Game of Thrones season 8 episode 2: Who will live and who will die?

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Cersei Lannister

We don’t know too much about what Cersei faces in episode 2, given that she doesn’t really feature in the trailer, but we do know that she “faces a new threat“, whatever that maybe.

Honestly, what more threats can she face? She has faced a White Walker, a Puritanical nutcase and Dame Olenna Tyrell herself. As much as she is losing her grip — a zombie and a golden army (unfortunately sans elephants) are her only true allies at this point — her track record of resourcefulness makes us reluctant to bet against her in these early episodes at least.

Plus, we know that something fishy is at work with regard to her alleged pregnancy, as announced to her brother at the end of last season. Until we get to the bottom of that, we reckon she’s safe.

Chance of survival: Solid – at least until she addresses the one (1) elephant in the room

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Daenerys Targaryen

Like most of the biggest players, Daenerys is unlikely to die in the second episode. The seeds have been sown for a downfall, admittedly — the parallels to her father are definitely there, and her threat (and let’s be clear: it was a threat) to Sansa, along with what she did to Sam, are huge causes for concern.

But the show has spent eight seasons building her up, and five whole minutes of its season premiere trying to sell us the chemistry-less relationship between her and her nephew, so it’s not going to kill off its most iconic character this early on. No, this is the long game for our dragon queen.

Chance of survival: Two episodes cannot kill a dragon.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow – Photo: Courtesy of HBO

Jon Snow / Aegon Targaryen

Can you imagine if they killed off Jon Snow in the second episode? Can you actually imagine? In many ways, it would be absolutely incredible but it’s so unlikely given how many loose ends he’s tied to, and the fact that Kit Harington spent several days on a grueling night shoot that has yet to be aired or featured in promotional materials. He himself has said that he was present for the entirety of filming.

Again, imagine if he did all that only to be murdered (again) in episode 2. Hilarious.

Chance of survival: He’s a survivor, he’s gonna make it.

(L to R) Kit Harington as Jon Snow and John Bradley as Samwell Tarly – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Our eyesight

Okay, we get that it has to be dark and murky for atmosphere reasons, but does it have to be this dark? It’s only the second episode, but if the trailer is anything to go by, we’ll all be making stumbling trips to the opticians before the end. Here’s our big end of season thinkpiece: Game of Thrones and the growing eyestrain epidemic. You either win or you squint.

Chance of survival: Who knows? We can’t see the scene, let alone the future.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. 

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