Lioness: Cersei Lannister in the Game of Thrones books

Summary

This video delves into the complex character of Cersei Lannister from 'Game of Thrones,' exploring her pursuit of power and the influence of her father Tywin. It discusses her incestuous relationship with Jaime, her brutal actions, and the role of prophecy in her life. The video suggests that Cersei's fear of a prophecy may lead to her downfall, possibly involving wildfire and a tragic end involving her brother Jaime. Sponsored by Audible, the video encourages viewers to try the platform with a free audiobook offer.

Takeaways

• 🎧 Audible is offering a free audiobook for a trial sign-up at audible.com/asx, which supports the channel.
• 👑 Cersei Lannister is depicted as a complex character who seeks power and recognition, often resorting to cruel and ruthless actions.
• 🔥 Cersei's ambition for the Iron Throne and her desire for visible power are deeply influenced by her father Tywin's teachings and the patriarchal society of Westeros.
• 🛡️ Cersei's actions, such as executing innocents and undermining political systems, contribute to the instability and warfare in Westeros.
• 🧝♀️ The prophecy by Maggy the Frog haunts Cersei, influencing her actions to protect her power and her children, and potentially leading to her downfall.
• 💔 Cersei's relationship with her twin brother Jaime is incestuous and deeply intertwined with her quest for power and love.
• 👶 The prophecy that predicts Cersei's children will die and her eventual downfall is a significant source of her fear and desperation.
• 👵 Cersei's view of other powerful women in Westeros is filled with hatred and misogyny, reflecting her internal conflict and self-loathing.
• 💥 Cersei's fear of the prophecy might lead her to use wildfire to destroy King's Landing, mirroring the Mad King Aerys' plan.
• 🤝 There's a possibility that Jaime, Cersei's 'little brother,' might be the one to fulfill the prophecy by killing her, ending her reign and their shared story.

Q & A

What is the promotional offer from Audible mentioned in the script?

Audible is offering a free audiobook to those who sign up for a trial at audible.com/asx, with no cost even if the trial is canceled.

How does the script describe Cersei Lannister's relationship with her brother Jaime?

The script describes Cersei's relationship with Jaime as secret, incestuous, and deeply intertwined, with Cersei considering Jaime as 'more than a brother and sister' and seeing him as an extension of herself.

What are the three main themes of Cersei's story according to the script?

The three main themes of Cersei's story are power, love, and prophecy, which drive her actions and motivations throughout the series.

How does the script portray Cersei's pursuit of power?

The script portrays Cersei's pursuit of power as relentless and ruthless, with her being willing to hurt, kill, and undermine the political system to achieve her goals.

What is the significance of the prophecy given to Cersei by Maggy the Frog in the script?

The prophecy given to Cersei by Maggy the Frog is significant as it haunts her and influences her actions, leading her to make attempts to change or avoid its fulfillment, particularly regarding her marriage, children, and her eventual downfall.

How does the script analyze Cersei's reaction to the patriarchal society of Westeros?

The script analyzes Cersei's reaction as deeply frustrated and conflicted. She desires the direct and visible power that is typically reserved for men, and this exclusion fuels her ambition and resentment.

What role does Tywin Lannister play in shaping Cersei's personality and actions according to the script?

Tywin Lannister is portrayed as the primary influence on Cersei's personality and actions. His obsession with power, legacy, and pride shapes Cersei's ambitions and her ruthless pursuit of power.

How does the script suggest Cersei's relationship with her children might be influenced by Maggy's prophecy?

The script suggests that Cersei's fear of Maggy's prophecy about her children's deaths ('Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds') leads her to become overly protective and desperate in her attempts to keep them safe, ultimately leading to their demise.

What is the potential significance of the 'valonqar' prophecy mentioned in the script?

The 'valonqar' prophecy suggests that a younger brother will strangle Cersei to death. The script explores the possibility that this could be Tyrion or, more dramatically, Jaime, leading to a tragic end for Cersei.

How does the script connect Cersei's use of wildfire to her ultimate fate?

The script connects Cersei's use of wildfire to her ultimate fate by suggesting that in a final act of rage and desperation, she might use it to destroy King's Landing, mirroring the Mad King's plan, which could lead to her death at the hands of Jaime.

