Warning: This article is dark and full of Game of Thrones season 8 spoilers.
When Tyrion Lannister approached Cersei and attempted yet another appeal to her humanity, it seemed like confirmation that the quick-witted Hand of the Queen was truly losing his edge. He’d been fooled once already by her promise of a truce in season 7, and it nearly cost him his position as Daenerys’ advisor. So, why would he once again appeal to Cersei’s motherly love, knowing how poorly it went for him last time? This Reddit theory suggests that Tyrion mentioning Cersei’s pregnancy was a coded message to Euron Greyjoy, and may cost Cersei her strongest ally.
Earlier in the episode, Cersei “revealed” to Euron that she was pregnant with his child. This is a strong tactical move for many reasons: Euron is only helping Cersei on the condition that she marry him after the war, a situation he’d be less keen on if he found out she was carrying another man’s child. She also needs to consider public perception: back in season 7, Cersei told Jaime that he was the father of her unborn child, which — if true — presents a far less palatable potential heir to the throne. Right now, Cersei’s best shot at taking and keeping the Iron Throne lies with Euron Greyjoy: and if he thinks they’re having a child together, he’s incentivized to fight that much harder.
I like that Cersei's plan is that the pirate can't count to 9 months
— catturd2.bsky.social (@thetomzone) May 6, 2019
Tyrion learned of Cersei’s pregnancy in season 7, before her relationship with Euron was ever consummated. As reddit user grantvoyager points out, “Euron was standing right behind Cersei” as Tyrion waxed on about how Cersei should call off the war for the sake of her child — even though “from Euron’s point of view, Tyrion should have no knowledge that Cersei is pregnant.” Tyrion also wouldn’t know for sure that Cersei had lied to Euron about her pregnancy, or even mentioned it: but knowing Cersei, he could have guessed how she’d play things.
Cersei with her signature move : faking a baby daddy
— 🌊 (@zroma_) May 6, 2019
So, whether or not Tyrion was intentionally trying to out her, the question remains: will Euron do the math and figure out he’s being used? And what will happen if he does? Euron has proven to be Cersei’s strongest ally, up to and including killing Rhaegal — so much so that it’s unlikely she’ll stand a chance without him. But Euron abandoning her could be the least of her worries. Given his ego and bloodthirsty nature, we can’t imagine Euron taking a lie of this magnitude lightly, and he’s just as likely to murder Cersei as he is to leave her defenseless. After all, Euron has only recently made a claim to the throne through Cersei, and he’s never been as interested in long-term strategy as he is in instant revenge.
If Euron does kill Cersei, it would be fitting for her lies and deceit to be her ultimate downfall. But given the earlier prophecy that Cersei will be killed by a younger brother, and the fact that both Tyrion and Jaime will soon be in King’s Landing together, we’re not so sure. Either way, let’s hope that Tyrion knew what he was doing: otherwise, he may have truly lost his edge.
Leave a Comment