For all of the would-be Westeros citizens, Sunday night is practically a Holy night. As the sixth season of "Game of Thrones" comes to a close, and the end of our favorite series is now peeking not so distantly in the future (two more seasons) fans all around the world speculate on the loose ends that need tying. Some have been resolved (Bastard Bowl 2016) and some denied (Cleganebowl), but we still have plenty left unanswered in the Seven Kingdoms.
Here are some of my personal favorites...
The Mad Queen.
The King before Robert Baratheon (who came before both Joffrey and Tommen Lannister) was Aerys Targaryen, who earned the nickname "The Mad King" for literally threatening to, and in some case actually, burn all of his enemies down. Jamie Lannister killed him, and Robert Baratheon took the throne. The rest is history. This popular theory states that a queen will come and repeat history. Let's break this down.
Option one: Daenerys Targaryen is the Mad Queen. This would make sense, because she has the genetics, and the fire. Her dad was the OG Mad King, and she seems to be gaining followers and power at a rapid rate. However, she seems to be dealing with her own issues right now (namely, Mereen being on fire) and at this moment unable to deal with King's Landing. My money is on...
Option two: This one is a bit more complicated. Cersei Lannister would become the Mad Queen, following suit with the prophecy given to her at the beginning of season five. Essentially, that prophecy states that she will marry a king (check), she will have three children (check), they will die (almost check) and "And when [her] tears have drowned [her], the valonqar shall wrap his hands about [her] pale white throat and choke the life from [her]." Valonqar is High Valyrian for younger brother, meaning her younger brother will kill her. This could be Tyrion Lannister or Jamie Lannister, but my money is on Jamie Lannister.
Cersei Lannister, after a season of threatening to burn her enemies to the ground, will finally use all of the wildfire saved from the Mad King's days. Ultimately, her younger brother's valor will win out. Jamie Lannister will catch her, slay her and kill himself, hopefully before all of King's Landing is burned to the ground. He has said several times this season that he wants to die in the arm's of the woman he loves. This is a lot to happen before the season ends, but it might give resolution to the very trying religious story line. Plus, after trial by combat got booted in the last episode, she is pretty much at her last straw.
Bran ruins everything.
Essentially, Bran Stark is responsible for the downfall of Westeros.
Bran Stark has a history of ruining things for his family. The first episode of the series showed him disobeying his mother and climbing a wall only to catch the Lannisters in the act of "twincest". His crippling at the hands of Jamie Lannister sets off the string of events that resulted In the death of his own father. Later, in the heart-wrenching, devastating and tragic season six episode "The Door," Bran literally ruined everything for the beloved Hodor. This also introduces an element of time travel to GoT, which complicates everything! Bran has already influenced the future by visiting the past, who is to say he won't do it again?
After the episode six montage of images from Bran's trance, it isn't a far leap to assume that he had something to do with Aerys Tagaryen losing his mind. The images mention wildfire, and the infamous phrase "Burn them all!" This leads fans to believe that the young Lord Stark has more to do with the past than initially thought. Bran Stark reveals in the third episode of the season that he can essentially communicate with the people in his visions. Trying to do the right thing, but ruining everything, Bran Stark tries to talk some sense into the Mad King, but is inevitably the voice that drives him mad in the first place. Thus, Bran Stark is responsible for his grandfather's death and sets the events of the show in motion.
Some theories believe that Bran Stark will go to the wall and accidentally allow the White Walkers through. The Night King can go where Bran Stark goes. Others believe he is the mythic Bran the Builder who built The Wall to begin with. Either way, look out for the young Lord Stark. He will play a big role as the New Three-Eyed-Raven coming up.
Lady Stoneheart.
The most optimistic and happy of theories, a Zombie lover's paradise.
This theory involves some key players and is based a lot off of the book. in "A Feast for Crows," following the Red Wedding, Catelyn Stark's corpse is recovered by Arya Stark's direwolf. Then, Beric Dondarrion of the Brotherhood Without Banners, the resistance group that follows the Lord of Light, restores her life - much like how Jon Snow was restored on the show. She becomes known as Lady Stoneheart and seeks vengeance as a leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
This seems like wishful thinking for the TV series, as Catelyn Stark has been dead for about a million years. However, we have seen the restorative powers of the red witches and Beric (Lord of Blackheaven) turned up again at the end of this season. He already was brought back to life after falling to The Hound, so we know what he can do. Maybe he will give up his last life for our favorite deceased Lady. Fingers are crossed, because I miss Catelyn.
and last, but not least...
R + L = J
The most famous of theories, and also the most plausible.
Jon Snow, king of my heart even if he knows nothing, may not be a bastard. A wellknown theory states that he is actually the child of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, son of the Mad King, and Lyanna Stark. Way back before we were all dropped into Westeros, Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna Stark (then the betrothed of Robert Baratheon and sister of Ned Stark) and she died. This started Robert Baratheon's rebellion and the rest is history. However, legend believes that Rhaegar and Lyanna created a child, that upon finding his sister dead, Ned Stark claimed as his own bastard for the baby's safety. Targaryens tend to get killed.
Here is the evidence: Ned Stark was very honorable and unlikely to cheat on his wife. Also, he claims Jon Snow as "his blood" but never "his son." For more evidence, watch this video I am now obsessed with.
Basically, this new discovery of the parentage will give our boy a claim to the throne. He was already a bomb leader on The Wall (despite his death...) so maybe he will rule?! Who knows.
Those are my favorites, and the most plausible. Who knows what will happen in the season finale, but it is sure to be exciting and bloody!
