The Final Battle For the Throne

There aren't too many people left. Only a select few that we have followed for a long time are left to claim the Throne. So, I found the 20 characters who I think might be able to take the seat and make it their own. Then I decided to line them up in order of who would be least to most likely to survive to the end. This is merely my opinion. Some of these are off-the-wall, but so is a show with dragons and people who can wear other people's faces. So, here we go.

The "No Chance In Seven Hells" Division

20. Hot Pie's not dead, so he's on the list. But our chubby friend will go on making wolf-shaped bread and being blissfully ignorant to the rigors of political life.

19. Back in Pyke, Yara Greyjoy is holding it down now that Theon is dead. Euron isn't going attempt to usurp her anymore either, so she will be happy to just rule the Iron Islands and be left alone. Whoever is on the Throne would do well to remember that.

18. Another "well, he's still alive" guy, I assume dopey Robin Arryn is still Lord of the Vale. We haven't seen him since the 4th episode of season 6. So, he's probably a bit older. But really, that kid? Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms? Not likely.

17. The best guy for the job isn't a guy at all, but he is the goodest boy. Every single person gets obliterated in the final battle and all of Westeros is left to the animals. In the absence of humans, Ghost takes his place on the Throne. I assume that means 'A Song of Ice and Fire' is a prequel series to 'Isle of Dogs'.

16. I doubt she'd ever have any interest in ruling the land, but Sam will probably keep Gilly alive to the end, so she's a candidate. Negatives: from North of the Wall. Folks probably will be leery of that.

15. Out of necessity, Samwell Tarly will stay alive, if for no other reason, because we're fairly certain he's the stand-in for George R.R. Martin writing the story within the story. He's too smart to want the job. He's only slightly in front of Gilly because he's from the 'ros.

The "We'd All Love to See It, But These People Probably Don't Have a Shot Either" Division

14. If you're looking for a guy who's led people before, look no further than Tormund Giantsbane. He knows what he's doing. And he's a blast to be around. His only major knock would be the fact that he's a Wildling.

13. Leadership skills are once again on display from Grey Worm. But the same issue for Tormund will come in to play for Grey Worm. He's got some Unsullied who will still follow him, but most of Westeros won't care for him. Also, if Dany is still alive, Grey Worm won't try to claim the Throne over her.

12. Oh, Podrick Payne. Sweet, simple Pod. Silly, carefree, huge-dong Pod. The goofy bastard would have no idea what he was doing, but he'd just bone everyone into submission.

11. With Jamie gone and the Stark girls protected, Brienne of Tarth will need something to do oath-wise. Perhaps and oath to protect the whole realm? If she survives, she could give it shot.

The "Probably Qualified Based on Merit or Family Standing, But a lot of People Would Have to Die For Them to Get to the Throne" Division

10. On to the top ten. The bigger contenders. He's served under several commanders. He's pulled himself up from his bootstraps from Fleabottom. Davos Seaworth would know what the common man would like. But I don't know if he'd have the ambition to take the Throne.

9. He's another outsider. He's a man's man. The best sell-sword we know. He fights every day. Bronn of the Blackwater will do what he needs to survive. And if somehow he can outlive everyone of noble birth, he might be able to take the throne by force and sheer will.

8. TIN FOIL TIME! Let's set the scene: The fighting has raged. Bodies are strewn about the streets of King's Landing and the halls of the Red Keep. We begin a slow pan up the steps and begin to see the bottom of the Iron Throne. As we move up the body, we arrive on the face of a smug-looking Daenarys Targaryen. The score begins to play. Just as we believe that this is the end, Daenarys reaches up and grabs her chin. She pulls her face off to reveal Arya. We believe she has dispatched with The Unburnt and we now have our Queen. Then Arya reaches up and pulls her face to reveal Jon Snow. Jon's shoulders slump with the weight of the station. The music begins to quicken. Jon pulls his face off to reveal Sansa. The camera begins to pull out as Sansa pulls her face off to show Tyrion. Faster now faces get pulled off. Cersei, Littlefinger, Jamie, Renly, Varys, Stannis, Olenna, Tywin, Robb, Loras, Tommen, Margaery. Then the faces slow down. We see Joffrey. Then Robert. And finally, we see Ned. Lord Eddard Stark smirks one last time at us, then as the music stops, he tugs at his chin. He reveals Jaqen H'ghar. Jaqen says, "no one is the king of Westeros." He then pulls his face for a final time as we can now see the whole throne and Jaqen disappears and his clothes crumple to the floor. Fade to black. Credits.

