Characters Who Could Claim The Iron Throne

 

If we know one thing about Game of Thrones, it’s that it’s a fool’s errand to try and predict it, since season one we’ve been rooting for heroes that ultimately didn’t make it; whole plotlines, and characters who seem destined for greatness are often discarded without a second thought.

It would be a reckless endeavor to place bets now on any one person claiming the Iron Throne at the end of all this carnage. Contenders who look like favourites now may be dispatched next year, or in the final season that follows in 2018. This is a show that makes a man a new leading character in one episode, then has his head shattered eight episodes later. So on that note, let’s take a look at ten characters who as individuals stand a good chance of being ruler of Westeros when the show finally reaches its end.

1) Cersei

It looks unlikely at the moment that Cersei, the current queen, stands much of a chance against the North under Jon Snow, as well as the combined armies of Daenerys, Dorne, House Tyrell and House Greyjoy. Having burned her enemies at the close of season six, Cersei also managed to rid herself of the few allies House Lannister had left. Now, she’s the queen of a heavily divided kingdom, and head of a diminished army. Defeat seems near inevitable.  With that said, Cersei has been up against the odds before and won. She’s outlived three kings, and has emerged with nary a scratch upon her.

2) Daenerys

Forget her army of Unsullied and Dothraki, respectively the best footsoldiers and cavalry in the Thrones world. Forget that she has the Tyrells, as well as all of Dorne backing her, or that she now has the best naval fleet courtesy of the Greyjoys. Daenerys Targaryen would do a pretty fine job of conquering Westeros with just her dragons alone. The strength is with Daenerys, and so far she’s conquered everyone in her path with ease.

3) Jon

Jon Snow or should that be Jon Targaryen, considering his newly discovered lineage appears destined for glory. He is the King of the North, and has been our most consistent hero figure throughout the show. He died and was then resurrected because the story wasn’t finished with him yet.  Jon could be killed between now and the final episode in another random act of violence but we now know the King of the North is a blood claimant of the throne, same as Daenerys. Jon’s still the underdog, but it’s possible he’ll come out on top in this thing.

4) Jaime

He’s the Kingslayer, the look Jaime gave Cersei as she took the throne in “The Winds of Winter” suggested he had a bad feeling about the incoming reign of a queen who has no compassion left. Jaime, on the other hand, has been slowly growing a conscience these past few seasons. It would be a twist of epic proportions if Jaime were to rid the world of Cersei. But the two are now so distant, with Cersei so hateful, that it’s not unimaginable Jaime would stab another monarch in the back for the good of the kingdom. He would then have to fight to remain king of course – but with the White Walkers on their way, who’s to say the rest won’t rally behind the reformed King Jaime Lannister to fight a common enemy?

5) Euron Greyjoy

Entering late in the series, in season six, it might seem like Euron Greyjoy is just another of Westeros’ wannabe kings, a dangerously psychotic leader in the vein of Ramsay. There has to be a reason why Euron would enter so late in the game, however, killing his brother Balon, taking the Iron Islands and promising to build a great fleet that will conquer Westeros. Clues can be found in the books as to how serious this Euron guy is. In George R.R. Martin’s novels, Euron is not just some crazy, but a cunning, ruthless man who it’s prophesied poses a very real danger to Daenerys. He also has a dragon horn to bend dragons to his will – something which Asbaek teased would become a feature of the character on the show. We barely know the TV version of this character, but already there are clues to suggest he could be a real threat to those looking to claim the Iron Throne for themselves.

6) The Night King

Of course, it could very well be that no human king inherits the throne at all. Daenerys, Jon, Cersei, Sansa, Littlefinger – all are set to be locked in a battle to take Westeros and the Iron Throne, but it’s only half the story. At some point, all of these mere mortals are going to have to acknowledge the fact that every one of them faces an even greater threat. Who knows, once the Night King and his ever-expanding army of wights and white walkers have broken past the Wall and made it down to King’s Landing, they may find a kingdom ripe for the taking. A war between Daenerys, Cersei and Jon is only going to lead to further heavy casualties and depleted resources – which any opposing force could take full advantage of.

7) Littlefinger

With all the scheming and double-crossing that’s constantly going on, we hardly ever know the true intentions of the inhabitants of Westeros and Essos. Littlefinger to his credit at least made his intentions clear at the close of season six: turns out he has his eye on the Iron Throne itself, and it would seem he’s planned out exactly how to get there. It’s an ambitious scheme for a minor lord with no blood connection to any major house. Like Varys, Littlefinger is a born plotter, and a hugely successful one at that. We don’t know much about his long-term vision yet, but you just know he has one, and judging by his achievements so far you can imagine he’ll get at least close to realizing it.

8) Sansa

There could be one major stumbling block in Littlefinger’s plan: Sansa. Baelish has a vision of himself ruling with Sansa by his side. Remember that Sansa revealed in “The Battle of the Bastards” that she flat out doesn’t trust Littlefinger. Sansa has at least appeared to learn much from Baelish in terms of plotting. Already she’s holding back secrets from Jon, and looks uneasy about him taking the title of King of the North despite his bastard status. Sansa, having learnt from the best, has become a schemer.

9) Gendry

Gendry was last seen rowing away from uncle Stannis Baratheon and his murderous Red Woman in season three, but even up til then Gendry played only a minor part in the Game of Thrones. Addressing where Gendry is now, showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss recently said he was still rowing. if Gendry were to row his way right back to Westeros now, right into the middle of a burgeoning conflict where anyone and everyone is claiming the right to take one throne or another. Gendry, unlike the rest, has a legitimate blood claim. He is the last surviving Baratheon, and as such is the only rightful, not to mention surviving, heir to the Iron Throne. His friendship with Arya certainly couldn’t hurt his chances, now she’s sister of the King in the North.

10) Tyrion

All he ever wanted to do was drink and bed women, but ever since day one power has been thrust upon him, and every time he’s surprised us in being better at the job than anyone else. This man never wanted to be Hand of the King, but when given the position he excelled, and eventually proved to be a surprisingly inspirational leader of men. Similarly, Tyrion never wanted to become chief adviser to Daenerys, but events forced him into it and he again proved himself an astute politician.

Tyrion is always a reluctant leader, handed a position through circumstance and sheer luck, but almost always he also shows himself to be more competent than any other in the role. If anyone could bring peace to Westeros as king, it’s probably him, always a selfless and pragmatic politician and now, after Jaime, second in line to the throne. Could the whole kingdom accidentally fall into his lap next?