Outlines

00:00

👑 Power Struggles and Cruelty of Cersei Lannister

The paragraph introduces the character Cersei Lannister from 'Game of Thrones' and her quest for power. It discusses her early actions undermining the political system of Westeros, her cruel treatment of others, and her eventual rise to power. The paragraph sets the stage for understanding Cersei's character development and her journey from a cunning schemer to a ruthless ruler.

05:06

🏰 The Impact of Tywin Lannister on Cersei's Ambitions

This section delves into the influence of Tywin Lannister on Cersei's life, exploring how her father's obsession with power and family legacy shaped her desire for visible power and pride. It also discusses the patriarchal society of Westeros and how it limits Cersei's direct pursuit of power, leading to internal conflicts and a complex relationship with her gender and identity.

10:10

💔 Unfulfilled Love and Cersei's Emotional Turmoil

The paragraph examines Cersei's personal relationships and her quest for love, which is fraught with frustration and denial. It details her incestuous relationship with her brother Jaime and her unfulfilled dreams of marrying Prince Rhaegar. The emotional turmoil caused by these relationships contributes to her cruelty and her eventual transformation into a more ruthless character.

15:11

🔮 The Prophecy of Maggy the Frog and Cersei's Fears

This section discusses the prophecy made by Maggy the Frog to young Cersei, which predicts her future as queen, the number of her children, and her eventual downfall. The prophecy's influence on Cersei's actions and decisions is explored, showing how her fear of its fulfillment leads her to make choices that may inadvertently bring about the very outcomes she fears.

20:15

🔥 Cersei's Downfall and the Potential for a Fiery End

The final paragraph speculates on Cersei's potential end, drawing parallels between her and the Mad King Aerys and his use of wildfire. It suggests that Cersei might use wildfire to destroy King's Landing in a final act of defiance, leading to a tragic confrontation with her brother Jaime. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of how Cersei's life of unfulfilled desires and fears might culminate in a fiery and destructive finale.

25:17

🍻 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments

The closing paragraph offers thanks to various individuals and communities that contributed to the video script, including feedback providers, the fan community, and Patreon supporters. It also includes a call to action for viewers to sign up at Audible for a free audiobook, which supports the channel, and a general sign-off.

Keywords

💡Audible

Audible is an audiobook platform that offers a vast library of audiobooks for listeners. In the context of the video, Audible is sponsoring the content and promoting a trial offer where users can sign up to receive a free audiobook. This is a form of product placement and a marketing strategy to attract new subscribers. The video encourages viewers to sign up at 'audible.com/asx' to get a free book, which also supports the channel.

💡Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama television series based on the book series 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin. The video script discusses the series, particularly focusing on the character Cersei Lannister, her actions, and her development throughout the series. The show is known for its complex characters and intricate plotlines, which are central to the discussion in the script.

💡Cersei Lannister

Cersei Lannister is a central character in 'Game of Thrones' and is portrayed as a complex figure with a deep desire for power. The script delves into her character, discussing her actions, motivations, and the moral ambiguity that surrounds her. Cersei's relationships, her quest for the Iron Throne, and her descent into cruelty and paranoia are key themes in the video.

💡Power

Power is a recurring theme in the video, particularly in relation to Cersei Lannister's quest for control and authority. The script explores the different forms of power, such as the visible power of rulers and the subtle, behind-the-scenes power wielded by certain characters. Cersei's pursuit of power is driven by her desire to be seen as in charge and to assert her dominance over others.

💡Prophecy

Prophecy plays a significant role in the narrative of 'Game of Thrones' and is a key element in the video's discussion of Cersei's character arc. The script references a prophecy made by Maggy the Frog, which foretells Cersei's future, including her marriage, children, and eventual downfall. The prophecy influences Cersei's actions and decisions, driving her to take extreme measures in an attempt to avoid its fulfillment.

💡Westeros

Westeros is the fictional continent and main setting of 'Game of Thrones' where the majority of the series' events take place. The script uses Westeros as the backdrop against which Cersei's story unfolds, discussing the political landscape, the various houses and their struggles for power, and how these elements shape Cersei's character and actions.

