Update: Well, that was unexpected. I’m grateful that so many of the characters lived! (Although, what happened with Ghost? Did he just keep running through the army of the dead to go chill with Nymeria? Why didn’t he protect the crypt or Sam?)
As 8×02 ends, the Army of the Dead is closing in on the gates of Winterfell. Most people anticipate that the body count in this one is going to be off the charts. So which characters are about to have their last moments?
And will we be able to bear to watch? (Sorry, not sorry.)
First, let’s talk about the weapons at play. We’ve got Dragonglass all over the place, which can be used to kill White Walkers. Annoyingly, I don’t know why they aren’t investing in more flammable things, considering the ARMY OF THE FROZEN DEAD they’re about to face who only die for real if they burn. Seems like a good time to try to make some Wildfire.
Wildfire for the win, guys.
Burning oil like they did on The Wall would work too. Failing that, I dunno, dry out all of the animal dung, light it on fire, and fling it at the dead. Just saying. There was a depressing lack of fire in the battle plans they were discussing.
And Beric didn’t bring enough to share.
Anyway, that oversight aside, there is also Valyrian steel.
Valyrian Steel
While it felt like we’ve spent seasons of people exclaiming “It’s Valyrian steel” whenever they saw a sword, there actually aren’t that many of them out there. (They just talk about it a lot.) It’s probably not going to save their lives, but each of these weapons could be used to take out White Walkers. It’s worth watching where these end up if the people carrying them die.
Ser Jorah — The newest person to get a Valyrian steel sword. In 8×02, Sam gave him Heartsbane, the Tarley family sword he stole from his dad as he left Horn Hill.
That’s one way to claim your inheritance
Arya Stark — she has the unnamed dagger. Bran gave it to her and she used it to slit Littlefinger’s throat last season. The past of this one before it was owned by Littlefinger is unknown. Is it part of a reforged Dark Sister (from the Targaryen princess Arya idolized) or Lightbringer (the sword wielded by the legendary hero Azor Ahai/ The Prince that was Promised)? If it’s part of Lightbringer, Jon may pick it up after it is imbued with the blood of his beloved sister. (Seriously, the Azor Ahai legend is ridiculously dark, even for this show.) It would also be poetic if it’s part of Brightroar, the lost sword of the Lannister family.
Ser Jaime– Widow’s Wail, which he got from his nephew-son after the latter’s long-overdue demise. (Forged from the remains of Ice, the sword of the dearly departed Ned Stark.)
Ser Brienne — Oathkeeper, which she was given by Jaime as she left on her quest to find and protect the Stark daughters. (Forged along with Jaime’s sword from the remains of Ice, the enormous broadsword of the dearly departed Ned Stark.)
Jon Snow — Longclaw, the Mormont family sword he was given by Jorah’s dad, Jeor. He’s already used it to take out a White Walker at the battle of Hardholm.
White Walkers are basically really scary piñatas
So, who is going to die and how?
The Crypts
For some reason, most of the women, children, and elderly are planning to be waiting out the battle in the crypts of Winterfell. People repeatedly said, “it will be the safest place,” which…feels like a lie. Considering it is full of long-dead Starks and Winterfell is facing an army led by beings that raise the dead, I’m not the only one predicting the crypts will not be safe at all.
If the crypts are overrun, we are likely to lose:
Missandei
Why? Honestly, I hate this idea. I love this soft-spoken translator. She’s spent less time with Dany this season–who has been a bit one-note (“Bend the knee” on repeat) of late. Missandei also just had a sweet moment with Grey Worm where he promised to take her back to her peaceful island home with the butterflies. Game of Thrones doesn’t go in for happy endings. Either she dies, Grey Worm dies, or they both do.
Gilly (and Little Sam)
To survive abuse, a White Walker attack, and everything else only to die in the crypt? It’s terrible, but they may go for it. There’s been speculation that Sam is the one who will one day record all of this. If so, he could finish the series back at the Citadel, writing down the story of his lost lady and adopted son…as well as everyone else.
Sansa
I know, I know. (On a scale of one-to-Sansa, how much do you regret your first crush?) While many people hated her character at the beginning, she’s grown into a strong woman and has survived years of horrific abuse. She’s capably led Winterfell in Jon’s absence by stockpiling food, helping make sure her soldiers’ armor is cold-resistant, and keeping the gates open as long as possible. But there are unlikely to be happy endings in store for the Starks and the Lady of Winterfell might be among the dead.
Tyrion?
Dany just told him he has to be in the crypt. He’s a fan favorite and I hate this idea. But, since the brothers Lannister have reunited, one or the other might die. The loss of Dany’s Hand may send her into a full on mad-queen tailspin. (Which seems like what the show is interested in doing with her character. This is why we can’t have nice things.) The only way I think Tyrion is making it through this is if he’s hidden by a dead body/ knocked out early on. Maybe saved by Varys?
