‘Game Of Thrones’ Series Finale Theories: Is Samwell Tarly More Important To The Show Than Fans Ever Thought?

Introduced in Season 1, Samwell Tarly has become a much-beloved character on HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones.” What he lacks in brawn, he makes up for in brains — which may be the key to telling the stories of those around him.

During the Season 6 finale, Samwell (John Bradley) and his pseudo-wife Gilly (Hannah Murray) finally reached Oldtown. There, Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) best pal can put his love of books to good use, studying up on ways to defeat the white walkers. As viewers saw during episode 10, titled “Winds of Winter,” the Citadel library is filled with books, which brought great joy to Samwell, who has grown used to being shamed for his love of knowledge and reading. What you may not have seen was what was hanging above the books — an orb-like astrolab chandelier that Uproxx writers suggest you should have seen before.

According to the publication, a similar structure is shown in the opening credits of the show. Vanity Fair writer Joanna Robinson took that a step further, suggesting that the reason for the skewed fish-eye look of the orb in the opening could be that it’s being shown through the very lenses that the maester who greets Samwell and Gilly at the Citadel, played by Frank Hvam, was wearing. It has been speculated that this is a visual manifestation of the theory that the series, based on the “A Song of Ice and Fire” books, is a story — meaning someone on the show has to be the one to record it. Given Samwell’s position within the “Game of Thrones” cast, as well as his new quest to become the maester of the Night’s Watch, it makes sense the he would be the one to write it all down. Another theory is that Gilly’s son, whom Samwell has essentially adopted as his own, will do it. Either way, it seems Samwell and/or Sam are safe from whatever dangers lie ahead in Season 7 of “Game of Thrones.”

This complex theory stems from comments made by author George R.R. Martin, whose books are the basis for the show. The New Jersey native has often said that his novels pay homage to the “Lord of the Rings” books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Those stories are written from the point of view of the hero’s best friend, Samwise. Fans have often compared Tolkien’s Samwise to Martin’s Samwell, noting that both are the more intelligent, loyal friends of their respective series’ brooding hero.

Should this theory hold true, Samwell (or baby Sam) will have quite a grand story to tell. While he was busy brushing up on the necessary knowledge to assist the Watchers Beyond the Wall, Jon Snow was named the King of the North, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) has been seated on the Iron Throne and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) made moves toward Westeros from Meereen with her dragons, a fleet of ships and the backing of both the Dothraki and the Unsullied.

If that’s not complicated enough, Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) learned that Ned Stark (Sean Bean) may not be Jon Snow’s father after all. During a look into the past he visits Rhaegar Targaryen’s Tower of Joy, where he saw his Aunt Lyanna Stark (Cordelia Hill) asking Ned to promise to care for her son after her death. Many viewers presume this scene was meant to serve as confirmation that Jon Snow is the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar, which means he has little, if any, right to rule in the North and complicates Daenerys’ dreams of ruling the Seven Kingdoms. That hasn’t stopped Clarke from dreaming about her character’s potential rule. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the London native seemed certain that nothing can stand in the way of the Mother of Dragons in Season 7 — not Cersei nor her might-be nephew.

It remains unclear when “Game of Thrones” will return for it’s seventh xeason. As was previously reported, it seems highly likely that the series will be back in the spring as it has in a majority of past seasons.