💡Incest

Incest is a sensitive and controversial theme in the video, specifically in relation to Cersei Lannister's relationship with her twin brother, Jaime. The script discusses the societal taboo and moral implications of their incestuous relationship, which is a significant aspect of Cersei's character and contributes to the complexity of her portrayal in the series.

💡Iron Throne

The Iron Throne symbolizes the seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and is a central motif in 'Game of Thrones'. The video script mentions Cersei's obsession with sitting on the Iron Throne as a manifestation of her desire for power and recognition. Her dream to rule 'high above them all' encapsulates her ambition and the lengths she is willing to go to achieve it.

💡Wildfire

Wildfire is a volatile, incendiary substance used as a weapon in 'Game of Thrones'. The script speculates on Cersei's potential use of wildfire as a last resort in a desperate situation, reflecting her ruthless nature and willingness to destroy her enemies and even her own city to maintain her power. The discussion of wildfire also ties into the series' foreshadowing and the potential for dramatic, catastrophic events.

💡Valonqar

Valonqar is a High Valyrian word meaning 'little brother' and is part of the prophecy given to Cersei by Maggy the Frog. The video script explores the possibility of who the 'valonqar' might be, with implications for Cersei's fate. The term is significant as it adds a layer of intrigue and speculation to the narrative, with potential interpretations including her brothers Tyrion and Jaime.

Highlights

Audible is offering a free audiobook for a trial sign-up at audible.com/asx.

Cersei's actions are examined, including her secret relationship with Jaime and the political turmoil it causes.

Cersei's cruelty is highlighted by her treatment of Arya Stark and the execution of Lady.

Cersei's manipulations and murders, including King Robert and her nephew Tommen, are discussed.

Cersei's character development is explored through her point of view chapters starting in the fourth book.

The influence of Cersei's father, Tywin, on her pursuit of power and pride is analyzed.

Cersei's frustration with the patriarchal society of Westeros and her desire for direct power is highlighted.

Cersei's complex relationship with her brother Jaime and its impact on her character is examined.

The role of prophecy in Cersei's life, including a prophecy from Maggy the Frog, is discussed.

Cersei's fear of the prophecy and her attempts to change its course are analyzed.

The possibility that Cersei's downfall may be caused by her fear of prophecy rather than the prophecy itself is presented.

The potential for Daenerys or Brienne to fulfill the prophecy of casting Cersei down is considered.

The theory that Jaime might be the 'valonqar' prophesied to kill Cersei is explored.

The possibility of Cersei using wildfire to destroy King's Landing in a final act of rage is hypothesized.

The video concludes with the idea that Cersei's pursuit of power and love will ultimately lead to her destruction.

Transcripts

This video’s sponsored by Audible, who are offering a free audiobook if you sign up for

a trial at audible.com/asx.

If you haven’t read the Game of Thrones books before, or you wanna re-read, you’ve

gotta try listening to the audiobook – it’s a totally different way to experience the

story.

Audible’s offering the first book of Thrones, or any other audiobook, for free – and even

if you cancel your trial, you can keep the book.

So please sign up at the link below – you get a free book, and it’ll really help out

this channel.

Thanks.

In Season 6 of the Game of Thrones show, Olenna Tyrell wonders if Cersei is “the worst person

[she’s] ever met” . Cersei does do a lot of terrible things.

While the wife of King Robert, she has a secret incestuous relationship with her twin brother

Jaime, passing off their illegitimate kids as Robert’s rightful heirs – undermining

the political system of Westeros and leading to war.

When Arya Stark tangles with Cersei’s son Joffrey, Cersei has the innocent direwolf

Lady executed , and tries to get Arya “maimed” or killed . Cersei kills King Robert by getting

him drunk during a hunt . Then she ignores the king’s will to have Ned Stark serve

as regent , and instead has Ned imprisoned.

That’s all in Book 1.

In Book 2, Cersei has Robert’s baby bastard Barra murdered along with her mother . Cersei

has an innocent woman, Alayaya – Ros in the show – brutally beaten in an attempt

to hurt Cersei’s brother Tyrion . She may also be responsible for Ser Mandon’s attempt

on Tyrion’s life . In Book 3, Cersei wrongfully accuses Tyrion of killing Joffrey , which

gets Tyrion sentenced to death.

