Cersei Lannister knew how to play the game all the way back in Season 1. You win, or you die. But the odds are pretty good that you die.
For seven seasons, viewers have tuned in to the HBO adaptation of author George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga and watched their favorite characters drop like flies. As the story line went beyond the completed source material, fans of the books have been in the dark as to what twists awaited their favorite characters. (We're still a bit salty over poor Hodor's fate.)
So as the final season debuts, how will the remaining players fare? Since even Martin hasn't read the final scripts — and he wrote the books — the best we can offer is this educated guess as to who might live to see another summer, and who will join the ranks of the dead.
The Night King
Not even author George R.R. Martin would let the Walkers win, right? Expect this guy and his cold friends to be dispatched early so the survivors can fight among themselves. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Everyone else
Not all of these characters will die — surely Davos has earned a pass — but as secondary characters, their odds of survival are much, much slimmer. The body count will be high. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Daenerys Targaryen The Mother of Dragons has been burned (twice), shot out of the sky and had her heart broken. It’s going to take a lot more than the Lannisters and an army of the dead to defeat her. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Tyrion Lannister Always the underdog — and always in trouble — Tyrion has talked his way out of imminent doom more times than he can count. And this time he has dragons on his side. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Jamie Lannister For a guy who started off with a lot of bad decisions, Jamie has made a turn toward redemption. Odds are 50/50 that his sense of honor lands him in the ranks of the White Walkers. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Cersei Lannister The queen is going to win or die trying. Given the track record for rulers in King’s Landing, the smart money is on “die trying.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Theon Greyjoy
That which is dead may never die. Unless you’re a coward who has sold out his loved ones at every turn. Expect Theon to finally make good, but he will pay the Iron Price. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Jon Snow
The King in the North always puts others before himself, which puts him in harm’s way. Besides, he’s technically dead already. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Samwell Tarly
Everyone in Westeros is quick to pick up a sword and start swinging, but the one man smart enough to crack a book is going to be the one who saves them all from the Long Winter. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Sansa Stark
She survived the Boltons, Lannisters and Littlefinger. Few people have had a harder road than the Lady of Winterfell. There’s a good chance she could be the last Stark standing. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Arya Stark
The fan favorite tomboy-turned-assassin has a list of enemies to kill, with a lot of names still to cross off. If she’s going to meet the God of Death, she’s taking a lot of people with her. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
