5 Game Of Thrones Storylines I’d Want In Season 9 (& 4 That Are A Hard Pass) md20

Game of Thrones season 9 probably won’t happen, but conversations surrounding a continuation have taken place since the HBO series’ divisive finale — and there are ways the network could make another outing work. Certain storylines lend themselves to more episodes, requiring closure after Game of Thrones season 8’s rushed, six-episode run.

Others are better left as-is, and returning to them would feel forced or undo the power of the original series finale. Although a lot goes wrong in Game of Thrones season 8’s final episode, there are a few character arcs that wrap up in satisfying ways. Others leave little room for expansion, making them poor candidates for a ninth outing.

Want: Venturing West Of Westeros

Arya Stark’s final moments in Game of Thrones see her sailing “west of Westeros,” and there’s no telling what she’ll find there. Arya is one of Game of Thrones‘ best characters, so many viewers would jump at the opportunity to spend more time with her. And Arya’s journey opens the door to endless possibilities, making it an obvious choice for a season 9 storyline.

Even George R.R. Martin has offered little information about what’s west of Westeros. This means a continuation of Arya’s narrative would be a blank slate for season 9’s writers. There’s great world-building potential, and there’s the chance to explore who Arya is separate from her desire for revenge throughout Game of Thrones.

And the best thing about an Arya storyline is that it would take place far away from the other Game of Thrones characters and their experiences. This means the entire cast wouldn’t need to come back, nor would the show need to reopen completed arcs.

Want: Going Beyond The Wall With Jon Snow

The Jon Snow spinoff was shelved because the writers didn’t know where to take his character, but I’d argue he’s one of the best candidates for a sequel storyline. Whether it’s explored in a separate show or during a ninth outing, Jon’s future has a lot of storytelling potential.

For one, a deeper look at Jon’s grief in the aftermath of “The Iron Throne” feels warranted, and it could be an emotional and compelling way forward for Game of Thrones. There are also questions surrounding Jon’s new life beyond the Wall, including what him and the Wildlings will do next.

A narrative centered on Jon finding his way back to himself or even becoming the new King-Beyond-the-Wall would be interesting in its own right. Game of Thrones season 9 could also bring in a White Walker twist, offering some new version of the enemy for Jon to face. And like Arya’s story, Jon’s would be removed from the others, making it ideal for a new chapter.

Want: An Answer To What Happened To Daario Naharis

Game of Thrones’ ending doesn’t leave many loose threads, but Daario Naharis’ fate is one thing that’s never properly addressed. Daenerys Targaryen leaves him behind in Game of Thrones season 7, asking him to watch over Mereen in her stead.

With Dany gone for good, Daario’s situation becomes more tenuous, and his hold over Mereen could be compromised. Game of Thrones season 9 would need to address Daario’s fate somehow, and giving him his own storyline would be one way to do that.

Michiel Huisman is incredibly charming as the character, and under the right circumstances, he could carry his own plotline. Following him would answer questions about what becomes of the cities Daenerys freed after her death. It’d also give his character closure, even if he became a villain after losing his queen.

Want: Dorne’s Future After Game Of Thrones Season 8

Game of Thrones botches GRRM’s Dorne storyline from A Song of Ice and Fire, and it ends with all the familiar Dornish characters dead. When the leaders of Westeros meet to discuss who should be king, a new prince of Dorne is present for the meeting — but “The Iron Throne” doesn’t offer details about who he is.

Given all the Dornish royals who are killed throughout Game of Thrones, it’s somewhat surprising that Dorne is peacefully cooperating at the end of season 8. It’d be interesting to see how they feel about all that’s happened, and Game of Thrones season 9 could address the grievances they’re bound to have.

Additionally, a continuation of the series could explore how Dorne rebuilds after all the losses. This would be a great way to make up for the poorly done Dorne narrative, and it would be a natural means of reigniting political tensions in Westeros.

Want: Grey Worm Going To Naath

If Game of Thrones season 9 were to explore grief and loss in several of its storylines, Grey Worm seems like another obvious character to follow. Season 8 barely has time to unpack his response to Missandei’s death, but another outing would be able to do his journey justice.

“The Iron Throne” sees him setting sail for Naath, keeping his promise to Missandei. This opens the door for a new narrative for him. Following Grey Worm as he protects Missandei’s people and fights back against slavers would be a great way to continue his character arc, all while honoring Missandei and Daenerys.

Expanding Grey Worm’s story would also allow Game of Thrones to show new parts of Martin’s fantasy world. And given how talented Jacob Anderson is, there’s no doubt that he’d do an incredible job with a new mission for his character.

Pass: Daenerys Targaryen Being Resurrected

The theory that Drogon is taking Daenerys to Volantis, where she could be resurrected, is often used to argue for her return in Game of Thrones season 9 (or in a sequel series). However, Daenerys shouldn’t be resurrected if season 9 ever happens, as bringing her back wouldn’t add anything more to the story.

If Daenerys suddenly learns from her actions upon returning from the dead, there won’t be much for her to do in Game of Thrones season 9. Such a twist would be pointless if she were to remain in Volantis, raising questions about why the series would undo her season 8 fate in the first place.

However, if season 9 brings Daenerys back, just to have her resume her fight for the Iron Throne, this will feel too repetitive. Daenerys will go through many of the same motions that she does in the later seasons of Game of Thrones, and it will render her original story less meaningful in the process.

Pass: Following Bran Stark’s Reign

Following Bran Stark’s reign would also be too repetitive for Game of Thrones season 9, as most of the problems he’d deal with would repeat conflicts from the previous outings. Season 8 concludes with most of the Great Houses of Westeros on the same page, and Bran’s indifference to power suggests he can keep them that way.

The revelation that Bran’s Three-Eyed Raven journey was always leading to him becoming king leaves little room to expand on his personal story. And his role in King’s Landing is unlikely to cause too many issues. It’s possible he could play a part in a continuation of the Dornish plotline, but that’s as much of Bran as another outing needs.

Pass: Sansa Stark’s Time As Queen In The North

Sansa Stark spends the majority of Game of Thrones learning to play the titular game and become a leader. The final episode pays that off masterfully, making her the queen of a newly independent North. There’s little reason to expand on this storyline, as we’ve already witnessed Sansa growing into a ruler.

Continuing down that path would only have two possible outcomes: repeating the beats of her former story or giving her a different, likely less satisfactory conclusion. Neither of these things are necessary, and they’d ruin one of the best parts of Game of Thrones season 8’s ending. That’s not something a potential season 9 should risk.

Pass: The Future Of The Ironborn

The Ironborn are in an interesting position at the end of Game of Thrones, as they should be angry that the North is now independent while they’re still not. However, season 8 doesn’t have time to dig into this, leaving Yara as queen of the Iron Islands and presenting her as satisfied with the rest.

This would be an intriguing thread to expand on if Game of Thrones hadn’t already shown Yara accepting Bran’s rule. However, now it’s too late to really get into it. Since the Iron Islands are always rebelling, it would feel somewhat repetitive to return to such a storyline in Game of Thrones season 9. It would also paint Yara as a villain, as she’d be lashing out against characters we know and love.