WMG / Game Of Thrones Confirmed

Back to the main WMG page. The night is dark and full of unmarked spoilers; beware.

Varys will take Jon Connington plot from the fifth book.

• The makers of the show will probably want to keep him onscreen, and he has boarded the same ship Tyrion is on.
  • Partially confirmed. Varys does sail with him to Volantis, introduced him to his Targaryen Restoration conspiracy and loses him in a brothel much like Jon Connington and his merry men.

Varys will replace Magister Illyrio's part in ADWD in season 5

• Rather than bring back a one-shot character like Illyrio, Varys will come along to Pentos to see Tyrion off to his storyline, dumping exposition the way Illyrio did for him. It wouldn't make sense for Varys to replace a warrior like Griff, but he could easily fill Illyrio's shoes.
  • Confirmed.

The characters that will be Adapted Out in season 5...

• Because every single one-scene named character can't make an appearance in the show, obviously the bevy of new characters that crop up in A Feast For Crows/A Dance With Dragons will have to be condensed. Here are some choices.
  • Hyle Hunt. He could easily be replaced with an existing character like Gendry or Hot Pie, or even the adult-aged Podrick could take up the bulk of his actions in Feast.
  • At least one of the Greyjoy Uncles. While it's unlikely they'll cut the entire Queensmoot plot, they might trim it down to just Victarion and Euron, and give Aeron's role to Yara or another Iron Islander.
    • Maybe Balon will stay alive and fill in for one of his brothers. He and Yara parted on bad terms, which might be the cause of some antagonism in the future, thus giving him Euron's role. They might even give him the part of Euron's backstory with Victarion's wife, which could explain Victarion's absence from previous seasons. On the other hand, they might take a different route and have Balon take Victarion's role, with Euron stealing his throne. The third and least likely possibility, Balon might start to feel guilty for his treatment of Theon, and might abdicate and support Victarion's claim, thus taking Aeron's role.
  • Quentyn Martell. Casting sheets have reported that Trystane is being aged up slightly per show conventions, and he could be given Quentyn's role — the leaked audition of him attempting to seduce Myrcella could be early in the season, with his father rejecting the marriage proposal and sending him to Meereen to marry Daenerys instead.
    • Alternatively, Arianne Martell will be adapted out and Trystane will take her plotline. After all, who benefits the most from putting Mycella on the throne if not her future husband. His seduction of Mycella might replace Arianne's seduction of Arys Oakheart.
  • Penny. She wasn't at the wedding, after all (though one of the performers could have easily been her brother)
  • Jeyne Poole & Alys Karstark (any "fake Aryas", basically). The Jeyne storyline is very sexual for a 14 year old character, they could easily just not want to go there. As for the Alys plot, with the Magnar of Thenn likely not having an marriageable sons (being cannibals and all) that plot could also be trimmed back. Or at the very least, the "fake Arya" aspect of it will be removed and Alys will marry a different wildling, like Tormund or the rumored-to-be-cast Varamyr Sixskins.
  • The Merryweathers, Margaery's maids and the Kettleblacks. Bronn and Meryn Trant could replace the Kettleblacks, at least.
  • Gemma Lannister. (Though numerous references have been made to Willem Frey's wedding, which could lead to Willem being part of the siege of Riverrun.)
  • Arys Oakheart. Dorne is going to be a heavy focus for season 5 but they never explicitly mentioned a Kingsguard going to Dorne with Myrcella. Instead of him, in the wake of Oberyn's death Cersei could have a Kingsguard sent to Dorne just in case the Dornish want revenge for their Prince, which would get a familiar face in Dorne and tie into the mysterious opponent Obara Sand supposedly fights.
    • Confirmed, all of them have been Adapted Out

The first episode of Season 5

• Will finish the plotline of A Storm of Swords and the rest will follow A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons (which, reminders, events are happening simultaneously).
  • This really isn't a WMG as much as common sense. ASOS is done except for Jon's arc and the epilogue. AFFC and ADWD weren't even written as separate books, they only became that because of an unfortunate decision by Martin's publisher, and Martin's own writer's block.
  • Confirmed

Shae's betrayal of Tyrion

will be deliberately kept ambiguous.

• Since Shae's character has diverged a lot from her book counterpart, it's hard to imagine that she'll callously betray Tyrion and climb in Tywin's bed. So all we'll see is her testimony and later Tyrion's confrontation with her in Tywin's chambers. How much she was coerced and how much she did and said willingly will not be explained and be left up to the audience to decide.
  • Confirmed.

The cliffhangers for season 4:

• Sansa at the Vale after Lysa's death, at Littlefinger's mercy.
  • Already confirmed in Episode 8, though the "mercy" part is YMMV
• Arya on the ship to Braavos, leaving the Hound "dying" in the Riverlands.
  • Technically she and the Hound are now in the Eyrie, but.
• Bran, Jojen, Meera & Hodor encountering Bloodraven and the Children of the Forest.
  • Confirmed.
• Tyrion on a boat to parts unknown after severing ties with Jaime and killing Shae and Tywin.
  • Confirmed.
• Reek and Ramsay at Moat Cailin, or turning to head back north from Moat Cailin.
  • Already happened in Episode 8.
• Yara discovering that Balon is dead and returning home.
  • Jossed.
• Jorah exiled and sent off to parts unknown, with Daenerys holding fast in Meereen.
  • Jorah already gets exiled in Episode 8
• Dany has to face the bones of children that her dragons fried and fed on. Concidering that the title for the finale is "Children", this scene is probably presented even if it's not a cliffhanger.
  • Confirmed.

The Lady Stoneheart Reveal from Book 3 Will be Saved for a Later Season

• In the books, she appears once, then we don't see her again until the very end of book 4. It would make more sense to hint at her throughout seasons 4 and 5, and then go for a shocker when Brienne runs into her. That way, viewers won't be left thinking, "Well, where did she go?" for an entire season.
  • For starters she has not appeared in the Season 3 finale, like many assumed.
    • That's kind of meaningless, since in the books she didn't appear until the end of A Storm of Sword which is the equivalent of the end of season 4, not 3.

Sandor will lose his fight with Brienne

.Eagle eyed viewers of the teaser for the final episode of this season may have noticed Sandor standing face to face with Brienne which marks a huge departure from the books, and will almost certainly result in a full on swordfight between these last two remaining ultimate badasses in Westeros. Due to his infection however Brienne will wipe the floor with him much the same as she did with Jaime after he was starved, manacled, and exercised for a year. How this ties into his ultimate fate in the books, or indeed the appearance of Lady Stoneheart is anyone's guess however...

• On second viewing of said teaser, there's a brief snippet of Sandor being flung down a hill by something as well as Oathkeeper being drawn. Yeah his ass is grass. Also I'm predicting Arya gets in a fight with poor unfortunate Podrick due to his relation to Illyn Payne which he barely survives. Odds are this latter part allows Arya and Sandor to escape while Brienne saves Pod

Joffrey's New Crossbow will be used by Tyrion in... that particular scene

• It seems almost a textbook example of a Chekhov's Gun. It is shown prominently, openly discussed, and it is even shown how it works. Why else do that if not to introduce the weapon Tyrion uses to kill Tywin
  • Confirmed.

Styr, Magnar of Thenn, will be killed in a fight with either Jon or Stannis

.

• In the books, Styr simply dies during the battle while climbing the Wall. Since in the show he's already south of the Wall, there's no reason for him to be climbing it. If the show decides to take the dramatic route, then Styr will probably come into contact with a major character during the fight. Jon would be a likely candidate, but since in the books Stannis shows up towards the end of the battle, it would make for a Big Damn Heroes moment.
  • Confirmed for Jon!

Olly, the young recruit, will kill Ygritte

• Since Ygritte in the books dies after being shot by an arrow, and Olly says he was the best archer in his village (which also serves as foreshadowing). Plus, it be somewhat poetic justice that the woman who killed his father dies the same way.
  • Nailed it.

The animosity between the Tyrells and Oberyn Martell will be toned down in Season 4.

