And even if you say, well all they need to do is get to the Night King and kill him, you do remember the hundred thousand wights in between... the still totally unaccounted for polar bears (don't tell me there was only one or two), the giants and Viserion - of which majority of the living who know about the Night King and his army, don't even know about yet - except maybe for Bran. What am I saying, that idea will be easier said than done.
So what can we expect? Well, based on how things are going...
Queen Cersie:
For starters, Cersie Lanister-Baratheon, though I believe she dropped the Baratheon name already, will get her Golden Army of Mercenaries and will pay for their services - as bankrolled by the Iron Bank. So while everyone is too busy up north, she will be conquering and recovering land and resources in a growing wintery land. What will she be doing? Knowing Cersei, she will sack what she can and have everything brought to King's Landing. She will plan a siege, and regardless of who she faces, she will double down on the defenses of King's Landing... or maybe even sacrifice that for a Castle surrounded by an Ocean - and that is where she can stay until Winter is over.
Sure, she will be curious about the Army of undead - and that is what she will be preparing for - the army with a General they cannot reason with. and I'm sure she will even sacrifice King's Landing just to survive... maybe lace the entire catacombs with wild fire and let everything be engulfed by flames. She will reason that they can always return and rebuild after Winter has come. How long that will take, well... that is how much food she will need.
Will she be tempted to attack the rear of her enemies? Maybe... depending on how the battle in the North goes - but she will do this in a calculated manner. As she said, she would rather see these two armies kill each other first - then they fight the stragglers - her problem of course is not realizing that the undead army will then consist of the original numbers beyond the wall - and everyone else killed in between. So she might be facing a stronger army should the happen - and if Winter lasts years... well, she will be against an army that does not need food.
I'm also curious about them not being able to swim - what is stopping the Night King form converting a few sea creatures? Or can't these undead just walk at the ocean's bottom? Jon Snow's remarks that they can't swim is dependent on limited observation, after all. Anyway, expect her to look out for herself and her unborn child. Oh yeah... and if fortune telling by Maggie the Witch is to be believed (and she has been accurate, so far), the late King Tomen was Cersie's last child. So this one in her stomach? possibly still born. or she dies while carrying the child. Given the swift time jumps in the TV series these days, expect the child to die some time mid season - maybe even earlier. This will turn Cersie even madder - feeling abandoned and betrayed by all her family. She will then be all 'mad; and unreasonable.
Possible foil in her plans? Did anyone forget that a Targaryen formed the golden army? Where is this person, or family, and what is their feeling about Daenerys and her dragons? Is blood going to be thicker than water? Blood ties mightier than gold? Will this army suddenly turn against Queen Cersie? Maybe... as mentioned by Jamie, a mercenary army will not be totally loyal to the Queen, and as Tyrion mentioned, the Dothraki and Unsullied are loyal to Daenerys. So if it comes to a fight between the Golden Army and these two? I'd still put my money on the forces of the Dragon Queen.
Jamie Lannister:
Last we see him he is leaving King's Landing alone as the first drops of snowflakes fall on his glove. The question is, will he remain alone? After all, when Bronn finds out - mercenary or not, I'm sure he will realize that he isn't exactly part of Queen Cersie's inner circle of influence. Jamie is his one true connection to the Lanister army, and with Jamie now gone, what becomes of his status? I might envy say the same goes for some of the Lanister and King's army... at the very least, their generals. If they find out that their commander has left - will some of them follow?
Minimal consideration, Bronn joins Jamie on the road to the North - they will not be accepted with open arms, and even with Jamie and Bronn's protestations that they are there to join the fray - the fat that they don't have the crown's army will put them in a weak bargaining chip. Who can save these two? Sir Davos, Brienne, Tyrion and even Jon could intercede on their behalf. Bran (being the Three-eyed Raven) won't be holding a grudge - but Sansa and Arya might. But something tells me Jamie's story will not yet end in the North - it's just too good not to think of him returning with the winning army and plan for Cersie's surrender. Maybe even becoming the Queen slayer as well. He may very well be even part of Jon/Aegon's Kings Guard - wanting something valorous written his page aside from simply the 'King Slayer'.
