Episode 65 (season 7, episode 5), debut 8/13/17: Conleth Hill.
photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO
Varys will introduce democracy to Westeros
Varys, commonly referred to as “the Spider,” is an interesting Game of Thrones character, as his motives are never quite as clear as the other characters’. He appears to genuinely have the fate of the realm in mind when making his decisions, but his decisions often cause problems for good characters.
During the seventh season of the show, Daenerys calls Varys out on his untrustworthy behaviors. She points out that Varys has served many kings, but he’s turned on several of them, including her father and Robert Baratheon. She also questions the fact that he supported Viserys’ claim to the throne, in spite of the fact that he was cruel and weak.
Daenerys continues on this path, bringing up the fact that he set assassins on her and saw her sold to the Dothraki to preserve his own life. She questions what kind of servant he is, given that he conspires against his leaders, and he answers “the kind the realm needs.” He tells her that his loyalties lie with the people, not with any ruler. He refuses to offer her “blind allegiance,” but he does agree to tell her if she ever becomes a tyrannical leader he’d consider betraying.
Given Varys’ beliefs and values, though, some fans feel that Varys might eventually throw his support behind a different type of leadership altogether in the end: democracy. His conversation with Daenerys alone seems to suggest that he might betray her, and the North’s election of not one, but two Kings in the North also steers the show in the direction of democracy.
It’s possible that Varys will become the “father of Westerosi democracy,” either through murder, betrayal, or just sheer circumstance. The show certainly critiques monarchies enough to end it this way.