In Book 4, Cersei really goes to town – she has the High Septon killed , has some innocent

dwarfs killed , has some innocent guards killed , and tries to have Bronn and Trystane Martell

and Jon Snow killed.

She just loves killin’ . She also sends a bunch of women to Qyburn to be “used”

in horrific experiments , and brutally tortures an innocent bard . She tries to frame Margery

Tyrell and others for crimes that they didn’t commit , and makes a bunch of bad political

decisions – she stops paying the crown’s debts , gives an expensive fleet of ships

to an unqualified pretty boy who steals them and becomes a pirate , and she lets the Faith

Militant arm themselves , leading to the rise of the High Sparrow.

After this farce and disaster, Cersei’s crimes catch up with her – she’s imprisoned

by the Faith, and takes a walk of shame.

That’s as far as the books go so far – but in Season 6 of the show, Cersei wreaks revenge.

She blows up the sparrows and Tyrells with wildfire, and crowns herself Queen of Westeros

– in her final form as a sort of Maleficent, Evil Queen type.

So Cersei kind of is… “the worst” . She hurts and kills innocent people, destabilises

the country, and contributes to war.

Should we call her… a villain?

A “monster” ? Is she just cruel and selfish and stupid, a “vile … evil bitch”, in

Margaery’s words ? Or could there be more to Cersei Lannister?

In the first three books of Thrones, we only see Cersei through the eyes of other characters

– but starting in the fourth book, we get chapters from Cersei’s point of view.

We read her thoughts and feelings, her hopes and dreams, her past, and glimpses of her

future – so we can start to understand, and maybe sympathise with this complex character.

We can even predict how Cersei might die.

Her story basically comes down to three main themes – power, love, and prophecy.

The first line of Cersei’s first chapter says that she dreams of sitting the Iron Throne,

“high above them all” . “Cersei wants to rule” – she “lusts for power with

every waking breath” . And it’s a particular kind of power that she wants.

People like Stannis and Robert Baratheon and Robb Stark have power that you can see – they

wear crowns and swing swords and lead armies, and everyone knows that they’re in charge

. In contrast, people like Varys and Littlefinger and Olenna have a more subtle kind of power

. They don’t wear crowns or swing swords or lead armies – instead, they have secrets,

spies and schemes . Their influence is invisible – but very significant.

Varys runs a conspiracy, Littlefinger causes war, and Olenna kills King Joffrey and grows

the power of her house.

Without anyone even knowing it, these three are some of the most powerful people in Westeros

. But Cersei isn’t interested in this subtle kind of power.

In the show, Littlefinger tells Cersei that “Knowledge is power” – but then Cersei

demonstrates, in her words, that “Power is power” . She doesn’t want to influence

events from the shadows, she wants people to know she’s in charge.

She wants to sit the Throne, and for “Great lords and proud ladies” to kneel before

her.

These ideas about visible power and pride are at the core of Cersei’s personality,

and they seem to have mostly come from Cersei’s father, Tywin.

Tywin was Cersei’s only parent growing up – after her mother Joanna died giving birth

to Tyrion.

And Tywin is obsessed with family legacy – with Lannister power and pride . He says “We

must demonstrate the power … of Casterly Rock for all the realm to see” . These ideas

had a big impact on Cersei . She often thinks on the lessons Tywin taught her . And after

Tywin dies – killed by Tyrion – Cersei thinks of herself as Tywin’s heir . She

wants to be seen as the inheritor of his legacy , and she tries to act as he would . Thing

is, Tywin was brutal.

He’s responsible for some of the worst atrocities in Westeros – the extermination of the Reynes

of Castamere , the sack of King’s Landing , Clegane’s raids in the riverlands , the

Red Wedding – not to mention his cruel treatment of Tyrion, and Tysha, and others.

The lessons Tywin taught are barbaric – stuff like “Never wound a foe when you can kill

him” , and “The only way to keep your people loyal is to make [them] fear you”

– that people are tools to be used , and that love is worthless . Cersei follows Tywin’s

cruel example, and in some of her darkest moments, like when she tortures an innocent

bard, or thinks about wiping out all the ironborn, she tells herself that these things are okay,

because it’s “what [Tywin] would have done” . So a lot of Cersei’s brutality

in her pursuit of power and pride comes from the lessons Tywin taught her.

