‘Game of Thrones’ Explosive Season 6 Finale Confirms Major Fan Theory

Past rankings:

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Farewell to...The High Sparrow (Last week's ranking: 3)

He quietly outplayed Cersei all this season, until she set the chess board on fire. Among the pieces she burned was the High Sparrow himself. His last living act was to deal out a homophobic punishment to Loras and to pathetically handwave away Margaery's accurate realization of what was coming.

Margaery Tyrell (8) -- Goodbye, Marge. While fans kneeled before other women in this series for being "badasses," you showed your strength through intelligence and devoted yourself to the Tyrells without drawing blood. Unfortunately, it seems that "Game of Thrones" is most interested in allowing people who choose violence to play a major role next season.

Walder Frey (15) -- He gloated over the Starks' demise, only to have his throat slit just like Catelyn. What's more, the house he betrayed the Starks to finally let him know just how pathetic he and his house are. Valar Morghulis, you old coot.

Also dropped off: Kinvara (16), Tormund (17)

20.) Brienne of Tarth (NR) -- Brienne didn't show up in the last two episodes, and she failed in her one major mission this season. She should have stayed off this list, but because so many people got knocked off in the finale, she holds on to the final spot.

19.) Daario Naharis (NR) -- Daario had his heart broken by Daenerys, but now the Bay of Dragons (formerly known as Slaver's Bay) is now under his protection as a provisional government is established. It's doubtful we will see Daario and Meereen in any detail next season now that Dany has set sail, but his new responsibility is still enough to get him on this list.

18.) Samwell Tarly (NR) -- After years of getting picked on and getting forced into the worst situations, Sam finally heard the sweetest words ever: "You are permitted to use the library." At last, he is in Oldtown where he belongs, ready to become a maester and find the knowledge needed to stop the White Walkers.

17.) Sandor Clegane (14) -- You'd think that after such a big return, the Hound would have some sort of presence in the finale. Alas, no. Like Brienne, he stays on the list thanks to the show's reduction in its cast payroll.

16.) Lyanna Mormont (NR) -- It feels more and more like this character was simply added for the spectacle of seeing a little girl boss around the North for the delight of the Twitter meme crowd. Still, Lyanna Mormont has now made herself a leading figure in the North. It would be nice next season to see her become more than a silly oddity and integrate naturally into whatever Jon plans next.

15.) Olenna Tyrell (NR) -- The Dowager Countess of Westeros just lost her grandchildren, and now she wants to crush the Lannisters for good. She's joined Daenerys' power alliance with the Greyjoys and Martells, though what exactly she will bring to Daenerys' campaign other than female solidarity still remains to be seen. 

14.) Ellaria Sand (NR) -- Ugh. Ellaria's return for just a few minutes was still too much of a reminder of her messy storyline last year. Still, she gets on this list for the same reason as Olenna: She's put herself on the fast track to getting back at the Lannisters.

13.) Jaime Lannister (13) -- Oddly, Arya's slaying of Walder wasn't nearly as satisfying as Jaime telling him that House Frey house is completely useless. With the apparent aid of teleportation (more on that in the next slide), he made it back to King's Landing just in time to see his sister's coronation. With no kids left to bond him and Cersei, the time may be near for the Kingslayer to become the Queenslayer.

12.) Varys (18) - In a season defined by fan theories, let's posit one more: Varys can teleport! How else could he make a deal in Dorne and then travel back to Meereen within a single episode? Baffling timeline aside, Varys gets points for making Daenerys' alliance even stronger. 

11.) Arya Stark (12) -- And speaking of teleporting, Arya sure is an offscreen wizard isn't she? Not only did she kill The Waif offscreen, she also took a red eye boat back to Westeros, reached the Twins, killed Walder's sons, AND baked them into a pie while we weren't watching! Who knows, maybe next season she'll use those powers to get a storyline that doesn't leave us totally bewildered.

10.) Tyrion Lannister (19) -- Despite nearly blowing it in Meereen, it makes sense for Tyrion to be the Hand of the Queen. In Essos, he's a fish out of water. But in Westeros, Daenerys will need his guidance. Still, when he got the pin placed on him, he had to have felt some traumatic flashbacks of the last time he wore that pin in King's Landing.

9.) Davos Seaworth (11) -- Though it hasn't been made official, Davos will likely be Jon's Hand, and he'll more than likely accept the role now that Jon has banished Melisandre. Bonus points to Liam Cunningham for the best acting job of the season, showing Davos as a man still trying to keep composure even as grief and rage ravage his soul.

8.) Cersei Lannister (20) -- Taking the Iron Throne is enough to get Cersei in the top ten, but her hold on it is as unstable as it could be. When she blew up the Great Sept, she killed two potential hostages in Loras and Margaery and now has the Tyrells working against her. Also, she indirectly brought about Tommen's death. Oops.

7.) The Night's King (9) -- He barely made an appearance this season, but the king of the ice zombies is looming over the North like the icicle of Damocles. The North is gearing up to face him, and likely the rest of Westeros will follow suit soon.

6.) Bran Stark (10) -- Bran now has information that could rattle Westeros to its core: Jon is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna. Now that he's back at the Wall, it's up to him and Meera to decide what to do with this shocking new information.

5.) Sansa Stark (6) -"Only a fool would trust Littlefinger," said Sansa this week. Yet at the end of the episode, it's clear that there's a little nagging voice in the back of her head, wondering if Littlefinger was telling her a hard truth. Is Jon really the right person to lead? Will he cost her the home she just got back by leading his men over a cliff like he almost did last week? The Lady of Winterfell's trust issues will surely become a major factor in what happens next.

4.) Yara Greyjoy (4) --Yara was only seen momentarily in the season finale as her ships joined the Targaryen and Martell fleets on the voyage to King's Landing. Her huge showdown with Euron is still to come next season.

3.) Petyr Baelish (2) -- Littlefinger may be a creeper, but he's a smart creeper. He's wormed his way into Winterfell, and judging by that look he gave Sansa, he is planning to take away from the Starks what he just handed to them on a silver plate in the last episode. 

2.) Jon Snow (5) -- Logic and laws of succession be damned, Jon Snow is the new King in the North. Make no mistake, though. Jon has proven that he doesn't have Robb's penchant for military strategy, and even now Littlefinger is conspiring against him. With Daenerys on the way, will Jon be able to make the sacrifices necessary to fight a war on two fronts?

1.) Daenerys Targaryen (1) -- When she arrives at Westeros, Daenerys will have a considerable advantage. She has more forces than the North. She will be seen as a savior from Cersei. Her dragons could be a major weapon against the White Walkers. Westeros is Dany's for the taking. The question is whether she'll be undone by her compulsion to drown her enemies in flame.