The seventh season of Game of Thrones won’t go into production for months so, on the show’s Hall H panel at Comic-Con, there wasn’t much in the way of news. There was, however, much to discuss about who all the panellists thought should end up on the Iron Throne.
It began when Sophie Turner had a pretty surprising answer when she was asked if Sansa Stark felt her brother, Jon Snow, was worthy of ruling the North. “I’m not sure [Sansa] believes Jon is capable of running Winterfell and the north,” she said, “He doesn’t have the intellect, knowledge or experience that she has and I concur.”
At that point, each member of the cast was asked who they’d love to see sit on the Iron Throne, as the ruler of Westeros, when the show comes to a close.
Liam Cunningham, who plays Davos Seaworth, said the only clue we have about the end of the series is George R.R. Martin’s suggestion that the answer is “bittersweet”. For Cunningham, that means he has a vision of a white walker on the throne. He pictures the Night King, with a leg thrown over the side, smoking a big cigar.
John Bradley, who plays Sam Tarly, didn’t want to answer the question because he was worried he’d make a guess and end up be right. He didn’t want some footage popping up in a few years of this moment and him spoiling it for everyone. Nevertheless, out of loyalty, he said Jon Snow.
Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Missandei, went with a similar answer — she picked Danaerys out of loyalty.
Conleth Hill, who plays Lord Varys (looking unrecognisable with a full head of flowing locks), quickly dismissed the question and said he knows for sure who’ll be sitting on the throne at the end, so he can’t say.
Turner said she’d like to see Littlefinger on the throne. This, of course, got a chorus of boos to which Turner had a ready response. “It would be fun and quirky, sadistic, and we like that kind of thing,” she reminded fans. “We all watch Game of Thrones.”
Faye Marsay, who played The Waif, also went the simple route. She said Arya Stark would make a great ruler.
Being a bit of a homer, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, AKA Bran Stark, said he’d want four Starks to rule. Jon on the throne, Sansa advising, Arya kicking arse and Bran doing his tree wizard thing.
Kristian Nairn, the actor who plays everyone’s favourite lovable protector had an excellent answer that surprisingly wasn’t “Hodor”. He chose Brienne of Tarth, with the caveat that he didn’t think the Iron Throne would be worth much after the invasion of the White Walkers.
Ironically, it was Iwan Rheon, Ramsay Bolton himself, who had the least peaceable answer to the question: He suggested they melt down the Iron Throne and install a democracy.