Of course, one of the more important questions of HBO’s Game of Thrones is who’s going to die next? Given that this show has been notorious for killing off major characters we’ve come to know and love as well despise. For God’s sake, the show began with Ned Stark as the main character. Only for King Joffrey to chop off his head just before the first season finale. The list goes on from there. Now some characters did get resurrected like Jon Snow and the Hound. While others got saved in the nick of time like Jorah Mormont. However, given that the show’s approaching the end, the stakes have been substantially raised. So it’s only fair that I make my own list on who will survive the series or who will die in the final season.

Note: Most of these will be guesses based on what I know about each surviving character in the show and what may happen in Season 8. So take each with a grain of salt. Also, if you haven’t made it to Season 7, there will be spoilers.

 

Given that Game of Thrones is infamous for killing off characters, we should expect some to make it through the series alive. After all, even as everything goes to hell, some will have to stand. The ending may not what we want, but after the White Walkers and Cersei is gone, people will have to roles to play in the Seven Kingdoms. Some have reasons to survive. While with others, there’s no way they’ll be in the thick of the action, especially against the army of the dead.

Jaqen H’gar– since he hasn’t been on the show since Arya left the House of Black and White to Westeros, he’ll probably live since she didn’t kill him in Braavos. Yet, remember those who live by the sword die by the sword. But he’s not likely to get it since we won’t be seeing him again.

Sansa Stark– past the Long Night and into the future of Westeros, she’s one of the only major characters with the political savvy to lead what will be left of the Seven Kingdoms after the Great War has ripped them to shreds. Throughout Season 7, Sansa grew as a ruler demonstrating empathy, humility, and dedication to her role and her family. Along the way, she gained the respect of the Northern lords and bannermen, and the lord of the Vale. Sansa’s title as Lady of Winterfell isn’t just her birthright, but one she’s earned. This season, she was the only person in power to tackle the mundane, everyday tasks that are essential to a functioning household and kingdom. When she wasn’t busy spurning Littlefinger’s advances, Sansa was seldom seen without a ledger or other such documents in hand, showing that leadership isn’t just about battles, but also organization and community. She asked questions to the lords in order to improve her own knowledge, and made suggestions for how to better their circumstances as she prepared Winterfell for the Northerner influx she expects to host before war hits. Essentially, Sansa knows the threats surrounding all sides and she prepares accordingly. Once the Long Night is over, this is exactly the sort of leadership Westeros will need.

Samwell Tarly– since he doesn’t get his hands dirty, abhors violence of any kind, and would rather run from a fight if he can avoid it, he’ll certainly survive. Besides, he has a family now and will be happy to assist in the evacuation efforts before the armies clash. But more importantly, Sam needs to survive so he can tell the story of A Song of Ice and Fire. While he’s the most unlikely and perfect survivor as the intelligent, loyal, and often overlooked character who comes great in the end. Still, there’s no telling what will happen at the Citadel when the Maesters find out he stole all those books, which will be more than revoking a library card. Also, he’ll unquestionably sacrifice his life to save Gilly and Sam if need be.

Gilly– all Gilly has done in this show is try to get away from her abusive family and support Sam. Yes, I know Game of Thrones may be tempted to kill her or her son off since they’re totally innocent people in a danger zone, but seeing them die would just seem callous. Besides, being Little Sam’s mother and in a relationship with Sam, she’s the link to make the show’s most functional family. One family has to endure.

Bran Stark– considering that he got flung from a tower in the first episode, it’s such a feat that he’s made it to Season 8 at all (though Meera Reed should get a lot of credit for that). For the first time in years, Bran is formally ensconced in Winterfell as well as surrounded by friends and family. But given that an undead army led by a dragon-riding ice demon’s heading south, he’s not out of the woods yet. However, Bran’s foresight power could give him and the army of the living an advantage in the wars to come. He’s incredibly focused in the fight to the point where he’s tuned out all human emotion. For now, that’s a good thing. The last Three-Eyed Raven lived for an incredibly long time, Bran will likely follow suit. And at least he’ll know that it doesn’t end in the hands of the Night King.

Tyrion Lannister– he’s unlikely to be in the line of fire since he’s more of a battle strategist than a fighter since he won the major battle for the Lannisters during the War of the Five Kings. Furthermore, unlike in Season 2, he’s likely to be planning and organizing behind the scenes. So he’ll be safer than most. Besides, he needs to be around to advise the new regime once the Night King and Cersei are gone. And as the series wraps up, Tyrion is perfect to give the narrative weight and the God-given eloquence to give a believable speech summing everything up. Besides, he’s such a fan favorite that fans have sworn they’d stop watching the show if he’s killed off. So he needs to live.

Robin Arryn– given that he’s a sickly child who usually spends most of his time in a castle up on the mountains, he’ll be fine. Though with White Walkers on the prowl, we can’t be sure of anything.

Archmaester Ebrose– unless the army of the dead directly threatens the Citadel or he succumbs to natural causes, Ebrose will be fine. Besides, he’ll most likely not appear in the final season at all.