• Since Willas has been Adapted Out, Oberyn could never have accidentally crippled him at a tourney, so the current generation of Tyrells would have no reason to hate the Red Viper personally. Finn Jones has stated in this interview that Loras will have "a slight flirtation with one of the new characters"; his object of affection is almost certainly Oberyn. Moreover, the first production still of the Dornish prince shows him wearing a necklace featuring a pendant with flowers,◊ a symbol most commonly associated with the Tyrells; the design is even reminiscent of the enameled flowers on Loras' armour. Perhaps I'm reading too much into things, and maybe this is just a slip-up by the costume department, but Oberyn in the novels would NEVER be caught dead with anything remotely related to the traditional enemies of his House. When Pedro Pascal was cast, the press release included this description of his character: "The Red Viper is sexy and charming, yet believably dangerous; intensely likable, yet driven by hate. The boys love him, the girls love him, and he loves them all back. Unless your last name is Lannister." Notice how the Tyrells aren't mentioned as his foes. This Season 4 preview and the official synopsis also focus on Oberyn's hatred of the Lannisters, and again the Tyrells are omitted from his wrath.
  • This is probably very likely, not only because of Willas's absence, but because any backstory of animosity will eat up time and not end up mattering that much.
    • It's not that much to omit anyway as even in the books the hatred was strictly one-directional and Oberyn had nothing really against the Tyrells—in fact, he and Willas were pen pals, despite Oberyn accidentally crippling him.
  • Mostly confirmed; as of episode six there has been a whole of one antagonistic line from Mace towards Oberyn, and the latter seemed more amused by it than anything. Oberyn and Loras seem to be getting along splendidly, if you know what I mean. While not explicitly shown, it's suggested that they're having a casual, sexual relationship.

Karl, Rast and the traitors will be killed much earlier in the series

• They will be killed either by Mance Rayder by first being brutally interrogated and giving out information about the wall (Which Jon feared), or shall be killed by the White Walkers and Wights, or by Coldhands.
  • Semi-confirmed. They do indeed die earlier, but through the hands of Jon, the Nights Watch volunteers and a bit of help from Ghost.

It has already established by the books that Joffrey dies at his own wedding from poisoning.

• When that finally happens, it won't simply being fall down dead, oh no it shall not. There'll be blood... lots and lots of blood. Blood from the mouth, blood from the nose, blood from the tear ducts. Projectile vomited blood. More blood than can conceivably fill someone's body. And red eyes, like from the scene in Series/Firefly where the Hands of Blue use that sonic death rod thing. It'll be the goriest poisoning ever. And it will be awesome.
  • Jossed. Joffrey has blood from the mouth, but a fairly modest amount of it, not even closely Hands of Blue rivers of blood.
    • How much "jossed" is up to debate. He actually does not bleed from the mouth, he vomits and salivates profusely. He does bleed from the nose, the eyes, the skin pores and we can almost guess from every other orifice in his body. Compared to the poisoning of Maester Cressen in Season 2, this is definitely an order of magniture higher.

In season 4, Cersei will become dangerously jealous of, of all people, Brienne.

• The most significant change in the adaptation of season 3 wasn't Talisa dying at the Red Wedding where Jeyne Westerling didn't or the removal of Vargo Hoat and the Brave Companions or Loras being made a Composite Character of his brothers Willas and Garlan; no, it was Jaime and Brienne arriving back at King's Landing in the last episode, before Joffrey's fatal wedding, Tyrion's arrest and Sansa's flight with Littlefinger. This means season 4 is going to see a whole bunch of interactions between characters that never got the chance in the books- Jaime and Tyrion, Brienne and Sansa, but the most interesting is likely to be Brienne and Cersei.

Think about it. Brienne is everything Cersei wished she could be- big, strong, capable of fighting for herself, a match for even Jaime, a lady knight who does not live at the whims of men in authority, apart from those she swears her sword to by her own choice. Thanks to Adaptational Attractiveness there isn't even the factor of "well she's as ugly as a dunny wall" to temper Cersei's jealousy. And Cersei will certainly notice something in the relationship between Brienne and Jaime that she won't like- the fact that Jaime respects her on the same level that he respects other fighting men, but also a possible trace of attraction between them. Cersei may even try to take some kind of action against Brienne if her jealousy becomes too much to bear, which could add a nice splash of extra conflict to season 4.

• Indeed, in "The Lion and the Rose" Cersei "accuses" Brienne of loving Jaime. She declines to respond, pretty much confirming it.

Joffrey has, maximum, five episodes left

• It's not really a spoiler for book readers, but take a look at the episode titles. "Two Swords" calls back to a scene in the books where Tywin shows Tyrion a pair of swords he has fashioned from Valyrian steel, one of which is intended as a wedding gift for Joffrey, and "The Lion and the Rose" seems like an obvious sign pointing towards the Lannister/Tyrell union. And then you get to episode #5, "First of His Name". Joffrey IS the first of his name...but so too is Tommen. Jack Gleeson fans, best cherish these remaining episodes.
  • Hmmm, I wouldnt even give him that long given the promo for the next episode shows not only the actual wedding but also the feast in which Joffrey cuts the giant pie (as well as hurling abuse at Tyrion). Im guessing he dies at the very end of the next episode.
• Not just confirmed but overkilled. The Purple Wedding happened in Episode 2 of Season 4. "The first of his name" is Tommen, who else?

Joffrey's wedding will be in the second episode of Season 4.

GRRM's writing it. What else could they possibly have handed him?

Season 3, episode 10 possible cliffhangers

• Jaime and Brienne come to King's Landing.
• Jon returns to the Wall.
• Bran meets Sam.
  • Happens, but Sam has another scene after that.
• Stannis learns about the Red Wedding.
  • Happens, but not a cliffhanger.
• Dany enters Yunkai, frees the slaves.
• Identity of the Boy is revealed.

Jaime will get prosthetic of some sort.

• Having Liam Cunningham (Davos) act with curled fingers is one thing, but to have a character with a whole hand missing for four more seasons is too much for one actor to fake, especially in such a physical and central role. They'll either use a convenient sling or something to keep the stub out of sight or just give him a full-on mechanical hand, a la Götz von Berlichingen. Yes, it's actually happened in history.
  • Taking Locke's advice, it will be a golden hand and Jaime will fuck himself with it.
  • According to the books, yes, he does get a replacement. But it's plain gold and not mechanical. He actually does get a golden hand in "Two Swords".

If the TV series overtakes Martin's books, the showrunners will go ahead without him.

• The showrunners know how the rest of the series plays out and keep in close contact with Martin, in case of the author's untimely death or if the TV series were to eclipse the books. With two different parties working on the same story with the same ending, there are bound to be discrepancies on the way, especially if there's no source material to go on. The pace of the TV series isn't in any danger of slowing anyway because several major storylines begin in season 5. The Greyjoy civil war, The Martell rebellion and the return of Aegon all happen at the same time and are sure to eat up a giant chunk of screentime without worrying the pacing at all.
  • Not much of a WMG here. This has been stated multiple times by HBO and Martin both.

The TV series will diverge from the book at some point (probably around A Dance With Dragons).

• Otherwise the producers will have to wait until the final book is published, and who knows when that happens. They have to either diverge at some point, or end up waiting till the next decade to give the series a proper finale.
  • Well, it sounds like the third book will be two seasons, and if Dance With Dragons and A Feast for Crows are merged into one story and split into two seasons, plus the upcoming second season, they have at least five years before they have to worry about running out of material. The sixth book may be around by then, or they may end up stretching the fourth and fifth books over more than a season each, since both of them are about a thousand pages each.
  • It's probably a good guess to assume that in five years GRRM will have finished the 6th book (that has about 300 pages as of now, I'm writing this in 2012), but most likelly not the last one. By then, I think he could just guide the producers through the rest of the unpublished story.
• As of the 3rd episode of season two, your guess has already delivered. They have made some very important modifications on season two (though most of them were necessary to tell the story without overcomplication/internal monologues). I predict that these changes will deepen as the series goes on to the point were the story will only be the same in very general terms (like the general geopolitcs of Westeros and Essos), the details being all very different.
• They'll have to make some changes to the timeline at least, to account for the obvious age changes that will have to happen with the actors playing the child characters, Arya being the most obvious example.
  • A Pragmatic Adaptation, actually. Martin made the war flow way faster in the books than Medieval logistics could allow anyway, even moreso when Westeros is canonically the size of South America.
• IF they run out of material (I believe this will happen 5-6 years from now, when GRRM will likelly have ended the 6th book, but not the 7th) they could just go with prequels. Show Robert's Rebellion, adapt the Dunk and Egg stuff or something.

