HBO's "Game of Thrones" kills off characters like "The Walking Dead" dispatches corpses (pouring out some Dornish wine for my lost homies Ned and Robb Stark). The body count of important people rises with each passing season which means fans can expect a few significant deaths when the show returns in April.
This year, I'm expecting Natalie Dormer's Margaery Tyrell to get GoT for a few reasons.
Current Predicament
When last we saw Margaery, she was being held captive by the High Sparrow. For those of you that don't know, being imprisoned against your will by a radical religious zealot is never good for your odds of survival.
Many believe that Margaery can save herself by confessing and being allowed to do the same Walk of Shame that Cersei did last season. But remember, the only reason Tommen hasn't ordered the forces of King's Landing to march on the Faith Militant is because it would surely result in her death. Margaery is the only thing keeping a full-blown civil war from erupting within the capital city's walls. It would be a tactical mistake for the High Sparrow to release her.
"But what about Loras Tyrell, he's a prisoner too" you all cry out. Simply put, he isn't nearly as valuable of a hostage as the acting Queen of the Seven Kingdoms (Dormer was also an executed Queen on "The Tudors"). Yes, he is heir to Highgarden and obviously important. But Tommen's Small Council would surely agree that Loras' life is worth the obliteration of this growing rebellion and the High Sparrow knows it.
Diana Rigg, who plays Lady Olenna, has even said that she and Cersei will have a fiery confrontation in season six. What better catalyst than Margaery's death?
The way I see it, this scenario can only play out in one of two ways. One: Margaery is put to trial by the Faith Militant, found guilty, and executed. Two: A rescue mission is launched which results in her death. Either way, Margaery is on the fast track to meet both the old gods and the new.
Character Importance
How crucial is Margaery to the overall story of "Game of Thrones?" Honestly, not very. While audiences get a glimpse into her own ambitions and manipulative capabilities, her character has mostly been used as a pawn in the political jockeying of the major houses. That's not to say she isn't a strong female presence, but the show doesn't seem too concerned with enabling her arc to stand on its own.
In fact, quite the opposite is true. Ever since she arrived in King's Landing, Margaery has primarily been utilized as a foil for Cersei, relegating her to a chapter in another character's book. Even if Margaery did somehow manage to free herself from the Sparrow's grip, Cersei would surely figure out some devious machination to eliminate her from the equation once and for all.
In terms of character development, Margaery is pretty one dimensional. She hasn't been revealed to have those intricate layers that other female characters like Cersei and Daenerys possess. Though she is an important member of Westeros' hierarchy, she isn't a vital piece of the show's overarching storylines. Her death would make an impact without redirecting the course of the show a la Jon Snow.
Conclusion
As seen in last season's fantastic penultimate episode "Hardhome," the end game for "Thrones" is looming ever larger. Though the show is expected to run for eight seasons, a reduction of major players will be needed in order to focus the stretch run on just the core characters. Unfortunately for Margaery, she doesn't qualify. Fan sites such as Reddit and Wet Paint along with other outlets like Cinema Blend have speculated about Margaery's demise several times before. Could it come this season?
Tune in every Friday for more "Game of Thrones" theories.
