WHAT'S THE 'GAME' PLAN?
As the latest season of ‘ Thrones’ wraps up tonight — and the show has burned through all its source material — here are five theories for what will happen next
THIS season of “Game of Thrones” has seen a young princess sacrificed at the stake, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) fly off on a dragon and sexy Sand Snakes slithering about Dorne, as the show diverges further and further from the novels. The HBO series has now taken on a life of its own, deviating from George R.R. Martin’s novels by switching characters’ roles, adding events and killing off big stars. While readers of the books once had a head start on knowing where the show was going — they saw Season 3’s “Red Wedding” coming — where the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, will take the TV series next is anyone’s guess. With Season 5 coming to a likely bloody conclusion Sunday, here are five theories as to what may come in the Seven Kingdoms (warning: unintentional spoilers may follow)
Theory 1 Your favorite characters return as part of the White Walker’s army
In theory, any number of killed characters — and those soon to be killed in the finale — could be reanimated as a White Walker, so long as their corpses weren’t burned (sorry Princess Shireen!). Will Catelyn Stark come lumbering back to menace the bastard Jon Snow? Is it possible that even Ned Stark could make a comeback as part of the Army of the Dead? Sure, he lost his head, but who knows what The Night’s King is capable of , and Bean has said he’d love to return to the show —“even as a zombie.”
Theory 2 Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish will become Lord of the North
Now that the Sparrow cult has put Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen, right) out of the brothel business, he’s likely to pursue the career he’s always wanted: Ned Stark’s old gig running the North. That would give him an excuse to go rescue Sansa Stark (Soophie Turner), whom he married off to Winterfell’s sadistic Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon). Still, we can’t imagine Littlefinger will be on the job too long — he’s pissed off a lot of people, including Sansa, and he’s probably destined to die in a satisfying revenge killing.
Theory 3 The Dragons will fight the White Walkers
Daenerys Targaryen and her fire-breathing beasts are destined for a face-off with the undead. After all, it’s no mere coincidence that the only substance capable of killing White Walkers is dragonglass. Still, the Mother of Dragons has her work cut out for her. Although Dany hopped aboard Drogon for a ride last week, it was the first time she’s gotten him to obey her commands, and he — and the plot — could take her anywhere at this point. In the books, she hasn’t even encountered Tyrion yet, but their on-screen meet-up this season made for one of the show’s most satisfying scenes yet.
Theory 4 The Dornishmen will rise
Don’t underestimate Dorne. In the ancient war of the kings — a background detail covered in the books — only the Dornish managed to beat the Targaryens’ dragons. Last week, Doran Martell (Alexander Siddig) and Ell (Indira Varma) made it see were cool with Jaime Lann (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), b fooled. Dorne’s ruling fam er gotten over the death of Elia Martell in the Lanniste ing of King’s Landing, or Oberyn’s death in Season 4 hands of Lannister thug th Mountain. These deeds wi not go unpunished, and wi King’s Landing in chaos, th Martells could make a play for it. If they can beat dragons, imagine what they could do to those pesky Lannisters.
Theory 5 (Some of) the Starks will finally reunite
From Ned’s death to Sansa’s wedding to sadistic Ramsay, it’s been a rough five seasons for the Starks, and it’s time for some sort of a happy reunion among the few remaining family members. Our money is on a meet-up between Brandon (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and Arya (Maisie Williams). Bran has been absent all season, and Arya’s been stuck in a boring arc in Bravos; but they both have magical powers, sso we’re hoping they find they way back to each other — and to more compelling plot lines. Or perhaps it’s time Saansa and Jon Snow (Kit Harrrington) finally reunite. Both aare already in the North and bboth could use a friend.