They will show Theon's transformation into Reek

in Season 3 & 4

• Mostly because they can't have him disappear for two seasons, and Alfie Allen had so far nailed Theon, so it would be a shame for him to vanish. Also, a casting call has gone out for a "20-30 year old, weird and extreme looking" which sounds a lot like Ramsay Snow, and he can only appear in the context of Theon's plot.
  • Practically confirmed by people on set and the season 3 trailer.
  • Super-confirmed by the appearance of Ramsay Snow early in Season 3.

The final scene of Season 2 will be The White Walker attack on the Fist

• Because they need to top the dragon reveal. And the OST has a track called Three blasts, and we know what that means

The title of the RW Episode will be "The Rains of Castamere."

• This may be a weird thing to speculate about, but I've been trying to figure out how they could give that episode an appropriate and relevant title without telegraphing how horrible the trap that the characters are walking into is going to be, so that it can still take us by surprise. What better than a title that distracts viewers by making us think that it's referring to a completely different character's storyline in that same episode... right up to the point where that song starts playing? It could work the same way that the title "A Golden Crown" seemed to be making a reference to Viserys' whining about a crown, but in retrospect is clearly also about the huge and shocking discovery about Joffrey that Ned made in that episode.
  • Annd further up the page I see that someone else has made this guess as well (hidden under a spoiler tag). Seems I'm not the only one!
  • Addendum: and after that episode (which I think will be the second to last one of Season 3), Arya will disappear for the whole next episode, leaving us to wonder what happened to her, until the last minute of the season, which will involve her staggering out of the woods at Saltpans, going up to a ship's captain, showing him her iron coin and saying 'valar morghulis.'

Ser Barristan will rebel against King Joffrey, probably by supporting Renly or Stannis Baratheon's claim to the throne

• What better way to shove the fact that you aren't a frail old man up Joffrey and Cersei's ass but bringing them down with badassery?
  • Close.
  • This was a fun one to speculate about in the books, because when Ser Barristan stormed out of the throne room after Cersei fired him, he was clearly heard muttering that he was off to join the RIGHTFUL ruler — and then disappeared for two books, leaving every character to go crazy wondering which of the five kings he was talking about. Turns out it wasn't any of them.
  • Finally done in the Season 3 premiere, with a twist: Selmy joins Daenerys

The reason that the actor playing Ramsay Snow has so far only been credited as "Boy"..."

• ... is because he's going to start off as the stand-in for Kyra in the Dreadfort scenes. After all, Kyra (Theon's erstwhile lady friend) herself isn't really an option — she's been replaced by Ros, who's miles and miles away in King's Landing. That leaves nobody in the Dreadfort to talk Theon into an escape attempt that winds up going so horribly wrong that he's too terrified to ever try to escape again. Sure, he could just run away on his own, or they could just write that subplot out entirely, but it would be more fun to have Boy hanging around, maybe posing as a fellow prisoner, or maybe just posing as an ordinary neglected, resentful bastard son like Jon Snow, but either way befriending Theon and helping him to arrange an escape attempt. In this version of the story, of course, he'd be doing it only for the lulz, and for the satisfaction of having something to punish Theon for afterwards.
  • And done. He debuts in "Dark Wings, Dark Words" posing as Yara's mole and is seen "freeing" Theon in the promo for (the aptly-named) "Walk of Punishment".

Loras Tyrell will be Sansa's betrothed instead of Willas

• Based on none of the promo shots showing Loras in his Kingsguard armour, and it decreasing the number of characters.
  • This actually seems really likely, especially considering that, in a recent interview, the actor said that his character had some plot lines added that weren't in the books, but that "tightened" the plot overall, which would seem to fit for this. Also, he said that he's done a few scenes with Sophie Turner for season three.

Dany is going to double cross the Unsullied slavemasters.

• Dany makes sure to confirm that once she is in ownership of all the Unsullied, they will be completely loyal to her and won't give a shit about what happens to their former masters. After the trade is completed. Since in real life a new dog has to be broken in and trained before its loyal to you, it's more than likely a pet dragon wouldn't be 100 percent loyal to you as soon as you buy it. With this in mind the slavemasters would be virtually defenseless, with nothing stopping Dany from siccing her new army on them. Missandei's quite lucky Dany bought her.
  • Definitely confirmed.

In the show, Sansa will become less hostile toward Tyrion than she was in the books.

• Appears to be confirmed. While Book!Sansa refused to bend so that Tyrion can put a cloak over her, TV!Sansa does in fact bend.
  • Superconfirmed. She even smiles when Tyrion takes her to the Sept. In the book she didn't know she was to marry Tyrion until she walked into the place and she cried during the whole ceremony.

Talisa will be murdered at the Red Wedding

• Recent trailer shots show she will be present, and it would clear up loose ends quite easily.
  • Confirmed in episode 9 of season three.

Jon will kill Orell south of the Wall

• Several reasons:
  • Orell is a Posthumous Character in the third book already and only his warged eagle is present. The eagle hates Jon and attacks him because Jon killed Orell before "defecting".
  • Styr the Magnar has been Adapted Out, Tormund is leading the party and Jarl will probably die during the climb like in the book. Tormund is obviously not going to be killed this season. The trailers show Jon, Tormund, Ygritte and Orell together south of the Wall.
  • The trailers also show something falling over Jon Snow while he is wearing the same south-of-the-Wall cammo clothes and Kit Harington had makeup scars in his face during an interview in a 'behind the scenes' special. This is because Jon will kill Orell when he tries to defect and run back to Castle Black, and Orell's eagle will attack him. Thus the show will be combining Book 2's Orell's death and Book 3's attack on Castle Black.
    • Happened pretty much exactly like that.

Theon's torturer is Roose Bolton's kid.

• The arms of House Bolton is the same type of cross Theon's been strapped to the entire season, and the Rooster sent his bastard to take Theon to Robb back in season two, but the said bastard has mysteriously never shown up, not to mention the torturer appears to be that f***ing hornblower. Hmmmm...
  • Confirmed as of the episode "Mhysa". Roose Bolton explained what happened to Winterfell, it cut to Ramsay and Theon, and then later Balon Greyjoy received Theon's "favorite toy."

The hornblower is Ramsay Bolton.

• Because that guy is a complete troll, and likes to do things himself. And he prefers vuvuzelas.
  • Vuvuzelas made from human skin.
• All but stated outright as of Season 3 Episode 6, "The Climb". He still has to say his name, however.
• Confirmed in the episode "Mhysa"

The Boy's true identity will be revealed in the 3rd season finale.

• In the third season finale, we will see the boy in the middle of another torture session with Theon. A servant will enter to inform him of his father's arrival. The Boy will kill the servant for interrupting him during his 'work', say that it must be Theon's lucky day and go see his father. He will then enter a room, and we will see Roose Bolton there.
  • Meh, close enough.

Stannis will make a comeback.

• This show is mechanical. If Stannis didn't still have some kind of major function in the plot, the writers would have killed him already. Not to mention he seems to be at least indirectly responsible for the death of Robb Stark.
  • As of "Mhysa" Stannis is planning on sailing to the Wall.

TV!Stannis cares more about his wife than Book!Stannis does

• This is a bit of a stretch, and may well be Jossed next season, but I thought it was interesting Stannis seemed concerned at the memory of his wife being near death due to starvation during the Siege of Storm's End. Hard to imagine Book!Stannis being overly fussed about the possibility of Selyse snuffing it. (Mind you, Book!Selyse has big ears and a moustache, and TV!Selyse is going to be played by the very pretty Tara Fitzgerald.) On the other hand, maybe no-one told Stephen Dillane that Stannis is indifferent to Selyse.
  • Judging by her appearance in "Kissed by Fire", their marriage is certainly not healthy but Stannis cares enough to confess his infidelity and ask for forgiveness. She is actually happy with it.

At the end of Season 3, Theon's final words will be...

