It all comes down to this...
Now that the ending of Game of Thrones is approaching, we've decided to look at the big questions that still need to be resolved in the next two episodes.
Sadly, the whereabouts of Hot Pie and an update on the health of Ed Sheeran's soldier didn't make the list.
Dirty politics
One of the best things in the last episode is that we finally got to see Varys and Tyrion do what they do best, pulling the strings behind the scenes. It's clear that The Spider has lost faith in Dany, but will Tyrion's blind loyalty to her stay true?
In The North, Sansa has made her feelings towards Daenerys abundantly clear when she asked her "what of The North?" and Tyrion can also sense a fracture in the relationship when he told the Lady of Winterfell that a strong alliance between The North and Dany would be beneficial to the Seven Kingdoms, if Daenerys actually takes the throne.
Daenerys might have Jon's loyalty but the rest of the Starks definitely don't trust her.
The Mad Queen dynamic
Missandei's final word was a rallying call to Daenerys but will she rain fire upon the people of King's Landing? Dany's father wanted to 'burn them all' and Varys is beginning to worry about his Queen's mental state.
After all, at the time of the Mad King's death, Varys was part of his Small Council, so he knows what he's talking about after seeing this type of erratic behaviour before.
After losing Jorah, Missandei, Viserion, Rhaegal, and the majority of her Dothraki and Unsullied forces, there's a strong argument to be made that if Dany does rain fire on the capital, it makes perfect sense.
Aside from this, Tyrion/Varys' previous advice seen her lose a large part of the Iron Fleet, Highgarden, and the leadership of Dorne.
When Dany actually embraced Olenna Tyrell's advice - the Queen of Thorns famously said "Are you a sheep? No. You're a dragon. Be a dragon" - she picked up a resounding victory during the Loot Train Attack and after committing all of her forces to fight the Night King, she's entitled to look for the quickest way to take the throne.
However, she also said that she doesn't want to be the queen of the ashes. Burning King's Landing down to the ground would go against everything that she wanted to eradicate.
Don't forget that Dany has liberated cities, ended slavery, and given people their own freedom.
However, in recent episodes, some of Daenerys' statements have been very troubling. "They should know who to blame when the sky falls down on them" and "I'm here to free the world from tyrants, that is my destiny and I will serve it, no matter the cost" are examples of that.
Dracarys, indeed.
Jon and Dany's relationship
After the recent banquet in Winterfell when the characters were remembering the dead, the showrunner on Game of Thrones, David Benioff, said something very interesting about Daenerys' headspace.
"Daenerys is scarred by the events that took place but she's also very much thinking about what Jon Snow told her. She's really shaken when she sees everyone celebrating with him and talking about what a mad man and a King he is for getting on a dragon. She realises that his true identity is a real threat to her, if it comes out. She's in a fairly dark place," he said.
Daenerys doesn't care about the fact that their relationship is incestuous - Targaryens rarely do - but she does worry that Jon has the stronger claim to the Iron Throne.
To be honest, her concerns are well placed because Varys is already thinking about how he can help Jon get the throne.
Westeros' newest power couple could be about to face a bloody end.
Cleganebowl
"There's only one thing that can make me happy," said The Hound to Sansa in the last episode.
What is that?
Well, we're thinking that it's going to be the smackdown to end all smackdowns.
Oh yes! The Hound vs The Mountain. Gregor Clegane vs Sandor Clegane. Brother vs Brother.
We're hoping for levels of gore that would make The Mountain vs The Red Viper look tame in comparison.
The Valanquor prophecy
When Cersei visited Maggy the Frog, the fortune teller predicted that she would die at the hands of "the valonqar". According to Cersei's septa, "valonqar" is High Valyrian for "little brother".
Will Jaime or Tyrion kill their sister?
After the Kingslayer left Winterfell, we're certain that he has unfinished business with his sister. It's worth remembering that Cersei has ordered Bronn to kill her two brothers.
Surely Jaime isn't that big a fool to forgive her again?
Dany's vision
It could the most ominous foreshadowing in the history of the show.
Remember when Daenerys was in the Houses of the Undying and she had that extremely interesting series of visions? We saw the throne room destroyed, Dany travelling beyond The Wall, and rather tellingly, she never touched the Iron Throne.
What if it's ash that's falling from the roof, now snow?
Dany could be destined to get within touching distance of the Iron Throne but never actually claim it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gulVUWrADCM
Clip via tf vb
Bran's vision
We've seen countless visions from the Three-Eyed Raven but the dragon flying over King's Landing seems to be the most foreboding one.
As you can see in the montage below, everything major that Bran sees has already happened, bar one event.
Also, what becomes of Bran after the show ends?
Does he still have some significant information to share about the White Walkers?
Arya's list
Cersei Lannister, Ilyn Payne, and Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane.
That's it.
Were fairly certain that she has made her peace with The Hound but those three names are still on Arya's list.
Will a girl complete her quest of revenge?
Cersei's pregnancy
In the last episode, Tyrion made a plea for the Queen to seek peace to protect the future of her unborn child. Euron Greyjoy was in earshot of that conversation and he must have questions about how Tyrion knew this information.
If you look closely at that scene, you can see Euron giving Cersei a very curious look.