Varys
Is Varys going to be down there? Regardless, the show doesn’t seem like it knows what to do with him lately. And if Dany is heading for a full mad-queen moment, she’s likely to lose all of the advisors that have helped her keep a level head.
In the Godswood
The least surprising death is likely to be Theon. As soon as he volunteered to protect Bran from the Night King, I went “Well, he’s dead.”
Theon has had a rough road. After being raised as a child hostage, he betrayed the Starks by capturing Winterfell with the Iron Islanders, killed some kids to pretend they were Bran and Rickon, was tortured/maimed by the Boltons, lost his identity, watched Sansa get abused, finally snapped to save Sansa, went home, abandoned his sister when they were under attack, finally went back and saved his sister…it’s been a roller coaster. Now he wants to die heroically. It won’t undo all of the bad he’s done, but dying is probably the best outcome for him. In a weird twist, he might survive by somehow escaping…again. It would be more realistic to have him run, but I think he’s gone full on redemption-arc.
In the field
Brienne
She had a beautiful, happy moment when she was knighted by Jaime. Our honorable, heroic knight is going out in a blaze of glory–and hopefully taking a whole bunch of undead fools with her. Songs will be sung in her honor by whoever is left to sing them.
Pod?
I’m not as sure about this one. If he’s by her side, the most loyal squire in the 7 Kingdoms will die trying to protect her. If he’s kept away from her somehow, then he will be the next person to wield Oathkeeper and will keep Brienne’s memory alive. (After all, he can sing!)
Tormund
He’s not a subtle man. He also hasn’t figured out how to flirt with Brienne in a way that doesn’t weird her out completely. He may die on the field of battle alongside his favorite “Big Woman” and “Little Crow.” I think he will die heroically and in whatever way will cause Jon Snow the most pain.
Grey Worm
No happy endings! If Missandei dies in the crypt, the most bittersweet ending for him will be sailing to Naath and keeping his promise to protect her peaceful people. If she doesn’t die, he’s a goner for sure.
Jaime?
I still am hoping he’s the one to kill Cersei at the end if she tries to blow up the city with Wildfire rather than let Dany take it. If they don’t go that route, he might die helping Brienne save the family he nearly destroyed.
Davos?
Miss you, Shireen!
Everyone’s favorite surrogate dad, Davos is the best father figure of them all. With his good sense, he’s been the right-hand man of two kings. I don’t want him to die, but they might just be trying to wipe the slate clean. I hope Shireen would keep him company in the afterlife. If we lose Davos, Tyrion, and Tormund this show will lose most of the humor it has left. (Euron Crazy-Eyes Greyjoy is cringey and not an acceptable substitute.)
Jorah
He may have Heartsbane, but I think Dany will lose her favorite redeemed advisor this weekend. It would be most poetic if he dies saving his cousin, Lyanna. (Who I really don’t want to die!)
Edd
The only decent Crow of the bunch (everyone else we’ve seen has broken their vows) and most likely a goner.
Ser Beric Dondarrion
He’s already died a whole bunch. This won’t be a new experience for him.
Ghost?
If Ghost–who is basically Sam’s direwolf now, right?–dies, Jon is definitely getting on that dragon to claim his birthright. Besides, they seem to want to save money by animating the dragons instead of the wolves.
So who will survive?
Bran? If all of the buildup of him being the “Three-eyed Raven,” getting most people he cared about (and Summer!) killed with his tree school shenanigans, and saying weird s*** to everyone leads to him dying in Episode 3 instead of playing some bigger role in the war, I’m going to be pissed. (Honestly though, the Night King didn’t show up in the last scene of 8×02. I’m hoping he’s taking part of the dead army and his undead dragon towards King’s Landing. If he does show up, it’s likely that he wants Bran for some other reason than just killing him outright.)
Jon? If he doesn’t have a bigger role to play in this season, that was a huge buildup for nothing. I’m hoping he’ll be the one to die killing the Night King if he dies at all.
Arya? She just got a cool new weapon! I hope she gets to put it to good use. Besides, if Jaime dies, she’s stealing his face for sure so she can take out Cersei. Maybe she could infiltrate the army of the dead with her face-swapping skills?
Lyanna Mormont? I hope she still has more time of shaming old men ahead of her.
Gendry? Save the smith! (Seriously, if all these other guys die, somebody needs to be on hand to repair weapons!) And I want to see him take out some Lannisters near King’s Landing.
The Hound? If he dies, he’s coming back as a walker for sure. The Hound versus the Mountain is coming. But will it be Zombie-Hound versus Zombie-Mountain? Either way, I anticipate fire will play a role in his eventual death.
Dany? It’s hard to believe her arc is over and it will be awful if her dragons are wasted and out of play by the third episode. If they plan to kill her, it should be more climactic than as one of many casualties in Winterfell. She hasn’t had the chance to grapple with Jon’s parentage yet. (And I’m betting she’s pregnant.)
No matter what happens, one thing is certain: it’s going to be brutal.
And epic
So, who do you think is going to die? And who are you hoping will survive?
Beyond the Bookshelves 