Final of the Game of Thrones series: Bran, House Stark and what books tell us

Game of thrones has always been the story of Stark children. Since the lessons given by their parents at the beginning of the season to the difficulties they have experienced, we have seen the Stark children part and regroup. We followed Arya, Sansa, Jon Snow and Bran as they passed children on the edge of the world to some of Westeros' most important characters. Despite a central role in the series, the future of Stark House and who will help it is still outstanding, and this in the perspective of the last episode of the series.

Jon's Targaryen family originally revealed that Jonke Targaryen's family had already felt like they had Stark children. This is further complicating the case of her former leader and recently discovered aunt, Daenerys, who has just committed genocide at King's Landing, which is sure to put her off guard.

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As for Bran, the only heir born from Stark House, there are still more than a few question marks to resolve. Although we do not have much context in the series, Bran and his entourage are more convinced that he can not have children. Maybe the series decides that this is not the case or that the characters in the book are just wrong, but that still does not seem likely. Bran's real relationship with his Stark heritage is even more complicated. Back in season 7, he rejects the name of Lord Stark, and more than once in season 8, he mentions that he is more of a three-eyed crow than Brandon Stark of Winterfell.

With the excluded men's line for Stark House, it seems that the most likely way to continue is through the female line, but things do not look better. Arya may have already explored the romance earlier in Season 8, but she made it clear by rejecting Gendry's proposal that she was not going to be anyone's wife. And even if she agreed to marry Gendry, it is unlikely that their children would become Starks thanks to her newly legitimized name Baratheon. Since Gendry is the only surviving member of his house and Arya will not run Winterfell, the children will take her name.

This means that everything falls on Sansa Stark if the family line is to continue. Almost all possible ends would have Sansa at Winterfell and sit as prefect of the North. Of course, Sansa really has no romantic partner in the series. If we already know this character, the most likely answer is Tyrion, but he may want to continue the Lannister line as the last surviving member of his house. If that is the case, then Sansa could hire a husband, probably someone we do not know in the show, have a child and thus continue the Stark line.

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Although the Westerosi precedent indicates quite clearly that the succession of men is the norm, it would not be unheard of to have a surname by a matrilineal succession. House Stokeworth and House Oakheart both seem to have passed the name of the matrilineal house and, of course, Maison Mormont did it too. The only real requirement for an estate of this nature is that the woman needs a more valuable name than the man. And in the case of House Stark, there is almost no such important name in Westeros, so it should not be difficult for Sansa.

If Sansa decided not to marry or did not have an heir, the Stark House would disappear and another family would become the guardians of the north and the lords of Winterfell. If Sansa, or Bran, or Jon were to name this successor family, it is likely that the other lords of the North would accept them as the new ruling house. However, if someone from the south, for example Tyrion, were to name a house to succeed the Starks, it is quite likely that the North would reject the suggestion, no matter how reasonable, and start a rebellion.

Few places in all Westeros have been so important in the history of Game of thrones like the north and no house it matters more than the Stark house. With so many unanswered questions and important questions to answer before the final, let's hope that the show will take enough time to let us know its fate.