But before any of these come to consideration, he will need to show his worth as a field general against the undead army. Who in the north will follow him? No one... but if Daenerys can put aside the fact that he killed her (albeit mad) father, maybe she can order the unsullied or dothraki to follow him. He will need to show he is dedicated to making sure humanity wins - after that, anything goes. But he won't be lacking for friends - Briene will side with him... join him... she will ask the Starks permission to do this, of course. But the Starks will consider this as a way to watch Jamie closely, so they will agree to her being assigned to with Jamie... maybe he will need to report to her. It might still be a great possibility that they both die in battle, or she dies - but not before extracting a promise from Jamie to serve Jon. She will, after all know that the Stark women will never accept him.
Another possible post for Jamie post war of thrones? Lord Commander of the Nights Watch. After all, the White walkers might be defeated... but not obliterated. And this new commander will need to rebuild the collapsed segment of the wall - but he will have a King that knows the Night Watch's plight - a brother in a previous lifetime. This becomes all the more obvious, when humanity wins the war of the North, and everyone refocuses on King's Landing. But Jamie will want to remain neutral - so he will just stay on the Wall. And Tormund (assuming he survived the partial collapse of the wall - and after seeing how Briene looks at Jaime, will want to prove that he is equal to the golden handed Lanister... and serve as co-commander (of the Wildlings).
Jon Snow a.k.a. Aegon Tergaryen:
The King of the North is too busy creating the alliance he will need to fight the undead army that he might have done certain things to weaken the North's unity with his leadership. definitely bending the knee to the Dragon Queen is now of these. Remember that he has gotten to know Daenerys - intimately even, but the rest of the North has not. She will be a hard sell to people who still equate Targaryen with her mad King father. as they are so fond of saying, the North remembers.
So... Jon will have his hands full convincing the minor houses to follow his leadership - or should I say, Daenerys' leadership. This then becomes more complicated, once Bran and Samwell eventually share with him - and whoever else is in listening distance, Jon's true heritage - and presto... the North, through Aegon Targaryen/Jon Snow now has a better claim to the iron throne than Daenerys has - assuming they all accept the visions of the Three-eyed Raven. The Starks will remain loyal to Jon - even if Sansa is convinced to secede from him with some lords of the North who do not trust any Targaryen - even if Jon has proven himself to many of them in the past. remember that Jon isn't exactly the conquering hero in their eyes, plus his long absence which others will now think is because he was too busy shacking with the dragon queen, well, this will not sit well.
Sansa will be a key here - if she shows steadfast loyalty to her cousin, then the North will grudgingly be whole. But Winterfell will need a new leader, assuming Jon is recognized as a Targaryen. This news will be met with mixed reactions , and it will be interesting how this also affects his relationship with Daenerys. So yeah, it looks like Sansa will become the defacto leader of the North, because Bran is not interested in it, and Arya will prefer something else. They will remain strong and loyal to the King - assuming said king is their cousin, Jon. So will we see Jon become King Aegon? Who knows? First he has to survive the undead army, cross the political landmine he will be in the middle of, and assuming he does survive this - face Cersei and her army, plus the Greyjoy fleet.If he has Daenerys by his side - and everything else that comes with her (Dragon, Dothraki, Unsullied) plus the Minor houses of the North - then the advantage will be theirs. He just needs better strategists. Daenerys has Tyrion, will he tap Jamie? Will Jamie fight against Cersei? Will Jon dare ask this of them? We've seen Jon's leadership style. He will not force anyone to do this. But he will ask - and is willing to show an open mind and trust - even Jaime, should the time require for such.
That is what Jon always has been - the selfless, humble outsider. What else should I hope to happen? He rides Rhaegon - the ha and Daenerys, on Dragon, attack the Night King on Viserion in a flanking maneuver. Oh yeah... more Ghost too, damn it. I like the fact that he's safely staying within the walls of Winterfell, but not seeing him for one season? C'mon. Maybe when Jon and Deanerys arrive he can show himself?
