'Game of Thrones' Season 7: Dreams, Destiny, & Prophecies

Amidst the bevy of dragons, wights, and incestual sex, one theme stood as the baseline for the entirety of season 7: identity. From Jon Snow to Daenerys Targaryen, each major character (and some minor ones) spent the season discovering who they are. The search for identity in Game of Thrones is not a new theme. In fact, identity has been an intrinsic part of the show from the very beginning.

Sansa was a lady and had all the makings of a future queen. Arya disliked the duties and rules put upon her, and instead enjoyed training and fighting. Bran was an adventurous little boy who liked climbing and hearing old tales. Theon was a prisoner, forced to be raised by a family he didn't belong to. Tyrion was an outcast, his only saving grace, his wit and his name, and a desire to help the realm. Jaime was a fool in love with his twin, and would do anything to protect his family. Cersei was a queen, but regulated to second fiddle; she wanted all the power. Daenerys was in hiding out of fear for her life, sold and wed to the person who could give her brother the best chance of reclaiming the throne that was his. Jon was a bastard, who loved his siblings and father, and would do anything he could to honour them.

Looking back at where these characters began makes their journey all the more clear. The decisions that they made throughout season 7 each reflect and hearkens back to their character's respective starting points. Season 7's heavy focus on identity is a crucial way to prepare these characters for the end, and to emphasis their destinies. Game of Thrones has never been shy with dreams, destiny, and prophecies.

Sansa has yet to become a Queen, but is a better leader than she could have imagined. Her years of experience and tutelage under various rulers and councils, especially the nefarious Littlefinger, has primed her to be Queen. Being the Lady of Winterfell alone is an immense responsibility that Sansa has shown she is capable of handling. Could a future Iron Throne reign be in her sights? The prophecy that Cersei received about her future said that a "younger, more beautiful queen" will rise to take Cersei's place. Cersei thought it was Margaery. Perhaps she was worried about the wrong woman.

Arya is Game of Thrones' version of Batman. She's trained with some of the most talented fighters in the world, and has graduated from a school that makes assassins. Arya made an important choice this season, picking family over everything else. Her quest for revenge has been superseded by a task of much greater importance, the war against the White Walkers. At the very least, her skills and ability make her a vital asset in this war. More importantly, the Cat's Paw dagger that she has is made of Valyrian Steel. This means that she can kill White Walkers with it. While Arya has been carefully eliminating characters (and families - good riddance Freys), her most vital kills, potentially, have yet to be seen.

Bran is arguably the most important character in the show (and I'm not just saying that because his name is Brandon). Bran completed his transition from himself to the Three Eyed Raven. One cannot even begin to fathom how vast this power and ability must be. All that known is that Bran holds the key to some extremely valuable information. Information that will rock the entirety of the show. At the very least, Bran's role is to spread this information. However, with his abilities, the power to warg into other people and creatures, and who knows what else, Bran may play an even bigger role at the end. Warging into a certain dragon perhaps?

Since the show is hellbent on giving Theon his redemption story, he's finally been forgiven by the Starks for sieging Winterfell, and many of his other horrendous actions. In an unprecedented turn, Jon told Theon he that is both "a Stark and a Greyjoy" (you can sense the iron-born-y here). Theon must make amends, and in order to do so, honour both families he is a part of. Only then will he forgive himself for all the wrong that he has done. Look out Euron, your nephew got his balls back, figuratively speaking of course.

Tyrion has gone from council to council, now serving the person who he believes will actually be a good Queen, Daenerys. All of Tyrion's battle strategies in Season 7 were easily triumphed by his much more experienced, war veteran, older brother Jaime. What Tyrion was able to provide to Daenerys was sage counsel about how to be a good queen. He knows the game and the people of the realm. He knows that Daenerys cannot earn the throne by fear, because she'll simply be more of the same. All of his intelligence and experience is vital to would be Kings and Queens. Whomever ends up on the throne, unless it is his sister, Tyrion will be an integral part of rebuilding the realm and making it a truly better place.

