Got Season 8: Who's Left?
Warning: thar be potential spoilers in these here waters, sail with caution.
GoT Season 8: Who's left?
Season 7 saw a fair bit of twisting and turning with our big players. Naturally, we saw one or two deaths, but actually, there were far fewer (in the main cast list) than previously.
There was a feeling that most of them were wrapped up in plot armour, kept safe and sound, simply to make it to their own glorious demise in season 8.
Here, I’m going to run through some of our big guns, where they are, and what I’m expecting to see this season, along with my patented survival rater [it’s not patented, it’s not even a thing].
Balls deep in his aunt On a ship, heading to Winterfell
This chap has had quite the ride recently [pun not initially intended, but deliberately left in]. Having battled across the North and beyond The Wall for almost the whole series, it turns out that he’s actually a legitimised Targaryen and true heir to the Iron Throne.
Except he doesn’t know it yet.
Which probably means an awkward conversation with Dany when he does. Does incest still count if you don’t know its incest? Is it even really incest compared to what we’re used to anyway? Am I losing the forest for the trees?
He’s obviously going to be a busy boy this season, battling against the army of the dead, before having to face the truth of his past and the impact that has on his future (if he
actually survives).
Predictions: He’ll have some brilliant moments fighting the dead with all of his family around him. Will find out about his lineage, but likely won’t wind up on the throne. He’s going to ride a dragon at some point. If he dies again though, then that’s it, game over man, game over.
Survivability rating: 8/10
Enjoying eight inches of snow Also on a ship to Winterfell
Season 7 was a big one for Dany, as she finally made it to Westeros proper. She certainly left her mark too, ruining the Lannister supply train, almost killing Jaime, heading north, losing Viserion and falling for her nephew.
Currently her eyes are set on winning the battle for life itself, before heading south and claiming the Iron Throne.
When the truth is out about Jon’s true heritage, she may wind up in a corner as she will no longer be the Targaryen heir. Will she be able to accept this, or will she ruthlessly crush him, like she did the Tarly house?
I don’t see the latter happening – she’s ruthless, she’s calculating, but she’s not bad egg really. That said, she did let Viserys suffer a nasty death back in season 1 – perhaps she won’t have to kill anyone, just not stop them from dying.
Predictions: She’s going to have a tough time coming to terms with Jon being her nephew, but she will. She’s going to wind up seeing Viserion’s reanimated form and face a moral dilemma of fighting him or running. She might get to claim the Iron Throne.
Survivability rating: 8/10
He’s managed to brain his way across the Seven Kingdoms and into the position of Dany’s right-hand man. Not entirely sure why he took Jon and Dany’s evening activities so personally – I’ve heard tell that he’s another in the list who has fallen for her, but could it just be that he knows you don’t mix business and pleasure?
Predictions: When it comes to war, we know he’s capable of great bravery, despite not being a natural fighter. We’ve also seen how well he can scheme, but that even he can be outwitted.
His skills will certainly be better suited to events post war for life itself, but will he get to make it that far? Probably
Survivability rating: 9/10
Last season was something of a non-event for Cersei. This may simply by comparison to her season six, but did she really do much. Effectively she was so ambivalent towards the events away from herself that she just sat on the Iron Throne with a serious case of RBF. Yes, she’s gained an ally in Euron, and yes, she’s slowly working her way through her enemies, but she isn’t very involved.
That’s kind of the point though, isn’t it? Her lack of involvement is her long game. Let everyone else fight it out and then crush the survivors.
I’m hoping she still has some wonderful scenes, but with so few characters left in the capitol to bounce off/threaten, her chances may be limited.
Predictions: I’m pinning my colours to the mast that she will die in a childbirth related incident and fulfil her prophecy.
Survivability rating: 0/10
He finally did it, he’s finally free of Cersei! He may have looked like Prince Charming in season one, but he certainly didn’t act like it. Since then, he’s seen some things and gone through some stuff and looks decidedly more rough and ready. But he’s become a far better person for it all and has finally shown that he is ready to fight for causes beyond himself and his sister.
Predictions: The move north will either make him or break him – he’ll either be a hero in the coming war, or he’ll die trying. Not sure which yet.
Survivability rating: 7/10
Another one who’s gone through a lot, but come out fairly well, all considered. Now she’s ruling the North as Lady of Winterfell alongside Arya and Bran. If given the chance, the three of them would be an unstoppable ruling triumvirate, but given that they would need to beat the army of the dead and whatever Cersei has planned to do so, will they have their moment in the sun?
Predictions: I honestly think Sansa may wind up as a sacrificial lamb, killed simply to show us that nobody is safe now. It would be cruel to do it to her, but I think they may.
