Bro Way, Bro How: New 'Game Of Thrones' Photos Hint At Jaime Lannister's Fate

Not since Samwell Tarly practiced his orgasm face has an episode of HBO's Game of Thrones had so many people so shook. "The Spoils of War" saw a downtrodden Daenerys Targaryen take to the skies and hold her own outdoor BBQ — with winter coming, really? — and among various Lannister kebabs, the life of a certain Kingslayer was left hanging in the balance. In typical Thrones fashion, Jaime Lannister was moments away from death as the screen cut to black.

It certainly looks like Jaime could use a "hand" — round of applause for that one — to get out of this situation, but is all as it seems? While some might have that sinking feeling that Jaime won't rise from his watery grave, is anyone really buying that the Kingslayer has breathed his last breath?

While not quite as achingly long as the "Is Jon Snow really dead?" debacle from the Season 6 finale, the fate of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's sister-loving hero has everyone talking on the Thrones circuit. While the trailer and the latest promo images from the episode "Eastwatch" do a dutiful job of not spoiling the surprise, the photos at least offer a hint at the Kingslayer's next more. So, let's look at what the latest Lannister family portraits could reveal.

Warning: Possible Game of Thrones spoilers ahead.

A Loss At King's Landing

Firstly, we see the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms looking more glum than usual and solemnly gazing out of her chambers; it is safe to say it will take more than a glass of wine or a sept fireworks display to fix this one. Clearly the shot is set to make it look like Cersei is mourning the loss of Jaime, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet.

After Cersei's winning streak, expect her to be knocked down a peg or two in "Eastwatch" after her flaming defeat on the battlefield. The look on her face may not be entirely to do with the (supposed) loss of her partner in the sheets. Sure, that Highgarden gold may be firmly in the grip of the crown, but with Cersei's food sources and military forces decimated, can anyone really blame her for the somber look on her face? Also, it is fair to assume that news of Jaime's "death" will reach King's Landing. Maybe she really does think he is gone — well, someone has to believe it.

To rub salt in the wound, we may even see a victorious Dany send a Ramsay-esque letter to taunt Cersei about her brother's demise:

"Dear Cersei,Good lucky getting the 'D,' I just roasted your bro — hot dog anyone?Love Dany."

Either way, the typically stoic Queen looks even more pissed off than usual.

A Small Betrayal

Elsewhere, an equally forlorn Tyrion Lannister is seen treading through the smoky "spoils" of the war. However, while some might guess he is looking for his gold-handed brother, Tyrion is much more likely to come across the charred or dying corpse of Bronn of the Blackwater. Coster-Waldau promised that someone big was going to die thanks to "The Spoils of War," and Bronn's death would certainly fulfill that brief. As for why The Imp is out on the battlefield, could this lead to our next big twist?

If you remember back to Season 4, it was Jaime who met with Tyrion at the Red Keep, and it was also Jaime who set him free from his death sentence. We all know that a Lannister pays his debts, and Tyrion may be about to return the favor to help his brother escape.

Tyrion could find a battered Jaime and distract Dany or give his brother a chance to flee. If this is the case, who knows where Jaime goes next. Hopping back to King's Landing makes sense, or is now the right time for that Brienne and Jaime reunion? Everyone misses Jaime's days in the North and who is to say he has to go straight back to Cersei dearest? The Kingslayer is already questioning his sister's judgement, and also remember that Jaime is in possession of a shiny Valyrian sword — which just so happens to come in handy against White Walkers.

A Golden Goose

The other big option would see Jaime inadvertently joining Team Dany for a time. The trailer for "Eastwatch" sees Daenerys warn the surviving Lannister army that they will join her or face her fiery wrath, but someone as noble as Jaime would never bend the knee to this trollop from overseas. That being said, a savvy ruler like Daenerys would know that Queen Cersei would do anything to get her brother/lover back in one piece and that Jaime is too much of a valuable chess piece to roast around the campfire.

Under some worldly counsel from Tyrion, Jaime could once again find himself a political prisoner in a nice little callback to his capture by Catelyn and Robb Stark in Season 1. Even if Jaime is back in chains, the whole Valyrian sword theory could still come into play and an epic Jon/Jaime showdown.

Of course, all this theorizing could just be the ramblings of a Mad King, and if this is the case, feel free to roast me like Shireen on a stick. Hopefully, #GameofThrones won't follow in the footsteps of The Walking Dead and make us wait weeks to reveal Jaime's fate — *cough* Glenn, Beth Heath *cough* — and we should find out more when "Eastwatch" airs on August 13.