Summary
- Tommen Baratheon: The Iron Throne makes Tommen a target, and the destruction of King’s Landing or a Targaryen invasion could result in his death.
- Myrcella Baratheon: The Maggy the Frog prophecy suggests Myrcella’s death is imminent, and it could happen in Dorne or King’s Landing.
- Stannis Baratheon: Stannis is in a dangerous position in the North, and his fate could be either dying to the Boltons or to the Others.
The differences between HBO series and novels allow for some speculation on which Game of Thrones characters could perish in The Winds of Winter. George R.R. Martin’s long-awaited sequel to his beloved A Song of Ice and Fire series has left fans waiting since the previous installment was released in July 2011. The TV adaptation has come and gone since, providing its version of how the tale might end. Based on the events of the final few seasons of Game of Thrones and the seeds George R.R. Martin seems to have been planting throughout the novel, many characters could conceivably die.
George R.R. Martin’s work is notorious for taking no prisoners, and the penultimate novel seems like a proper moment to end with a graveyard. For the most part, where the books left off is roughly the end of Game of Thrones season 5. Characters like Jojen Reed, Myrcella Baratheon, and Barristan Selmy, who’d died by that point in the TV series, are still up in the books. In other cases, characters are in different positions than in the series, which could change their fates.
13 Tommen Baratheon
The Iron Throne puts a gigantic target on Tommen.
In Game of Thrones, Tommen Baratheon ends his own life following the wildfire explosion of the Sept of Baelor, which kills his wife. In A Dance With Dragons, much of the conflict with High Sparrow has ensued similarly, and Varys has just had Pycelle and Kevan Lannister killed to weaken the throne for Aegon’s invasion. Without Kevan’s presence, the Lannisters and Tyrells are set to destroy each other in King’s Landing, with either that or a Targaryen invasion leading to Tommen’s death.
12 Myrcella Baratheon
Maggy the Frog’s prophecy will come true.
Myrcella Baratheon dies at the end of Game of Thrones after being poisoned by the Sand Snakes, shortly after accepting Jaime as her birth father. The entire Dorne storyline is quite different A Feast for Crows, and her death could happen in the southern region or back in King’s Landing. Due to the Maggy the Frog prophecy, Myrcella’s death is imminent.
11 Stannis Baratheon
Stannis is in a dangerous position in the North.
Stannis Baratheon’s days are likely numbered as the final surviving King from the War of Five Kings. In the early released chapters of The Winds of Winter, Stannis Baratheon prepares for battle with the Bolton forces. While it’s possible he could die to the Boltons like in the series, critical differences in his character and position in Martin’s novels make either outcome possible. Season 5 of Game of Thrones sees Stannis turn to cruelty and desperation, neither of which are the case in A Dance with Dragons. If Stannis doesn’t die to the Boltons, him turning North and dying to the Others is another option.
10 Shireen Baratheon
Shireen’s death in the show was a plot idea from George R.R. Martin.
Game of Thrones’ saddest death will be different in The Winds of Winter, deviating from Shireen Baratheon’s horrifying death in the TV series at the hands of her father and Melisandre. In the books, Shireen hasn’t accompanied Stannis on his march to Winterfell from the Wall, which is when she was killed on the show. In a book about the behind-the-scenes work on Game of Thrones, titled Fire Cannot Kill A Dragon, a quote from Martin suggests that “Stannis’ decision to burn his daughter” was a plot thread he’d informed David Benioff and D.B. Weiss about, meaning something similar will happen soon in the novels.
9 Hodor
George R.R. Martin has discussed Hodor’s death.
Hodor had a famous death in one of the most emotional Game of Thrones moments, holding the door from an onslaught of Wights long enough for Bran to escape. George R.R. Martin compared the show’s version to how he’d planned it in the book, revealing a spoiler for The Winds of Winter. He said, “So telling Hodor to ‘hold the door’ is more like ‘hold this pass’ — defend it when enemies are coming — and Hodor is fighting and killing them,” implying Hodor would be wielding a sword and fighting off the Others (via EW).
8 Three-Eyed Crow
There’s more to the Three-Eyed Crow than in the TV series.
