Game of Thrones is a very popular show that fans love to discuss. Many fans come up with theories about their favorite characters, including one of the families at the center of it all, the Starks. Some of these theories make sense while others….don’t. For now, let’s focus on the former rather than the latter.
Whether it’s suggesting that the Starks represent the seven aspects of Westeros’ Faith of the Seven, or that Sansa Stark will be Cersei’s true adversary, fans love to theorize about the Stark family. Like all of the characters on Game of Thrones, the Starks are very interesting. It’s not surprising that fans love to discuss them and make up theories about them. These fan theories range from heartbreaking–such as the theory that Sansa will betray Jon–to uplifting–such as the theory that Arya Stark will become Lord (or Lady?) of a holdfast.
No matter the theory, one thing is clear: the Starks, from Jon Snow to Sansa to Arya, and even including those characters who have passed away such as Robb Stark, fascinate fans. The Starks left standing at the moment are Jon Snow, Bran Stark, Sansa Stark, and Arya Stark. Though this could change quickly in the world of Game of Thrones, for now these characters remain. Jon Snow is noble to a fault. Bran Stark is a bit strange at the moment. Sansa Stark has learned to play the “game of thrones” from observing those around her. Arya Stark has trained to be a kind of assassin and can therefore protect herself from anyone who would wish to harm her. No wonder these characters fascinate fans.
Bran Is The Night King
Now “hold on,” you may be thinking. These theories are supposed to make sense. Well, this one does according to a fan on Reddit. Using evidence from the show to support this theory, including the fact that the original Three Eyed Raven told Bran that he wouldn’t walk but he would fly, the fan explains that Bran will travel back in time to try to stop the Night King and his army.
While doing so, he will warg into the person that the Children of the Forest end up transforming into the Night King. However, this will backfire and Bran will get stuck in the past and as the Night King. Bran will become the villain instead of the hero he wants to be. This is just the type of heartbreaking twist that Game of Thrones would try. So who knows, this fan theory may turn out to be correct.
The Starks Represent The Seven
Many fans believe in this theory, but one fan in particular goes into detail about it. This fan states that the Stark family represents each of the aspects of the seven-pointed star, the symbol of Westeros’ main religion, the Faith of the Seven. The seven aspects are the Father, the Mother, the Warrior, the Maiden, the Smith, the Crone, and the Stranger. Some of these are easier than others to figure out.
According to this fan, though, Ned Stark is the Father, who represents justice. Catelyn Stark is the Mother, who represents compassion. Robb Stark is the Warrior, who represents courage. Sansa Stark is the Maiden, who represents love. Rickon Stark is the Smith, who represents craftsmanship. Bran Stark is the Crone, who represents wisdom. Arya Stark is the Stranger, who represents the unknown. Jon Snow is also included. He represents all of the aspects of the seven-pointed star simultaneously.
Sansa Will Have One Final Confrontation With Cersei
This theory isn’t hard to believe. Cersei has disliked Sansa for a while. According to some fans, this will work out badly for Sansa in season eight, when she will be taken in by the older woman. The hints are in the show. Including the fact that Brienne has now left Sansa alone in Winterfell, with a warning that Sansa could be in danger of her guards plotting behind her back. Even Tyrion, Cersei’s brother, has given a hint at Sansa’s fate when he said that Cersei shouldn’t be trusted. Surely it wouldn’t be beyond her to try to snatch Sansa, especially since Sansa escaped from her during season four. Cersei most likely doesn’t like that at all and wishes she still had Sansa in her clutches.
The White Walker Uprising Is Caused By Starks Leaving Winterfell
Yes, that’s right. If the Starks had just stayed in Winterfell, none of this would have happened. At least according to some fans. These fans believe that the saying “There must always be a Stark in Winterfell” means something more than it seems to mean. That if the Starks leave Winterfell, apocalyptic things will happen to everyone in Westeros.
Ned Stark must not have believed this because he took most of his family to King’s Landing with him in season one of Game of Thrones. The remainder of the family eventually left Winterfell and suddenly there was not a Stark left in the family home. This does more than leave the home open to invaders, it might just be the cause of the White Walkers coming back to life.
Sansa Will Be Cersei’s True Adversary
This theory doesn’t seem to go along with the last one, though it could if you think about it. If Sansa does get taken by Cersei, she would be in the perfect position to take her down. Cersei definitely wouldn’t expect it. How could Sansa harm her, after all? Yet this pride could be Cersei’s undoing. Even if Sansa doesn’t get taken, she could still prove instrumental in taking Cersei down. Because she knows her. She’s observed her, and learned from her, and she knows the lengths that Cersei will go to to accomplish her goals. Therefore, Sansa is the character who is most likely to play a huge role in defeating Cersei for good.