Survivability rating: 3/10
Her journey from innocent tomboy to full blow assassin has been a great one to watch (save for the wandering around Braavos blind bit, that got real boring, real fast).
Now she’s come into her own and could easily do anything she wants, with her bag of faces and her killing skills [I’m not too sure how she transports the faces she has. A bag sounds kind of gross, but what else would she do, it’s not like she’s been carrying a trunk about. Maybe just in her pocket or u her sleeve, like a handkerchief?]
Predictions: She’s going to be handy in all of the battles to come and is genuinely the only character whose death would cause a nerdy riot across the world.
Survivability rating: 8.5/10
If Bran died, I wouldn’t care. He’s so utterly dull. Even the cereal he is named after is fundamentally boring. I thought having superpowers would make him more interesting, but instead they just lobotomised him. And to make things worse, anyone who spends more than ten minutes around him eds up having to die to keep him alive.
Predictions: His powers will definitely have something to do with the war. Given his love of meddling about with time and space, I can see him trying to fix things and setting up a time paradox.
Perhaps he tries to stop the dead rising by travelling into the past and telling people to burn the dead, accidentally driving The Mad King mad in the process?
Maybe he realises he needs to go back in time to keep the dead at bay and becomes Bran the Builder (whim he is conveniently named after).
Or perhaps he totally screws the pooch and accidentally turns himself into the Night King.
No matter what, he’s going to be leaving grubby ripples all across this story.
Survivability rating: 9/10 (but he may not end the series a Bran Stark)
Will likely die, but not before he’s duked it out with The Mountain.
Survivability rating: 2/10
Jorah (the explorer) Mormont
Another one who’s probably not making to the finish line – will probably declare his undying love for Dany and then snuff it.
Survivability rating: 2.5/10
Theon Greyjoy
He’s been broken and started to come back a few times, but after talking to Jon, he’s got his mojo back at last. Will have a side story trying to rescue Yara and probably die doing so in his final act of redemption.
Survivability rating: 1.5/10
Yara Greyjoy
Captured by Euron, but with Theon coming to try and save her, she’s on peril currently, but could be worse [remember, the closer you are to danger, the further you are from harm]. Will probably be rescored and live to honour her brother.
Survivability rating: 4.5/10
Euron Greyjoy
He ran off to go and hire the Golden Company at the end of season seven. He’s got Yara held prisoner and Theon coming for him. He’s got more men, ships and money than his nephew, plus he’s a better warrior. And he’s going have a mercenary army at his disposal. Obviously, this means he’ll ultimately lose to Theon [decks are only ever stacked this high to tumble]. He’ll probably get Cersei her mercenaries before he crocks it though.
Survivability rating: 0.5/10
Brienne of Tarth
She’s up north being all noble and that. She’s going to be indispensable in the battle for Winterfell. I hope she makes it through, but given her warrior-like nature, she’s going to be constantly in harm’s way. [Please, please let her and Tormund disappear into the countryside together – that’s the real ending we need]
Survivability rating: 5/10
Tormnd
Well, when the wall cam tumbling down with him on it, I was a little worried. I didn’t think they’d go and kill him off-screen, but you just never know do you? Thankfully trailers have shown he’s still live and kicking (for now). Given that the army of the dead are now likely between him and Winterfell, he’s going to have some adventuring to do to get into the action, or to safety. [I guess he could just go north again now, given the dead aren’t there, but would he really run off like that?!]
Survivability rating: 4.5/10
Samwell Tarly
Was last seen discussing Jon’s bloodline with Bran in Winterfell. He might not be the best fighter, but he’s brave enough and studious. He knows the tricks to win this war. When it comes to his survival, my brain says he’s got long odds. But I’m going to follow my heart here. The whole of this tale is Sam’s book “A Song of Ice and Fire” and he will survive. If he doesn’t, tears.
Survivability rating: 9.5/10
Gendry, Davos, Bron, Varys, Greyworm, Missandei, Beric Dondarrion and Melisandre
Be honest, if I hadn’t mentioned them now, you probably wouldn’t have realised I hadn’t, would you?
They’re all involved enough to have some good moments in the season. They could all explode into action over the final six episodes, or could all spend three years rowing to nowhere.
Peripheral enough to survive and not raise eyebrows, but central enough to be involved in the scraps and die.
Without Thoros, Beric is a dead man walking (literally), but who knows what Melisandre has up her sleeve?
Bron, Gendry, Davos and Greyworm will likely all be integral in the battles to come, but could easily be sacrificed.
