The moment Cersei Lannister made her intentions of not joining the battle against the Night King and the Army of the Dead known, a series-concluding face-off between whoever won the Battle of Winterfell and Cersei’s southern forces has been inevitable.
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 8, EPISODE 3 OF ‘GAME OF THRONES’ — “THE LONG NIGHT” — WILL FOLLOW AFTER THE GIFs.
Now, assuming Game of Thrones doesn’t go full heel-turn and end the series with Cersei sitting on the Iron Throne (although, we know anything is possible with this show), someone out there is going to have to eventually kill her … somehow.
And given the devastation and destruction that she’s caused across the Seven Kingdoms during the course of the show’s eight seasons, there’s no shortage of Westerosi heroes ready and willing to put a knife through Cersei’s chest.
But which of these characters is most likely, or rather, would provide the most satisfying conclusion to the story of Cersei Lannister.
(And for all of the Thrones hardos out there, don’t have a conniption about this list, as it’s merely just my humble opinion.)
5. Jon Snow / Sansa Stark
HBO
Honestly, who really knows what’s going to happen at this point. While neither of these two is likely, in the scenario where the Northerners and Daenerys’ forces somehow apprehend Cersei *alive*, then the execution could possibly be carried about by Jon Snow or the Lady of Winterfell.
4. Tyrion Lannister
HBO
While we would all love to see Tyrion as the one to finally put an end to Cersei’s bloodthirsty reign, outside of somehow poisoning her, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Tyrion is presented with the opportunity to put an end to Cersei’s life.
3. Daenerys Targaryen
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Likely out for blood following Cersei’s betrayal and failure to send her forces to the Battle of Winterfell, seeing Daenerys melt off Cersei’s skin with a Dracarys *has* to be an option going forward, especially if she’s the one that winds up on the Iron Throne.
2. Arya Stark
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Truthfully, Arya Stark would be my first pick had she not already had her epic hero moment against The Night King in “The Long Night.”
Now, it’s a testament to the savagery of the Arya Stark character that it’s well within reason to imagine her delivering the fatal blow to both of the series main antagonists.
However, given the complexity of Game of Thrones, it’s hard to imagine them giving the same character the same beat (heroically slaying enemy) twice.
1. Jaime Lannister
HBO
Ever since episode one, Jaime and Cersei Lannister have been two of the most important, and complex characters in the show — characters whose stories are intricately and permanently intertwined.
Given that Jaime Lannister was originally known across the realm as the Kingslayer for being the one who ultimately put the sword to the Mad King, there would beautiful poetic justice in Jaime being the one to also slay the Mad Queen, who also happens to be his former lover … and current sister.