Deanerys Targaryen:
I won't go into details with her titles - even if I memorized them. After all, titles won't really help her where she is going. She has pledged to end the Night King, and his army - but she is in for a shock when she sees Viserion now a part of that army. This will galvanize her, because if one of her dragons can become a weapon of the Night King, it stands to reason that her other two children can likewise suffer that same fate.
She will make destroying Viserion a priority - as she won't be able to suffer the feeling that she abandoned her child and the Night King turned Viserion because of her mistake. Even if Tyrion and company says otherwise, she will feel the guilt, and her hatred for the Night King will grow strong. She will now have a personal reason for fighting - but she needs to fight intelligently. Every death they suffer will be an additional member to the army of undead. Tyrion will have his hands full in both planning for their attacks - possibly with Jamie's help, and with Jon's input as well, and hopefully, Jon becomes a calming effect to Daenerys. She cannot afford to make 'mistakes' like Viserion again - none of them can. The last thing they should do is give the Night King another dragon. It would be a tragedy if at least one more Dragon falls. I'm assuming you need two to lay eggs - and have future baby dragons.
How will she react to the news that Jon is now her nephew, and has a more direct claim to the throne? For starters, I don't think she cares - remember... she's there to break the wheel. Right now, she sees Jon as an ally - and more. As a relative, she won't mind continuing the relationship - remember, there has been precedence. The Targaryens inter-marry to keep the blood strong - because it is that same blood that helps them with their relationships with the dragons. It's most likely the same blood that Dogon recognized when he smelled Jon. The Dragon Queen will inter-marry to keep the Tarragon relationship with dragons alive, and if she can't bear children - then she should at least allow Jon to bear children to ensure there is a future generation of Targaryens and dragon riders.
She will rule to ensure change, but she will be willing to let Jon/Aegon rule as she knows him to possibly be a more benevolent leader than her - she will be willing rule as chain-breaker Queen - or as Queen with her King of the Seven Kingdoms (or will that now be less in number?)
Here's the thing... it has been consistently hinted by many fan sites that all it needs is Jon to impregnate her - she has been thinking that she's barren - what if she's wrong? she just needed some Targaryen love? Then the future of the line will be assured, and Tyrion will have his succession line problem solved.
She will survive the war with the Night King, though she might be changed because of it - if anything we've seen how she has survived and become smarter, stronger, and steadfast in what her vision is. So she will see this end - then break the chains that she sees as King's Landing's control of their people. The problem here is - and though this was written in the books, it was not shown in the TV seasons - what if the people cannot survive when asked to decide for themselves? Before things better, they can really get worse, and instead of living her, pole will hate her for disrupting the life they've known. This would be a great irony. It will be difficult for anyone to go against her though, as long as she has the greatest cavalry in the land, and a very disciplined army of eunuchs - who happen to be great in battles, she will be difficult to topple. But will she become a despot in insisting for change? As I said, she seems to be listening to Jon and Tyrion, so there's hope in that.
Her military might will be interesting to see against a supposed strong opponent like the Golden company. But as I said earlier - what if this Golden company is beholden to Targaryens? I would definitely lief or her to be a Queen mother - not just to dragons. Her life has been a constant struggle that I hope she finds happiness. I will be curious with how she is accepted in Winterfell. After all, Sansa and Arya have no reason to hate her.
Everyone's favorite imp. The man who drinks and knows things. Of late, until the last episode, he's been a shadow of his old self. I liked seeing him stand up against Cersei, and the Mountain - and like how he is still very observant (of course Cersei wasn't exactly hiding things, and probably wanted him to notice her not drinking wine and protecting her stomach), but regardless, Tyrion does know things - and he is a good judge of character. As Daenerys' Hand, he can give her counsel, that he hopes she considers. he has allies in this by way of Jon, Jorah, Varys, Misandre and maybe even Greyworm. They, aside from Jon, form her inner circles nd will listen to them - trust them... thought in varying degrees. But he still likes al the help he will get.