Varys’ scheme will only get him so much further, while Missandei’s utility could cease now they Dany is in Westeros.
Survivability rating: So context dependant, I just don’t know – probably not great
Valar mughulis.
There was a feeling that most of them were wrapped up in plot armour, kept safe and sound, simply to make it to their own glorious demise in season 8.
Here, I’m going to run through some of our big guns, where they are, and what I’m expecting to see this season, along with my patented survival rater [it’s not patented, it’s not even a thing].
Jon Snow aka Aegon Targaryen
Last seen:This chap has had quite the ride recently [pun not initially intended, but deliberately left in]. Having battled across the North and beyond The Wall for almost the whole series, it turns out that he’s actually a legitimised Targaryen and true heir to the Iron Throne.
Except he doesn’t know it yet.
Which probably means an awkward conversation with Dany when he does. Does incest still count if you don’t know its incest? Is it even really incest compared to what we’re used to anyway? Am I losing the forest for the trees?
He’s obviously going to be a busy boy this season, battling against the army of the dead, before having to face the truth of his past and the impact that has on his future (if he
actually survives).
Predictions: He’ll have some brilliant moments fighting the dead with all of his family around him. Will find out about his lineage, but likely won’t wind up on the throne. He’s going to ride a dragon at some point. If he dies again though, then that’s it, game over man, game over.
Survivability rating: 8/10
 |
| Guys, wait... there's something you should know |
Daenerys Targaryen
Last seen:Season 7 was a big one for Dany, as she finally made it to Westeros proper. She certainly left her mark too, ruining the Lannister supply train, almost killing Jaime, heading north, losing Viserion and falling for her nephew.
Currently her eyes are set on winning the battle for life itself, before heading south and claiming the Iron Throne.
When the truth is out about Jon’s true heritage, she may wind up in a corner as she will no longer be the Targaryen heir. Will she be able to accept this, or will she ruthlessly crush him, like she did the Tarly house?
I don’t see the latter happening – she’s ruthless, she’s calculating, but she’s not bad egg really. That said, she did let Viserys suffer a nasty death back in season 1 – perhaps she won’t have to kill anyone, just not stop them from dying.
Predictions: She’s going to have a tough time coming to terms with Jon being her nephew, but she will. She’s going to wind up seeing Viserion’s reanimated form and face a moral dilemma of fighting him or running. She might get to claim the Iron Throne.
Survivability rating: 8/10
Tyrion Lannister
Last seen: Sulking on the aforementioned shipHe’s managed to brain his way across the Seven Kingdoms and into the position of Dany’s right-hand man. Not entirely sure why he took Jon and Dany’s evening activities so personally – I’ve heard tell that he’s another in the list who has fallen for her, but could it just be that he knows you don’t mix business and pleasure?
Predictions: When it comes to war, we know he’s capable of great bravery, despite not being a natural fighter. We’ve also seen how well he can scheme, but that even he can be outwitted.
His skills will certainly be better suited to events post war for life itself, but will he get to make it that far? Probably
Survivability rating: 9/10
Cersei Lannister
Last seen: She is where she always has been and always will be – King’s Landing.
That’s kind of the point though, isn’t it? Her lack of involvement is her long game. Let everyone else fight it out and then crush the survivors.
I’m hoping she still has some wonderful scenes, but with so few characters left in the capitol to bounce off/threaten, her chances may be limited.
Predictions: I’m pinning my colours to the mast that she will die in a childbirth related incident and fulfil her prophecy.
Survivability rating: 0/10
Jaime Lannister
Last seen: Leaving King’s Landing, riding north
Predictions: The move north will either make him or break him – he’ll either be a hero in the coming war, or he’ll die trying. Not sure which yet.
Survivability rating: 7/10
Sansa Stark
Last seen: Ruling Winterfell in Jon’s steadAnother one who’s gone through a lot, but come out fairly well, all considered. Now she’s ruling the North as Lady of Winterfell alongside Arya and Bran. If given the chance, the three of them would be an unstoppable ruling triumvirate, but given that they would need to beat the army of the dead and whatever Cersei has planned to do so, will they have their moment in the sun?
Predictions: I honestly think Sansa may wind up as a sacrificial lamb, killed simply to show us that nobody is safe now. It would be cruel to do it to her, but I think they may.
Survivability rating: 3/10
Arya Stark
Last seen: Serving out justice in WinterfellHer journey from innocent tomboy to full blow assassin has been a great one to watch (save for the wandering around Braavos blind bit, that got real boring, real fast).
