In episode 3 'Game of Thrones' season 8, we could be bidding adieu to these heroes and perhaps even a blue-eyed villain
HBO's 'Game of Thrones' has been notorious for early leaks of episodes and season 8 episode 2 was again released almost five hours ahead of its scheduled air time. The leak was perhaps even more expected since episode 2 was significant, considering its events take place the night before the Great War. It portrayed the last moments of calmness right before the War, and as the episode came to an end, we finally witnessed the Night King's arrival at Winterfell.
However, there were several hints that almost gave away the names of the characters who will probably die. As episode 3 will bring to us perhaps the most anticipated war-sequence ever to be shot on television, here are our guesses about who will not make it out of the Great War:
1. Theon Greyjoy
Forget about what happens to good people, the show would not spare those who have tried to redeem themselves. Theon went from being the rebel without a cause to a man who is ready to lay his life down for honor. However, considering the kind of journey Theon has taken, it is conventionally expected his character will not meet a very good end.
He was always destined to be a typical tragic hero - a high-class male who falls prey to his own ambitions and becomes victim to manipulation causing his ultimate fall from fame. In a clip of the trailer from episode 3, we see Theon aiming a burning arrow at someone, which assures of his presence when the Night King enters to capture Bran underneath the weirwood tree. Perhaps that will be the end for Theon, an act of ultimate sacrifice.
2. Grey Worm
If Theon is the tragic hero, Grey Worm is the prodigy who also is destined to die, but after he is done with his list of good deeds. However, in the case of Grey Worm, there is only one good deed he is concerned with, to help Daenerys win her Iron Throne after fighting in the Great War. Grey Worm has always been a prodigious representation of a fighter, just like Achilles, who only meets his death at the battlefield and that too because of a simple physical flaw like the Achilles' heel. Grey Worm might not have any such physical short-comings, but in this battle, his biggest shortcoming is that he is a human trying to fight against those who do not die. Moreover, he is the one leading the army, hence it wouldn't be a surprise if he is killed in the very first blow.
3. Ser Jorah Mormont
The Great War will be worse than the Red Wedding, and it will perhaps kill off those characters who have grown on us, and one of them might just be Ser Jorah Mormont. Ser Jorah has always been the unfortunate hero who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Episode 2 already saw him being ignored by his cousin, Lyanna Mormont, who was adamant about going to the war.
This might turn things around for Jorah, and in order to save her, he may perhaps sacrifice himself. Jorah might face a sacrificial death in a number of ways, and there is a good chance of him taking the Night King's wrath upon him in order to defend Daenerys.
4. Tormund Giantsbane
As much as we have loved him for his raw expressions and impulsive take on love, unfortunately, episode 3 might just be the end of the red-bearded wildling. Tormund is the Everyman character we all fell in love with, as unlike the other knights in shining armor, he has been the one who regards nothing when it comes to battle. His love for Brienne of Tarth has remained unrequited and perhaps as one last act of love, Tormund will also sacrifice himself to the Night King. This will quite expectedly lead Brienne to at least feel sorry for him, and maybe that is how his love story is supposed to end.
5. The Night King
This guy has to die so that the rest of the survivors can march south to take over the Iron Throne from Cersei. The Night King represents the ultimate baddie in a show where no other character can be shaded in absolute white or black. However, that is true to some extent in the case of the Night King too, who was basically compelled to exist in his zombie-like form.
Considering that the Night King is the most tragic hero on the show, and with an entire empire rising against him, his chances of survival are almost nil. Also, the story demands his death at the earliest, should we get on with the other plotline regarding King's Landing and the fate of Westeros.
'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 3 returns to HBO April 29.