• "Reek, Reek, it rhymes with weak." After being brutally tortured for so long, his captors (namely Ramsay) will force him to adopt a new identity to humiliate him even further. He then will cling onto some lingering hope that someone will save him, but when he hears of his father's death, the return of his uncles, Yara having to deal with them, and the Red Wedding, he will lose any remaining hope he had left and will sobbingly call himself Reek.
  • Not impossible: one of the track names on the season 3 soundtrack is titled "Reek", so they may be bringing out the character metamorposis in one way or another.
  • Close enough.

Gendry's escape from Dragonstone

• Mirroring the part of Edric Storm in the books, Gendry will be smuggled out of Dragonstone by Davos, but he will ask him to return him to the Riverlands. This is not to go back to the Brotherhood, however, but because he realizes that Arya is his "family" and wants to stay by her side, even if only as her servant. He will suffer a major blow when he learns of the Red Wedding and thinks that Arya was in it, and (AFFC spoilers) he will be at his all time low when he runs into Brienne at the inn and saves her from Biter.
  • Sort of. In "Mhysa" Davos puts him on a rowboat and tells him to go to KL. If Gendry survives the trip back and does not feel okay in KL going to the Riverlands seems likely (and a lot safer now that the war there is over).

Roose Bolton's involment in the Red Wedding

will be from different reasons than in the books.

• So far, TV!Bolton appears to be more likeable than Book!Bolton, and doesn't seem likely to do it simply because it suits him. On the other hand, he appears to be a good friend to Lord Karstark and might want revenge for his death.
  • In "Mhysa", Bolton mentions his disillusionment on Robb's choices as a leader and how he never took his advice as his reason to turn on him.

The original Reek is either still alive or won't appear at all.

• SPOILERS FOR BOOK 5/SEASON 4: It would be to difficult to explain the Reek situation to viewers as background, but if he were still alive, the writers could skew the writing so that Reek could appear in some fashion, so that Theon could adopt the name at some point. The other easy option would be to either find another way for Theon to pick up the Reek moniker on his own, or to omit it completely since it's such an odd plot point anyway.
  • Alternatively, Ramsay will tell Theon the story of a servant named Reek that he had in the past, and he will do it in the usual fashion of the show: while having sex with someone, skinning something, or both.
    • Alternatively alternatively, Ramsay will torture Theon until he forgets his real past (yes, that's possible) and then tell him Reek's story as his own.
    • It may be happening a little early than first expected: one of the tracks on the season 3 soundtrack is titled simply "Reek."
    • And done in "Mhysa". Ramsay comes with the Reek moniker on screen, apparently by chance, suggesting that Reek Mark 1 does not exist in show canon.

Guesses about what will happen in each episode of season 4

.(Please update as more titles are announced or add your own theories. Also bear in mind that Word of God confirms there is more than one Wham Episode towards the end, instead with many throughout the show.)

• "The Lion and the Rose". Tywin tries pushing forward Cersei and Loras' proposed marriage, with Oberyn Martell's arrival putting a strain on things. Joffrey is poisoned at his wedding feast.
  • Jossed the first, confirmed the second.
• "Oathkeeper". Brienne receives a sword as a reward for returning Jaime Lannister to King's Landing, from Tywin most likely - or, alternatively, from Jaime, to help her on her search for Sansa.
  • Confirmed.
• "First of His Name". Tommen is crowned as king and marries Margaery.
  • Confirmed on the first part, jossed on the latter, although it will happen soon according to Tywin and Cersei.
• "The Laws of Gods and Men". The initial trial of Tyrion, and the outcome.
• "Mockingbird" is likely a reference to Littlefinger's storyline and will probably result in Littlefinger arriving in the Eyrie and likely end with the death of Lysa Arryn.
  • Confirmed for the most part (Littlefinger's arrived in the Eyrie by "First of His Name").
• "The Mountain and the Viper". Oberyn faces off against the Mountain in a trial by combat on Tyrion's behalf...
  • Confirmed.
• "The Watchers on the Wall". Mance Rayder and the Night's Watch face off.
  • Confirmed.
• "The Children". Is likely a reference to the Children of the Forest. Tyrion escapes his cell with Varys' help and kills his father. Also, possibly, the last scene will show Lady Stoneheart.
  • Confirmed for every count except the very last.

Olyvar will take over Ros' role in Season 4 as the middle manager of Littlefinger's brothel.

• It has been confirmed that Will Tudor will reprise his role, and Olyvar might be Lord Baelish's new right-hand man now that Ros is no longer on the show. He could even be the TV series' equivalent of the "blonde whore" that Oberyn and Ellaria want to fool around with in the novels.
  • Confirmed as of "Two Swords."

White Walkers reproduce by creating baby wights from human babies.

• And it takes centuries for a wight to turn into a White Walker. Hence why it took so long for them to come back after getting crushed the last time around.
  • Confirmed as of Oathkeeper.
    • Well, half-confirmed. We still don't know how long it takes for one to grow up.

Tyrion and/or Arya will eventually meet Daenerys

• A given since both are main characters headed for Essos, and up until this point Daenerys has been the only main character with a major arc taking place in Essos. Right now the three of them have their own separate story threads, but it wouldn't be surprising if at least one of Tyrion or Arya eventually comes into contact with Daenerys. Seeing as Arya's given up on her family in Westeros and Tyrion's made himself an enemy to the Lannisters, they might even end up helping Daenerys conquer Westeros.
  • Confirmed – Tyrion ends up in Dany’s court in season 5.

Arya will kill Meryn Trant

• It seems pretty obvious since she is in Braavos, and Meryn Trant is sent with Mace Tyrell to Braavos as his guard. Plus, her killing Trant will either be a part of her training, or she will go out of her way to kill him without the consent of the Faceless Men.
  • Confirmed.

Roose will have a few Pet the Dog moments with Walda.

• In the books, the normally cold, clinical Roose Bolton mentions that he's grown oddly fond of his new wife. Given that the Boltons will be getting more screentime in the upcoming seasons, this relationship may be somewhat more developed.
  • Confirmed; he does appear to care for her at least somewhat.

Brienne will become a knight of the North

• All the pieces are in place for this one - she's headed for Winterfell, where Sansa is all but in charge, she'll present Oathkeeper to her as a new sword for the Starks (as it's half of Ice, anyways), swearing once again to support and protect her.
  • Confirmed.

Bronn has been poisoned.

• During the battle with the Sand Snakes, the camera explicitly shows Bronn getting cut by one of their daggers. Now, the Dornish already have a reputation for coating their blades with poison...
  • Confirmed. Tyene's dagger was indeed coated in poison, but he received the antidote from her after admitting she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Stannis plans to kill Melisandre if Shireen's sacrifice does not ensure the conquest of Winterfell.

• Stannis really cared for his daughter and burning her was not an easy choice for him to make. Being the Principles Zealot he is and his willingness to strangle Melisandre on a past occasion, he is probably going to say this bluntly to the Red Priestess's face before the battle.
  • Confirmed by implication, Melisandre runs for the hills when Stannis campaign goes south, probably fleeing his wrath as much as anything.

Season Five Plot Twists

• Brienne of Tarth will run into Stannis and Melisandre on their march to Winterfell. She is forced to choose between saving Sansa and honoring her vows or taking revenge for Renly.
  • Confirmed. Brienne ditches her vigil to Sansa and goes and gives Stannis some vengeance but which kind of is like a Mercy Kill.
• Jon Snow will send Sam and Gilly away after Maester Aemon dies in Season 5 of old-age. Either he gets Put on a Bus and sails via Eastwatch and goes to Oldtown, or he gets caught up in the shenanigans at Winterfell and he and Gilly take on the Mance Rayder and his Wives part in freeing Sansa.
  • Confirmed. In the finale, Jon Snow sends Sam, Gilly and Baby to Oldtown.

Jon isn't dead

• Or at least, won't stay so for long. With Melisandre close by, he will be raised, much like Thoros of Myr did with Lord Beric Dondarion. He might gain the sobriquet Lord Stoneheart. As he did die, it might free him of his oath to the Watch.
  • Confirmed; he gets resurrected by Melisandre.

Ramsay will kill Roose and the apparently pregnant Walda

• His voiceover during the teaser video has him declaring that Winterfell is his. While he will be Lord of Winterfell once Roose is dead, Winterfell technically belongs to Roose whilst he still lives. Perhaps Ramsay will finally get tired of being lorded over by his father, and will kill him so that he will rule. He will also kill the apparently pregnant Walda so that the more legitimate son of Roose won't threaten his inheritance.
  • Very much confirmed.