Arya Will Take Cersei’s Face
This theory is also very possible. After all, she did it before with Walder Frey and Cersei is on her list. So it’s definitely plausible that Arya would go after Cersei as soon as she gets the chance. Will she get the chance, though? Well, that remains to be seen. But some fans think that she will. This would be very satisfying to watch, though it would go against other fan theories about Cersei’s fate coming at the hands of one of her brothers. Still, Arya is a younger sibling and therefore could still fit into the prophecy that states Cersei’s fate. In the world of Game of Thrones, you never know. Anything is possible.
But Arya Will Have To Fight The Mountain
This theory kind of goes along with the last one and we think it’s definitely possible. According to one fan, Arya will go to King’s Landing and take Cersei down, then take her face. All will seem to be going according to plan until someone notices that the supposedly pregnant Cersei does not look very pregnant. This will lead to Arya– or possibly someone else– having to fight The Mountain, also known as Cersei’s personal bodyguard.
Now, this would be an epic fight with high stakes. It would put Arya against someone who is definitely stronger and bigger than her, making fans worry for her safety. Then again, if Arya did win this fight then she may just be one of the best fighters in Westeros. Which would make fans proud of how far she’s come.
Jon Might Have To Battle His Own Family
This would be heartbreaking. Which makes it likely for Game of Thrones. The writers love their heartbreaking plot twists. According to one fan, this would happen when the White Walkers get to Winterfell. They would raise those in the crypts and Jon would therefore have to fight the Starks turned into White Walkers. Can you imagine that? Jon fighting his own family?
It’s definitely a plausible theory. The Night King would have no problem doing such a thing and while it would be difficult for Jon to deal with, that’s exactly what makes it perfect. The stakes would be high, which makes it more exciting to watch. Fans would be heartbroken and that’s just what Game of Thrones likes.
Arya Will Become Lady Of Holdfast
Fans think they’ve worked out Arya’s endgame and surprisingly it doesn’t include anything heartbreaking. That’s different for Game of Thrones, but if anyone from the Stark family is likely to get through the events of season eight relatively unscathed, it’s Arya. She can defend herself, after all. According to fans, the foreshadowing is already in the show.
During season seven, Arya runs into her old direwolf, Nymeria. Nymeria is doing quite well for herself and is leading a pack of wolves. This foreshadows that Arya herself will become a leader, even though becoming a noble is not what Arya necessarily has in mind for her future. In the world of Westeros, one can’t exactly choose one’s future. And Arya might just be lucky to be relatively ok.
Jon And Sansa Will Get Married
Ok, before you all start saying “ew”, hear us out. This isn’t necessarily something fans want to happen. But in the world of Game of Thrones, you can’t choose your fate. According to this fan theory, Sansa’s suitors will be a Baratheon, a Tyrell, a Lannister, a Hardyng– though this suitor is in the books rather than the show– and a Targaryen. Since her suitors were Joffrey Baratheon, Loras Tyrell– though it’s Willas in the books– Tyrion Lannister and Harry Hardyng– in the books– all that remains is a Targaryen. And Jon fits the bill. It is pretty weird since they were raised as siblings and really are cousins, but it’s no weirder than dragons or White Walkers lurking around. Weird is normal in Westeros.
Jon Is Azor Ahai
This theory is probably more exciting for book readers than show watchers, but it’s still quite interesting even for those who haven’t read the books. Basically, Azor Ahai is a hero meant to lead the battle against the White Walkers and defeat them for good. This theory goes on to state that Jon’s sword will turn into Lightbringer after he executes Melisandre for returning North.
This is because her soul is full of the light of the “Lord of Light” and if her soul is combined with Jon’s sword, it will create a flaming sword that can be used to defeat the White Walkers. Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? Seems like just the kind of epic twist that only Game of Thrones can pull off.
Arya Will Become Lady Stoneheart
Fortunately– or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it– this does not mean we’re getting zombie Arya. For those of you who are unaware, in the books, Lady Stoneheart is a zombie version of Catelyn Stark who is consumed by a desire to avenge her family. This theory is suggesting that since Lady Stoneheart doesn’t exist in the show, Arya will take her place and avenge the Starks.
This seems like a plausible theory, especially since Arya has already started to take down those who harmed her family. The Freys are gone and according to some other fan theories, Cersei could follow them. So it’s not hard to believe that Arya is taking the place of her (zombie) mother in getting revenge for what happened to the Starks.
Bran Will Become The Original Three Eyed Raven
This theory is a bit complicated, but hear us out. The theory states that Bran will go back in time and become the original Three Eyed Raven, aka the old guy that taught him everything he knows about time travel. We all already know that Bran can witness past events and that he can change the past to affect the future as he once did with Hodor. So Bran going into the past to become the original Three Eyed Raven is actually possible. This theory goes on to state that Bran will also end up becoming the Bran Stark that built The Wall. You know, the Wall that the Night’s Watch guards in the beginning of the show.
