15 "Game Of Thrones" Fan Theories, Ranked From "Nope" To "Basically Canon"

    Is Bran actually the Night King?

    Jenna Guillaume
    by Jenna Guillaume

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    One of the best parts about the Game of Thrones fandom is that there are many (many, many) fan theories, which are sometimes so well thought-out and spot-on that they turn out to be canon. Ahead of the show's final season, here are some of the most popular unresolved fan theories that might just come true...

    15. The Starks are related to the White Walkers

    HBO

    The theory goes that in the past, the Starks made a deal with the White Walkers that saw them take a White Walker baby and raise it as their own. The theory suggests that this is the reason why "there must always be a Stark in Winterfell" — it's related to the pact the Starks made with the Walkers. It's interesting and would be quite a twist, but I don't see it happening.

    Likelihood: Extremely low

    14. The White Walkers will win and literally everyone will die

    HBO

    A lot of people are so used to this show breaking everyone's hearts that they think there's no way ANYONE can be alive at the end of it. But George R. R. Martin has long talked about the series having a "bittersweet" ending, and everyone dying is less "sweet" and more just plain old "bitter". It's just too bleak.

    Likelihood: Extremely low

    13. Bran is all Brans

    HBO

    "Brandon" is a popular name throughout the Starks' ancestry. Due to Bran's time-traveling/warging abilities, some fans believe he travels into the past in order to ensure the Wall gets built — and becomes Brandon the Builder. The theory suggests that all the Brans in the Starks' lineage were THE Bran, somehow. I honestly think this is a bit convoluted for the show at this point.

    Likelihood: Low

    12. Bran is the Night King

    HBO

    Related to "Bran is all Brans," but different, this theory posits that Bran did the time travel/warging thing, only this time it wasn't into a past Bran — it was into the human who became the first White Walker and subsequent Night King. So Bran's consciousness has been stuck in the Night King's body throughout time. There's not a lot of solid evidence for this theory, though.

    Likelihood: Low

    11. The Night King is after Baby Sam

    HBO

    Craster, Gilly's father, sacrificed all his sons to the White Walkers. Those sons became White Walkers. Baby Sam is the only one of Craster's sons to escape this fate, and there's a theory that the Night King and the White Walkers have come south of the Wall in order to track down their long-lost brother. It makes sense, but I just think there's got to be more to the story than that.

    Likelihood: Low

    10. The Seven Kingdoms will split apart again

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    Before Dany and Jon's ancestor Aegon the Conqueror waged war on Westeros and united the Seven Kingdoms under his rule, they were separate, with their very own rulers. Some people believe the only way the show can end is for the Iron Throne to become meaningless — there will be no one on the throne, because it won't exist anymore. They kingdoms will become independent once again, just as the North already did when they nominated Robb and later Jon as King in the North. But since Game of Thrones is partially inspired by British history, the chances of this happening seem low.

    Likelihood: Low to medium

    9. The dead Starks in the crypts will rise

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    With the Night King and his army of the dead heading to Winterfell, some people believe the dead Starks in the crypts will rise — either to fight the White Walkers, or to fight for them. Imagine Ned Stark coming back as an evil zombie?! It would be quite a brutal twist. I'm not totally ruling it out.

    Likelihood: Low to medium

    8. Jon Snow will become the new Night King

    HBO

    It's likely that the Night King will only be defeated if Jon Snow sacrifices himself in some way. His death seems inevitable — but what if he finds another way? What if he has to make some kind of pact with the White Walkers — like, say, becoming their new leader? First he was the Night's Watch Lord Commander, then King in the North, plus he's the heir to the Iron Throne — perhaps he's the Night King's heir, too. I don't think it's suuuper likely, but it'd be kinda mind-blowing.

    Likelihood: Low to medium

    7. Dany will go full Mad Queen

    HBO

    Dany's father was known as the Mad King because of his paranoia and cruel ways — especially the way he tortured and burned all his enemies (and all those he perceived as enemies — which was basically everyone). Dany has, on occasion, shown a worrying tendency to follow in her father's footsteps, particularly in her penchant for turning to fire to solve all her problems. I don't see the show totally going down this path, though — I think it's more likely Dany will die a hero than live to go mad.

    Likelihood: Low to medium

    6. All magic will be destroyed

    HBO

    This theory suggests that the Night King will be defeated by the destruction of the magic that gives him his power — and that in order to achieve this, all magic must be destroyed. That means no more White Walkers, but also no more dragons...and potentially no more Jon Snow, since he was revived with Melisandre's power. I could totally see this being a ~bittersweet~ ending.

    Likelihood: Medium

    5. Democracy will come to Westeros

    HBO

    We've spent so many seasons arguing over who will sit on the Iron Throne, but among that we've seen the rise of elected leaders — whether that be among the wildlings, in the Night's Watch, or in the North. Even Tyrion floated the idea of "other forms of succession" with Dany in Season 7. Perhaps she will, indeed, "break the wheel," and instead of an all-powerful king or queen on the Iron Throne, the people of Westeros will finally have their say about who leads them. It'd be kind of an anticlimax, though.

    Likelihood: Medium

    4. King's Landing will be destroyed

    HBO

    In Dany's vision in the House of the Undying, she entered a burned-out throne room. It could have just been a metaphor, but it could also be foreshadowing — that not just the Red Keep, but all of King's Landing will be destroyed, and likely by fire. It could happen in the fight against the White Walkers, or maybe in the war between Dany and Cersei. Maybe it will be the dragons, or perhaps it will be wildfire. Cersei has already had a taste of that destruction, after all. She might blow up the whole damn city.

    Likelihood: Medium to high

    3. Jaime will kill Cersei

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    In the books, Cersei receives a prophecy that the "valonqar" (little brother) will cause her death. She's always believed it's Tyrion, but it's likely Jaime – he was born after her, and it would be quite the fitting end to their twisted relationship. While the show has never mentioned the valonqar specifically, it would still make sense for them to follow this major plot point, if it is indeed the direction the books are going.

    Likelihood: High

    2. Jon is the prince that was promised

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    There are a lot of theories over who is the "chosen one," aka Azor Ahai, aka the prince that was promised. Jon Snow is the most obvious contender — perhaps too obvious? He fulfils all of the criteria the various prophecies suggest, and he is the song of ice and fire. The only other character who is *almost* as likely is Dany. And, of course, there's also their baby (more on that in a sec). But Jon has the highest chance of being The One.

    Likelihood: High

    1. Jon and Dany will have a baby

    HBO

    At this point I will be SHOCKED if Dany isn't pregnant with Jon's baby. The show lay on the hints pretty thick in Season 7, and it feels like the logical endpoint of Jon and Dany's parallel journeys. The only reason this might not be true is a simple factor of time — with the Night King rolling in, it's hard to see the plot lasting long enough for Dany to actually have a kid. But I think she'll definitely be pregnant in Season 8.

    Likelihood: Extremely high