18 unanswered questions from Game of Thrones that'll keep you up at night

20 May 2019, 16:19 | Updated: 21 May 2019, 10:03

Emma Clarke

By Emma Clarke

If you've not yet watched the Game of Thrones finale, get outta here!

Game of Thrones fans across the globe have dedicated over eight years of their lives to the hit HBO series, consuming an impressive 73 episodes since it began in 2011.

This dedication was always rewarded with gruesome deaths, shocking plot twists and more epic takedowns than you can shake a stick at.

But, alas, the eighth season of GoT was not met with the same enthusiasm as episodes past - with fans even setting up a petition, urging showmakers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to remake the last instalment.

Whether you're of the camp that thinks the last season was rushed and poorly written, or if you loved every second of it - there's no denying that the show left a lot of important questions unanswered.

Here, we look at these pressing issues in more detail than D & D did...

READ MORE: Game of Thrones fans think "Bran the Broken" is a little harsh

1) Did Bran Stark know he was going to win the game of thrones and rule the Six Kingdoms as "Bran the Broken"?

Bran's journey has been a complex one. In the opening of the show, he was pushed out of a window by Jaime Lannister, after he caught Jaime going at it with his twin sister, Cersei.

Ever since, Bran has been crippled - first he was carried around by his dear friend, Hodor (RIP), then he was pulled on a little sled by his friends Meera and Jojen Reed, before someone had the fantastic idea of making Bran a wheelchair.

One of the reasons for his little quest was to learn more about his ability to see things, as he harnessed his warging skills and took over as the Three-Eyed Raven.

Now, Greensight (Bran's ability) is supposed to allow him to perceive the future, past and contemporary events - so long as they're a little bit in the future. Of course, Bran can also warg, meaning he can suss out the lay of the land when he transforms into his little ravens.

With all that said, and given how smug Bran looked in the finale, we're guessing Bran knew all along that he would be named the King of the Six Kingdoms, and he's just been trolling everyone for the longest time.

READ MORE: These Brienne of Tarth writing memes are giving us life

Did Bran know he was going to rule the Six Kingdoms?
Did Bran know he was going to rule the Six Kingdoms? Picture: HBO

2) Speaking of Meera Reed...where'd she go?

Fair, Meera was never a major Game of Thrones character, but she did transport Bran for quite some series, and put up with his weirdness, day in, day out.

On their quest, her brother Jojen died, as did Hodor, but she stuck by Bran up until season 7, when she told Bran she'd be returning to her family.

Bran coldly says "k, hun" (or something to that effect), and we see hide nor hair of Meera again.

What happened to Bran's mate, Meera Reed?
What happened to Bran's mate, Meera Reed? Picture: HBO

3) What happened to Arya's white horse?

In the penultimate episode of season 8, Arya rode through the ashen landscape of King's Landing on the back of a white horse - which many believed to be a sign that the young Stark was dead (despite seeing her in the teaser trailer for the finale, duh).

But in the last episode, Arya's new buddy was nowhere to be seen.

Arya's white horse vanished quicker than Samwell Tarly on the battlefield
Arya's white horse vanished quicker than Samwell Tarly on the battlefield. Picture: HBO

4) Why didn't the rest of Maggy the Frog's prophecy about Cersei come true?

For the most part, Maggy the Frog's prophecy about Cersei came true. But there was one element - and a very important one at that - that wasn't fulfilled.

As you may recall, Cersei revealed to Jaime in season 5, shortly after their daughter Myrcella was poisoned to death by Ellaria Sand, that she was told all her children would die when she visited a fortune teller as a girl.

Cersei being Cersei demanded the fortune teller, Maggy the Frog, answer three questions: 1. Would she marry a prince, 2. Whether she'd be queen, and 3. Whether she and the king would have any children together.

Maggy replies to the first question: "Never. You will wed the king," which came true, as she married Robert Baratheon, in a strategic move to put House Lannister ahead.

To the second question, Maggy answers: "Queen you shall be...for a time. Then comes another, younger, more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold dear." This at first referred to Margaery Tyrell, but then Cersei believe it to mean Daenerys Targaryen, which, of course, came true.

When responding to Cersei's third and final question, Maggy answered: "No, the king will have 20 children, and you will have three. Gold will be their crowns and gold their shrouds." Again, this came into fruition, as Robert's children were all bastards (that King Joffrey ordered to be killed in season 2) and Cersei only bore her brother Jaime's children - all of whom died.

Now, what the show missed out was possibly the best part of the prophecy; Maggy predicted that Cersei's little brother would kill her - which, naturally, Cersei always believed to mean Tyrion. But as neither T nor Jaime killed Cersei, that prophecy fell flat on its face.

And why wasn't Maggy the Frog's prophecy fulfilled in its entirety?
And why wasn't Maggy the Frog's prophecy fulfilled in its entirety? Picture: HBO

5) What happened to Ellaria Sand in the end?

