OK guys, strap in, because we have another Game of Thrones fan theory to talk about. This time, it's about the Starks and the Seven-Faced God.
The Seven-Faced God, aka the Seven or the New Gods, is the deity of the Faith of the Seven, the most prominent religion in Westeros. Some fans have long held a theory that each of the faces of the god is connected with one of the seven Starks.
But YouTuber Calluna has taken this theory to the next level by positing that the aspect of the Seven each Stark is connected to is directly tied to their fate – that, in fact, what happens to them is actually an inversion of the "face" they represent. This is because, like the seven-in-one god, the Starks are strongest when they're united – one cohesive unit. As soon as they begin to separate, things fall apart. So, according to this theory...
Ned Stark is the Father, who represents justice.
This connection is pretty straightforward – Ned is literally a father as well as the lord of Winterfell, and his notion of justice and sense of right and wrong are some of his defining characteristics. Indeed, one of the first things we see Ned do in the series is deliver an act of justice when he personally beheads the Night's Watch deserter.
His subsequent fate is an inversion of this, as his dedication to always doing the right thing is ultimately what leads to him being betrayed, captured, branded a traitor, and (unjustly) beheaded.
Catelyn is the Mother, representing fertility, childbirth, and mercy.
Again, this connection is pretty clear – Catelyn is the mother to a large family, and is defined by that motherhood. Every action she takes is centred around protecting her children.
This is inverted when she is stripped of her motherhood piece by piece. She loses each of her children in some way before receiving the ultimate blow of watching her firstborn murdered in front of her eyes and then being killed herself in a ruthless (merciless) way. In the books, she then becomes Lady Stoneheart and is driven by vengeance, slaughtering her enemies without mercy.
Robb Stark is the Warrior, who represents strength and courage in battle.
Robb is the epitome of strength and courage in battle, leading his forces to victory after victory.
He is then killed not in battle, but in a cowardly act of betrayal when he is vulnerable at a wedding feast.
Sansa Stark is the Maiden, representing innocence, love, and beauty.
Sansa begins the series naive and incredibly innocent, with romantic notions of love and beauty, and dreams of living a life centred around those things.
She is then used as a pawn in multiple arranged marriages, and her initial naiveté and willingness to love even within that system is quickly killed by the cruel, horrific actions of Joffrey, and it's been mostly downhill for Sansa ever since.
Arya Stark is the Stranger, representing death and the unknown.
The Stranger is referred to as the god of outcasts, something that Arya certainly feels at the outset of the series. She very early on shows an interest in fighting, and is now completely driven by her desire to kill. She is learning to become Faceless – no one, unknown.
According to this theory, if the pattern continues, Arya will probably not complete her training (the fact that she has had trouble letting go of her Stark identity reinforces this), and also won't kill the many people she has on her list. This could already be in play when you consider that she didn't kill the Hound (although she did leave him to die, many believe he is still alive).
Bran Stark is the Crone, representing wisdom and foresight.
Bran's visions and ability to warg, and his current training in greensight with the Bloodraven, connect him closely to the Crone.
If the theory is true, it means Bran's foresight may be lacking in some way. For instance, he may be betrayed by someone close to him, like the Bloodraven, whose motives are unclear and who some believe is working for the Others.
Rickon Stark is the Smith, who represents creation and craftsmanship.
OK, so this is where the theory kinda unravels a little bit. Mainly because we don't know enough about Rickon at all, let alone anything that ties him directly to the Smith. Some believe he will grow up to rebuild Winterfell.
But how does this fit in with Calluna's theory about the Starks' fates? Well, she suggests that as winter has well and truly come, and with it the Others, Rickon's destiny to rebuild Winterfell may be subverted by the fact there won't be a Winterfell left to save. It's definitely a weak point in the theory. And there's also the fact that, in the next episode of the show, Rickon may or may not be the ~gift~ Ramsey is given – and if he is, his future does not look too bright. But – and it's admittedly a bit of a stretch – you could say that this would still fit in the pattern, as he would be destroyed before he even has the opportunity to create anything.
But where does Jon Snow fit into all this, you ask.
If you're interested in a more in-depth analysis of this theory, check out Calluna's video.