The Wildlings will rescue Davos and the Loyalist Nights Watchmen

• From what I have observed from the trailers and teaser clips, Davos and the loyalists have barricaded themselves in a room along with Jon Snows body and Ghost. Thorne along with the Mutineers are trying to break through and Davos and the loyalists are prepared to fight them once they break through the door. However, Wun Wun breaks through the Castle's gate and hundreds of wildlings pour in and kill many of the mutineers (which hopefully will include Thorne and Olly), and those that survive become prisoners. It turns out that one of the loyalists went to the Wildlings asking for aid, likely sent by Davos or suggested by one of the loyalists (likely Eddison).
  • Confirmed.

Balon's Death

• In the show, we often see events that are only referred to in the books. As it is such an important event it will likely be shown on screen. My guess is that we will see Balon walking along a bridge at Pyke when a storm whips up. As he runs for shelter in the nearest tower we hear a snapping sound and the bridge collapses. As it does, Balon's cloak is snagged and torn off. Balon clings to the edge of the bridge but suddenly hears an unearthly sound echoing from the sea. The shock of the noise causes him to loose his grip and he goes tumbling towards the sea. We see balon's cloak with the Greyjoy house symbol on it, a tear through one of the kraken's eyes.
  • There is also a popular theory that Balon was killed by a faceless man hired by Euron. Maybe the scene will confirm that theory. We might see Balon on a bridge with two Ironborn soldiers, and one of them suddenly turns on him, breaks his neck and throws him off the bridge. He then runs, pursued by the other soldier. The killer hides in a crowd, and the only thing the other soldier finds is his face on the ground. Of course, the soldier would also need to be killed, since he is a witness.
  • Confirmed; the scene is shown onscreen, with Euron throwing his brother off the bridge.

Rickon will replace Fake!Arya

• Rickon is set to appear in season 4. This is how his storyline might go: he will get to the Umbers, where he will be captured by Bolton men. Ramsey will proclaim himself Rickon's protector and take control of Winterfell, claiming he is only doing it until Rickon comes of age. When the Northern Lords decide to save him, Ramsey will, claiming to be hiding him to keep him safe, have him smuggled to Skagos. Lord Manderly's spies will find out about that, and he will send Davos there to get him.
  • As of Season 5, it looks like Sansa will be fulfilling this role instead.
    • Confirmed as of season 6.

We will see Cold Hands or Benjen Stark

return in Season Six.

• After the Raven's cave is overrun by the White Walkers, Bran and Meera are left all alone in the far north, with no shelter and no allies and being pursued by an army of wights. Seems like the perfect opportunity for a certain supernatural being or a certain Stark to step in and give a helping hand.
  • Confirmed, just about down to the letter. And if Coldhands and Benjen Stark aren't the same guy in the books, they certainly are in the show.

Theon and Yara Greyjoy are going to pop up in Essos in their next appearance.

• They may end up allying with Daenerys, who conveniently needs a navy (her ships were burned at Meereen) and also has a penchant for taking in people that have been disgraced or exiled from their homelands.
  • Going off of that, they'll mention to her that Euron killed Balon as the iron price for the throne. Daenerys will Pay Evil unto Evil and have Euron roasted alive, paying the iron price for Euron's fleet.
  • Confirmed. They arrive in Volantis in season 6, episode 7.

Theon and Yara will sail to Meereen

• They don't really have anywhere else to go at this point: they're still considered enemies by more or less every house in Westeros, and they're fugitives from their own homeland so joining up with Daenerys is probably their best bet. They have quite a good bargaining chip in the form of the huge fleet they took from the Iron Islands, an offer Dany can't really refuse if she wants to get to Westeros. That, and it would be kind of fitting to have Varys, Theon, and Grey Worm on the same team.
  • Confirmed in s06e07. This is exactly Yara's plan.

The Waif knows Arya's not dead.

• She probably knew Arya wouldn't die before she attacked. Not only was it hilariously unsubtle, but someone with her training would have made sure - particularly in a story that takes so many tropes and subverts them so brutally. The Waif probably wants to draw this out and make it as long and as nightmarish for Arya as possible.
  • More or less confirmed. After Arya is patched up by Lady Crane, the Waif shows up and brutally kills her, and displays the body before a horrified Arya, boasting about how she would have had a painless death had Arya done her duty, and then pursues a terrified Arya through the city like the Terminator.

Jon Snow will not kill Ramsay.

• Rather, the Bolton Bastard will die by Karmic Death, betrayed either by a common servant or his own men, tired of living in fear that he might murder them at any time out of sheer boredom. The House Bolton will fall, not with a bang, but a whimper.
  • Ghost will do it!
  • Even better/karmic? His "Bastard's Girls" eat him alive.
  • Confirmed. After Jon beats him to a pulp, Sansa locks Ramsay in a cell where his hounds (who Ramsay bragged hadn't been fed for seven days to make them especially ravenous) eat him alive.

Bran will discover that L + R = J

In this episode, Bran finds himself at the Tower where his aunt was found. Whether it be the next episode or the next, season 6 will show Bran discovering that the scream from the tower was Lyanna giving birth to Jon and confirming that Jon Snow is indeed the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen and that Ned was asked to take care of him.

• Confirmed.

Loras will never join Joffrey's or Tommen's Kingsguard.

• He is the only son of Mace Tyrell on the show, so it's extremely doubtful that he would purposely endanger the survival of his House by donning the white cloak. As much as he hates being betrothed to Cersei, it's difficult to imagine the dutiful Knight of Flowers placing his own selfish desire to escape a miserable marriage above his family's long-term future. According to GRRM, Willas and Garlan Tyrell will have important parts to play in future novels. TV!Loras is already a Composite Character of his Adapted Out brothers, so it's reasonable to assume that he will take over their roles at a later date. From the point of the view of the writers, it's better to keep Loras out of the order so that he is free to leave King's Landing when the story requires him to (e.g. like defending the Reach from the Ironborn).
  • Confirmed. Loras dies in the season 6 finale.

Loras will die.

• If you haven't read book 4, turn back now! In A Feast for Crows, Loras receives mortal wounds during a raid on Dragonstone, having been put to the obviously suicidal mission by Cersei. By A Dance with Dragons, he has still not recovered. He seems to have done his plot duty by this point and it's not likely we'll ever see him again. As of season three, Loras's role has been upped from the book, and David and Dan seem to be even more bloodthirsty than the original author. Chances are they're going to go right for the throat (or burning oil) and follow up on the show's murderous reputation. It grows ever more likely with every Loras scene, as he's quickly becoming a fan favorite.
  • In the episode Mhysa, Cersei tells Tyrion in no uncertain terms she won't be marrying Ser Loras. How could she pull this off without angering Tywin? Seems this might be the way to do it...
    • Loras's death will anger Olenna a lot, even more than Joffrey's treatment of Margaery already has. Mace (who will now appear) may try doing something, but god knows he's always ineffective. But Olenna standing there taking the death of her grandson like nothing? Oh-no. It will lead nicely to her poisoning Joffrey. And the best part? If the above troper is right, it will be Cersei's fault. Maybe now that Stannis is already on his way to the wall, Cersei will set the Siege of Dragonstone earlier.
    • If Loras dies in Season 4, it won't occur before the PW because Finn Jones has appeared in at least three HBO featurettes dressed in Loras' flowery outfit with the outdoor wedding feast set in the background.
  • I very much doubt that TV!Loras will be killed off before the events of The Winds of Winter because according to GRRM, Willas and Garlan Tyrell will have important parts to play in future novels. TV!Loras is already a Composite Character of his Adapted Out brothers, so he will most likely take over their roles in the later seasons.
• Confirmed. Cersei has Loras killed in the season 6 finale, and Olenna is pissed.

Dany will find common cause with the Martells

• Tellingly, in her conversation with Tyrion leading up to her "Break the wheel" speech, neither Dorne nor the Martells are brought up. Indeed, given how neither were really involved in either Robert's Rebellion or the War of the Five Kings, it'd make sense that she would find no reason to strike at them. But given their mutual distrust with the rest of Westeros, it'd make sense that she might at least find them convenient allies.
  • Confirmed in the season 6 finale. The Martells are now allied with Daenerys.

