If you listen closely, you can hear the many cries, mumbles, and even complaints that season 8 of Game of Thrones has brought about to the masses. Serving as the series’ shortest season to date, the anticipation of how it all ends reaches a new height with each passing second.
Fresh off the deaths of Missandei and Rhaegal in the 8th season’s 4th episode and having only 2 more showings before Game of Thrones comes to an end, there’s plenty to stress about and many questions that are still unanswered. With The Night King officially out of everyone’s way, Cersei shaping up to be the “biggest” villain of the series, Daenerys seems to be on the verge of going “mad,” and Jon Snow not knowing just what he wants to do, it can be very easy to forget the biggest question of the series: Just who will take the seat and claim the Iron Throne?!
Starting with Daenerys and getting the controversial point out of the way, she appears to be the most “deserving” of the throne. Having lost two children, a husband, sacrificing a good portion of her army in a battle against the dead, and going through much hell in between all of that, there’s an overwhelming amount of support to back why Dany is worthy of being the ruler of Westeros. On the other side of the coin, there are many critiques that the last living Targaryen woman just may not be mentally or strategically ready to take on such a task. Making her fair share of foolish moves, the most recent being heading to Cersei with an ill-prepared army and wounded dragon, Daenerys can sometimes feel more like a liability vs. a leader. I’m sure Sansa would agree.
Jon Snow. Oh, Jon Snow. An emotional rollercoaster best describes Jon’s quest to the throne, one he never intended to take a seat on. The bastard among the Starks, all while not truly being a bastard at all as we learned in season 7 that Jon is truly a Targaryen, Jon has literally suffered through death and life throughout this journey of 8 seasons. Proving his self to be a great leader that not only has the skill set, but also the trust of the people, Jon’s most triggering weaknesses tie into his unmoving loyalty and indecisiveness. Super loyal to Daenerys, his lover and aunt, Jon was in some ways practically spoon-feeding the throne to her until he found out that he is indeed a Targaryen. Jon’s true identity, Aegon Targaryen, highly ties into the second point of his indecisiveness of wanting to rule or not. Having given up his title and making it clear that serving as a leader was not in his forecast, this most recent news has changed it all for Jon.
While everyone worried about The Night King, it was Cersei who should have been their no. 1 priority. Arguably (and obviously) the show’s most evil being, Cersei currently sits on the Iron Throne. With absolutely no plans on stepping aside and giving it to Daenerys, the “queen” made it VERY clear with the beheading of one of Dany’s closest allies, Missandei, that she will do anything to remain unmoved from what she feels is hers. Already proving her capabilities as a leader by some unconventional and treacherous tactics, it’s that very same ruthlessness that may be the key ingredient to her demise. Who may that demise come from, you may ask: Jaime and/or Euron Greyjoy. Even if Cersei loses this war that Dany’s army is set to bestow upon her, we ought to know by now that she has tricks up her sleeve. Having pulled in Euron with a sexual relationship and current pregnancy, the unborn child may be the perfect formula for disaster once/if Euron finds out that the baby is not his. Bringing us to Jaime with no need to run down their incestuous relationship, the King Slayer has seen the light and is no longer under Cersei’s convincing “spell.” Feeling the weight and unassigned responsibility to take her out, Jaime would know just how to bring her to her knees.
Among all of that, there’s still the piercing thoughts of just who will not make it to the end of the Game Of Thrones series. With the likes of The Hound and Arya having scores to settle, Sansa being very apprehensive about Daenerys, Tyrion trying to keep it all together on all fronts, Jon’s big “secret” of being Targaryen, and so much more, the final episodes of the series are bound to fill us with more stress than ever before. All of this just for a simple iron throne.
