Will Jaime and Brienne Be Together in the End of 'Game of Thrones'?

One of the most anticipated acts in all of Game of Thrones has officially happened, obliterating the most hilarious and often poignant love triangle on the show. Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister finally got together—sorry, Tormund, but it seems like he rebounded just fine—and we got two glorious nights of bliss. So could there be a happy ending?

(Image credit: HBO)

By Katherine J. Igoe

published 6 May 2019

in News

Spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8, episode 4.

That's right. One of the most anticipated acts in all of Game of Thrones has officially happened, obliterating the most hilarious and often poignant love triangle on the show. Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister finally got together—sorry, Tormund, but it seems like he rebounded just fine—and we got two glorious nights of bliss. Fans even have a word for the long-awaited moment: OathSex, lol. For a moment, it felt like Jaime might choose happiness in his life, and be with a woman who 1) loved him in the same way he loved her, 2) wasn't his sister, 3) was a stable, loyal, kind knight and person, and 4) definitely not his sister.

And then, just like that, Jaime left for Cersei. There may be some very good reasons why, including a potential prophecy that might foretell that it's his destiny to kill her. But in the moment, it felt like he was choosing, instead, to be destroyed with Cersei. He seemed to choose his own death over a potentially happy life, leaving Brienne heartbroken and begging him to stay.

So is that it? Are these two "dissimilar characters" (in the words of creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff) who opened up just enough to let each other in for a moment doomed for the rest of the series? Or is this another epic misdirect from a show that specializes in them?

The creators explain in the "Behind the Episode" that in the moment, when Jaime hears what Cersei's done (ambushed Dany and killed one of her dragons), he takes a good, long, uncomfortable look at who he is. And he doesn't like what he sees.

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So he knows he's bound up with Cersei, one way or the other. So he can't take the one chance at happiness that's been given to him. But, if he somehow survives, and Brienne does too (she's not at the center of the fighting, so the odds seem good), I absolutely guarantee he'll come to her. So it all rests on this: Whether Jaime Lannister survives. I hope he does—because damn, I want the whole world for Brienne. She deserves it, and she's made Jaime a better person.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.