25 Game of Thrones theories fans need to know for season 8

Episode 67 (season 7, episode 7), debut 8/27/17: Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

photo: Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO

The Iron Bank will betray Cersei

The Iron Bank has been a constant presence throughout the series, always looming in the background of the political struggles throughout Westeros. It is common knowledge during the earlier seasons that the crown owes a serious debt to the Iron Bank, the outcome of frivolous spending during Robert Baratheon’s reign.

During the seventh season, Cersei decides to pay the crown’s debt to the Iron Bank in full. While she believes that doing so will win her the bank’s support during the coming war, one Redditor suggested that this plan might backfire on her. Without the debt, the Iron Bank no longer has any reason to tolerate Cersei’s rash decisions and cruelty. It doesn’t need her alive, because it has gotten what they needed from her.

In fact, the Redditor also pointed out that Tycho Nestoris, the Iron Bank’s debt collector, “appears to be flattering her by saying Tywin never paid his debt in full and she is really outshining her father by doing so.” Of course, we know that Tywin was a clever ruler. If Tywin never paid his debt in full, it’s likely because doing so didn’t benefit his interests—or the interests of House Lannister.

Cersei may be surprised to learn that the Iron Bank’s loyalty to her no longer applies now that she’s paid her debts. As our Redditor theorist puts it, Nestoris “also says the bank will support the Iron Throne once their debt is paid, not necessarily the current Queen, but whoever is on the throne.” That statement might not bode well for Cersei, especially if the Iron Bank decides that Daenerys or Jon is better suited to rule Westeros.