Okay, so we're guessing she's dead, after Cersei Lannister locked her up in one of the many dungeons of King's Landing.

After Ellaria poisoned Cersei's daughter, Myrcella, the Lannister matriarch wanted to get her own back on Ellaria, by poisoning her beloved daughter and forcing Sand to watch on as her child died in agony.

Chained to the dungeon walls, Ellaria surely died of hunger - if not, Dany got her good and proper.

We're guessing Ellaria Sand is dead...
We're guessing Ellaria Sand is dead... Picture: HBO

6) Where have Edmure Tully and Robin Arryn been chilling for two seasons?

We last saw Catelyn Stark's brother and nephew in season 6, when Shhhansha was hanging around creepy AF Littlefinger.

For two seasons it's been radio silence on that end, despite the fact the Knights of the Vale were the ones to save the day during the Battle of the Bastards.

Having said that, their return in the Game of Thrones finale was pretty epic; Edmure was savagely put in his place by his niece Sansa, after he put himself forward for the Iron Throne, and little Robin who breastfed until his early teens revealed his glow up.

The last time we saw Robin Arryn, he looked liked this
The last time we saw Robin Arryn, he looked liked this. Picture: HBO

7) Who was the Azor Ahai?

Unlike Melisandre's little bit about Arya and different coloured eyes (which they totally flipped around in season 8), the prophecy about "The Prince Who Was Promised" has been one of the most prominent ones throughout the show - so we're a bit miffed that wasn't really addressed in the finale.

The legend goes: “There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world.

“In this dread hour, a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.”

Now, it could well be that Melisandre's vision was just a mishmash of a few people's paths - after all, it was Beric Dondarrion who owned Lightbringer, Arya Stark who killed the Night King and Bran Stark who ended up on the (figurative) Iron Throne. But that seems like a bit of a cop out.

Melisandre hasn't had a track record of being right (RIP, Shireen Baratheon) but we thought this prophecy would come true
Melisandre hasn't had a track record of being right (RIP, Shireen Baratheon) but we thought this prophecy would come true. Picture: HBO

8) Where's Arya's direwolf, Nymeria?

Arya once thought she'd come face-to-face with Nymeria again in season 7, when she was surrounded by a pack of wolves.

After an intense staring competition, Arya pleaded with the Alpha, whom she believe to be her old pal, to return to Winterfell with her.

The wolf then turns and walks off, and Arya responds: "It's not you."

Nymeria - as far as we're aware - isn't dead, she's just been roaming the land like a wild beast should. And perhaps that's the point: Arya leaves Winterfell and chooses to go on a voyage to "what's west of Westeros", just as her direwolf fulfils her true nature and leaves the comforts of Winterfell.

When we last saw Nymeria, she said "not today" and legged it towards the trees
When we last saw Nymeria, she said "not today" and legged it towards the trees. Picture: HBO

9) Why wasn't the new Prince of Dorne announced in the finale?

We truly thought the Prince of Dorne would've had a more significant role in the season finale, tbf, especially as he was the presumed recipient of Lord Varys' letters in episode 5.

But while we caught a glimpse of him down in King's Landing, he didn't get so much as a mention by the others gathered in the Dragon Pit.

The Prince of Dorne appeared in the season 8 finale, but wasn't announced
The Prince of Dorne (far right) appeared in the season 8 finale, but wasn't announced. Picture: HBO

10) So...has Jon Snow become a Wildling now?

A lot of Game of Thrones fans were left confused by Jon Snow's fate, as he was sent north to Castle Black.

There, he was reunited with Tormund and his direwolf, Ghost, but otherwise, the outcome was a little...anti-climatic. I mean, he was always one of - if not the - main characters of the show, and this season he's been little more than a wet blanket.

Then, just before the end credits rolled out, we saw Jon walk beyond the wall with his posey - and a load of random kids.

Does that mean Jon Snow is now a Wildling?
Does that mean Jon Snow is now a Wildling? Picture: HBO

11) Why hasn't Arya used her training with the Faceless Men since killing Walder Frey?

Okay, so we watched Arya Stark getting whacked with a stick for how many series for WHAT, exactly?

Yes, she used her skills to assassinate Polliver, Ser Meryn Trant and Walder Frey - all of whom were on her kill list - but since then, she's not taken anyone's face.

Arguably, she used the face of a Wight in order to get access to the Night King in episode 3 of season 8, but we didn't see that on-screen, so that doesn't count.

Why didn't Arya use anyone else's face after she killed Walder Frey?
Why didn't Arya use anyone else's face after she killed Walder Frey? Picture: HBO

12) And what happened to the "green eyes" prophecy, for that matter?

In episode 3 of the final season, The Red Woman, Melissandre, made a surprise appearance before the Battle of Winterfell kicked off.

Not only did M provide the lighting, she reminded Arya Stark about something she said to her when they first met:

"I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me: brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes. Eyes you’ll shut forever. We will meet again."