But there’s a deeper conflict behind all this.

Cersei thinks of herself as Tywin’s “only true son” , “as Lord Tywin with teats”

. There’s a tension here – because Cersei Lannister is a woman.

There are powerful women in Westeros.

Look at Olenna Tyrell, Asha, Catelyn, Sansa, Arya, Daenerys, Visenya and Rhaenys.

But Westeros is a patriarchal medieval society, which means unless you’ve got dragons, women

usually aren’t allowed to hold direct power in their own right.

Some women hold subtler kinds of power like Olenna – but Cersei isn’t allowed to be

powerful in the direct, visible way that Tywin is powerful.

She can’t sit the Throne as Hand of the King like Tywin.

She can’t hold a war council like Tywin, or lead an army like Tywin.

When Tywin speaks, “men obey” – but when Cersei speaks, people often contradict

her, or refuse her, they “push her aside” – because, Cersei says, she’s a woman

. And this deeply frustrates Cersei.

She is desperate to be the heir Tywin wanted, but she “lack[s] the cock” . Cersei constantly

broods on the injustice of being “excluded from power on account of her sex” . She

recounts how when she was a child, Cersei and her twin Jaime looked so alike that no

one could tell them apart.

But they were treated “so differently” – Jaime was trained “to fight with sword

and lance”, while Cersei was taught to smile and please.

Jaime was “heir to Casterly Rock”, while Cersei was to be married off to some lord.

Jaime’s fate was “glory and power”, while Cersei’s was just marriage and childbirth

. Cersei often wishes that she was born a man , because if she was a man, she “could

rule [the] realm in [her] own name” , and fight her enemies with a sword.

But, she says, “the gods in their blind malice had given her the feeble body of a

woman” . Cersei does use her sex to her advantage sometimes – she uses seduction

to influence people like Jaime and Lancel and Osney . But she never really works out

the kind of subtle power that makes women like Olenna so influential.

In fact, Cersei hates Olenna – calls her a “disgusting old crone” , calls Margaery a "whore",

and murders her in the show.

And Brienne, another powerful woman, Cersei calls “a

huge, ugly, shambling … creature” “dressed in man’s mail”.

She calls Princess Elia Martell “feeble … with black eyes and a flat chest” , calls

Lady Lysa Arryn “a cow” , and calls septas “wrinkled cunts” who “are probably praying

for a good raping” . Cersei not only fails to emulate other powerful women – she hates

them, and is cruelly critical of their female bodies.

Cersei’s like, a self-hating woman, a female misogynist – and this is one of many contradictions

in Cersei’s personality.

She is desperate for power and pride like her father, but she’s deeply frustrated

by the limitations imposed on her as a woman.

Cersei is also frustrated in her attempts to love.

Her mother died when she was young, and her father Tywin was often “away in King’s

Landing” . She never had many friends – there were “bedmaids and companions”, but “few

lasted very long” . Cersei’s closest relationship was with her brother Jaime – they’d play

in Casterly Rock as children, and from a young age they started to experiment sexually . When

a maid “caught them at it”, the twins were separated and chastised – because,

y’know, incest.

But the message to Cersei here was that her most intimate relationship was something seen

as shameful and wrong, something she had to hide . For a while, there was hope that Cersei

might have a more socially acceptable relationship – cause Tywin promised that Cersei would

marry Prince Rhaegar , the son of King Aerys Targaryen.

For years, Cersei was happy and excited about the prospect of marrying Rhaegar – he was

“beautiful” and sensitive and strong, a dragon prince . Cersei dreamed of being

his queen . But on the day Cersei was promised she’d be betrothed to Rhaegar, Aerys refused

the match – and Cersei didn’t get to marry the prince.

She felt heartbroken and betrayed – a memory that still hurts all these years later . Cersei

was then told she’d marry someone “better” instead , but the man she ended up with was

Robert Baratheon – the man who killed Prince Rhaegar . At first, Cersei was optimistic

about this new husband – but on their wedding night, when they first had sex, Robert drunkenly

called Cersei “Lyanna” . Lyanna Stark was the sister of Ned, and died giving birth

to Jon Snow.

Robert loved Lyanna – and never could let go after she died.