Yara Greyjoy will become captain of the Iron Fleet

• The series has been streamlining the narrative by eliminating and conflating minor characters. One casualty of this is going to be Victarion Greyjoy. Instead, Yara — who is clearly not going to be captured by Stannis at this point in the narrative — will take his role leading the Ironborn to Essos.
  • Confirmed, mostly. After Euron is crowned king, Yara and Theon high-tail it out of the Iron Islands and make way for Meereen, taking a sizeable number of dissident Ironborn and all the best ships with them.

Melisandre's vision of Jon Snow fighting in Winterfell will come true

• With Jon's resurrection, her vision will come true. But in a different way than we think. It is made clear that the Starks and Bolton's will battle, but from the looks of things from the trailers, they won't be fighting at Winterfell. I believe that the vision foreshadows a Stark victory (supported by the newly arrived army from the Vale), and the vision of Jon fighting at Winterfell will be him and his army killing Ramsay and the few Bolton troops he has left.
  • Confirmed in S06E09, though the battle is indeed at Winterfell. The arrival of the army from the Vale is what enables the Starks to win the battle, as predicted here.

Kevan Lannister and Pycelle will be killed on orders from Qyburn in the adaptation.

• This happens by way of Varys in the books. Since he's elsewhere, he's replaced (by the writers on a meta level and by the Lannisters in-universe) with Qyburn. Qyburn has already been shown turning Varys's 'little birds' to his side. The motives will also be different. Varys was working in an attempt to destabilize the Lannisters, possibly opening the door for (fake?) Aegon. In this case, it will be on Cersei's orders, which will obviously leave an open spot on the Council, where Cersei will advise Tommen to name the most "natural" replacement for the position - Jaime Lannister. This will allow the 'Royal Family' to essentially rule together as King, Queen Mother, and King's Hand. (Of course, Tommen actually being a pretty nice guy and this being Game of Thrones and all, things will quickly find a way to go to hell in a handbasket by the following episode.)
  • In s06e08, Varys makes a journey to King's Landing, leaving Mereen in the hands of Tyrion. Perhaps the show will follow the books in this way after all.
  • Mostly confirmed; they both die at the hands of the "little birds". However, the "royal family" ruling does not happen as Tommen kills himself. Instead, it is Cersei who ends up ruling as Queen.

The rumor Qyburn investigated is in fact the location of the Mad King's stores of wildfire.

• Judging from Bran's visions as well as the Mad King having hidden vast amounts of wildfire all over King's Landing to destroy it, it's very possible that Qyburn found at least one of these secret wildfire storehouses and Cersei intends to use it as her trump card against the High Sparrow.
  • Worth noting that in the same episode, Jaime mentions to Edmure that Cersei would burn down a city to protect her chidlren. Sounds like foreshadowing to me.
  • Didn't Cersei already knew about the wildfire cache back in Season 2? Tyrion knew about it from Lancel who is sleeping with Cersei back then and he hijacked that plan so he can use it against Stannis. Unless, Qyburn found out that there's some extra wildfire...
    • No. Cersei did not know about the Mad King's stashes. She knew that wilfire exists and that the Guild of Pyromancers was ready and willing to manufacture it for her. All the wildfire shown and used in Season 2 was commissioned by Cersei and manufactured recently. The Mad King's stashes are a completely different matter.
• Further foreshadowed in "Battle of the Bastards", where Tyrion recounts how Jaime had told him how the Mad King had secretly hidden huge stocks of Wildfire under every major road and landmark in King's Landing, including the Red Keep and the Great Sept of Baelor.
  • The season 6 finale seems to have confirmed this, as the wildfire proves to be a Chekhov's Gun that goes off in spectacular fashion.

The clockwork map shown in the intro will make an appearance on the show.

• Maybe it'll be a very expensive trinket Dany and co. see in a bazaar, or perhaps one of the kings will possess such a map.
  • Confirmed: it makes an appearance in the season 6 finale in the library of the Citadel in Oldtown.
    • Partly confirmed. The sun astrolabe turns out to be a part of the mirror lighting network in the library.

Sansa will do increasingly vile things while playing the game.

• Her mentor, Littlefinger, is almost the classic underdog, starting at the very bottom of the ladder and gaining massive amounts of power despite his weak position, only unlike the typical underdog, he's not at all meant to be cheered on. With the terrible life Sansa has lead so far, it's safe to say that she, too, is an underdog of sorts, and thus may end up walking the same path her teacher strode...right after trampling him underfoot. Plus, many fans are extremely excited that Sansa's now playing the game and possibly preparing to get back at her tormentors, and GRRM's not exactly shy about turning his audience's joy into ash in their mouths.
  • Confirmed as of season 6, wherein Sansa is keeping crucial information away from Jon and feeding Ramsay Bolton to his own dogs.

Daenerys will take Dragonstone very early in Season 7.

• In the S7 trailers she's seen arriving at a castle and sitting on a throne that clearly aren't in King's Landing. In a more recent trailer, a voiceover from Cersei mentions 'enemies to the East', which indicates that she knows about the Targaryen threat. Dragonstone is the only major castle located east of King's Landing. Also, it's the traditional Targaryen seat and Daenerys' birthplace. Conveniently, given that Stannis and his whole family are dead it's either vacant or manned by someone wholly incapable of holding it against Daenerys' forces (which, to be fair, is most people.)
  • The second trailer showed that it's obvious she's in Dragonstone. She even took down one of Stannis' old banners.
  • And the first episode, which is called "Dragonstone", confirms it.

Tyrion will have a word with Ellaria Sand regarding Myrcella's death

Since Tyrion loved his niece very much and hasn't heard much news in Westeros since his exile to Essos, he’s going to find out that Myrcella’s dead and Ellaria poisoned her. There will be a conflict between them. Ellaria will blame him for Oberyn’s death and Tyrion will get angry at her for killing Myrcella who had nothing to do with his death. Since Tyrion is Dany’s Hand and the most reasonable among her council, he will demand Dany to exile or execute Ellaria. Dany will know that Myrcella is a fullblooded Lannister but since she despises people killing children (as seen way back when she saw corpses of slave children while on her way to Mereen) and doesn’t want to be like her dad, she will probably exile Ellaria and legitimize the Sand Snakes (maybe the younger ones because the three oldest ones are nuts) as Martells instead.

• It would seem from the S 7 E 2 that Tyrion did have a word with Ellaria. Unfortunately for Ellaria, so did Cersei.

Sansa will play along with Littlefinger in order to gain his trust so as to control him

Despite Word of God saying that Sansa feels overlooked for the part she played in the Battle of the Bastards, Sansa was clearly happy for Jon being declared King in the North and only stopped smiling when she saw Littlefinger's reaction. Since Littlefinger revealed his endgame to Sansa and she clearly noticed his Death Glare when Jon was made King in the North, Sansa will realize that Littlefinger will eventually turn on Jon and try to do away with him just like he did with Eddard Stark. However she also knows he's in love with her and will use this love to gain his trust. She will pretend to be jealous and overlooked so as to convince Littlefinger that she would be open to betraying her brother, only to spring a trap on Littlefinger and have Jon arrest him, just as Littlefinger did to her father.

• Confirmed, but instead of being arrested by Jon, she has Arya execute him before all the Northern lords.

How Littlefinger finally gets nailed to the wall

Interested in an alliance against the Lannisters, King Jon Snow sends Davos south to negotiate with the Targaryen alliance. The deal is sealed, and now Cersei the Usurper has collusion between her enemies to the north and south. As a token of the alliance, Lord Varys sends Davos back north with a juicy bit of intel: Petyr Baelish was the principal betrayer of Ned Stark when Cersei and Joffrey usurped the throne in the wake of King Robert's death. Naturally, some "Passing the sentence, swinging the sword" ensues. The Starks get retribution on the one who effectively doomed their father in the power plays in King's Landing, and Varys (and by extension Dany and her alliance) dispose of a dangerous wildcard actor in their campaign. And the senior Knights of The Vale who are aware of his puppeteer rule are finally rid of him as well.