Gendry– now that he’s back fighting the White Walkers, there’s no point of killing him off. He’s the last true Baratheon (biologically speaking since he’s a bastard), it’s possible that Daenerys could legitimize him and give him a big promotion so he could marry one of the Stark girls (though more likely Arya unless she dies). It would be cruel to kill him off after returning to the show so soon. Seeing him still standing will be a nice sign of how history repeats itself and things come full circle, which are recurring themes in the show. Seriously, after all the misery we’ve seen, there needs to balance some happiness.

Nymeria– after years in the wilderness, we finally see her meet with Arya in Season 7. But now she’s the leader of her own pack and we hope she’s too busy raising a new litter of pups to get involved in human affairs. Though it’s possible she could die saving Arya from a mortal blow.

Little Sam– all little Sam has done was be a baby while we’ve seen at least one baby fall to the White Walkers already. Killing him or his mom of off would just be exploitative though killing innocents might be a way to drive home the life-or-death stakes in a war against the dead.

Missandei– though she’s been in the show for years, we don’t know her very well and she hasn’t been vitally important to the ongoing plotlines. So she’s more expendable than most, which isn’t a great thing to be. Redshirting one of Daenerys’ oldest friends would emphasize out heroes’ dire circumstances. But Daenerys can still do everything she wants with or without Missandei’s help. On the other hand, the show would have to go out of its way to put Missandei into any life-threatening danger. While she’s following her queen into a war, she’s not on the front lines. So her death may come off as a shock and it would be better off not happening. She’s more likely to survive. Hell, she might be democratically elected ruler of Meereen after the war is over since she’s proven to be an intelligent, insightful, and capable leader in her own right.

Lyanna Mormont– she may only be ten, but this lady of Bear Island is the only character everyone’s afraid to cross since she possess the same might as men twice her age and her size. Nor is she afraid of being on the front lines and call everyone for battle training. But a battlefield is no place for a child and Lady Mormont might put herself in serious danger unless her Bear Islanders can protect their endearing grizzly. Nonetheless, killing this pint-sized spitfire and fan favorite would be cruel and won’t advance the plot. Besides, fans were not happy when Stannis let Melissandre burn Shireen at the stake as a sacrificial offering that went nowhere. Not to mention, there’s something quite delightful in seeing so many hardened warriors die but a plucky little girl survive.

Meera Reed– the daughter of Ned Stark’s most trusted bannerman, Howland Reed, Meera has stuck through the gravest dangers with Bran, which left her brother Jojen, Hodor, Summer, Leaf, and the Three-Eyed Raven dead. She fought off White Walkers and brought Bran to the outer reaches of Beyond the Wall, doing what no one else could all in the memory to her dead brother. Hell, Bran would’ve been dead if it weren’t for her. Fortunately, she’ll be safe at Greywater Watch which isn’t worth the trouble to try and conquer it since it’s in a swamp. So the only threat facing it are the White Walkers. Thus, Meera’s most likely fate would be staying gone without further mention. Still, she could get the Blackfish treatment of being reintroduced to be unceremoniously killed off by White Walkers, possibly offscreen. Since the series has a habit of killing off characters who’ve outlived their usefulness to the plot. Though she may have a role to play should Howland Reed show up to save the day. But that’s unlikely.

Aeron Greyjoy– a Drowned Man who’s also Euron’s brother as well as Theon and Yara’s other uncle, Aeron doesn’t really involve himself much in dynastic squabbles on the Iron Islands. And since he’ll have to preside over at least 2 funerals in the final season, I’m betting he’ll most likely survive. Yet, the question is whether he’ll be the only Greyjoy standing.

Roslin Tully– she may be the infamous Walder Frey’s daughter and the bride at the Red Wedding. But given that her niece Arya Stark murdered the men in her family and has a son to raise, she’ll probably be fine. Though she might need to find a hiding place since a lot of battles take place in the Riverlands. Besides, we’ll probably never see her again anyway.

Kitty Frey– as Walder Frey’s last wife and a teenager, Arya Stark spared her life so she could tell others that the North remembers. Nonetheless, given that she was forced into a marriage to an old treacherous man, Kitty will most likely not seek revenge against her husband’s assassin and will certainly live. Since we’re unlikely to see her again. Besides, Arya did her a favor.

Melessa Tarly– as Sam’s mother, she’ll probably be in mourning for her husband and son who Daenerys had burnt to a crisp in Goldroad. Still, as long as she doesn’t leave her home at Horn Hill or the White Walkers don’t come knocking at the door, she’ll be fine.

Talla Tarly– given that her brother and father are dragon ashes and her brother is a Maester in the Night’s Watch, she’ll be the Lady of Horn Hill and head of her family. So as long as she doesn’t leave home with an army or have any White Walkers show up, she’ll be fine.

Tycho Nestoris– working for the Iron Bank of Braavos, he’ll probably not visit Westeros very often except when someone owes him money, he’ll be fine. Unless Cersei goes batshit crazy and has him put to death. Though that’s unlikely given the bank is in Braavos. What’s questionable is whether he’ll get paid.

Orell– okay, he’s got killed off before as a Wildling. But he still lives on as warg in an eagle. So he can expect to spend the rest of his life in the forest settling down with an eagle family of his own. Thus, he’s unlikely to appear in his new form.