'Game of Thrones': Who is the Prince That Was Promised?

While there have already been a number of massive revelations on this season of Game of Thrones, [...]

By Hunter Miller

While there have already been a number of massive revelations on this season of Game of Thrones, there are two major questions that remain: who is going to end up on the Iron throne, and which character is the Prince that was Promised, Azor Ahai?

Azor Ahai is a legendary figure prophesied to be reborn and defeat the White Walkers while wielding a sword dubbed Lightbringer. There are also a handful of other vague details in the prophecy that are in connection to the Prince that was Promised. At this point in the story, there are a handful of characters that could potentially be the Prince/Princess, and valid cases for each. Check out the best fan theories for who could be Azor Ahai below:

First up...Beric Dondarrion

The case for Beric Dondarrion: As was teased in the preview for the sixth episode of Season 7, Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer) does have a flaming sword.

Dondarrion has been killed seven times and brought back to life. While it's clear that he has a role to play in the greater story, does it mean that he is the Prince that was Promised?

The case against: Considering that Azor Ahai is the fabled prince that will save all of Westeros from the Night King and his army, it seems unlikely that Dondarrion could be the savior. In the show's version of his character, he has only appeared in 10 episodes. This fact begs the question, why would a figure of such importance have such a minor role in the show?

Daenerys Targaryen

The case for: Of the candidates that could be Azor Ahai, Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen seems to be one of the most obvious choices. In the novels, the Prince that was Promised will be "born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone."

Dany was, in a way, "born again" after emerging from the smoke and fire of Khal Drogo's funeral pyre at the end of Season 1. In doing so, she birthed her dragons.

Also, at the start of the second season, a red comet appeared in the sky which is a nod to the prophecy in that it states that Azor Ahai will be heralded by a "bleeding star."

Dany's original birthplace was Dragonstone, which is a volcanic island of smoke and [sea] salt. Some fans believe that this satisfies the "smoke and salt" reference in the prophecy.

The case against: In the Season 7 premiere, the Red Priestess Melisandre declared that the Mother of Dragons could be the Princess That Was Promised. Given that Melisandre's track record isn't so hot, this could be a misdirect.

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Jaime Lannister

The case for Jaime: In the event that the Kingslayer would was Azor Ahai, it would easily be one of the biggest twists in the history of the show. Jaime started the show as one of the villains, but he has worked his way into the hearts of many of the fans as being a likable figure.

In the fourth episode this season, "The Spoils of War," Jaime survived a trial by water after taking a plunge into the lake after being saved by Bronne to avoid being killed by Drogon.

As for the killing the lion part, Jaime could kill one of his siblings, Tyrion or Cersei. In doing so, this could also satisfy the part of the prophecy that states the Prince that was Promised kills a lover.

The case against: There are no dragons or red stars in Jaime's history. However, there is a faction of fans that believe he could be a secret Targaryen.

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Jon Snow

The case for Jon Snow: Of all the other characters, Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is another of the top candidates. The King in the North was literally born again after being killed by his brothers of the Night's Watch.

As was revealed in the fifth episode of Season 7, Jon is almost certainly a secret Targaryen. He also is the owner of a famous sword that is able to kill White Walkers.

Even though Melisandre's predictions have been discredited at times, in the books, she says, "I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R'hollor shows me only Snow," with the "s" in the word "Snow" being capitalized.

As for the "bleeding star" part of the prophecy, in Bran's flashback showing Jon's birth, Ned placed the bloody Sword of the Morning next to the bed. The hilt of the weapon, which depicts a rising star, can be seen in what seems to be a deliberate shot by the showrunners.

The case against: While there is an overwhelming amount of evidence for Jon being Azor Ahai, there is the part of the prophecy that mentions that the Prince that was Promised tries to drive the sword into the heart of the lion, breaks the sword in water, and then plunges the sword into the breast of his/her wife.

There doesn't seem to be any track of Jon with the water/lion/lover sword element of the prophecy. Not at this point at least.

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Tyrion Lannister

The case for Tyrion Lannister: The "Imp," who is played by Peter Dinklage, may seem like an unlikely choice but there is a possibility that Tyrion is Prince that was Promised.

He nearly drowned at the Battle of the Blackwater, which had both smoke (fire) and salt (ocean). Also, he has killed a lion. As fans will remember, Tyrion killed his father, and the Lannister family sigil bears a lion.

Tyrion also seems to have a connection with the dragons. Some fans are theorizing that Tyrion could secretly be a Targaryen.

Tune in on Sundays to catch Game of Thrones on HBO at 9/8c.

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Sandor "The Hound" Clegane

The case for The Hound: The Hound (Rory McCann) has faced smoke, salt, and been reborn.

As a child, he was burned with fire when his older brother, Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, and sustained massive scarring. The Hound faced salt in the Battle of the Blackwater. He was "reborn" after being nearly killed by Brienne, and then was nursed back to health by a priest.

The case against: Other than the loose connections to fire, salt, and being reborn, there doesn't seem to be much else that makes a better argument for The Hound than characters such as Jon or Dany.

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