• Confirmed, except for the Varys part, which was taken by Bran.

Euron will defeat Yara and kill one of the Sand Snakes

There are set photos of Euron, parading Yara, Ellaria and Tyene in King's Landing as his prize which means he managed to overwhelm Yara's and the Dornish fleets. And since Jessica Henwick who played Nymeria Sand is shooting for The Defenders which is in the same production time as Season 7, it's possible that Euron or maybe one of his men will kill Nymeria. It's also likely that he made a deal with Cersei which might explain capturing Ellaria and Tyene so Cersei can punish them (either she forced Ellaria to watch her daughter dying of poison or hand them over to Frankenmountain). His capture on Yara might be similar to the books where he intends to marry her or make her his slave.

• Except for Euron's intentions for Yara, everything else is super-confirmed. As part of his deal with Cersei, Euron actually kills Nymeria and Obara, and delivers Ellaria and Tyene to Cersei, where Cersei is poisoned by Tyene and Ellaria chained up inches away to watch her die.

Randyll Tarly will be awarded the Lord Paramountship of the Reach by the Crown in an effort to keep them under control.

As mentioned before, they went through too much trouble casting and showing the Tarly family for them not to have any further significance. Randyll already comes off as one of the few wholly unlikable characters left alive, so it makes sense to ally him with the ultimate Hate Sink in Cersei. Thirdly (although this will likely be glossed over), Tarly's wife is a Florent, and the Florents have had a rivalry with the Tyrells for years because they feel they were screwed out of their stronger claim to the Reach when Aegon I invaded Westeros. So to give the Reach to the female line of the Tyrells' rivals would be a final "fuck you" from Cersei to the functionally extinct House Tyrell - which is exactly the sort of thing Cersei would do.

• Alternately, Olenna Tyrell promises to name his house the successor as Lord Paramount of the Reach in exchange for aiding the Targaryen Alliance, since House Tyrell will die with Olenna. Randyll Tarly already fought on the side of the Targaryens during Robert's Rebellion according to the books, and was responsible for one of the few serious defeats that Robert's faction suffered.
  • Tarly would have to be the Token Evil Teammate a bit like Roose Bolton was for Robb Stark, then. Let's be honest, he's kind of a dick.
• Confirmed. Tarly is explicitly given this deal on screen and helps Cersei take Highgarden in return for the Lord Paramountship of the Reach and Wardenship of the South. However, this may still be somewhat in the air now as Tarly was last seen on the wrong side of a battle with a large quantity of Dothraki and a dragon.
  • He did survive the battle, but his Pride Before Reason led to him and his son Dickon getting Dracarys'ed right afterwards.

Jaime will be given Widow's Wail in Season 7.

• What the hell happened to that sword after Joffrey died, anyway? And he can't not have this sword on him for the inevitable confrontation with Brienne/Oathkeeper.
• Confirmed.

Cersei will lose, but it'll cost Dany

She's going to lose one dragon before she gets further north.

• Confirmed. Euron's forces kill Rhaegal in an ambush.

Danerys Targaryen and Jon Snow will join forces.

It would make sense "a song of Fire (Targaryens) and Ice (Starks)." Danerys will have her dragons, and Jon will have an army of wildlings and others. Between the two of them they will take the Iron Throne. They both seem to be the "main" characters. They might rule together or Jon will bow to her and let her be queen. (Starks only bowed to dragons).

• Confirmed.

The White Walkers are symbolism for global warming

• A major, weather-related threat to the World knocking at its door that its leaders are largely ignoring so they can focus on petty political squabbles instead, some of them even claiming it's only a legend despite all the evidence to the contrary, dismissing the people warning them about it and only acting in a very superficial manner by putting a vestigial group of people in charge of fixing it, without actually giving them the means to do so. Of course, in the case of Game of Thrones, it's more like Global Freezing/Zombification, but you get the idea.
  • Confirmed to a point. Word of God said that it didn't occur to him at the time but he does accept that it has Applicability to it now.

Both Dany and Cersei's factions will both appoint Tarlys as Lords Paramount of the Reach... but different Tarlys.

Sam and Gilly's storyline is one of the few yet to intersect majorly with anyone else's, but if Dany and co. form a base in the Reach, they might run into them there. If Cersei appoints Randyll Tarly, Olenna's unlikely to take that without question. What would be more convenient than to declare him a traitor and appoint the man's first born son instead? Dany can probably claim that Sam's Night's Watch vows don't really count, since they were made under threat of death (nvm that most men who join the Night's Watch do so under threat of death). This will be a source of Conflicting Loyalty for Sam, particularly if Dany and co. also ally with Jon in the North - Sam doesn't particularly want to defy his father, or even be Lord, and it would mean giving up his dream of being a maester (it would also most likely mean giving up the rest of his family, who do love him). However he doesn't want to abandon Jon, or defy his rightful Liege Lady, and it would mean he could give Gilly and little Sam a better life than he ever thought.

• Semi-confirmed: Randyll's part confirmed, Sam's... still pending.

Gendry could be legitimized

On the recommendation of Davos who could vouch for him, reviving the Baratheon line. This all depends on whether or not he wants it of course.

• Confirmed in episode 4 of season 6.

Jaime will still be on Cersei's side but he will experience an existential crisis

For some reason regardless of what had happened in the Season 6 finale, Jaime will remain on Cersei's side and will continue to help her conquer the Reach and Dorne and defend her rule from Dany. However, Jaime will start to question himself if any of this is worth it and this is his raison d'être which is to be on Cersei's side until they die. And if he and Cersei finally defeated the Reach and Dorne while fighting against the returning Targaryen forces, he will experience that Vengeance Feels Empty. When he and Tyrion finally meet again, Tyrion will be disappointed on how low his brother had fallen which will be a Broken Pedestal for him and then, he will say the same thing that he said to him in the books, "Cersei's a lying whore. She's fucking Lancel..." Afterwards, Jaime will realize who Cersei really is. When they found out that the White Walker threat is indeed true, Cersei will not help out and decide to let the White Walkers deal with her enemies. This will cause Jaime to dump her (probably give her a "The Reason You Suck" Speech) and take his forces to help Jon which will take place in Season 7 finale.

• Confirmed; Jaime supports Cersei throughout season 7, but later deflects to fight for Jon and Daenerys in the Battle of Winterfell.

Daenerys is actually just as mad as her brother.

• We know that the Targaryen family has a reputation for insanity to the point the denizens of Westeros themselves have a bleak joke about the gods flipping a coin at the birth of every Targaryen to see if it'll be insane. But, beyond that, Daenerys has undergone a lot of traumatic stuff during the show — her brother's hinted history of abuse to her, being sold to a horse-riding barbarian who essentially raped her until she was taught how to take control of the sex by a prostitute, made to watch her own brother be murdered in a particularly hideous way for threatening her life and insulting her husband, losing her husband because he tried to enact social changes for her, which itself involved unwittingly turning him into a "breathing corpse" because she foolishly trusted the medical advice of a woman he enslaved, and miscarrying her son, whom she is informed was born a hideous mutant already writhing with maggots. And that's just the first season! It may not boil to the surface as blatantly as her brother's did, but it would really explain a lot of Daenerys' actions in the series if one assumes that either she's always been as crazy as her brother, or the events of the series have caused her frail-by-inheritance mind to snap under the strain. This would also mirror her father and brother who - at least in the books' backstory - were both relatively sane men and, in Aerys's case, a steady ruler, until trauma in their lives caused them to snap. ^{In the books...} Daenerys had said of her brother Viserys that the last bit of kindness left him when, while on the run (presumably from Robert Baratheon's men) he was forced to pawn off a keepsake of their mother's in order to get food for herself and Daenerys. As for Aerys, he was a competent and progressive ruler in the first several years of his reign up until a dispute over taxes with a bannerman resulted in said vassal betraying him and holding him in prison for half a year. When he emerged, the first signs of the 'Mad King' Westeros would come to know began to show themselves.
  • Confirmed as of the show's penultimate episode, where she snaps and torches King's Landing.

Daenerys is a Decoy Protagonist

She's something of an Invincible Hero to some, so how's the Khaleesi being uninterested in an alliance with the Starks and not believing in the long night for a twist?

