‘Game of Thrones’: Who Will Sit on the Iron Throne?

Game of Thrones is ending, which means at long last we’ll learn who wins, who dies, and who winds up on that dratted Iron Throne. Though it would be deliciously ironic if Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) accidentally destroyed the Iron Throne during her fiery attack on King’s Landing, let’s assume that the monster-sized murder seat still exists. Is it just Dany’s for the taking? Will Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finally step up and claim his birthright? Or will someone else weasel their way to the head of the Seven Kingdoms?

Tonight we won’t just learn the fate of all our favorite characters, but we’ll know once and for all where the Iron Throne ends up. It could go back to House Targaryen, stay with the Lannisters, or take on a new noble house. Of course, it’s also possible that the Iron Throne will cease to be a thing. Wouldn’t that be a fitting ending to Game of Thrones?

Here’s who might end up on the Iron Throne when it’s all said and done.

Daenerys Targaryen

The Case For Her to Win: Technically she’s already won. She has successfully taken King’s Landing, killed her main rival, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and has the sworn support of her one remaining rival, Jon Snow. The teaser for tonight’s finale shows her triumphantly occupying the city. She won.
The Case Against Her: The war for the Iron Throne won’t be over until the end credits roll, and Daenerys has also done a really good job of alienating her few remaining Westerosi allies. In fact, it looks like Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) all want to kill her, and all three of them also show up in that teaser.

Jon Snow

The Case For Him to Win: He is technically the true heir to the Iron Throne. That is, if we look at the Iron Throne as a specifically Targaryen object, he is the rightful heir to House Targaryen. After all, he is the only surviving child of Dany’s older brother, Prince Rhaegar, which means boy or girl, he supersedes his aunt’s claim.

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Besides that, Jon has the support of the North, the Wildlings, the Vale, the Riverlands, and pretty much everyone who meets him. He’s a war hero, former Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, and a respected leader. He’s who the people prefer to Daenerys, and he’s never burned a city down.
The Case Against Him: He’s kind of a wet towel when it comes all things Daenerys. He’s sworn an oath to bend the knee to her, and intends on keeping that promise. Plus, if he does attempt to kill her to save the realm from her rule, he may also die in the process. She has a dragon and all that.

Tyrion Lannister

The Case For Him to Win: Uh…well…he is…clever. He also now effectively leads House Lannister and they were the last family to hold King’s Landing. Also it would be a cool twist if this character we’ve followed for 8 seasons turns out to win in the end.
The Case Against Him: Besides the fact that he seems to have lost his cleverness, he’s never considered himself a contender for the Iron Throne. He operates best as Hand of the King or Queen. That’s winning for Tyrion. Plus, Jon and Daenerys have better claims.

Bran Stark

The Case For Him to Win: Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is the “wisest” player on the board thanks to his magical Three-Eyed Raven abilities and it’s possible that he’s been using those abilities to set up his own coronation. Plus, if Daenerys dies, and Jon dies, then, I don’t know, people might turn to the weird kid who knows everything to save them.
The Case Against Him: Bran doesn’t seem interested in political power. He basically reneged on his claim to Winterfell and gave the family seat to Sansa. What he wants to do is hang out by Hearttrees and weird people out. Plus, it’s not like he’s likely to produce an heir, so what happens after his reign is over? Another war?

Sansa Stark

The Case For Her to Win: Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) might be the last great political strategist on the board. Knowing that Daenerys is a threat to her and the North’s agency, and understanding how Jon and Tyrion think, she could have “Littlefinger-ed” a scenario that pitted Jon, Tyrion, and Dany against each other…leaving her a clear path to the Iron Throne. Even if that’s a stretch, if Daenerys dies and Jon doesn’t want the throne, she seems like the person left with the most political capital and support.
The Case Against Her: It is highly unlikely that Sansa could have predicted literally everything that just unfolded, but more importantly, she is attached to the North. She will likely want to stay in Winterfell.

Someone Else

The Case For Them to Win: Well, it would be a fun surprise if Aaron Rodgers’s unnamed extra from “The Bells” somehow managed to take the Iron Throne? Why else feature him so heavily in the behind-the-scenes doc last week? Also Bronn seems like a wild card to rule, as does Robert Baratheon’s newly legitimized bastard, Gendry.
The Case Against Them: It would be too much of a reach for someone to take the Iron Throne who isn’t already a main character.

No One

The Case For It: So in this scenario, the Iron Throne is destroyed, thereby breaking the wheel and freeing the people of Westeros from tyrannical rule. In many ways, this is the most poetic way the series could end. Here’s hoping Drogon’s got some firepower ready to melt the metal chair down.
The Case Against It: There isn’t really a strong argument against it, except that the show is called Game of Thrones. 

The Game of Thrones Series Finale premieres tonight, Sunday, May 19, 2019 on HBO.

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