Melissandre was of course implying that Arya would be the one to kill the Night King, with his eyes of blue, but as Arya had assassinated those with brown eyes, too, like Walder Frey, fans were hoping that the last bit of the prophecy would come true, and that she'd kill either Cersei Lannister (who was also on her list) or Daenerys - both of whom have green eyes.

Not only did Arya ride all the way to King's Landing with her pal The Hound for no reason (as she left Cersei to it), she didn't end up killing Dany.

The whole "Daenerys has green eyes" thing amounted to NOTHING
The whole "Daenerys has green eyes" thing amounted to NOTHING. Picture: HBO

13) What was even the point of the White Walkers and the Night King, tho?

This has got to be one of the most frustrating things about season 7 and 8.

Since the show began, the White Walkers and the Night King have been one of the most mysterious and enigmatic elements of the story. While over the course of the show we're granted snippets of information - like the fact the Children of the Forest were the ones to create the Night King in the first place, and that dragonglass defeats the Wights - we're still very much in the dark about it all now the show has concluded.

Something that should've been EPIC was over in a flash, as Arya killed the Night King (and by default, all the Wights he'd turned) in one fell swoop. Don't get us wrong, we loved seeing Arya kick ass (as she always does), but it would've been nice to learn a bit more about the Night King and his Army of the Dead before they were obliterated.

It's almost D & D read all the fan theories about Bran being the Night King and decided the shut down that ending there and then.

What even was the Night King's purpose, pray tell?
What even was the Night King's purpose, pray tell? Picture: HBO

14) Did Gilly have that baby?

Gurl got some action (albeit from Samwell Tarly).

The Wildling, whose father married her and impregnated her with her firstborn, escaped from her dad's naaasty clutches with Sam, and has been following him around like a lost puppy ever since.

The pair travelled to the Citadel together, so that Samwell could learn to become a Maester, and during that time, Gilly learned to read and actually was the one who uncovered that Jon Snow wasn't a bastard. Fair play.

In season 8, just after the Battle of Winterfell, a rather chuffed looking Sam approached his BFF Jon in the courtyard of the Stark stronghold, as Gilly announced she was preggers. Sam them went on to detail how they spent those long, cold nights in the north (TMI), and they said they would name the tot after Jon, if it was a boy.

But what happened to him? And where was Gilly in the finale, as Sam took on his new role as Grand Maester? The plot thickens.

We know Samwell Tarly and Gilly got it on, but did she ever have baby Jon?
We know Samwell Tarly and Gilly got it on, but did she ever have baby Jon? Picture: HBO

15) Why does Grey Worm give in so easily?

This just makes no sense. Grey Worm followed Daenerys to the bitter end, helping her carry out mass murder and slaughtering hundreds of Lannister soldiers.

So, like, why is he then so chill for the lords and ladies of Westeros to a) decide who next sits on the Iron Throne, and b) let Jon Snow off the hook for killing his beloved queen?

As he heads to Naath - where his dead lover, Missandei, was from - we're guessing he's just had enough of it all and wants to chill on a beach, sipping a Mai Tai.

Grey Worm sure gave in easily to Jon and Tyrion being released
Grey Worm sure gave in easily to Jon and Tyrion being released. Picture: HBO

16) What was the significance of all those patterns?

From the very start of Game of Thrones, patterns have been present - from the opening scene of season 1, where we saw a load of White Walker victims strewn across the snow in a spiral formation, to when little Ned Umber was pinned up on the wall, surrounded by chopped-up limbs in season 8.

But what came of these patterns? Sweet FA.

So what was the significance of the patterns in Game of Thrones?
So what was the significance of the patterns in Game of Thrones? Picture: HBO

17) Where did Drogon take Dany?

The answer? Fuck knows.

After Jon Snow stabbed his aunt Daenerys in the 'heart' (technically he stabbed her on the right, but we'll let that one slide), Dany's last living dragon, Drogon, gave her a little nudge to check she was actually dead, before melting the Iron Throne and carrying away Dany's corpse over the mountains and far, far away.

Later on in the episode, we get a brief update, after Bran the Broken asks if there was any update on the missing dragon (thought you knew everything, bruh??), to which his newly-appointed Grand Maester, Samwell Tarly, responds, "He was last spotted flying east."

Master of the Coin Bronn then interrupts: "The farther away the better."

Bran then dismisses himself from his first ever privy council in typical Bran fashion, in order to use his Three Eyed-Raven skills to hunt Drogon down.

We demand to know where Drogon took Dany
We demand to know where Drogon took Dany. Picture: HBO

18) More importantly, what went down with Tyrion, the jackass and the honeycomb??

We're guessing we'll never know the answer to this one...and maybe for good reason.

Tyrion was known for spending A LOT of time in brothels, tbf
Tyrion was known for spending A LOT of time in brothels, tbf. Picture: HBO