Edit: The season has aired. You can read the latest updates here
Bam bam, ba ba bum bum, ba ba bum bum, ba ba bum bum, ba ba bum bum, ba ba bum bum, ba ba bum bum, ba ba bum bum..
If you have already started singing the theme music, you must be super pumped for 16th July. Because the Mother of Dragons, the White Wolf and the Most Famous Dwarf in the World – they all are set to return on your TV screens (and torrents, obviously) as Game of Thrones gears up for its seventh season, which will be the penultimate season. The showmakers, David Benioff and DB Weiss, do not have much time left to tie up the remaining loose ends to what has been the single most popular TV series to date. With the list of surviving characters decreasing every season, there aren’t many left to play the game, and the internet is abuzz with what might happen.
HBO recently released a set of photographs from Season 7 and they show the return of Beric Dondarrion, where he is seen riding with The Hound. Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, and Davos Seaworth are seen addressing the assembled crowd in Winterfell’s Great Hall while the pictures also reveal that Tyrion and Daenerys have landed in Westeros. Now, fans have their theories on what they shall get to see, and while some are very absurd, some are very possible to be true. After all, people have been noticing signs of Jon Snow being a Targaryen since Season One, which was confirmed way later in Season Six. There are many strong candidates on what to expect in Season 7.
We See The Ice Dragons:
Because apparently, three fire-breathing dragons weren’t enough. The existence of the ice dragons has been hinted in the Song of Ice and Fire series as well, and since the show is running ahead of the books, we might see the dragons on TV sooner. There are many theories about dragons and how they will come into the picture. One recent “leak” from the shooting suggests that Daenerys rides north of the wall riding on Drogon, where Drogon gets hunted and killed by the white walkers. Since Drogon dies way up in the North and he isn’t burnt, he is resurrected by the Night King. So the largest dragon of Daenerys starts breathing ice, and the Night King now has the upper hand.
Other theories suggest that the ice dragons have been laying dormant over thousands of years north of the wall, and they will be woken by the Night King when the time is right. They are a counterpart to the fire-breathing dragons that the Targaryens have.
However may they rise, fans believe that this is the season we finally get to see the blue monsters in action against their brothers.
Daenerys Invades Westeros
Seriously, do it already. You have been going on and on about “taking back what is yours” for six seasons now. Our wait will finally be over, it seems. Daenerys finally has an army with the support of three houses, the unsullied and the Dothraki, and not to mention three dragons who can burn her enemies. In the Season 7 trailer, we can see her walking into Dragonstone, and there were clips that showed the unsullied attacking Casterly Rock.
Sure, Cersei has a lot to think about, but even the Northern kingdoms have declared themselves independent of the rule of Kings Landing. Jon Snow doesn’t yet know that he is related to Daenerys, and there are three sides that will potentially be clashing against each other.
Azor Ahai Rises
Remember the Red Woman and her Lord of the Light? The prophecy she makes about the promised warrior isn’t just to convince Stannis Baratheon to fight, it has much deeper roots. Legend has it that when the last time the army of the dead invaded the Andals, a hero came, with a sword burning in fire. He fought against the army of the Night King and defeated them, thus ending the long winter.
Sansa observes in the Season 6 finale that winter is here, and the Night King would like to have another go at invading the realms of men which is why the followers of the Lord of the Light are so adamant on finding the prince that was promised – they need another savior once the long night is upon them. But the person needs to satisfy some conditions to become Azor Ahai. The legendary warrior must be born amidst salt and smoke, be able to draw the burning sword from fire and has to be reborn in the flames, to name a few criterions. The list of potential saviors includes Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and even Tyrion Lannister.
The Starks Re-unite
Just like Hum Saath Saath Hai, if it involved nudity and war. Jon and Sansa have already met, and Arya is on her way after killing Walder Frey and making a dessert out of his children. While there is no clear indication that Bran too will return to Winterfell, it is the most likely place for Bran to be next after being chased down by White Walkers, eventually leading to the saddest moment in the history of the series. (RIP Hodor: 2011 – 2016) It would be a great reunion of the Stark kids, even though one of them is only half Stark. If only we could add Tony Stark to the mix…
People die. More shall die. And more sex. Duh.
While there are many more theories and rumours – Death of Peter Baelish, Daenerys and Jon having sex (why are they so obsessed with incest?) and Bran successfully controlling one of the dragons of Daenerys (which would be so goddamn cool) – these were the ones that have the most likelihood of being seen in the upcoming season.
But since Game of Thrones has had a habit of completely baffling its audience, ever since the death of Ned Stark, all bets are still off. The season finale is going to be much more exciting, as it builds up for the series finale of one of the most groundbreaking and popular TV shows ever made.
Only a month is left. July 16 – Brace yourself, for Winter is Coming.