It's also uncertain if Cersei is actually still pregnant.
In the final episode of Season 7, she refused a drink of wine when Tyrion tried to make peace with her. In the season 8 opener, after she has sex with Euron, she immediately sips a glass of wine.
Mmm...
Varys' voice in the flames
“I will return, dear Spider, one last time. I have to die in this strange country, just like you.”
That's what Melisandre said to Varys when they were on the cliffs of Dragonstone and now that The Spider is openly plotting against Daenerys, his days could be numbered.
When Varys was a child, a sorcerer castrated him and threw his severed genitals into a fire. Varys then heard a voice in the flames that shook him to his core — but Game of Thrones has never revealed what that voice said.
We'd be very curious to hear what it said.
Grey Worm's vengeance?
If Daenerys does give the order to raze King's Landing to the ground, could we see the leader of The Unsullied go on a murderous rampage where blood lust gets the better of him?
After all, they did kill Missandei and if Dany gives the command, her most trusted warrior will execute it to a tee.
Marriage
Arya has already turned down Gendry but if Cersei is defeated, the political landscape of Westeros will be extremely shaky.
As we've seen throughout the show, marriage between two noble Houses is usually the done thing to keep the peace but who's hooking up with who?
Returning characters?
Daenerys left him behind when she was headed to Westeros but will the Second Sons make an appearance in the final two episodes? After all, Dany needs all the help that she can get.
Aside from this, there's some other characters from previous seasons that we haven't seen yet. Will we get a glimpse at Meera Reed, Jaqen H'ghar, Edmure Tully?
The noble house in Westeros that absolutely nobody wants to marry into. Well, Robyn Arryn.
The dude is creepier than the Night King massacring people, Qyburn's weird experiments, and every incestual relationship in the show combined.
Bronn's castle
If Cersei is killed, the most beloved cutthroat in Westeros has been promised Highgarden in return for not killing Jaime and Tyrion.
We REALLY want to see him get his castle.
He also has to find a wife if he's going to start the newest noble House in Westeros.
Podrick's gift
We all know that Pod has a great singing voice and that he's popular with the ladies. Will we ever find out what he did in that brothel though?
The Golden Company
They were bought for a reason and we've already seen Harry Strickland meeting Cersei. Will they be able to defend the capital though?
If Dany starts raining fire on King's Landing, will these mercenaries stay and fight?
Tormund and Ghost
The spinoff that we all want to see happen. Jon might not have given the best direwolf in Westeros the farewell that he deserved, but Tormund is bound to appreciate the loyal companion as they head north.
Aside from this, will we get a shot of Arya reuniting with her direwolf, Nymeria? We think not.
Sam and Gilly
Little Jon is now on the way and they're probably getting out of danger while The Last War rages.
However, will Sam be the person to document the whole proceedings that unfolded in Game of Thrones? Just like Frodo and Sam in the Lord of the Rings, plenty of people think that Jon's best friend will be the man that's left to tell the tale for future generations.
Aside from this, he'll finally be able to return home to Horn Hill.
Jaime and Brienne
While some people think that Jaime's decision to leave Brienne at the end of the last episode was harsh, it's worth remembering that he now knows that Cersei paid Bronn to kill him.
The Kingslayer might be going back to King's Landing, but surely his unhealthy relationship with Cersei is about to end?
As for Brienne, well, she has protected the Starks, kept her honour, and been anointed a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Her arc is fairly complete and even if she survives the war to come, we just don't see Jaime and Brienne ever being a couple.
The Iron Islands
We've learned that Yara has reclaimed the Iron Islands in Dany's name, so even if Euron and Cersei are successful against the forces of Jon and Daenerys, they still have to squash Yara's rebellion and reclaim the Salt Throne.
Similarly, we also know that there's a new Prince in Dorne, probably Quentyn, that has pledged his allegiance to Daenerys' cause.
That's another kingdom that Cersei will have to deal with - if she's successful.
Dany's prophecy
In A Clash of Kings, book two of A Song of Ice and Fire, Daenerys goes into the House of the Undying and hears and sees all sorts of prophecies and visions of the past and of the future.
". . . three treasons will you know . . . once for blood and once for gold and once for love . . .," it states.
Peter Dinklage has previously said that his character, Tyrion, does love Daenerys but the likely option seems like Jon Snow.
The showrunners have a history of moving away from the books but this could be very telling.
The Iron Throne
The million dollar question. Who's going to sit on the most uncomfortable and coveted chair in Westeros as the final credits roll on the last episode?
Will there even be an Iron Throne to sit on? Will the Seven Kingdoms even exist as a geopolitical entity?
At this moment, we're just remembering Ramsay Bolton's most famous line: ""If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention."
White Walkers
It's worth noting that Benioff and Weiss were extremely vague when asked if the show is done with the threat of the White Walkers.
This is still one of the the most cryptic and intriguing lose ends that needs to be tied up.
To be honest, the idea of reintroducing the White Walkers doesn't make a lot of narrative sense but we're reminded of the final words that Ser Alliser Thorne told Jon.
“I fought. I lost. Now I rest. But not you, Lord Snow, you’ll be fighting their battles forever."
When it comes to the Game of Thrones ending, we shall wait and see.
