Warning: This post contains spoilers for Game of Thrones’ “The Bells” and predictions for what’s to come. Proceed with caution.
“Burn them all.” The Mad King’s dying wish was finally fulfilled by his daughter in Game of Thrones‘ penultimate episode, “The Bells.” Along with the Mother of Dragon’s sanity, the episode also marked the end for many characters: Varys, Euron Greyjoy, the Golden Company, The Hound, the Mountain, and the Lannister twins, Jaime and Cersei. There are still lots of players left, and even more questions to answer in the show’s final episode. Here are three things we think we’ll see.
Prediction 1: Daenerys Will Try (and Fail) to Kill Jon Snow
What Daenerys Targaryen did in burning down King’s Landing and killing most of the million people within its walls was the single worst thing anyone has ever done in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. She’s responsible for the death of more lives, most of them innocent, than maybe any other ruler was during their entire reign. Daenerys kept her promise to Jon Snow to rule through fear, which is why she can’t have him around now. As the Seven Kingdoms learns who he really is, more people will want to see him usurp the Mad Queen, and she knows that. It’s why she will try to have him killed. Fortunately for Jon he’s now the best hope to bring peace to the Realm and save it from the serial killer, and he has powerful friends (and the best smuggler in the world) who will help him escape King’s Landing before he is also bathed in dragonflame.
Prediction 2: Arya Will Kill Daenerys
Arya has seen the many faces of death, and she murdered death incarnate to save the world from darkness, but even she couldn’t believe the horror Daenerys unleashed on King’s Landing. While Jon now understands Varys was right and his aunt must be stopped, he likely won’t be able to get close to Daenerys now since she doesn’t trust him and his existence is a threat to her. Arya can still assassinate the Mad Queen though. She can wear the face of a close Daenerys ally (looking at you Grey Worm) and bring an end to fire the same way she brought an end to ice.
Prediction 3: The Seven Kingdoms Won’t Get a King, a Queen, or a Happy Ending
Even with Daenerys dead Westeros will find itself in ruins after years of war and infighting. Major houses are extinct or on the precipice, leaving a power vacuum that will further erode regular law and order throughout the Realm. But Jon, having seen what the pursuit of power can do to you firsthand, will completely walk away from being King, leaving the Seven Kingdoms as lost as ever.
Could Sansa make a good queen? Would Bran make a wise one? Might Tyrion be able to bring peace and justice to the world? Sure, but what are the odds the lords and ladies of the Realm will agree on one of them? Or anybody for that matter?
Ramsay Bolton warned us, “If you think this has a happy ending you haven’t been paying attention.” After watching Daenerys Targaryen burn them all we are pretty sure he is right.
Images: HBO
