Game Of Thrones: 15 Early Predictions For Season 8

13. Howland Reed Appears

Since even before he appeared as part of the Tower Of Joy flash-back at the tail-end of season 6, Howland Reed's presence loomed over the show for anyone who recognised his importance to Jon Snow's mystery. The appearance of his daughter - and the confirmation that he's still around - seemingly suggested that we'd finally get to meet him too.

But then nothing... Reed has been one of the only notable figures from Thrones mythology who has remained an invisible presence despite a huge weight of story behind him. It's felt for almost the entire show's run that he's being held back for some sort of big appearance, and now that we've reached the final season, it seems inevitable that it's eventually coming.

In season 7, Meera said she was returning home as she wanted to be with her family with the Long Night coming, which set up a possible appearance, but it's far more likely that a skilled warrior like Howland (he survived the Tower Of Joy and the Rebellion despite supposedly being smaller than most) will turn up to lend a hand when the white army arrives in the North.

Otherwise, we're all just going to be asking why he'd sit waiting it out and what the hell it would take for him to rear his head after he seemingly watched Ned Stark be killed and the Lannisters ravaging the Starks passively from a distance. Perhaps his appearance might answer that little mystery.