Explained List: Game of Thrones Death Ranking

With the chess pieces now in place for the first big battle of the final season, it’s time to rank all remaining characters by how likely they are to die. I’ll go back and cross them off as they go. If I’m right, everyone below Jon Snow will be alive.

1. Gregor Clegane
Without a doubt, this show cannot end until the Hound kills the Mountain. Someone else killed him the first time, so he was brought back with the sole purpose of living long enough for his brother to kill him.

2. Euron Greyjoy
A smug villain we didn’t meet until late into the show. Dead.

3. The Night King
An undead creature that will not stop until man is forgotten from history. How can we call the story complete until he’s dead?

4. Theon Greyjoy
No one has fallen further and done more to redeem himself. He has no hope of a happy life, so a noble death failing to defend Bran is a fitting end.


5. Beric Dondarrion
The Hound made a point of saying Thoros is dead, so when Beric dies this time, he’s full dead. Beric never had much of a story to begin with, so literally all he has left is dying.

6. Missandei / 7. Grey Worm
It’s an old war movie trope that characters who talk about what they want after the war will die. I think these two are now marked for death, or at least that’s what the show wants us to think. The most tragic ending would be Grey Worm settling on Noth without Missandei. But I think their deaths are now very likely.

8. Jorah Mormont
There was never a chance Jorah would survive. His goal of loving Dany was always too narrow and unchanging, and was never going to happen. Dying of greyscale wasn’t a worthy death, so Sam healed him up long enough to die saving his Khaleesi’s life.

9. Eddison Tollett
Who, you may be asking? Exactly. His death will have a major impact on Jon and the audience won’t care. He’s gonna die.

10. Cersei Lannister
You’d think she’d be higher, but I’m not too sure. Redemption is a major theme in this show, so I’m not sure every villain has to die. She’s still top 10, so it’s very likely. But maybe, just maybe, she lives.

11. Bran Stark
The question of Bran’s death is actually, “Has Bran served his purpose?” As the major source of useful information, story logic says it’s his time to die. But with his purpose so unclear, maybe he lives.

12. Brienne of Tarth
In her life, Brienne has wanted two things: to be a Knight and wed Renly Baratheon. Renly’s dead (also gay), and she’s now a knight. Death would be her most fitting end.

13. Bronn
If he dies, does he die betraying Tyrion and Jaime or not? Either way, I see no satisfying reason for him to live.

14. Tormund Giantsbane
Easily the saddest possible death this high on the list. He’s too mighty not to die. But, ugh, he’s so damned likable. Maybe he’ll live and have to fit in at King’s Landing.

15. Jaime Lannister
Which is more satisfying? Cersei finding out Jaime died defending Winterfell? Or Jaime living long enough to kill Cersei, only to be killed by the Mountain? Or, follow me here, he does something so heroic it finally supplant his Kingslayer reputation and he gets to live with a new nickname.

16. Sandor Clegane
He definitely kills his brother, but that didn’t work out so well for the last guy who killed him. I don’t see anything overly satisfying about his death, so I think he may be safe, weirdly.

17. Arya Stark
Horror movie rules would say that having lose her virginity, she’s now marked for death. But I think that was a brilliant move by the show runners to make us think she could die. She can’t die until her list is complete, so if she goes, it won’t be at Winterfell. I think she has a very strong reason to live, more on that below.

18. Jon Snow / 19. Daenerys Targaryen / 20. Tyrion Lannister
Yes, even on a show where the main character died at the end of season 1, I think these three are safe. The question of who sits on the Iron Throne will ultimately come down to how these three decide to rule. They are by far the most important characters, and whatever world is left at the end is for these three to enjoy. Jon, however, is most likely of the three to die, as his death would destroy the last bastion of honor from the world. Tyrion is the least likely, as there is no fucking reason for him to die.

21. Gendry
The show begins with Robert trying to ally their houses. He thinks the way to do it is to marry his oldest son to the favored Stark. He’s wrong. The way to do it is to marry his real son to the even better Stark. Arya and Gendry will marry, but they won’t have children. She will never settle down. Maybe they’ll go on grand adventures together.

22. Davos Seaworth
Why? Why the fuck would Davos die? I can’t. The man must live. I don’t have a reason. He’s just not going to die.

23. Lyanna Mormont
I don’t think the show has it in them to let her die. The resolution has to be about the kids taking over, and she will be a part of that.

24. Samwell Tarly
Maybe he’ll die defending the crypt from Stark zombies, but I doubt it. Sam’s not the dyin’ type.

25. Podrick Payne
Pod has to live to carry on the legacy of his mentor. Maybe he will grow into Tyrion’s protector. I don’t know, but I think Pod is safe.

26. Qyburn
Maybe the only villain who will survive. Qyburn is a survivor. He’ll slink off while Cersei pays for his crimes.

27. Sansa Stark
I’m probably shooting myself in the foot being so certain she’ll live, but here it is. Sansa Stark, wife to the Hand of the King, Warden of the North.

28. Gilly / 29. Baby Sam
What is the point of anything if Baby Sam dies? Maybe Gilly dies protecting him, but I doubt it.

30. Varys
No one survives better than Varys. He will serve whoever ends up on the throne. He has to be there to witness how it all ends. He will be how we gauge how the ending ultimately feels.

Gathered on Gendry’s Old Boat

Somewhere out there, the following characters currently still live. I think the show has pretty well established their stories are over, but who knows? We’ll see if they’re still around at the end.

Daario Naharis
Edmure Tully
Ellaria Sand
Jaqen H’ghar
Meera Reed
Melisandre
Robin Arryn
Yara Greyjoy