As Cersei says in the show, Lyanna “was a corpse” and Cersei “was a living girl”

but Robert loved Lyanna more than her . Cersei came to hate Robert . She hated his drinking

, and his infidelity , and his irresponsibility , and that he’d hurt her sometimes . And

so Cersei secretly continued her relationship with Jaime.

Cersei says that she and Jaime “are more than brother and sister”.

They “are one person in two bodies”.

They “shared a womb together” and when he is in her, she feels “whole” . The

incest aspect is pretty icky here, and their relationship is messed up in other ways too.

Cersei lies and manipulates Jaime , and cheats on Jaime , and apparently only loves him to

the extent that he looks like her – does Cersei really love Jaime, or does Cersei just

love Cersei?

It’s a dysfunctional relationship – but it’s the realest love that Cersei’s ever

had.

Jaime is there for Cersei , fights for Cersei, and is the father of her three children.

Cersei dreams of loving Jaime openly, of living with him as husband and wife, with their kids

. But, because of the incest, and because of Cersei’s marriage to the king, she can

never openly be with the person she loves.

Her whole relationship history is a series of frustrations and denials – she wants

Jaime, she can’t have him.

She wants Rhaegar, she ends up with Robert.

In the same way that Cersei’s denied the power and pride she desires, Cersei’s also

denied love.

And these frustrations feed much of her cruelty throughout the series.

But there’s one more important theme to cover – prophecy.

When Cersei was ten years old, on the same day she hoped to be betrothed to Prince Rhaegar,

she and some friends entered the tent of Maggy the Frog.

Maggy was a witch, a fortune-teller, so Cersei marched in and demanded to hear her future.

Maggy granted three questions.

So Cersei asked when she’d marry Prince Rhaegar, and Maggy said “Never” – that

Cersei would marry “the king” . Cersei asked if she’d be queen, and Maggy said

Cersei will be queen – “until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast

[Cersei] down and take all that [she] hold[s] dear” . Cersei asked if she and “the king”

would have children, and Maggy said the king will have sixteen children, and Cersei will

have three . “Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds,” Maggy said.

That’s as far as the show goes, but in the books, Maggy continued, and added that when

Cersei’s “tears have drowned [her], the valonqar shall wrap his hands about [her]

pale white throat and choke the life from [her]” . Maggy also prophesied the death

of Cersei’s friend Melara . Then the girls left.

So what does all this mean?

Well, Maggy said that Cersei won’t marry “the prince”, she’ll marry “the king”,

and at first, Cersei thought this meant she’ll marry Prince Rhaegar after he becomes King

Rhaegar . But that never happens – Rhaegar is killed, and “the king” Cersei marries

is Robert.

Maggy’s also correct about Cersei’s children – Robert has sixteen bastards, including

Gendry and Barra and Mya Stone, while Cersei has Joffrey Myrcella and Tommen with Jaime.

And Cersei’s friend Melara does die – after Maggy’s prophecy, Melara drowns in a well

. In fact, it’s strongly implied that Cersei pushed Melara , killed her young friend – partly

because she thought Maggy’s prophecy wouldn’t come true if no one talked about it . So at

ten years old, this was Cersei’s first murder – and it was motivated in part by fear of

Maggy’s prophecy.

Cersei is haunted by Maggy’s words for the rest of her life.

Maggy accurately predicted Cersei’s husband and children, and the death of Melara , so

Cersei’s afraid the other parts of the prophecy will also come true – the gold shrouds,

the younger more beautiful, and the valonqar.

The gold shrouds suggest that Cersei’s children will die.

The younger more beautiful bit suggests that another woman will cast Cersei down.

As for the “valonqar” that will “choke the life from [her]”, valonqar means “little

brother” , so Cersei believes that her younger brother Tyrion will try to kill her . Maggy’s

prophecy threatens everything that Cersei cares about most – her children, her power,

and her life.

So she tries desperately to avert the prophecy . She thinks Tyrion is the valonqar, so she

tries to have him killed . She believes Margaery is the younger more beautiful one, so she

tries to get her killed by framing her for adultery . And she does everything she possibly

can to protect her children – but it’s never enough.

Joffrey is murdered with poison and dies at his own wedding.

