This Melisandre Game of Thrones Theory Could Explain How the Dead Loses

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Spoilers for Game of Thrones season eight ahead. There are as many theories about how the big battle of Game of Thrones season eight will shake out as there are GoT fans. Since we haven't seen any footage from the last three episodes of the show (and that is very much by design, I'm guessing), the creators have managed to keep the result shrouded in mystery. Given that there are three episodes after this big one, though, there's still plenty of story left to tell—and I suspect that the Night King won't be finished by the end of the episode. So, of the various theories, which do fans think is the most likely?

Well, there's one beloved theory (it's been around for a while), and it all centers around the red priestess Melisandre. After bringing Dany and Jon (fire and ice) together, she disappeared to the city of Volantis in her home of Essos in season 7. Before she did, she gave the magic-hating Varys a cryptic warning about she has to come back to Westeros one last time to die (just like Varys, apparently, yikes). She didn't say why, but it's kind of a big clue about a future plotline, so take a look to refresh your memory on the scene:

The idea is this: In Volantis, there is a huge army called the Fiery Hand, which would come in reeeaaaaal handy right about now, as well as that other red priestess from the show, Kinvara, and one of the biggest Red Temples serving the Lord of Light. So, just in the same way as the Battle of the Bastards gave us a surprise assist from Sansa, Littlefinger, and the army of the Vale, Melisandre could come could come sweeping in with extra soldiers and magic to save the day, or at least give some much-needed aid.

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Here's the problem I see with the simplicity of this theory, though. First, it's a bit TOO similar to the Battle of the Bastards, and the creators tend to try and make every single battle unique (seriously, there's months of planning that goes into a battle episode). This one will already look and feel different because of the thoroughly magical and high-stakes aspects of the fight—the Night King putting an icy fog over Winterfell, the battle of the living vs. dead dragons, the fact that this is literally what every character is playing for, so I kind of doubt that such an easy fix will come and "save the day."

So what I think is a little more likely to happen is one of a couple things: Either Melisandre comes and provides aid but it doesn't end up helping, or the main characters must have an initial loss, pull back farther South/the Iron Islands, and then boom! Magical army. Or, as a third option, they do defeat the dead but suffer heavy losses, and Melisandre can help them defeat Cersei. I'm ignoring the fact that Melisandre has magical powers (see also: smoke monster baby), so that may factor in as well. I was always confused about her powers, so TBD on how they manifest.

In previous GoT seasons, the biggest battle is usually in the last or second to last episode, so I think there's still some fighting left to do. Plus, there's still Cersei, and she is a big problem with a big army. My point is, this fight in episode three is not going to go the way any character expects, and I bet Melisandre is waiting in the wings for the big reveal once that happens. (I look forward to being proven wrong if she does save the day, of course!)

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.

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