Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season five.
"Game of Thrones" is notorious for killing off major characters each season — but did the show take things too far? In season five, three characters who are still alive in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series were given the axe by the showrunners.
Stannis Baratheon had his daughter, Shireen, burned alive by the red priestess Melisandre. Then Stannis was killed by Brienne of Tarth in the season finale. Lastly, Princess Myrcella — King Tommen's older sister and the daughter of Jaime and Cersei — was poisoned by Ellaria and the Sand Snakes.
These deaths — none of which have happened yet in the books — have sparked a new debate among the fandom.
Who would inherit the Iron Throne if Tommen dies in the upcoming season?
Redditor qp0n posed the question to fellow "Game of Thrones" fans on the show's subreddit. But the answer to this question is complicated, and no one seems to have a clear idea of where to find a solution.
In the books, we know Tommen's claim to the throne is shaky due to his bloodline (he's the bastard son of Jaime Lannister, and therefore cannot be Robert Baratheon's successor). But because the greater population of Westeros believe him to be a Baratheon, he sits on the Iron Throne.
As far as fans know, the way succession works is this: Male children to the king are first in line followed by female children. After that, it goes to the eldest male sibling to the king, and then their male or female children. Then it can pass to the younger male sibling of the king, and so on.
In both the books and the show, the current line of succession was this:
Robert → Joffrey → Tommen → Myrcella → Stannis → Shireen → Renly
The problem? The show has now killed off all three of Tommen's known successors. (Renly dies in both the show and the books.)
In the Reddit discussion, one commenter actually pointed out that Robert Baratheon was part-Targaryen. In the books, his grandmother was Rhaelle Targaryen — the aunt of the Mad King Aerys.
With this knowledge, some of the commenters believe the line of succession should now look like this:
Tommen → Myrcella → Stannis → Shireen → Renly → Viserys → Daenerys
Everyone between Tommen and Daenerys have been killed on the show.
"Wait, so Danaerys is the legitimate heir to the throne!? Again!?" Redditor qp0n was shocked. "Holy s---. How is this not a bigger deal?"
Not so fast.
Others in the discussion were quick to assert that Daenerys' claim is invalid because of her exiled status. Technically, Viserys and Daenerys were removed from the line of succession when their family was overthrown by Robert Baratheon.
So then who is heir to the Iron Throne?
You may think this is an inconsequential question, but there's a decent chance Tommen's days are numbered. In the season five premiere, a flashback showed a young Cersei visiting a witch named Maggy. When she asked the sorceress about her future, Cersei was told she would have three children. "Gold will be their crowns, and gold their shrouds," Maggy tells her.
Many fans interpret the "gold shrouds" to mean a literal funeral shroud, meaning Cersei will live to see each of her children die. So far, she's two for three.
And, based on the released season six photos, Myrcella's burial outfit will definitely be gold:
If we had to guess, Tommen's reign will be brief. Longer than Joffrey's, perhaps, but certainly not long enough for him to properly father and raise children with Margaery (who is currently in a prison cell).
The showrunners must have a plan in place, but fans are left in the dark. One thing is certain: If Tommen dies, chaos is inevitable. With no clear heir in place, the powerful families of Westeros will make a grab for the throne. Margaery could be married to one of Robert's bastard sons (Gendry, where are you?). Maybe Daenerys will be in Westeros by then, ready to conquer and name herself queen.
Or perhaps the Iron Throne will cease to be the most sought-after chair in Westeros. Actor Finn Jones, who plays Loras Tyrell on the series, has theorized that the kingdom of Westeros will not be a united land by the end of the show. In fact, he thinks the throne itself will be dismantled entirely.
We obviously won't know for sure what the line of succession will look like in both the show and books, not until the series in finished in both mediums. But in the meantime, fans will continue debating who truly owns the right to the Iron Throne.