Her daughter Myrcella is sent to Dorne by Tyrion, and is attacked in the books, dead

in the show.

Tommen is married to Margaery, who Cersei feels is taking him away from her – and

he ends up committing suicide in the show – he’s still alive in the books, but probably

not for long.

So despite Cersei’s best efforts, her children are taken from her, one by one, in golden

shrouds like Maggy predicted . Despite all her power, she’s unable to protect the ones

she loves . Her attempts to protect herself by killing Tyrion also fail, and her attempts

to protect her power by framing Margaery totally backfire, getting Cersei locked up and humiliated.

The more she fights, the worse things get, and in Feast, Cersei spirals into fear and

paranoia , desperation and delusion , violence and cruelty . She sees “dwarfs in every

shadow”, and makes “foes of friends” . She convinces herself that Tyrion and Margaery

are evil schemers out to get her . She declares she’d kill all the common people in Westeros

“if that was what it took to keep [Tommen] safe”.

She’s a terrible ruler.

Cersei becomes everything she hated about Robert.

She drinks too much, and cheats on Jaime, and makes dumb decisions – Cersei even has

sex with a woman and hurts her in bed, only to pretend the next morning it “never happened”

, exactly like Robert . In her desperation to protect her power and her children and

her life, Cersei’s choices get more extreme until she “destroy[s] herself” politically

. Ironically it isn’t Maggy’s prophecy, so much as Cersei’s fear of the prophecy

that causes her downfall.

And prophecies are often like that in Thrones – “The more you try to avoid them, the

more you [make] them true” . And the truth of Maggy’s prophecy is not what Cersei thinks.

Maggy said that Cersei will be queen “until there comes another, younger and more beautiful,

to cast [Cersei] down and take all that [she holds] dear”.

Cersei thinks this is Margaery, who is younger, and arguably more beautiful . But Margaery

probably won’t be the one to cast Cersei down – she’s dead in the show after all.

A more likely queen to cast Cersei down is Daenerys, now sailing to take Cersei’s throne.

Dany is younger and said to be more beautiful – so she could perfectly fit Maggy’s prophecy.

But there’s also another cool possibility in Brienne, the one who takes Cersei’s dear

Jaime from her.

Brienne is younger than Cersei.

But she isn’t more beautiful – in fact in the books, Brienne is very ugly – so

ugly that she’s called “the Beauty” as a cruel sarcastic joke . But some fans

argue that Brienne has a metaphorical inner beauty – her heroism, loyalty and kindness.

Which does sound a bit lame and cliché, but it could make sense for Maggy the Frog.

Maggy in the show looks like a sexy Halloween witch, but Maggy in the books is very ugly

. Maybe she’d want to teach vain young Cersei a lesson by referring to a woman’s inner

beauty . Also, Catelyn thinks that Brienne’s eyes are “beautiful”, and she thinks that

just after saying she’d like to wrap her hands around Cersei’s “white throat”

and choke her – almost the exact wording of Maggy’s valonqar prediction.

So there’s definitely some connection here between Brienne and Maggy’s prophecy.

But Daenerys might still be a better fit for the person to cast Cersei down.

Either way, all of Cersei’s efforts against Margaery were probably pointless, and only

served for Cersei to screw herself over.

Cersei is also probably wrong about the valonqar – the “little brother” who will kill

her.

It’s true that Tyrion threatens Cersei – and thinks he would like to strangle her . But

there’s a different possibility that could be way more dramatic and cool – many readers

believe that the “little brother” who will strangle Cersei is Jaime.

Jaime is Cersei’s other younger brother – he came out of the womb right after Cersei

did . They’ve been lovers almost all their lives, but while Cersei grows ever more cruel

and crazy , Jaime in the books takes a different path.

After losing his hand, Jaime questions his identity , and starts to change , from the

arrogant selfish Kingslayer, a man with “shit for honor” , into someone nobler, someone

beginning to seek redemption . He questions his relationship with Cersei until finally,

at the end of Feast, he rejects her entirely, burning a letter Cersei sent begging for help

. Maybe Jaime will finally realise that his twin has become a monster.

Maybe it’ll be up to him to end her reign of terror.

In Season 6 of the show, Cersei destroys the Sept of Baelor with wildfire.