Jon Warged Into Ghost While He Was Gone
Everyone probably remembers that ending, right? Jon getting stabbed by his Night’s Watch enemies at the end of season five. Well, this theory states that that was never going to be the end for Jon’s character. Though Jon is now back, the theory still works. It states that he warged into his direwolf, Ghost, post-stabbing, pre-returning.
Though it has not been officially confirmed by the show or anything, it is a definite possibility. In the books, Jon is capable of warging and that ability is probably present in the show as well. It makes sense that Jon would try his best to stick around, even if it is in the form of a direwolf. Stranger things have happened in Game of Thrones.
Robert Baratheon Predicted The Fate Of The Starks
This theory states that when greeting the Starks, Robert touches Ned, Catelyn, Robb, and Rickon. All of them end up passing away throughout the show. He calls Sansa pretty and for a while she is kept in King’s Landing as kind of a trophy for Joffrey and then is married off to Tyrion against her will. Robert has Bran show him his muscles, and Bran is crippled later on.
He asks Arya her name and she eventually becomes No One. While this theory does not suggest that Robert himself has any special abilities, it is interesting to think about and wonder if perhaps the writers were foreshadowing the character’s fates as early as season one. It’s definitely possible. Such foreshadowing is the kind of thing Game of Thrones would do, yet only the most dedicated fans would likely spot it.
Sansa Will Betray Jon
Boy would that be heartbreaking. Therefore it would be very likely to happen on Game of Thrones, the most heartbreaking show around. Though no fan likely wants Sansa to betray her half-brother/cousin, it is possible. Especially now that Jon has allied with Daenerys Targaryen. He and Sansa might disagree over that and that could lead to Sansa betraying him for the greater good.
Either that or perhaps a sibling rivalry over running Winterfell. Sansa may think she would do better than Jon at running the family home and may want to, therefore, take over the job from him. This could be another factor that could lead to the betrayal. Poor Jon. He deserves better.
Stark Civil War
Another heartbreaking theory. Sorry, everyone. Though it is definitely possible. The remaining Starks being of course, Jon, Sansa, Bran, and Arya. Though no fan wants to see their favorite characters battling, it could happen. According to this fan theory, it would lead to the end of the Starks entirely which would be just the type of heartbreaking plot twist that Game of Thrones would go for. The theory also states that the fate of house Stark was foreshadowed by one of the Children of the Forest, Leaf. She stated that the direwolves–symbolizing the Starks–would “outlast us all” but “their time would come as well.” Now this is a bit vague, so it could mean something else. Yet it would be just like Game of Thrones to get rid of the remaining Starks in a twist no one saw coming.
More Starks Will Fall
Heartbreaking yet again. Well, that’s Game of Thrones for you. According to this fan theory, the remaining Starks are not safe. Jon, Sansa, Arya, and Bran are all in danger. Whether it’s one or more of them, some of them will likely go in season eight. Though no one wants any more Starks to fall, it is still possible. Jon is likely to fall because he has a knack for getting into dangerous situations.
Sansa is likely to fall because she is not trained to fight like her siblings and therefore if Winterfell falls, which some fans believe will happen, so does she. Arya is likely to fall because she will likely try to fight the White Walkers and Cersei as well. Bran is likely to fall because the Night King is actively seeking him out. If the Night King finds Bran, he is not likely to escape unscathed.
Bran Will Redeem Jaime Lannister
This one is a bit more uplifting than some of the other theories. Yay! Finally some happiness in the world of Game of Thrones theories! According to this theory, Bran will tell others about what Aerys actually said and was going to do. This will show that Jaime was justified in assassinating him and will remove the stain of being the Kingslayer from his reputation.
This will redeem Jaime in the eyes of the people of Westeros, which will be good for Jaime and for the fans. As fans, we know why Jaime did what he did. Yet most of those in the world of Game of Thrones don’t. Except Bran. Bran can therefore help save Jaime’s reputation and make sure he is known as someone who can be trusted.
The First White Walker Was A Stark
According to this fan theory, the Children of the Forest didn’t choose just anyone to transform into their weapon against the First Men. They chose a Stark. The reason for this is that the Starks have powers beyond most of the other human characters. They are magical, just like the Children of the Forest, and therefore would have kept such magical abilities when transformed into a weapon created by the Children.
Of course, this weapon backfired, and instead of using the White Walkers against the First Men, the Children of the Forest and the First Men had to unite to defeat the White Walkers. Now, the White Walkers are back. Will the Children of the Forest have a part to play in the coming war? Who knows. But the Starks definitely will.
Know any more good fan theories about the Starks from Game of Thrones? Let us know in the comments!
