Game Of Thrones: 8 Clues For How It Will (And Won't) End

Given that the show clearly has too little narrative play left to deliver any significant surprises in the central roles, it's the little people that will be left to deliver a few more of those patented Game Of Thrones bombshells.

Let’s run through the list. Sadly, Cleganebowl is cancelled - instead, the Mountain will be climbed by Beric Dondarrion, who’ll lose the last of his lives fulfilling his promise to Ned Stark. Qyburn will meet some kind of dodgy, horrible end to complement his dodgy, horrible life. The cheerfully amoral Bronn, having attached his colours to a sinking ship, is a dead cert to abandon it and leave Westeros with the Golden Company, bromances with the Lannister boys notwithstanding.

Melisandre has seen a vision that she will die, proof positive that she will live. Conversely, Jorah Mormont and Grey Worm are on borrowed time, having already worked out their character arcs. There’s no narrative mileage in anything bad happening to Sam or Gilly; the same cannot be said of Gendry or Podrick.

Brienne and Tormund Giantsbane (aka Briemund) may yet have their moment, but the latter is almost certain to die fighting. Brienne will serve at Winterfell, while the Hound will go travelling with Arya. Davos will return to his ships; meanwhile, Theon has a redemption arc to pursue, but is unlikely to survive it.