Jaime Lannister’sGame of Thronesending is one of the most controversial elements of season 8, butThe Winds of Winterwill probably prove the show right about him.Game of Thrones’endingis divisive for a lot of reasons, with the regression of Jaime’s character being among the biggest complaints. Jaime is one of the most dynamic characters in George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebooksand HBO’s TV adaptation. He makes a terrible first impression by pushing young Bran Stark out a window, but he manages to win fans over regardless of his crimes.
This is because Jaime Lannister’s redemption arc is compelling and believable, with the “Kingslayer” offering a realistic portrayal of how complicated people can be. Jaime never aligns with the traditional qualities of a hero, even after he begins to grow and change into a better person. His relationships with Brienne and Tyrion help him on that path, but influences like Cersei still worm their way in. That’s why it makes sense that Jaime returns to Cersei at the end of the show, andThe Winds of Winterwill probably feature a similar turn of events when it finally debuts.
Redemption Isn’t Always Straightforward
Although fans were sad to see Jaime regress and return to Cersei inGame of Thronesseason 8, the show had the right idea about the character’s ending. Redemption isn’t a straightforward path in real life, and people often fall back into old habits without really wanting to. Given how realisticGame of Thrones’depiction of Jaime is, it would be strange if his redemption arc failed to acknowledge this. Despite his actions and attitude improving later in the show,Jaime remains a heavily flawed character through season 8. His final actions highlight this.
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Jaime is very much a product of his upbringing, and his toxic relationship with Cersei has far more power over him than he’d like. Although he makes progress on both fronts throughoutGame of Thrones,such programming doesn’t just disappear after a few good deeds.Jaime’s values make it inevitable that he’ll return to the person he considers his family above everyone else, even after sharing a moment with Brienne. It also makes him feel human that he both does the right thing and then immediately backtracks, helping the North but returning to his sister anyway.
Jaime Will Likely Return To Cersei In The Winds Of Winter
It Makes Sense For His Character’s Values & George R.R. Martin’s Storytelling
With Martin keeping things realistic in hisSong of Ice and Firebooks,it seems likely that Jaime will return to Cersei inThe Winds of Winteras well.If the sequel’s title is anything to go by, the fight against the Others will likely take place in the nextASOIAFbook. There’s a lot of ground to cover to get the characters to that point, but Jaime may decide to help the North, just as he does in the show. And even if he doesn’t go in this direction,A Dance With Dragonsleaves him searching for Sansa Stark with Brienne.
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George R.R. Martin’s original Game of Thrones plan would have led to a very different series, taking the characters & story in surprising directions.
Jaime is on the cusp of choosing his honor and vow to Catelyn over his duty to his family, but it’s not entirely clear ifThe Winds of Winterwill take him and Cersei down the same paths as theirGame of Thronescounterparts. Whatever the next book does,Jaime will need to make a decision about whether he wants to return home and continue serving Cersei. And given their history, he’ll probably go back to her, just like he does in the show.
It’s possible the writers added this Jaime twist because they knew it was going to happen in theSong of Ice and Firebooks.
Additionally,Game of Thronesshowrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss discussed Martin’s ending plans with him(viaVanity Fair), even if they no longer had any source material to adapt. It seems unlikely such a big character shift would be a fully original addition to the show. It’s possible the writers added this Jaime twist because they knew it was going to happen in theSong of Ice and Firebooks.
Why Jaime May Not Kill Cersei In The Books Either
The Valonqar Prophecy Probably Isn’t About Him
BecauseCersei’s prophecy from Maggy the Frogstates that “the valonqar” — which is High Valyrian for “little brother” — will be the one to kill Cersei, there were theories Jaime could end his sister. This would upend Cersei’s expectation that Tyrion would be responsible for her death, and it would be a pivotal moment to show how Jaime has changed. However, given that this part of Cersei’sprophecy is excluded fromGame of Thronesentirely, that theory seems to be debunked.It’s unclear if “the valonqar” will come back into play at all, but if it does, it probably won’t be Jaime.
Tyrion Lannister Burned Down Winterfell In George R.R. Martin’s Original Game Of Thrones Plan, Then Killed Joffrey & Joined The Starks
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Based onGame of Thrones,Tyrion does appear to be the one responsible for Cersei’s inevitable demise— though the show doesn’t include anything so dramatic as him wrapping his hands around her throat. His support for Daenerys amounts to the same end, though, potentially confirming that Maggy the Frog’s prediction is about him. Meanwhile, Jaime returning to Cersei out of love and loyalty inGame of Thronesseason 8 makes it less likely he’d go out of his way to harm her.The Winds of Wintercan reveal the truth, but Jaime probably won’t kill her in the books.
The Books Can Do Jaime’s Story Better Than Game Of Thrones
His Regression Will Feel Less Sudden In The Winds Of Winter
Jaime Lannister’s story inThe Winds of Wintermay mirror his controversial ending inGame of Thronesseason 8, butit’s likely that Martin’s books will do a better job with his regression. One of the biggest issues withGame of Thronesseason 8 is that it tries to pack too many major developments into a single, six-episode season of television. This makes twists like Daenerys going mad, Bran becoming king, and Jaime returning to Cersei feel rushed and sudden.
Through hints and smaller moments of uncertainty, Martin can make it clear that this path is the right one for the character.
Given the length of Martin’sSong of Ice and Firebooks,it’s probably safe to assume that the author will spend more time setting up Jaime’s backslide. Through hints and smaller moments of uncertainty, Martin can make it clear that this path is the right one for the character. Considering his books place readers inside the characters' heads a bit more thanGame of Thronesis able to, we’ll also be able to understand Jaime’s choice a little better. This will help justify it, even if it’s not necessarily the outcome readers want for him inThe Winds of Winter.
Game Of Thrones
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Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