Jaime finally, finally, showed himself to be the truly heroic character he is, and abandoned his Machiavellian sister to aid in the war against the White Walkers. Jaime took forever to make this decision, but the final straw was not breaking his word. Jaime received a bereavement of insults and the like after killing the Mad King. This is Jaime's chance to redeem himself, and make his word mean something. This is Jaime finally recognizing the evil his sister is, and walking away from her. This is Jaime becoming the hero he was always meant to be. Jaime will be a vital part of taking down the White Walkers. His battle strategies and tactics will prove extremely useful in the war.

Cersei got what she wanted. She is queen of the seven kingdoms, and she went through hell to get there. In the process, however, she's lost nearly everything else. What bit of morality she had left has been eradicated, evidenced by her punishment of Ellaria and Tyene, and her blatant lie to Tyrion and everyone else about helping in the war. Her biggest loss, of course, being her twin lover Jaime. Cersei has the throne, the power, and will do anything to keep it. She's pregnant with another child, her last chance for family and hope; Clinging to the idea that she can continue to exist despite impending doom surrounding her.

The aforementioned prophecy about being replaced with a younger queen - Sansa, Daenerys, someone else - aside, the Valonqar prophecy foretells an unfortunate end for Cersei. The Valonqar prophecy, which is in the books and not the show, states that Cersei's "little brother" will "choke the life" out of her. Cersei always thought this mean to be Tyrion, and it might. However, with Jaime's recent shift of allegiance, it could very well be Jaime, who is a few seconds younger than Cersei, to be the one who does it. Another possibility (and one that I like the best), is that Cersei's unborn child, who is technically also her sibling, could be her undoing. Cersei could die giving birth to this child, which is a repetition of her mother's death giving birth to Tyrion. Whichever prophecy you look at, Cersei's end seems near.

With Cersei's end seeming near, Daenerys rise is almost complete. Daenerys has risen to become a queen with a vast and talented army, and having dragons at her side certainly helps her cause. This season was a test for what kind of queen Daenerys would become. She has been the freer of slaves in the several kingdoms she has conquered. A progressive queen that vows to break chains and free the people. Now Daenerys' biggest test is upon her. She had to learn that she simply cannot burn those who stand in her way. By taking Tyrion's advice and trying to be a better leader, one that does not operate by brute force and attempts to communicate, Daenerys has already taken a step to being a better leader than her predecessors.

While Daenerys may believe her destiny is to lead the seven kingdoms, her role as mother of dragons is crucial in the war against the White Walkers. Her relationship with Jon, and their potential love-child too will be of massive importance in the time to come. However, with so many references to Daenerys dying by an arrow, like Jon's first love Ygritte, we may see the end of her reign before it even begins.

The character that is the biggest paragon of dreams, destiny, and prophecy is none other than Jon Snow. From incredibly humble beginnings to the most important character, Jon cemented his role this season. It never mattered to Jon what his name was. What is important to Jon is fighting and winning the war against the White Walkers. And if Jon is, in fact, Azor Ahai, "The Prince that was promised", then it is Jon's destiny to defeat the Night's King, and bring peace to the realm. Whether or not he is Azor Ahai, Jon knows what he must do, and it is exactly what needs to be done.

Jon does not even know his true identity, that he is not a bastard. Instead, Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. While Daenerys, Jon's aunt and now lover, may not take too well to this news, Jon may not give much care at all. All Jon ever cared about was his family, and doing what was right. That's the Jon Snow everyone knows.

The reason why season 7 focused so heavily on each character cementing their identities was to prepare them for the endgame and their respective roles in it. Looking at who they are gives the viewer a glimpse of what they will do, and what will become of them. Whether it be dreams, destiny, or prophecies, each of these characters has a major role to play in the final season. What will happen to them will be found out. But their identities, who they are, is clearly seen.