The Three-Eyed Crow, also known as Brynden Rivers, is the book version of the show’s Three-Eyed Raven. He plays a similar role, living in a cave with the children of the forest and mentoring Bran in greensight. Based on the Hodor quote, it’s fair to assume similar events will transpire with Bran’s training north of the Wall, and they’ll eventually have to flee south. If the Three-Eyed Crow dies in The Winds of Winter, his story will hopefully be more developed than the show’s counterpart, given Martin’s time exploring Brynden’s past.
7 Loras Tyrell
Ser Loras has been reported to be deeply wounded at Dragonstone.
In Game of Thrones, Loras Tyrell dies in the wildfire explosion at the Sept of Baelor. In The Winds of Winter, his fate looks like it’ll come sooner. Loras is sent in A Feast for Crows to retake the castle of Dragonstone after Stannis abandoned it to head north. When last mentioned, Loras was severely wounded from the siege at Dragonstone, pleasing Cersei with the fact that another Tyrell might be off the board.
6 Margaery Tyrell
The Lannisters and Tyrells will continue to eat away at each other.
Like her brother, Margaery Tyrell perishes in the Sept of Baelor by Cersei’s plan in Game of Thrones. In Martin’s novels, Cersei and Margaery’s antagonistic relationship is just as deadly. With Kevan Lannister out of the way, Cersei will be free to act on her disdain for the Tyrells. It seems most likely that the Lannister position will be weakened by
5 Roose Bolton
The Lord of the Dreadfort could perish against Stannis.
In Game of Thrones, Roose Bolton is murdered by his son, Ramsay, shortly after legitimizing him, as Roose’s new child poses a threat to Ramsay’s succession. In The Winds of Winter, Roose and Stannis are about to engage in battle, and Roose could certainly meet his demise there. This may disappoint book fans, who’ve developed fascinating theories about Roose being an immortal being or, more specifically, a vampire.
4 Ramsay Bolton
The conflicts in the North will likely claim Ramsay’s life.
Ramsa, one of the most hateable Game of Thrones characters, is killed by his own hounds after Jon and Sansa reclaim Winterfell. The moment allows Sansa to get revenge on the man who tormented her, but this narrative is entirely different in Martin’s books. With forces colliding in the North, Ramsay’s death still seems imminent, and it could come at the hands of Theon, Stannis, or even Roose Bolton.
3 High Sparrow
The ruling monarch in King’s Landing won’t want the Sparrows around very long.
In the HBO series, High Sparrow was one of the many victims of Cersei’s wildfire explosion at the Sept of Baelor. Whether or not this event happens, Cersei still has a reason to take vengeance against the man after her Walk of Shame, though the balance of power is still leaning in his favor for the time being. If he outlives the Lannister regime in King’s Landing, it’s possible he could die at the hands of any new ruler, such as Stannis or Daenerys.
2 Jojen Reed
Jojen might’ve died at the end of A Dance with Dragons.
Jojen Reed died far earlier in Game of Thrones, back in season 4. In the books, Jojen has had a green dream, envisioning his death, before disappearing at the end of A Dance with Dragons. Readers have even theorized that Jojen is already dead and that his blood was fed to Bran to enhance his greenseeing.
1 Barristan Selmy
Barristan the Bold could die in battle in Meereen.
Ser Barristan Selmy died in Game of Thrones season 5 in a way that disappointed many book readers, as the character fell to the Sons of the Harley in a battle in an alleyway. With many battles coming in the future to Daenerys Targaryen and those in Meereen, Barristan Selmy could certainly perish in battle. Narratively, Selmy’s absence could invite room for Tyrion as Dany’s adviser and push her a step closer to madness.
Sources: Entertainment Weekly
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Game Of Thrones
- Release Date:
- 2011-04-11
- Cast:
- Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Richard Madden, Michelle Fairley, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Alfie Allen, Peter Dinklage
- Genres:
- Drama, Action, Adventure
- Seasons:
- 8
- Story By:
- George R.R. Martin
- Writers:
- D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, David Benioff
- Streaming Service(s):
- HBO Max
- Franchise(s):
- Game of Thrones
- Directors:
- David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
- Showrunner:
- David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
