Let’s Predict Where Game of Thrones’ Story Will Go in Season 7

CERSEI IS WINNING

Game of Thrones is known for its long list of characters, but that list has dwindled a lot throughout these past few seasons. With 13 episodes left, almost everyone’s side quests are over and now it’s crunch time. Season 6 gave us many emotional payoffs to pieces that have been set in motion since season 1. Since we were given several major triumphs last season, be prepared for things to take a turn for the worse again because of Queen Cersei.

Let’s start with who is currently winning the game: Cersei Lannister. Season 6 ended with her taking her seat on the throne. But, Cersei Lannister is in a bad place. Her last living son, Tommen, has just committed suicide. She was already ruthless, but her son was the last string that kept her somewhat contained. Now that he’s gone, this season we’ll be witnessing Cersei at her worst. A completely unhinged version of Cersei sounds absolutely terrifying. The Game of Thrones states that you either claim the throne or you die. To what cost it will take to claim the throne is anyone’s guess, but we can be guaranteed that Cersei will be one of the few characters who will do anything it takes to keep her seat.

The amount of punishment and agony she has put characters through makes it a pretty safe bet that she will be killed off in one of the more brutal fashions this show has seen. I expect to see her dominate the game in the coming season, but also meet the end of the line. The theory floating around is that Season 8 will be focusing on the coming icy apocalyptic takeover of the White Walkers.

This post was originally authored by Brandt Prescott.

DAENERYS TAKES A BIG HIT

The latest trailer reveals two battles involving Daenerys’ army – one at Casterly Rock and another taking place on the sea. At Casterly Rock, Daenerys will do battle over capturing this Lannister fortress. As Tyrion grew up on Casterly Rock, there is no doubt he will know some secrets about the fortress that will help them come out on top in the fight.

The battle that takes place at sea will be against Joryn and the Iron Guards, who are known for being deadly on the high seas. Whenever someone is in a good position to win, things take a turn for the worst for them. This will be the pivotal battle that turns the tide. Dany will not win both battles. If she does take Casterly Rock, she will lose against Joryn and the Iron Guards. The Iron Guards will put a significant dent in Dany’s army and give Cersei the upper-hand. On top of that, her dragons aren’t safe either. If Cersei wants a shot at remaining on the throne, she will need to find a way to slay Dany’s dragons. These dragons are easily the biggest threat as they can level a town with their fire breath.

Season 6 and just about every other season has taught us not to underestimate Cersei’s intelligence and lack of any remorse to carry out the most ruthless of plans. Last season, she blew up Margaery Tyrell and an entire wedding party with Wildfire. She is capable of coming out victorious through other means. After all, she does have the King’s playbook.

JON SNOW MEETS DAENERYS

Now that Jon Snow is back from the dead, he’s killed off the especially evil Ramsay Bolton, has become King in the North and finally reunited with his sibling, Sansa Stark. Not only this, Season 6 dropped a huge revelation on who might be Jon Snow’s true parents. There is no doubt that Jon Snow will be discovering what his lineage truly is. Jon Snow, like Daenerys, is a Targaryen.

This means two major things for him. Due to his bloodline, he would now be considered a rightful heir to the Iron Throne and have every bit a right as Daenerys to claim it. Secondly, he might also have similar powers as Daenerys. Can he control dragons? Does he have other powers? These questions will be answered during his Season 7 arc. I suspect, when Daenerys finds out, she will not take this news kindly. I expect these two to clash over the throne as, in her mind, she is the only rightful heir.

With her army left broken from the battle at sea, she will ultimately give in and team up with Jon Snow. This move will strictly be to add to her numbers and strengthen her army.

JON SNOW AND SANSA SPLIT

Littlefinger is bound to stir the pot. He has some muscle power with his army and all kinds of sneaky tricks. There is no doubt he has a wrench to throw in the plans, and I suspect we’ll be seeing what that wrench is very soon.

