10 ways Game of Thrones could end

5. Democracy takes hold

Former Game of Thrones cast member Harry Lloyd, best known for donning that golden crown as Viserys Targaryen, hasn’t been on the show for a long time. When asked about who he wanted to take the Iron Throne in the series finale, he had this to say: “I kind of want no one on it, to be honest. I just want it to become a really nice, kind of democracy.”

Daenerys has said that she intends to “break the wheel.” We don’t think she meant to intended to get rid of monarchy, but could that be where the show ends up? It’s hard to imagine Dany giving up her chance at a throne to give power to the people (and it’s straight-up impossible to imagine Cersei doing it), but maybe, after all the destruction sure to be wrecked by the Night King — another monarch — the remaining characters will decide that that’s the best option. Maybe the best way to avoid another War of the Five Kings is to do away with kings and queens entirely.

And it’s not like there aren’t democratic institutions in Westeros after which a new nation-wide government could model itself. When talking with Daenerys in season 7, Tyrion explicitly brings up the Night’s Watch and the Ironborn as examples of people electing their own leaders. Maybe it’s not such a crazy idea?