Question is, what will his role be in a world where Jon Snow is constantly at Daenerys' side? He knows there is a change in dynamics - he's seen her accept Jon into her chambers. At the least, he knows Jon to be honorable - sometimes, to a fault. And despite his frustrations the Jon's insisting to adhere to said honor, he knows this can put them into trouble at times. Luckily, he was there to iron things out. He is the more relatable insider, and the fact that he is physically challenged has made a lot of people taking him for granted in the past. He has a rapper wit - is very learned, and can still use his family's influence by way of lessons learned form his father - all by way of observation. He can be sneaky, but has a good heart.
What will Tyrion's role in the coming wars be? He knows dragon fire can affect the undead, and hopefully, he remembers reading about creating wild fire - something Sir Davos is intimately aware of - being one the receiving end. He and Davos can recreate this strategy to thin out the unthinking herd. It is strategies like these that will have to be considered. Moats of these have to be made between eh living and the dead. Both he and Davos will be staying on the back - planning things out, while Jon and other fighters will be dealing with he wights head on. the thing is... I see Winerfell as the line in the sand. All the preparations will happen there. The major battle will happen there. The rest will be skirmishes - the Karstarks castle, for example? It will eventually be engulfed - as the living keep fighting, just to give Winterfell time to prepare. This is where Sansa and Tyrion can shine. If Winterfell falls - they will be hard pressed to stop the undead army, and may have to travel to cerise's backyard to fight again. I see the possibility of this happening, though. it would make for great story. Bran might have to sneak his way Northwards before this happens and possibly (with Arya's help) organize the survivors on the Wall... maybe somehow attack from the undead army's rear.
What will become of Tyrion after the war? He reminds as the Hand - whether it is to Daenerys or to Aegon. I expect that he will have Varys with him still. Bronn will most likely stay with Jamie - as Tyrions will realize that Jamie needs the man's company more than he does. Wherever Jamie goes, Bronn won't be far behind - despite all the protestations. Based on Tyrion's recommendations, Bronn might get his castle - proving that a Lannister pays his debts.
Arya Stark / No one / Faceless one :
Amongst all the characters up north, she has the best survival skills, and as I said before, though she may be valuable in any fight, one more soldier won't make the grade. She may be better of spying on the Night King's army or if Bran needs to proceed north again, she can accompany him. You see, against undead, she's next to useless - unless she targets high value undead - the Night King's lieutenants, and remember, kill one and all its' converts dies too. This is where I see her doing the most good specially with the Valerian dagger on her hip.
After the battle against the undead, she will most likely now travel south to scratch off more names form her list. And I hope that when she sees the Mountain, she gets rid of him too... okay, okay, I was just kidding - after all, many fans will expect Cleganebowl, where the Hound and the Mountain have it until one - or both of them die. Despite what Sansa said, she will work best alone - but she need not have to... you see, she can have Nymera and her super pack helping in the periphery. I would be happy seeing her with her direwolf, working in tandem to hunt and kill wights and white walkers. And on her way to trying to off Cersie - well, I would like seeing her and the Hound coordinating their fights.
But most of all, remember how Season 7 started? Well, remember who she just killed? What if she uses Little Finger's face to do certain things? Take control of the Aerie - and their forces (although they are sworn to helping the Starks already, so she just might use that skill to infiltrate King's Landing - as she was planning to anyway.
Bran Stark / The Three Eyed Raven:
Bran has to used carefully - he is a veritable fountain of intel, seeing what caused what in his visions' nd warning into raves to see aerial views of what is happening - he is able to monitor the forces of the undead, and can prove invaluable inputs to Tyrion and the Onion Knight's preparations.He, aside from the Red Priestesses and maybe the Resurrected, represents magic. It is precisely because of this that he has to say away from the Night King, and if doing so means sneaking back North? then he will have to do just that. He can continue giving intel via his vision and the Ravens, and he should teach Arya, and maybe Sansa to warg - and maybe, in a desperate attempt, he might try adding into Viserion to disrupt eh Night King's control over said dragon.