Now she’s come into her own and could easily do anything she wants, with her bag of faces and her killing skills [I’m not too sure how she transports the faces she has. A bag sounds kind of gross, but what else would she do, it’s not like she’s been carrying a trunk about. Maybe just in her pocket or u her sleeve, like a handkerchief?]
Predictions: She’s going to be handy in all of the battles to come and is genuinely the only character whose death would cause a nerdy riot across the world.
Survivability rating: 8.5/10
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| Will the Stark siblings finally be able to settle back into normality? |
Bran Stark
Last seen: Discussing love, marriage and incest in WinterfellIf Bran died, I wouldn’t care. He’s so utterly dull. Even the cereal he is named after is fundamentally boring. I thought having superpowers would make him more interesting, but instead they just lobotomised him. And to make things worse, anyone who spends more than ten minutes around him eds up having to die to keep him alive.
Predictions: His powers will definitely have something to do with the war. Given his love of meddling about with time and space, I can see him trying to fix things and setting up a time paradox.
Perhaps he tries to stop the dead rising by travelling into the past and telling people to burn the dead, accidentally driving The Mad King mad in the process?
Maybe he realises he needs to go back in time to keep the dead at bay and becomes Bran the Builder (whim he is conveniently named after).
Or perhaps he totally screws the pooch and accidentally turns himself into the Night King.
No matter what, he’s going to be leaving grubby ripples all across this story.
Survivability rating: 9/10 (but he may not end the series a Bran Stark)
Best of the rest
The HoundWill likely die, but not before he’s duked it out with The Mountain.
Survivability rating: 2/10
Another one who’s probably not making to the finish line – will probably declare his undying love for Dany and then snuff it.
Survivability rating: 2.5/10
Theon Greyjoy
He’s been broken and started to come back a few times, but after talking to Jon, he’s got his mojo back at last. Will have a side story trying to rescue Yara and probably die doing so in his final act of redemption.
Survivability rating: 1.5/10
Yara Greyjoy
Captured by Euron, but with Theon coming to try and save her, she’s on peril currently, but could be worse [remember, the closer you are to danger, the further you are from harm]. Will probably be rescored and live to honour her brother.
Survivability rating: 4.5/10
Euron Greyjoy
He ran off to go and hire the Golden Company at the end of season seven. He’s got Yara held prisoner and Theon coming for him. He’s got more men, ships and money than his nephew, plus he’s a better warrior. And he’s going have a mercenary army at his disposal. Obviously, this means he’ll ultimately lose to Theon [decks are only ever stacked this high to tumble]. He’ll probably get Cersei her mercenaries before he crocks it though.
Survivability rating: 0.5/10
Brienne of Tarth
She’s up north being all noble and that. She’s going to be indispensable in the battle for Winterfell. I hope she makes it through, but given her warrior-like nature, she’s going to be constantly in harm’s way. [Please, please let her and Tormund disappear into the countryside together – that’s the real ending we need]
Survivability rating: 5/10
Tormnd
Well, when the wall cam tumbling down with him on it, I was a little worried. I didn’t think they’d go and kill him off-screen, but you just never know do you? Thankfully trailers have shown he’s still live and kicking (for now). Given that the army of the dead are now likely between him and Winterfell, he’s going to have some adventuring to do to get into the action, or to safety. [I guess he could just go north again now, given the dead aren’t there, but would he really run off like that?!]
Survivability rating: 4.5/10
Samwell Tarly
Was last seen discussing Jon’s bloodline with Bran in Winterfell. He might not be the best fighter, but he’s brave enough and studious. He knows the tricks to win this war. When it comes to his survival, my brain says he’s got long odds. But I’m going to follow my heart here. The whole of this tale is Sam’s book “A Song of Ice and Fire” and he will survive. If he doesn’t, tears.
Survivability rating: 9.5/10
Gendry, Davos, Bron, Varys, Greyworm, Missandei, Beric Dondarrion and Melisandre
Be honest, if I hadn’t mentioned them now, you probably wouldn’t have realised I hadn’t, would you?
They’re all involved enough to have some good moments in the season. They could all explode into action over the final six episodes, or could all spend three years rowing to nowhere.
Peripheral enough to survive and not raise eyebrows, but central enough to be involved in the scraps and die.
Without Thoros, Beric is a dead man walking (literally), but who knows what Melisandre has up her sleeve?
Bron, Gendry, Davos and Greyworm will likely all be integral in the battles to come, but could easily be sacrificed.
Varys’ scheme will only get him so much further, while Missandei’s utility could cease now they Dany is in Westeros.
Survivability rating: So context dependant, I just don’t know – probably not great
Valar mughulis.
To my preview of this season, click here.
You can find my review of Episode 1 here.
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