Let’s face it: It hasn’t been much fun wagering on who will live and who will die during this first part of Game Of Thrones’ final season, even if it has been fun watching the show rediscover its flair for politicking, interpersonal sniping, and big character beats that don’t involve the severing of body parts. But even as “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms” made us weep and/or clutch our pearls, the thought in the back of our minds was the same one haunting the characters holed up at Winterfell: The Night King is coming! We don’t have time for this! The longest onscreen battle sequence ever is on the horizon!
And so it was that Eckstein the oddsmaker had his work cut out for him in week three of the season eight dead pool, determining which of our many, many, many heroes has the Night King’s mark upon them. Though he worries for everyone hidden in the crypts (“It’s full of dead people!”) the oddsmaker sees a tomorrow for the remaining members of Houses Targaryen, Stark, and Lannister. (So no odds on Dany, Arya, or Jaime this week—sorry!) And with so much at stake beyond the castle walls, Eckstein has introduced a new wrinkle to the game. We’ll let him explain below, though, as always, if you have any questions for the oddsmaker, he can be contacted at his website or via email.
Introducing the “death parlay”
“For those not familiar with the ways of Vegas, when you bet a parlay, you need to win each leg. So, the death parlay will consist of Grey Worm, Ser Brienne, and Jorah. Normally, when we post odds for a parlay on the NFL or college football, the return is 6-1, but since we love all you readers, we’ll offer 10-1 odds. But, remember, if you bet the parlay, all three must die. Each character will have their own odds, then we have the parlay odds inside the brackets.”
7-5 (10-1 death parlay) Grey Worm
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Anytime someone starts to talk about the future like the Worm did with Missandei, death is imminent.
The A.V. Club says: Yeah, that speech sure sounded like the Unsullied equivalent of Little Shop Of Horrors’ “Somewhere That’s Green”—the reprise, from the musical’s original, unhappily-ever-after ending.
8-5 (10-1 death parlay) Brienne
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Only one move after becoming a ser, a shiv in the neck.
The A.V. Club says: Brienne survives, because somebody has to be around to make Jaime question his loyalty to (and unnatural affection for) his sister.
9-5 (10-1 death parlay) Jorah
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Once Sam Tarly gave Jorah the Valyrian steel sword from his father, we started measuring Mormont’s casket.
The A.V. Club says: Here’s our big prediction for the week: A pair of chivalrous sacrifices, first the erstwhile Lord of Bear Island dying for his beloved khaleesi…
4-1 Theon
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: This guy is gonna do something special. Not sure what, but it will be crucial, then he dies.
The A.V. Club says: The second sacrifice: Theon on behalf of his surrogate sister Sansa, his surrogate brother Bran, or, somehow, both.
5-1 Tormund
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Sadly the big red giant does not realize his dream of a cuddle with Ser Brienne.
The A.V. Club says: “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms” was stuffed with spotlight moments for Kristofer Hivju, all the better to tug at our heart strings when the Free Folk’s ultimate scene stealer dies.
6-1 Ghost
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Gonna take some flak from the ASPCA, but Ghost will be a ghost by the end of episode three.
The A.V. Club says: If Game Of Thrones brings Ghost back just to take him away again—now that’s animal cruelty.
7-1 Varys
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: About time that we say “ciao” to the bald gossip artist.
The A.V. Club says: Between Tyrion and Varys, you’ve got two of the smartest people in Westeros camped out in the crypt. Surely one (or both) will realize the dangers lying in wait down there.
8-1 Beric
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Heard a rumor that Beric burns to death on his own sword. Ouch!
The A.V. Club says: Beric feels the warm embrace of the Lord of Light for the last time, barring a Gandalf The White moment from Melisandre.
9-1 Gendry
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: C’mon, after the romp with Arya, there’s nothing on his bucket list, except death.
The A.V. Club says: There’s a lot of time to fill in the last three episodes of the series, and at least part of that will involve the rightful Baratheon heir tossing his crown into the ring.
10-1 Davos
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Seaworth is ready to move on, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if somehow, he dies at sea?
The A.V. Club says: Yeah, it’s not time for The Onion Knight to get diced.
15-1 The Hound
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Still gotta rock the Clegane Death Match.
The A.V. Club says: But what if they’re both dead when they finally duke it out?
20-1 Lyanna Mormont
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: One of my fav characters, would hate to see her go.
The A.V. Club says: Lyanna is Game Of Thrones’ shining beacon of hope for the next generation. If she dies at Winterfell, so does the living’s chance of victory.
25-1 Gilly
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: Remember my prophecy about the crypt.
The A.V. Club says: But Gilly’s a scrapper, and there’s no way Sam sent her and Little Sam down there without some dragonglass.
50-1 The Night King
Eckstein the oddsmaker says: The Pale Rider has too much work to do before taking taking a piece of dragonglass to the carotid artery.
The A.V. Club says: The Night King is successfully lured into the godswood, but makes it out unscathed—increasing the likelihood that we’ll see anyone who dies this week again sometime in the future.
Prophecies for prophet
Note: Bets placed here stay active throughout the course of the show.
Previous prophecies for profit that are still in play:
5-1 Jon will slay the ice dragon
25-1 Bran is the Night King
2-1 The Hound emerges victorious in CleganeBowl
5-1 The Mountain emerges victorious in CleganeBowl
10-1 Someone else wins CleganeBowl
3-1 Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen will sit on the throne together at the end of the series
4-5 Jaime Lannister kills Cersei
2-1 Arya kills Cersei
8-1 Tyrion Lannister kills Cersei
6-5 Anyone else kills Cersei
6-5 Drogon dies from poison absorbed through his arrow wound
3-1 Euron is the father of Cersei’s baby
5-1 Jaime is the father of Cersei’s baby
10-1 The Mountain is the father of Cersei’s baby
100-1 Cersei has a dragon baby
2-1 The Night King kills Jon
10-1 Jon kills the Night King
50-1 The Night King kills Jaime
50-1 Jaime kills the Night King
This week’s bets
Baraka Kaseko
$110
$10 on the death parlay, $10 on Gendry kicking the bucket, $5 that Jon will slay the ice dragon
Marah Eakin
$95 ($5 on Jon killing the Night King, $5 on the Night King killing Jaime still in play)
$30 on Grey Worm, $20 on Brienne, $20 on Theon, $10 on the parlay
Danette Chavez
$85
I’m going to remain a sensible Sansa and place $5 bets on Grey Worm and Theon biting it this Sunday.
Caitlin PenzeyMoog
$75
$5 on Grey Worm, $5 on Brienne, $5 on Jorah, $5 on Theon, $5 on Tormund, $5 on Beric, $5 on Davos, $5 on The Hound
Kelsey J. Waite
$70
$5 on Grey Worm, $5 on Jorah, $5 on Theon, $5 on Lyanna Mormont
Alex McLevy
$65
$10 on Grey Worm, $10 on Beric, $10 on Davos
Stephanie Potakis
$51 ($10 on Jaime killing the Night King)
$2 on Brienne, $2 on Jorah, $1 on Theon, $1 on Ghost, $2 on Varys, $2 on Beric, $1 on Davos, $2 on Gilly
Travis Tessmer
$29 ($20 on Hound winning CleganeBowl, $30 on Jon kills the Night King, $1 on Cersei has a dragon baby still in play)
$5 on Grey Worm, $2 on Brienne, $5 on Theon, $5 on Tormund, $5 on Beric, $2 on The Hound, $2 on Lyanna Mormont.