‘Game Of Thrones’ Theories: Best Outcomes For Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister And More

“Game of Thrones” is finally coming to an end with Season 8, which means some of the characters fans have been following for years will also see their stories finish up. However, which characters will have happier endings—and which won’t, remain to be seen.

Since HBO has kept a tight lid on the show’s final season and spoilers have not been leaked, and the show eclipsed George R.R. Martin’s books years ago, there really isn’t a way for fans to genuinely know what will happen.

As a result, so many theories have been thrown out there for all of the show’s characters and what their potential endgame might be when we say goodbye to Westeros. While some may seem a little out there, others seem like they could be real possibilities.

So no matter which way the story ends for these characters, here are some of the best theories we could find for Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).

Arya:

What do fans think will happen with the youngest Stark daughter, who has traveled to Essos and back to train as a Faceless Man, become a ruthless killer bent on revenge, and even survived an attempt on her own life?

Arya Will Kill Cersei (As Jaime):

Fans of the show and books know of Maggie the Frog’s prophecy for the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, which included something about the Valonqar—or “little brother”--killing her. This was left out of the books, but fans still think it will surface in some form on the show. While the literal translation would mean that either Jaime or Tyrion kills their sister, considering Arya’s training, it could be her.

The theory states that Jaime will die at some point after he goes North, either in the battle with the dead or by execution at Arya’s hand. Arya’s “kill list” really just have Cersei’s name left on it, and she was intent on crossing her name off of it before she instead returned to Winterfell to reunite with her family. If Jaime dies, Arya could use her training as a Faceless Man to complete her mission of killing her number one enemy. While Cersei could believe Jaime kills her when the time comes, the theory states that it may be Arya, disguised as the Queen’s brother.

Arya Dies (Sansa Too) Because Of Littlefinger

Fans have been wondering if there are big hints that the Stark sisters will die before the series ends based on both the official Season 8 trailer, which showed a terrified Arya running through the crypts of Winterfell, as well as that aptly named teaser. If there was a hint that Sansa and Arya will die though, there is another theory that comes into play—which claims that Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aiden Gillen), whom the sisters assassinated in Season 7, actually faked his death.

That theory states that Littlefinger sent someone to that fateful meeting disguised as him—and that their float was slit instead of his. It’s believed that an earlier scene from the show, where he meets with a mystery blond woman and pays her with a coin, he was actually receiving a warning that the Stark sisters were planning to execute him. When the scene is slowed down, it appears the woman warns him by saying his “time is up,” which allowed him to trick the siblings.

If that were true and the sisters are slated to die, it could be Littlefinger’s revenge.

Cersei:

Cersei Loses The Baby

If Cersei is even pregnant (some still doubt she’s carrying a baby at all), then Maggy the Frog’s prophecy that she will only have three children has a theory she will lose the child gaining momentum. Even more, some believe that it would also lead to her death, which is known as the Valonqar—or little brother—theory.

Here, the theory states that like her mother, Cersei will die in childbirth—which, since she is pregnant with her slightly younger twin brother’s child, fulfills the prophecy that he will be the one to kill her. In addition, whether the child lives or dies, it allows Cersei to still fulfill the other part of the prophecy, where she would only have three children—all of whom would die before her.

Daenerys:

Dany Becomes...The Night Queen?

This theory thinks that a vision Dany had in the House of the Undying back in Season 2 actually revealed her fate long before anyone could have guessed it. In the vision, Dany sees a King’s Landing that has been decimated during the Winter, but before she could reach the throne, she was drawn away to a tent where Drogo (Jason Momoa) sat with their son. She decides to leave them again when she hears her baby dragons cry out for her before they are reunited.

The theory states that parts of that already happened in Season 7 when Dany was prepared to go take King’s Landing by force but instead headed beyond the Wall to save Jon and the others who needed rescuing. The dragons were also featured there, as they cried out when Viserion was killed.

The part the theory states would happen in Season 8 would occur if her remaining dragons—Drogon and Rhaegal—were killed during the Battle with the Night King, and that in order to “choose” them again over someone she loves (in this case, Jon and the baby fans think she will have with him), she will switch sides in the battle and join the Night King—by becoming his Queen.

The fan who came up with the theory also pointed out to an interview Clarke did where she said “knowing the lasting flavor in someone’s mouth” of what Daenerys is “f***ed her up.” That could be taken as a hint that Daenerys isn’t going to be ending her story the way everyone expected.

