, it would be awful, like an episode of The Walking Dead), that the NK is already on his way to KL, that Tyrion did glean something from Bran that he will understand the significance of at a crucial moment. Not long now until we all know for sure!

I would hate Arya to be the night king :(

Interesting other thoughts for your ideal though!
I can’t decide what my ideal will be. I think for there to be more to the night king that just wanting to wipe the world’s memory.
I’d like at least one of the main characters to have a really quick, non epic death in the heat of battle (in the vein of how ruthless it used to be) even though I will be gutted at the same time.
I don’t want Arya to save the day with someone else’s face.
I’d like Davos to survive randomly, and Gendry, as well as my main favourites - Arya, Jamie, Hound, Tyrion but I don’t think I’ll be in luck there!
I’d like Sansa to be Queen/Warden of the North.
However I don’t think anyone will be queen or king of anything.
I think the whole infrastructure will be gone and it will just be a group of survivors huddling together and trying to make the best of it.

I actually wonder if it will come full circle with the night king taking over nearly everything, a group of survivors left that have to try and rebuild,
Maybe north of the wall now the army of the dead have taken over everything. And the cycle begins again but on different sides of the divide where the living will, in years to come, take back the land from the dead.

But I am confident I am completely wrong

Also saw rumours that Jacque H’hgar Is returning as he was spotted in Seville when a load of the other cast members were there to film - wonder how he would fit in if so? Saw a theory that he’s actually be Rhaegar all along - i think someone on one of the mumsnet GOT threads may have mentioned it too - not sure how I feel about that!

*@yumyumpoppycat *
The north is set up with Sansa as Lady Winterfell and Theon by her side.

Yes this would be my happy ending

Also Gendry and Arya would have a child who would later succeed as ward/ king / queen in the north.

Cersei would die in childbirth but entrusting Tyrion to act as regent till the child could rule the south.

At some point these two would married and unit the 7 kingdoms :)

The wall is rebuilt.
Jorah becomes head of the new night watch.

I don't see Jon or Danny making it.

Vary will die and so will Jamie heroically saving someone - probably Bran / Brienne.

Bran becomes the new willow wood tree at winterfell.

Davos and grey worm died

The hound kills the mountain.

Bronn gets a castle :)

And Tommond and Brienne make lots of monster babies.