7. If we ignore all the foreign invasions, and the line of succession of the oldest living male heir of the most recent king is taken into account, then Gendry Baratheon has a pretty good argument. Now, does he have any political ambition? Probably not. He's a blacksmith. But all of the sudden, he's now the Lord of Storm's End. And we're pretty sure he wouldn't be a total jerk. But, this one is going to require people with more drive to get out of the way and/or nominate him to take over.

6. With his family standing, Bran Stark would have a pretty good claim to the Throne. However, he doesn't seem to have an interest in taking over since becoming the Three-Eyed Raven. He would have the knowledge of all of history to help him rule. But something would really have to change for him to take over.

The "Legit Contenders. Because We've Been Most Invested in Their Stories, so Obviously it's One of Them" Division

5. Daenarys Targaryen is a bit too obvious of a choice at this point. They've foreshadowed too much "Mad Queen". With this being the finale, I can't see her redeeming herself from this massive heel turn enough to be a good ruler. Even if she takes control of the throne now, someone's just going to murder her and take over. But she is one of the longest-tenured characters on the show. And she does still have a dragon and armies that still back her. So, if she took out every single person who opposed her right now, she could stay in power. 

4. With "murdered the Night King and made all the Army of the Dead explode" on her resume, Arya Stark seems to be a logical choice for hero-thrust-into-leadership role. Even more so if she has to go take out Daenarys too. But Arya has said time and time again that she does not want to lead anyone or marry anyone of importance. So, convincing her to take over the whole realm would be a tall task.

3. Jon Snow-- Aegon Targaryen if you're nasty-- has been the main character for quite some time. While this has long been an ensemble cast, Jon has always been the underlying glue. Many others have come and gone, but through a combination of plot armor and a resurrection, the Man Who Knows Nothing just keeps tripping into these huge situations. He's definitely in the "some have greatness thrust upon them" camp. He's gonna have to do some stuff that tears at his moral code, including probably having a hand, if not THE hand, in taking out his lover/aunt. But if he can get past all that with a clear head, he may just reluctantly rule the Seven Kingdoms as well.

2. Littlefinger liked to think he knew how to play the game. Ned Stark was an honorable man who thought he was above the game. Both of them got dead for their theories. Tyrion Lannister seems like the man who was able to best play the game while still trying to use a moral code. He's had to betray some people he loved and trust some people he despised, but in the end he may be the only one who can reconcile all that needs to be done and still live with the results. His life as an outcast has uniquely prepared him to care for the needs of the downtrodden. Perhaps the only person better suited to take the throne than Tyrion is...

1. Sansa Stark. When the series first began, I like many others, couldn't stand Sansa Stark. She was stuck-up and spoiled, having never left Winterfell. She knew no pain, no heartache, no loss, no want for anything. And after she was promised the one thing she always wanted, to be Queen, she began a journey that would show her who she really was, and what the world really was. She has grown and changed possibly more than any other character in the entire series. She understands the game. She remembers where she came from. She knows the value of family, but also caring about the commoners and strangers in her midst. She's come to realize the value in everyone. The only way I could see her not taking the Iron Throne is if she decided she didn't want it, instead remaining Queen in the North and allowing the rest of the Realm to be ruled by someone else. Perhaps her somewhat still husband Tyrion will take over and they will rule jointly from afar?

All of this hinges on the fact that a bloodbath hasn't just laid waste to my entire list and anyone of note is left to sit on the Iron Throne. I can also see a scenario where a group of whomever is left installs some sort of democratic society and the Throne is melted down, never to be seen again.