Dany Goes Mad

There’s been some illusion that Daenerys will fulfill the prophecy about how the Targaryens are—specifically since she is the daughter of the Mad King. It’s been alluded to before that she has this ability to go Mad inside her (using her dragons to torch the Lannister forces and kill a defiant Randyll (James Faulkner) and Dickon Tarly (Tom Hopper) comes to mind)--so some fans have wondered if she might be revealed as “mad” as well.

Jaime:

Jaime Will Kill Cersei

This theory has been around for nearly as long as the show, mainly because of the Valonqar theory in the books. While Tyrion could also be a potential candidate as the one who kills his sister, the one fans have generally been putting their betting money on has always been Jaime. Now that he is against his sister, it could be the theory coming to life.

Jaime Will Kill The Night King

There are three things that can kill Wights and the Night King—Fire, Dragon Glass and Valyrian Steel. Jaime, like Jon and Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), is in possession of one of the few Valyrian Steel swords left in Westeros. He’s also not afraid to charge at his enemy, even if it’s a stupid move (see Dany and Drogon during the Loot Train Attack in Season 7). For these reasons alone, he could try to take the Night King down on his own.

However, there's another thing that could be a huge hint—his nickname throughout the series. Jaime has always been known as the Kingslayer for murdering Dany’s father. What if his nickname was also literal in the sense that he kills another King—even an undead one.

Jon:

Jon Is Azor Ahai—And Will Do The Same Thing He Did

We’ve heard about Azor Ahai (the Prince or Princess who was promised) before, and it’s safe to say it is either Jon or Dany—but the more likely contender seems to be Jon, However, that will come at a price.

Azor Ahai the first made his sword, Lightbringer, by stabbing his wife, Nissa Nissa and killing her, which would mean that if Jon is the Prince Who Was Promised, then he will forge his sword to save the world from darkness by killing his current lover—Daenerys. Another theory about this also claims that Daenerys is actually the one who is promised and that when Jon kills her it will make her the Night Queen.

Sansa:

Sansa Takes The Iron Throne For Herself

Sansa has seemed like a real longshot over the years to even still be alive at this point—which is exactly what makes her the perfect underdog to shock everyone and take the throne for herself. Not only is she wiser than she has ever been before, but she also knows how to rule after serving as the Wardeness of the North in Jon’s stead.

Sansa Ends Up With Gendry

When it comes to relationships, no one has had it worse than Sansa on the show—and that includes Dany and Jon who have both seen former lovers die AND are currently unknowingly sleeping with a relative. Sansa was passed from an emotionally abusive Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) to a loveless but kind marriage with Tyrion. From there she was nearly married off to her own cousin before she was actually married off to the physically abusive Ramsay (Iwan Rheon). If anyone deserves any sort of classic “Happily-ever-after" ending it would be her—and one fan thinks that it could wind up being with Gendry (Joe Dempsie).

The basis for this theory goes all the way back to Season One when Ned (Sean Bean) tells his daughter that she should be with someone “strong, wise and brave.” Of the available men left on the series who aren’t relatives, Gendry would be the only age-appropriate option who also happens to be of a royal bloodline, even if he is a bastard.

Tyrion:

Tyrion Is A Secret Targaryen

This theory has existed for years because of the three dragon riders and the fact that we know Dany and Jon make up two of them—but the third is still up for grabs. Fans think that it might be Tyrion mainly because of his description in the books, where his look is similar to that of a Targaryen. However, there has never been anything on the show to substantiate it, with the exception of his seeing the dragons in Season 6 and touching them without any consequences. The only other indication that he was not a Lannister was when he murdered Tywin (Charles Dance), and his father’s final words to him were to say that he was “no son of mine.”

While there’s no indication that this theory will be addressed in the final season, it’s still one worth thinking about.

Tyrion Betrays Dany

This one hurts, but some fans think it is possible that Tyrion will betray Dany because of the loyalty he still may feel to his family. Tyrion seemed stunned when he learned Cersei could be pregnant—but that could also have been the place where he may have decided to recommit to the Lannister cause when the battle for the Iron Throne comes into play. If he is loyal to the future—something that, as of now, doesn’t look great for after Dany’s potential reign since she isn’t supposed to be able to have kids—then he may betray his current Queen to be faithful to his sister instead.

“Game of Thrones” returns Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO.