Why crazy new theory has Game Of Thrones fans all fired up

THIS week’s episode of Game Of Thrones let slip the big new theory that’s going to consume the season — just who is Azor Ahai, the Prince/Princess That Was Promised to defeat the Night King with a flaming sword? We reveal the hot candidates.

LAST season of Game Of Thrones fans were consumed with the theory that Jon Snow was not Ned Stark’s son — now one conversation in episode two of the new series has fans burning up about a new theory.

The idea that Jon Snow was not a Stark but a Targaryen dominated fan conversation last season — and was proved to be correct.

This season, the search for just who is the Prince That Was Promised will be the dominating theory.

So, if you don’t know your Azor Ahai from your elbow, here’s what you need to know.

Missandei’s mastery of High Valyrian gave us a new view of the prophecy.

Azor Ahai is the Prince That Was Promised in the religion of R’hllor — the one followed by Melisandre and also Thoros of Myr.

It’s been mentioned in the TV series but it’s a really big deal in the books. The idea is, Azor Ahai was the hero who vanquished the Night King the last time he attacked, using his blazing sword Lightbringer.

The Red Woman has been ice cold with her predictions so far.

Obviously finding a hero who can kill off the Night King is going to be pretty important this season (and the next).

Melisandre was initially certain that Stannis Baratheon was AA but that theory was given a C-minus when he and his entire family died.

Jon Snow has been the next hot tip, although it seems a little greedy to have him the focus of two major theories.

Now, Daenerys Targaryen is being touted as AA, after her translator Missandei corrected the words of Melisandre to reveal it could well be the Princess That Was Promised.

So was that a massive reveal or just a red herring from the Red Woman?

Now there’s a stack of conditions around being AA.

First you need to be born under a “bleeding star”. As season six revealed, Jon’s birth bed was bloody and Ser Arthur Dayne’s sword was resting against it — the sword was forged from a fallen star.

Ser Davos Seaworth is also a possibility to be Azor Ahai, although Jon Snow is still the big tip.

AA also needs to be born again amid smoke and salt, wake dragons out of stone and draw from the fire a burning sword. Lightbringer, the sword, also needs to be buried in the heart of AA’s wife to give it the magical properties necessary to defeat the Night King. A bit unfortunate for whoever is their significant other ...

Jon, having been resurrected and Dany, having been reborn in fire with her dragons, both fit bits of the prophecy and debate is raging as to whether they are BOTH the legendary hero and actually need to combine powers to defeat the Night King.

But then the wacky theories really start, with Jaime Lannister thought to be a possible AA.

The big theory at the moment is Sandor “The Hound” Clegane is truly AA although, with his drinking habits, he’s more of a fit with Alcoholics Anonymous than Azor Ahai.

But there is some evidence to it. he was born amid fire (when his brother stuck his head into the flames), he was reborn (when Arya left him to die), he is on the path to redemption and, all of a sudden, he’s getting crystal clear visions from fires.

Fans love the redemption of The Hound, so it would be nice to see him become Azor Ahai.

Of course that could be thanks to the nearby Red Priest Thoros of Myr but the idea of The Hound being AA does have fans intrigued.

Others have also spotted that an early trailer shows a big figure wielding a flaming sword beside Jon Snow. At first glance it was thought to be Beric Dondarrion but closer examination makes it look more like The Hound.

Then we have Gendry, the bastard son of Robert Baratheon who is poised to return in the next couple of episodes. If you want someone to forge a magical sword, you could do worse than start with a blacksmith.

It’s all intriguing and guaranteed to keep us talking until the real AA is revealed, probably by Bran, in episode six or seven.