Game of Thrones Predictions

Dead or alive

I am no expert on Game of Thrones, let's be clear about that, nor am I a big follower of fan sites that pick the book and the show apart trying to find clues. I have, however, read the books, and I am currently 200 pages into the last book on my second reading. I have also seen every episode, most of them at least twice, many of them more than twice. Nevertheless, I am just guessing. Gotta do something for the next year and a half.

Who Lives, Who Dies?

Let's start with what I think of as the eight major characters remaining: 3 Lannisters, 2 Starks (sorry Bran), 1 Targaryen, 1 Targaryen/Stark, 1 Night King.

Jon Snow: Lives. He is, so it seems, Azor Ahai, the Prince Who Was Promised. He is ice and fire. He is the product of the noble Ned Stark's most noble deed - claiming that he had fathered a bastard in order to save and raise his sister's child. It would help explain why the first book gave Ned Stark so much attention before killing him.

Daenerys: Dies. It's not a happy thought, but it would resolve the question of who should sit on the throne, and the whole (Targaryen) incest thing, and it would prevent her from having children like the witch said. I will guess this is the way. It would also be unlike most of what we have seen of George R R Martin to give us such an inevitable winner from the beginning and then to have her win.

The Night King: Dies, gets destroyed. Probably defeated by Jon Snow/Aegon Targaryen. His entire army will then drop dead, so to speak.

Tyrion: Lives. I'm a little worried about him though, as I will explain.

Jamie: Lives. Jamie keeps evolving more than anyone else in the story. It would be a shame to kill him.

Sansa: Lives. I think Sansa has a future.

Arya: Lives. Again, I am not so sure, but she's just a girl (though granted a stone-cold killer.) You shouldn't kill a girl.

Cersei: Dies. It's hard to see her coming out on top. Cersei, like Littlefinger until quite recently, always seems to magically get away with bad behavior even though nearly every person alive should be her sworn enemy. It would be an unsatisfactory ending if the odds never caught up with her. And there is the prophecy...

Some lesser characters I do not think will make it:

Euron Greyjoy: I am guessing the Golden Company will never make it to Westeros, although in the book they do, but in a story line that the show left out. Maybe Theon will stop him, maybe dragons, maybe an unwise detour through the Smoking Sea.

Theon: Euron is a better fighter. Theon has been a tragic character for a long, long time. I think Yara gets away though.

Qyburn: Got to get rid of the bad guys eventually. I say dip him in wildfire and strike a match.

The Hound: The Lord of Light saved him for a purpose - so we could see him die a good death. Fighting Gregor Clegane is very dangerous. The Hound may take him out, but I say they both fall.

Jorah Mormont: Another tragic character. His death will be sad.

Beric Dondarion: Whatever.

Brienne: A fan favorite no doubt, but see below.

Others will mostly live, including Sam, Bran, the two remaining dragons, Varys, Bronn, Tormund, who I suspect survived the wall collapse.

Other Predictions

1. Jamie will kill Cersei. Cersei visited a witch and had the witch tell her future, back when Cersei was a girl. So far, the witch has been right about some very specific things, for example that Cersei would have three children and that she would bury them all. Now it looks like Cersei is pregnant, and that would be four, but the witch said three. I say she dies first. The prophecy also said that the "Valonquar" would eventually choke the life out of her. We are told the word means little brother, in some tongue from across the sea. Cersei would of course think that means Tyrion, but I started wondering which twin was born first. Turns out Jamie is also Cersei's little brother by a few minutes. It also turns out that I am not the first person to think of this.
2. Cersei is going to kill Brienne, or have her killed. Right now, in the show, Jamie is having serious doubts about his sister, but he is not ready to kill her. Something will have to put him over the edge, and my guess is that means that Cersei will be responsible for either Tyrion's death or Brienne's. The show, and the books, spent a fair amount of time establishing a strong connection between Jamie and Brienne. I am guessing it will be Brienne.
3. Jon will sit on the iron throne in the end. The only real wild card was Littlefinger, but no longer. It could be the Night King, but not likely. Otherwise, Jon, Cersei, and Danerys are the only decent candidates. I don't think Cersei is really in the running. I think Jon.
4. Sansa will become Queen of the North. Sooner or later the northern lords will find out that Jon Snow is Aegon Targaryen, rightful heir to the iron throne, and not rightful heir to Winterfell. They will not continue to follow him. Jon being the good guy that he is will grant Sansa rule of the North.
5. Jon will ride Rhaegal, the second living dragon, allowing him and and Danerys to gang up on the Night King and Viserion, the undead dragon.

I am already wondering how much of this I got wrong. We will see.