• Confirmed for the first part — she is the show's True Final Boss. Jossed for the second, since she does believe in the Long Night.

Daenerys will win but it's bad news for the North

Daenerys wins. However, she has Sam and Bran silenced so that the news of Jon's heritage does not get out. Jon is tossed in a dungeon somewhere to keep him out of the way, and Sansa can rule Winterfell however she wishes as Warden of the North.

• [[Spoiler:Confirmed - To put it plainly, she won against Cersei, solidifying her rule. Then the stress and self-depreciation finally destroyed her sanity and she began killing everyone, liquifying her rule for good. If she wasn't stopped, she might have gone on to 'liberate'' the north and beyond.]]

Grey Worm and Missandei will have a very sweet romance on the side which will end in tragedy

They will dance around each other in a Will They or Won't They? manner since she's Dany's personal servant and he's a eunuch. Dany and a few others will ship them. Then they'll spend one night together, just holding each other. And then Grey Worm will take Stalwart Shield's place as the Unsullied who was murdered by the Sons of the Harpy and leave Missandei heartbroken.

• Confirmed, but Missandei is the one who dies.

Either Grey Worm or Missandei is going to die

There's been a lot of emphasis on their romance, which is not present in the books. While it's very sweet, the show rarely does sweet just for the sake of it. They're making the characters sympathetic before one of them dies.

• Plus, there are a number of characters who are not present in the show that die in the books. Either Grey Worm or Missanei's death will replace one of theirs.

Confirmed: Missandei is captured executed by Cersei.

In the long run, the Starks are actually in a better position than the other houses.

Season Six's ending shook this whole WMG up - detailed in spoilers below.Although they're decimated and scattered across the Westeros, its not completely out of the question for them to be able to make a comeback. Compare with the other major houses:

• Lannisters: As of Season 4 they're going broke, Tywin isn't exactly getting any younger, his eldest son can't legally inherit his titles, he refuses to name his only other son as his heir ( and given Tyrion's arrest, its quite unlikely Tywin will ever change his mind also Tywin is dead), and Cersei isn't exactly the best candidate to bring the house back to its former glory.
  • Three Lannisters left. One is (likely) mad, one is unable to take the throne, and the third is a wanted convict and allied with another house. It doesn't look pretty.
• Tyrells: Their only male heir is gay and less likely to father any children, but of course averted if Loras decides to take one for the team.
  • Appears to be confirmed, now that all Tyrell heirs are dead.
  • Cemented as of S7E3; with Lady Olenna dead, the Tyrells are effectively extinct.
• Baratheon: Stannis' wife is unable to give him any sons, and his only daughter is ill.
  • With Stannis and his daughter dead, the only Barratheons left are bastards, aren't they?
    • That's confirmed. And considering set photos from season 7 are showing Gendry dressed up like a Lord, it seems a safe bet that Davos brings him back to Dragonstone to take over leadership of the house. Possibly with Dany's consent.
• Targaryen: Daenerys doesn't currently have any heirs, and in the books its implied that she's infertile.
  • If it's later revealed and proven that Lyanna went with Rhaegar willingly and they married, then Jon is Dany's legitimate nephew, and the legitimate direct male heir of the Mad King. With his obvious brotherly love toward Sansa, Arya and Bran, then the Starks do end up in a very strong position indeed, as well as all of the Northerners that proclaimed their loyalty to Jon.
• Bolton: House appears to be exterminated now, unless the Ramsey Bastard has a Bastard.
• Frey: House appears to be exterminated. Walder Frey is certainly dead, and leaks suggest Arya (using his face) arranges a banquet at which the other heirs (and anyone else with a hand in the Red Wedding) die.
  • Confirmed in the very first scene of S7's opening, where all the Frey males are poisoned by Arya.

On the other hand, the Starks still have two male heirs in the line of succession, with at least Rickon being capable of fathering another heir later on down the road. Additionally, the Starks were very much well liked by their allies right up until their downfall, all of whom would happily aid any of the surviving Stark children.

• Mostly confirmed, with the exception of Rickon. The two remaining Starks (aside from Bran, whose ability to produce heirs is doubtful, given his paralysis) are female, Jon is apparently taking the title King in the North under the surname Snow, but may later be publicly revealed to be a Targaryen.

• Confirmed: By the finale the Starks effectively rule Westeros; ultimately, their rule is a short but constructive one. Bran is elected as a Puppet King but has supernatural powers that make building the foundation for a developing country a cake walk. Sansa becomes Queen in the North. Arya sails west, presumably to become a famous adventurer. Jon is exiled beyond the wall, where his peers practically worship him as a living legend.

Bran Stark will end up on the Iron Throne, with Tyrion as his hand

Bran will find magic powers in the north, take several levels in Baddass, learn to walk again, and take the throne. Tyrion may end up eventually undoing Danerys when she succumbs to the Targaryen madness, or simply be around when she is defeated in her invasion of Westeros or her dragons turn on her. Tyrion has shown himself to be a capable Hand and got along well with Bran.)

• Confirmed.

The Starks and Danaerys will wind up in alliance together

• Ned, one of the principle instigators of the Baratheon rebellion, is no longer head of the Stark family, Robb and Catelyn want vengeance for Ned's execution, and the man who killed Dany's father in the first place, Jaime Lannister, is in Stark custody. The Starks, furthermore, have no interest in the Iron Throne, instead content to govern themselves and see to the problems in the North. It would be a mutually beneficial partnership: The Starks assist Danaerys, her legitimacy to the throne reinforced by the fact that she's truly of the Dragon's blood(immunity to fire) and one of the symbols of the Targaeryens' Mandate of Heaven(of sorts) was their dragons which Dany's returned to the world. The Starks, meanwhile, want to just be left alone in Winterfell(hell, they might not completely secede from Westeros if Joffrey's beheaded, the Lannisters wiped out, and a new king/queen is on the Throne that they're no longer at hostilities with) and they're only fighting to maintain their (newly found) independence.
  • Well, the Greatjon did say that it was the dragons the Northerners bowed to...
• Confirmed, they team up to survive the White Walkers... barely.

Dany will learn to fight

Let's face it, after the shit in Meereen it's pretty clear she needs to learn how to defend herself effectively, especially if she still intends to take Westeros. My best guess here is that she'll either learn a Dothraki fighting style in honor of Khal Drogo or have one of the Unsullied teach her. The reasoning being that the knights that she will be battling will be unfamiliar with those styles of combat.

• Confirmed: She learns basic swordsmanship but mostly fights by riding Drogon and guiding him where he needs to shoot.

Daenerys will unite the Seven Kingdoms, but will not sit the Iron Throne at the end.

She believes her purpose is to rule as queen; in reality, though, it is more likely that she is simply meant to serve as a uniting force for a lot of different armies and cultures from both Essos and Westeros for the battle against the White Walkers. In the end, she'll die during that battle, probably scrificially, leaving Westeros with no one clear ruler, but a chance to move forward after the events of the last several years. (There's also a chance the Seven Kingdoms become seven actual Kingdoms again as it was before Aegon's Landing, with all Targaryens gone depending on what theories you subscribe to, this could mean the end for Jon Snow as well.

• Confirmed: Daenerys conquers King's Landing and becomes Queen, but loses her mind after all the shit she put herself through and turns into another Aegon. Jon assassinates her before she can claim the throne, which she no longer wants in favor of world domination.

Euron Greyjoy will ally with Cersei

Since his plans to ally himself with Daenerys are down the drain thanks to Yara and Theon beating him to it, he will instead ally himself with Cersei, pledging the Iron Born fleet to her service. What will most likely happen next season will see the combined forces of the Greyjoy-Lannister fleet against the Targaryen fleet, which will end in a Pyrrhic victory to either or both sides.Also, Euron will likely be seen with the Dragon Horn, and will likely (temporarily) take control of Dany's dragons.

• It wouldn't be terribly outlandish to see Euron's story arc combined with a couple of book characters:
  • Aurane Waters, a similarly ruthless pirate that was at one point in Cersei's employ in the books as Master of Ships; and
  • Quentyn Martell, Doran's elder son who was sent to attempt to arrange a marriage pact with Daenerys and, after that failed, attempted to take control of her dragons. It didn't end well for him.
• Confirmed, in all its destructive glory.

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