And there are a lot of hints that she’ll do something similar in the books – Cersei’s

often associated with wildfire , and she knows how to use it . But in the books, she probably

won’t just blow up the Sept like she does in the show – in Book 2, we’re specifically

told that wildfire is removed from beneath the Sept . So book-Cersei will do something

else with wildfire – something far more dramatic.

Cersei’s interest in wildfire reminds Jaime of the Mad King Aerys . Aerys was a cruel

and unpredictable ruler, and towards the end of his reign, with Robert’s Rebellion about

to usurp him, Aerys had caches of wildfire placed “all over King’s Landing” – planning

to burn down the whole city and everyone in it, leaving only ashes for Robert to rule

over . He would have got away with it too if it weren’t for Jaime, who killed the

Mad King and his pyromancers – earning him the name Kingslayer.

But thing is, a lot of Aerys’ wildfire is still down there beneath King’s Landing.

Maybe Cersei will use this wildfire to do what Aerys attempted years ago – to destroy

King’s Landing and everyone in it.

This could go down when Daenerys Targaryen – or maybe Aegon in the books – attacks

the city.

Cersei’ll realise she can’t beat the invaders, but she won’t want to surrender.

As we saw at the Battle of the Blackwater, Cersei would rather die than be captured by

enemies . And with her back against the wall and her defeat at hand, all her fury and frustration

will come to boil – all the slights on her pride and power, her exclusion due to her

sex, the denial of her loves, her fear over prophecy, her grief for her children, all

that pain will light a fire.

In Book 1, Cersei asks “what of my wrath, Lord Stark?”

. Game of Thrones is full of characters who fight and bleed for what they believe in – Robb

Stark wars to avenge his father, Daenerys conquers for her throne, Jon Snow fights to

protect the realm.

But Cersei has never gotten the chance to fight, to express her desires with action.

She’s always had to wait, to play a role – “the dutiful daughter”, the “bride”,

the “wife”.

She’s “suffered Robert’s drunken groping, Jaime’s jealousy, Renly’s mockery”.

She’s “contended with Jon Arryn, Ned Stark, and [Tyrion], all the while promising herself

that one day it would be her turn” . But her turn never comes.

She never gets a firm grasp on power.

She never gets to openly love.

And of all her children die.

So in the end, maybe Cersei will finally express “[her] wrath”, her rage from all these

years, in full, the only way she can.

She will set off Aerys’ wildfire to burn down King’s Landing, to destroy everyone

who’s ever defied her.

And it’ll be up to her twin Jaime to intervene.

Just as he killed Aerys to save King’s Landing before, he’ll be forced to kill his twin

Cersei.

He will “wrap his hands about [her] pale white throat and choke the life from [her]”.

One of Jaime’s hands is gold so he might strangle her with the Hand of the King necklace

that Tyrion used to kill Shae – the links of the chain are hands, and we know Cersei

has the necklace in Feast , and Jaime has thought about strangling a woman with a necklace

before . And in a Season 7 trailer, Cersei stands on a part of Westeros called the Neck,

while Jaime stands near a region called the Fingers.

So the hints are all here for Jaime to strangle Cersei to death.

Jaime will kill his lifelong lover, his other darker half – in an attempt to save the

city from wildfire again.

But this time, he’ll be too late.

Cersei and Jaime “came into this world together” – and both of them believe that they’ll

die together . So as Jaime chokes his twin to death, the wildfire will rise around them,

killing them both, leaving only the ashes and burned-out throne room we’ve seen in

visions . In her desperate greed for power and love , Cersei will destroy her Throne,

and her love, and herself . Thanks for watching.

Thanks to Nina Friel and to Lady Gwyn of Radio Westeros for feedback on this script – Radio

Westeros have a great podcast episode about Cersei and Jaime – check it out for another

great perspective on Cersei’s character.

Lots of the ideas in this video come from the Song of Ice and Fire fan community – check

out the subreddits and Westeros.org.

And please do sign up at audible.com/asx – you get a free audiobook, and you help out this

channel.

Finally, thanks to the Patrons for making this video possible, including Nolan Conrad,

Anna-Maria Klaudt, Ishpaul Bhamber, Jennifer Rust, master994, and Jubec.

Cheers.