Entertainment

This Jaime & Cersei 'GoT' Photo Hints At A Popular Theory

by Jordana Lipsitz
Helen Sloan/HBO

It is truly a glorious day, friends. For it's the day we finally get to see the first Game of Thrones Season 7 promo pictures. All the pictures are exciting and spoiler-free, but for me, the most exciting is the Season 7 photo of Jaime and Cersei Lannister as an Iron Throne-chilling combo. And that excitement is because I think the photo makes it pretty clear that the one theory — you know, the one where Jaime strangles his lover/sister and becomes a royal-slayer round two — is imminent in Season 7 (or maybe even Season 8).

Before we dive into the picture, let's tread lightly into the theory that Jaime Lannister will be responsible for slaying another human who's sitting on the Iron Throne with nothing but doom and destruction in their wake. Back in the day, in both the TV series and the Song of Ice and Fire series, Cersei went to have her fortune told by a witch called Maggy the Frog when she was a preteen. Both series share the beginning parts of Maggy's prophecy, notions that have all seemingly come true — that Cersei's children will die before her, that she would marry Robert Baratheon and not actually have children with him (though he would have many without her), and she would get pushed aside by a young queen (Margaery Tyrell, anyone?).

But the book series shares one additional detail: "And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar [High Valyrian for little brother] shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you." You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that this pale white throat enthusiast could be Jaime Lannister.

Alright, obsessive picture analyzing time is upon us— get ready, guys, it's going to get a little silly. The first hint we've got is the not-so-happy look on Jaime Lannister's face. It's clear that he's doing his job of protecting his sister, especially as his hand rests dangerously close to the hilt of his sword, but he doesn't look pleased to be doing so. It's also interesting that he's standing slightly behind her — aka the perfect position to stab Cersei in the back just like he did with Mad King Aerys.

Additionally, it looks like both Cersei and Jaime are getting some pretty bad news from whomever they're both looking at in the photo. Knowing Cersei's tendency to do exactly the wrong thing when she gets bad news (remember the Faith Militant), and knowing Jaime's tendency to protect the people when royalty decide to do exactly the wrong thing, things don't look great for our favorite brother-lover and her lover-brother.

While I'm still holding dear to the theory that Jaime's going to break up with Cersei in the most dramatic way possible, I'm also down to play devil's advocate. The duo's matching outfits, the warrior-esque black leather and gold, make it seem like the two are united as one. But I mean, just because they are "twinning" in terms of wardrobe choices doesn't mean they're still besties— especially if one half of the bestie duo was low-key responsible for the death of their last living son, Tommen.

We can all stare at the picture and theorize on the Lannister family values until our faces turn blue, but we're not going to really know what's up until the Season 7 premiere date on July 16. All I'm saying is all men (and women) must die, and Cersei's expiration date feels long due.