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Cersei Lannister's most chilling Game of Thrones quote arrived early in the HBO series, and it predicted the show's ending eight years in advance. That makes sense, as it perfectly captured the story's perspective on power. Cersei may not have been the wisest Game of Thrones character to grace the screen, but she was savvy enough to secure the Iron Throne — and in many ways, she embodied the series-wide struggle for it best. She understood what it took to claim and hold onto the crown, and she leaned into that unapologetically.
As both Tyrion and Tywin noted, it still didn't make her the cleverest player in the series. Cersei made many mistakes, and they eventually led to her demise in Game of Thrones Season 8. Her death proved the truth of her iconic line, though, and so did the fates of Game of Thrones' other major characters. Looking back, Cersei told viewers exactly how the HBO series would eventually end. Fans just hoped it wouldn't be as bleak as her words of wisdom suggested, especially when it came to Daenerys Targaryen.
Cersei's Take on the 'Game of Thrones' Is the Series' Most Chilling (& Honest) Quote
Cersei's most chilling Game of Thrones quote was the one directly connected to the name of the show and the first A Song of Ice and Fire book: "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground." Cersei told this to Ned when he approached her about her children being Jaime's — a terrible move on his part — and it highlighted the cynical realism of George R.R. Martin's world early on.
Of course, Cersei was hardly the person fans wanted to see on the Iron Throne, and Game of Thrones had yet to drive home its merciless nature at that point. Viewers' instincts might've been to write Cersei off as a bitter and ruthless villain. And while that argument could still be made as the show continued (with growing accuracy), her sentiment rang true in hindsight.
As the War of the Five Kings kicked off following Robert's and Ned's deaths, it became increasingly apparent that there were only two possible fates for the contenders for the throne: success or death. Robb Stark couldn't avoid that reality, nor could Renly and Stannis Baratheon. Even characters who had the advantage of being on the Iron Throne, like Cersei's sons, learned this the hard way. So did the ones who schemed from the sidelines, like Baelon Greyjoy.
As Game of Thrones jumped from season to season, every character who made a bid for the Iron Throne died in the attempt to claim it. Those who weren't openly vying to become royalty but engaged in political maneuvering from the shadows met similar ends. Just look at Littlefinger. By the time Game of Thrones Season 8 debuted, there were only a handful of people still playing the game Cersei referenced. None of them found a happy middle between winning and death; that was reserved for those who weren't interested.
Cersei's Sentiment Proved True by the End of 'Game of Thrones' Season 8
Cersei's Game of Thrones Season 1 quote was brutally honest, but it proved to be true by the end of the series. Of the characters still caught up in the game of thrones when Season 8 started, all either "won" or perished before its finale was through. Cersei herself was among them, facing the consequences of her actions when the Red Keep collapsed on top of her and Jaime. It may not have been a satisfying send-off for her character, but it stemmed directly from her clash with Dany for the Iron Throne.
Many Game of Thrones fans hoped Daenerys might prove the exception to this rule. If she didn't permanently win the support of the people, it would have been nice to see her find some compromise that didn't seal her fate so tragically. Alas, that wasn't in the cards for her. She became further proof of Cersei's argument. She proved unsuited for power, and the only means of removing her was to kill her.
There were a few people who "won" the game of thrones — some more happily than others. Sansa Stark got exactly what she wanted in the series finale, becoming the queen of a newly independent North. She'd been quietly gaining the skills and support to rule for some time, so it made perfect sense. After years of pulling strings for various rulers and would-be monarchs, Tyrion also ended up in a position of power. For him, it was more of a punishment, but it beat the alternative: death for helping Daenerys rise to power, then conspiring to kill her. And then there was Bran, who proved harder to fit into Cersei's philosophy. If he was playing the game all along, he certainly won it. However, this may be further proof that the best outcomes went to those who weren't actively striving to better their positions.
'Game of Thrones' Confirmed the Game Usually Wasn't Worth Playing
Although there were a few winners when Game of Thrones came to a close, most of the characters engaging in the titular fight for power lost their lives. In that way, the series proved that the power struggle at its center usually wasn't worth it. The characters who had the most satisfying fates (outside of maybe Sansa) were the ones who weren't interested in ruling.
Arya Stark, Brienne of Tarth, and Samwell Tarly were prime examples, with each of them getting surprisingly happy endings for Westeros. None of those fates involved ruling, but they all gave the characters some sense of purpose and stability. And Jon's ending, while not exactly happy, proved that a middle ground was possible when you forfeited any claim to power. He didn't want to play the game, and despite his Targaryen heritage, he didn't win it. However, his refusal also ensured he didn't die, sending him exactly where he so clearly belonged: beyond the Wall.
So Cersei was right about the game of thrones, even if she didn't anticipate that playing it wouldn't work out in her favor. Taking her words to heart, it was easy to predict many characters' fates throughout Game of Thrones based solely on how they approached it. And 15 years after the series' debut, it's even easier to see the writing on the wall in hindsight.
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