For starters, he is already in Sansa’s ear planting seeds of doubt toward putting her trust in Jon. For now, Sansa is doing a great job at ignoring his thoughts, but Sansa isn’t too happy with the way Jon Snow is trying to unite the North. She believes that the land should be divided among those who fought by his side, even calling him dumb like Ned and Rob Stark were. Though they seem to be hanging strong through their disagreements, if things continue as they are I don’t think Sansa will hang around much longer.

With her strong-mindedness and own ideas, this is the opportune time for Littlefinger to divide them. His goal will be to split this newly forming dynamic duo so he can keep her on his team. He has proven himself untrustworthy in past episodes, betraying people left and right. So Sansa is right to not trust him, but that won’t stop him from trying. Littlefinger wants to rule the seven kingdoms, and he needs a queen by his side to do that.

ARYA DOESN’T KILL CERSEI

Arya Stark has now finished her training in becoming an assassin. Even though she isn’t after the throne, she has painted large targets on some of those who are wanting the royal chair. In the Season 6 finale, she did something truly dastardly and psychopathic, although we can’t say that Walder Frey didn’t deserve it. Cersei Lannister is at the top of her kill list for having a major hand in the decision of decapitating her father. After six seasons of waiting for Arya to have her moment, it would make sense that she would be the one to deliver that final blow.

However, Game of Thrones continually subverts viewer expectations. Remember all of those Red Wedding reactions on YouTube? Having Arya Stark kill Cersei Lannister would almost be too easy, albeit very satisfying. Despite Cersei being her primary target, I don’t think the writers will give Arya the satisfaction. 

JAIME FINALLY TURNS ON CERSEI

Jaime has had a tough road. He has now returned to King’s Landing to witness his sister, Cersei, on the Iron Throne. Things have drastically changed between these two since the first season. Now that Tommen is dead, Jaime’s reason to remain loyal to Cersei has dwindled significantly. He has now become another good bet as the person who could, and would, bring Cersei to her demise. One sign that the trailer gives us: Jaime is still wearing the old King’s Guard armor, not the Queen’s Guard armor that Cersei’s loyal followers are wearing.

If Jaime and Tyrion team up, they would have the strength, skills, and brains to bring the end to Cersei’s reign. There would be plenty of emotional payoffs with this scenario, especially for Tyrion Lannister. He’s a Lannister by blood, but has been unfairly treated by Cersei because of his dwarf-size. Tyrion is arguably the only truly likable member of the Lannister family and many viewers wouldn’t mind seeing him on the throne.

Season 4 ended with Tyrion killing his own father, Tywin, so we know that he is capable of turning against his own family when he is wronged. Season 7 will end with Tyrion finishing the job and killing his own evil sister.

 BRAN BECOMES A WHITE WALKER

Once Cersei is out of the picture, the show will be allowed to completely shift its focus to the White Walkers. The White Walkers proved to be a major threat when they put a dent in Jon Snow’s army. Valyrian steel and Dragonglass are two ways to kill a White Walker. However, there might be a third way.

Bran is working on becoming a mystic after seeing visions of the Three-Eyed Raven. Bran has become one of the most powerful people in Westeros, capable of using his mind to change things in the past. Bran will become a significant weapon in defeating the White Walkers. He will be able to influence, or even become, the Night King and control the White Walkers from the inside.

THE WALL CRUMBLES

The one roadblock keeping the White Walkers from wreaking havoc is the Wall. It hasn’t been properly repaired in ages. The White Walkers have an army, but not the proper equipment to take it down themselves. So how does it fall?

There is no doubt that the Wall will fall, but it won’t fall until the very end of Season 7. Right now, we’re too focused on the game for the throne. If the White Walkers were to declare war now, that would unite the Lannisters, the Targaryens, and the Starks in an effort to destroy the White Walkers. That scenario goes against everything this show has been building toward. Season 7 is all about the throne, so that Wall isn’t coming down until the final episode. This will be how they set up the wintry war for Season 8.

These are a few predictions we can hopefully expect in the coming season as Game of Thrones has officially returned. What are your hopes and predictions for Game of Thrones Season 7?