Brienne of Tarth is the most honorable character left in the show. She’s been through some rough patches, but really hasn’t been in critical circumstances since she was captured by the Bolton army back in season 3…and that fight with the Hound in the season 4 finale. However, outside of that, she’s been pretty safe. But with the Army of the Dead marching South, she’s bound to be put in danger very soon. It also doesn’t help that she is very honorable and willing to keep her oath to Catelyn Stark to keep Arya and Sansa safe, which could very well cost Brienne her life.
Currently, she’s on her way back to Winterfell with the Northern Army, after they made the trek to King’s Landing in the season 7 finale. The Northern Army is under the impression that Cersei is sending the Lannister army to come help them, but the only person coming to help is Jaime Lannister, which is a big pro for Brienne. Jaime is clearly coming to help because it’s the honorable thing to do, but nobody has taught Jaime more about honor than Brienne. That being said, I can see three people sacrificing themselves to save Brienne for three different reasons: Jaime, Tormund, and Podrick. Jaime could sacrifice himself to prove he is honorable and that his character has really come full circle. Tormund could sacrifice himself because he’s in love with Brienne and what better way of showing that than dying for her. And Podrick could sacrifice himself because that would be the saddest death imaginable and would hit the audience the hardest. However, I don’t think it will come to that, because I don’t think Brienne is making it very long in season 8.
It’s already been confirmed that season 8 is only going to be 6 episodes. With that being said, some people are going to have die early on in order to have the more impactful deaths later on in the season, and also to progress the story. With 6 episodes, you don’t really have the time to progress the story of smaller characters, when you have the big story regarding the Night King and the War of the Dead. That’s part of the reason why I think Brienne will be killed off pretty early in season 8. What I see happening is the Night King and his army attack Winterfell, and Brienne fights for Winterfell with Oathkeeper, a Valyrian steel sword. After the Night King and the White Walkers realize she has a Valyrian steel sword, they target her and ultimately end up killing her. Another scenario I can see is a bunch of wights breaching the castle and going after Sansa, to which Brienne takes them on and ultimately loses as Sansa escapes. Either way, I think Brienne will die, but her Valyrian steel sword will be picked up and used by Arya or another character. Another reason I think Brienne dies early is because she hasn’t been seen on set for any of the King’s Landing shoots in season 8. My guess here is that the North lose Winterfell the first half of the season, and the survivors flee South to King’s Landing. Being as Brienne wasn’t seen on set, I think she’s not one of the survivors from the Winterfell battle.
While Brienne is a very honorable character, being honorable isn’t typically something that is rewarded in Game of Thrones. Ned Stark was an honorable man, he got his head cut off for it. Robb Stark could be classified as semi-honorable, and got killed at wedding for it, along with his honorable mother, Catelyn Stark. Honorable people die in Westeros, that’s just how it is, and I don’t think season 8 will be any different. As much as we’ve come to love Brienne, I think it’s almost time to say good-bye, and that’s why I’m putting her chance of survival at only 20%.
A few of my favorite things include my pet dragon (Drogon), Game of Thrones, Disney movies and theme parks, the MCU, DC movies, Star Wars, sports, and my rather large Funko Pop collection. Daenerys Targaryen is my queen, Robert Downey Jr is my man crush, and Simba is my spirit animal.
