Upcoming Match-ups

Yara Greyjoy Favored to Perish First in Game of Thrones Season 8

Kaela Napier

by Kaela Napier in Entertainment

Updated Apr 9, 2020 · 3:42 PM PDT

Still from HBO's Game of Throne
Still from HBO's Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • HBO’s Game of Thrones returns for its final season in April 2019
  • Who will be the first to die in season 8?
  • The odds are in Yara Greyjoy’s favor, but is she really the best bet you can make?

The premiere date for season 8 of HBO’s Game of Thrones has finally been announced, and to say the news been a long time coming would be an understatement for the ages. It has been over a year since the wrap on season seven, and it will be another five months yet before the eighth and final season premieres in April 2019.

Maybe distance really does make the heart grow fonder. This absurdly-long season break has done nothing to dampen spirits or slow conversation among the show’s fans; now, with the finish line finally in sight, the theories are about to come even harder and faster than before.


Chief among these: Who is going going to die first?

We know someone is bound for an unlucky fate, but are the odds on the right character?

Which Character Will Be Killed Off First In Season 8?

It’s a natural question to ask when the series in question has a cast of characters so long you need a legend to keep track of it, and a history of killing off said characters without a moment’s notice. (I still bear scars from the Red Wedding.)

The writers for Game of Thrones have done a truly great job at reminding us, season after season, that no one in the Seven Kingdoms is safe.

Game of Thrones Character First to Die in Season 8 Odds
Yara Greyjoy +200
Theon Greyjoy +400
The Mountain +500
Euron Greyjoy +800
Tormund Giantsbane +800
Bronn +1000
The Hound +1200
Gendry +1400
Jorah Mormont +1400
Davos Seaworth +1600
Brienne +1800
Cersei Lannister +2000
The Night King +2000
Varys +2200
Arya Stark +2500
Samwell Tarly +3300
Sansa Stark +4000
Tyrion Lannister +4000
Bran Stark +5000
Jaime Lannister +5000
Jon Snow +6600
Daenerys Targaryen +10000

Oddsmakers have Yara Greyjoy listed as the favorite to perish first. When we last saw her, she had been captured by her uncle and abandoned by her brother, so things aren’t looking great for her this season.

The writers are likely either going to go big with the first death or they are going to do away with a bunch of minor characters, leaving the stage open for the people we’ve grown to love (or hate) over the past seven seasons.

Of all the Greyjoys, Yara is definitely most likely to die – Theon has a lot of reckoning yet to do, and Euron is currently filling a much-needed villainous space.

Of all the Greyjoys, Yara is definitely most likely to die – Theon has a lot of reckoning yet to do, and Euron is currently filling a much-needed villainous space. But, let’s not forget that Tormund was on the wall when the Night King attacked, or that Cersei very likely hates Jaime now, or that Gendry is so sweet he is bound to die.

Your Best Bet?

If we’re talking who should be the favorite, Yara makes sense. Her story seems easy enough to wrap up, and her death would set the stage for her brother, Theon, to really come into his own. (Which is needed after everything.)

If you’re a fan of the dark horse, I feel a toss-up between Bronn and Jorah. Both are beloved side characters, but neither is likely to make it to the throne room.

Author Image