Other than that - he is the show's Deus Ex Machina. Balanced only by the fact that he is a cripple, anything that is happening, will happen or has happened is an open book for him. He can force what Cersie will be doing - and they can counter it. Then when both the wars of the undead and liver are done - when it's either Daenerys or Jon on the throne, he will return north and stay in his cave beyond the wall.
Others:
Varys and Melisandre are fated to die in foreign lands - she mentioned this to him while they were talking in Dragon Stone, the question is where, and why? Will it be in the battle against the undead? or will it be in the battle against Cersie? They will each serve their lord and lady while they live - he with Daenerys (unless he is serving someone else) and she, the one who believes to be Azora Ahai, namely Jon Snow.
Sir Davos will continue to stay beside Jon so long as the Onion Knight is needed. He might even turn into the new navy commander, should Jon or Daenerys need one. After all, he has no place else to be. He might help make sure Gendry survives - assuming he does survive. After all, it's one thing for Gendry to fight beside a Stark, he might feel bit different if this Stark is also a Targaryen - but it also makes sure he is not punished for simply being a Baratheon - though I would like to see Cerise's face when she realizes who and what he is.
Misandre and Greyworm, if they survive, will live continently with Daenerys, willing to stay with her and serve her as their queen as long as she lives. Otherwise one or both will opt to live alone with Daenerys - or she will want them to live - trulls live, but they will not be able to trulls live without serving her - which has been their life.
The Unsullied will become the new royal army, and I think the Dothraki will want to return to their plains and relive the nomadic life with their Khalessi's blessings. They are too wild to stay in civilization for too lang and keeping them there will belike chaining dragons in the dragon pit. They will lose their edge.
Bronn might get his castle after all - like I said, he might stay up north helping Jamie and the closest castle to the Wall... that of the Karstarks, might have fallen with all the Karstarks as the first line of defense against he undead. He might have to marry lady Karstark though - who knows? But even if he does, the man is a free spirit and will get bored with he life of a lord - he may just take up residence anywhere - maybe visit Tyrion - maybe take over the little birds of Varys and enjoy carousing with he Hand. After all, in a land where the army is suddenly cockless, he will have a lot of ladies wanting him.
Lady Brine will possibly get her freedom from the Starks and serve as Kings (or Queen's) Guard - a role she has wanted for a long time -and as one of the better fighters, she deserves it. She just might serve alongside the Hound too, and See Joras. the latter will prove his worth and his family - the Mormonts will accept him back into the fold.
Before I wrap this up - there is one character I've yet to focus on, though he is obviously the elephant in the GoT room. I naturally refer to the Night King. So little is still known about him. He seems to be more a force of nature than a being with motivations - and if there are, we've yet to hear/read/know about it. But from being a threat they could set aside and say, well... there's the wall anyway. It' been around for thousands of years, thus making the Night King a negligible threat.
Not any more. He's got Viserion on his side - and the Eastern part of the wall did come tumbling down - and the undead army is now marching South of that same thousand-year old wall. I wonder how all those Maesters will be discussing these events - the same events they were warned by Samuel Tarly about.
Of course, I'm no Maggie the Witch - or in our local culture, not a Madame Auring - this are just hunches, and ideal scenarios. Not that i have not touched on how the Night King will be defeated, nor how Ceresie will likewise fall. I am assuming they will - but i've no access to the notes given by George RR Martin to he producers of Game of Thrones so I can only guess as to the direction Season 8 will take.
I will want to review this in a year's time though - just to see how I fare with my 'educated guesses'. Until then, I join everyone in waiting for Season 8 to show. Or maybe await the leaks that seem to come out as the show is being made - just like the leaks that came out for Season 7.
Images that were shown in this post belonged to HBO's Game of Thrones. I claim no ownership to these, and use them sparingly. No intent to plagiarize was done.
#gameofthrones
Comments