Game of Thrones: Who Will Die in Episode Two?

Game of Thrones is back for Season 8 and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. I guess I just wouldn’t know what to do with myself if the night wasn’t dark and full of terrors, as those who have read my novels can attest. It’s once again time to raise a glass of wine, take the black, and cross names off our lists. What else does one need?

And speaking of crossing names off our lists, I thought I would share a little prognostication with you. As I tend to do while watching Thrones, I try to predict who will have their names crossed off next. I imagine I’m not alone in this endeavor, so let’s see if our picks match up, shall we?

A brief warning: if you are not up to date with the show, having watched season eight, episode one, you probably shouldn’t read on. 

I think the best way to lay this out, in order to make it less painful, is in categories. You don’t really need to read a paragraph on why I don’t think Jon Snow will die in episode two. It’s all fairly obvious, so let’s get on with it.

Definitely NOT Dying This Episode
Daenerys Targaryen
Jon Snow
Tyrion Lannister
Sansa Stark
Arya Stark
The Night King
Cersei Lannister

These are the main characters, obviously, and their stories can’t end until we are closer to The End.

Have they fully served their purpose in the story? Not yet, so probably not dying this episode.
Melisandre
Brienne of Tarth 
Jamie Lannister
Bronn of the Blackwater
The Hound
The Mountain

We didn’t even see Melisandre or Brienne in episode one. It’s difficult to imagine their first season eight appearance would be their last. Jaime might be considered a main character, though I haven’t placed him there. I do feel that he needs one more scene with his sister, at least, before he’s offed. Bronn was given a mighty task in the first episode, and it’s hard to imagine that plays out completely in episode two. As for the Clegane boys–let’s just say if we don’t get Clegane Bowl this season I might be forced to try my hand at fan fiction for the first time.

No clear purpose to this season’s story yet, so an early death would feel cheap. Unlikely to die this episode.
Greyworm
Missandei
Ed Tollet
Podrick Payne
Gilly
Qyburn
Tormund Giantsbane
Varys
Davos Seaworth

I don’t really need to say much more than the category title. If any of these characters die from an errant arrow, or a hungry dead man this early on it would just feel so cheap. I suppose something could happen to them within the space of one episode to meet a fitting end, but I’m just not betting on it.

Could satisfy their purpose through dying at this point. Might die in episode two.
Gendry
Yara Greyjoy
Theon Greyjoy
Jorah Mormont

You could sell me on any of these characters dying in episode two:

• Gendry’s purpose at this point seems to be to make the weapon Arya asked for in episode one. Once he’s completed that task, his presence is rather unneeded. I don’t think it’s necessary to have his parentage revealed in any meaningful way. A bastard of Robert Baratheon holds no claim to the throne over Daenerys or Jon.
• Yara Greyjoy could die fittingly, and as long as she avenges her father (more on that in a minute), I could easily see that taking place next episode. Afterward, she’s largely unneeded to further the story. It seemed in episode one that she and Theon made their peace and sort of said goodbye to each other.
• Speaking of Theon Greyjoy: if his entire purpose isn’t to die for the Stark Family in order to gain a modicum of redemption, then I just don’t know what it is. He should jump in front of the Night King’s spear for Sansa or something of the like.
• Jorah Mormont could die in episode two. I mean, what really is his purpose to the story at this point? He’ll take a sword to the ribs, turn to Daenerys one final time, and utter “Khaleesi” like an old Italian man wearing too much Old Spice aftershave, and then pass from Westeros forever. La Fine.

Have probably satisfied their purpose. Likely to die.
Now shit’s getting good. Something episode one gave away is that a major plot line of this season will be the wedge everyone is trying to drive between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, and our boy Samwell Tarly is just the man to hammer that wedge home. Khaleesi fried his dad and brother and Sam didn’t take that news well. It, in fact, pushed him to tell Jon who his true parents were, and reveal Jon’s birthright to the Iron Throne. I can see a scene where Sam gets pissed at Daenerys, announces to a room of important people that Jon Snow is actually Aegon Targaryen, then Dany cooks our doughboy under Drogon’s broiler, and then Jon has to pull her aside for a private conversation in the kitchen to say, “babe, why are you being such a bitch right now? Sam was my best friend, and I thought you’d be a little cooler about the whole ‘right to throne' thing. Why can’t you ever support my dreams!?”

Yet, I will concede that this scene looks better a couple more episodes into the season, so I’m not placing my money on it. Where am I placing my gold?

Where I’m Placing My Gold
Euron Greyjoy will die in episode two. If there is anything Games of Thrones has done consistently over the years, it’s to take arrogant men and put their heads on pikes. Euron is just the next in a long line. This wide-eyed weirdo has satisfied his purpose and his libido. He delivered the Golden Company and took his queen to bed. I see Yara marching into the throne room, battling Euron to his knees, and when Mister Mustache looks to his queen for help, she’ll simply shrug and suggest that if the Golden Company had delivered those elephants she so wanted, maybe she would have been more inclined to help. Yara wins, Euron dies… and then the Mountain crushes Yara’s head because I need to see the Mountain crush at least one more head before #CleganeBowl. #TeamHound #TalkersMakeMeThirsty

But… I’m not done.

Bold Prediction For Episode Two
Bran Stark will die, and there are two reasons I believe this to be true.

1. The Three-Eyed-Raven is really just a complication for the story at this point. The ‘Jon is Aegon’ reveal happened, and will likely be confirmed by Bran in episode two. Once he has satisfied that role, a person who can see into the future and the past is a plot line liability. Every moment of friction for our lead characters would inevitably be followed with “why don’t they just ask Bran?” or “why doesn’t Bran just look into the future?” It’s really not interesting to a story when someone knows all the answers. It’s why people hate spoilers, and at this point, Bran Stark is a walking spoiler alert. (Yes, I absolutely intended to use ‘walking’ as the adjective there, even though I know Bran can’t walk. Deal with it).   
2. As Bran told Meera in “The Spoils of War,” he’s not Bran anymore, “not really.” This matters a lot going forward, especially given how episode one ended. Bran said he was, “waiting for an old friend,” and then the episode ended with Jaime Lannister arriving at Winterfell only to find Bran creepily staring him down. The assumption is that Jaime is the ‘old friend’ Bran was waiting for, but I’m not sure he is. I mean, Bran doesn’t even see himself as Bran anymore… “not really.” He sees himself as the Three-Eyed-Raven. So wouldn’t he be referring to an “old friend” of the Three-Eyed-Raven? My guess is that Bran knows the Night King is on the doorstep of Winterfell and he’s ready to meet him. I’ll even add in a prediction that Bran gives one last clue to how to defeat the Night King before he dies at his hands.

There we have it. I’m picking Euron Greyjoy and Bran Stark to go down in episode two. I’d love to read what you think and see your predictions in the comments.


And… I’ve got great news to report on the Everflame: Mystic Wild front. Revising and editing of the manuscript is progressing wonderfully, and I hope to have the novel available in early summer. If you haven’t already, please check out my page dedicated to the new book. It currently has a map, a book blurb, and a cover image. Sample chapters to come! I expect this to be a great adventure for fans of my previous Everflame series, as well as for new readers. You will not have to have read the last series to enjoy this new novel. I promise!


Thanks for reading,
Dylan Lee Peters