Season 7 of Game of Thrones is all about characters coming back. Daenerys finally comes back to the land where she was born, Arya’s direwolf Nymeria popped up for the first time in dozens and dozens of episodes, and set photos and red carpets appearances have revealed that another long-forgotten Thrones character is headed back to Westeros. And, a new theory has a pretty good idea of what he’ll be up to.
This post could contain spoilers for upcoming Game of Thrones episodes.
Gendry Storm was the oldest of the late King Robert Baratheon’s bastard children. A skilled blacksmith living in King’s Landing, Gendry was forced to flee to the Wall with Arya Stark when Joffrey had his goons hunt down and kill every one of Robert’s bastards. Even after he escaped the Lannisters, though, people still sought his royal blood. Melisandre wanted to sacrifice him to help Stannis Baratheon achieve victory, but good ol’ Davos freed the lad and put him in a boat so he could row far away from Dragonstone. That was back in Season 3, and we haven’t seen him since.
However, set photos have revealed that Gendry’s making a new appearance in Season 7, and actor Joe Dempsie was on the red carpet at the season premiere. We don’t know exactly how he’ll reappear, or what he’s been up too in the more than three seasons he’s been MIA, but consider this: The dude’s a very good smith.
Sure, back in his earlier seasons, people wanted him because of his royal blood. But, with Melisandre having some second thoughts about sacrificing, and since Jon Snow and Dany aren’t the most zealous types, that might not be what he’ll bring to the table in the penultimate season. Jon is at Dragonstone to mine dragonglass — and Dany agreed to allow him to harvest the obsidian and fashion it into weapons to fight White Walkers and wights.
If Gendry’s around, he’d be the perfect person to fashion the dragonglass into arms and armor for Jon and his crew. Remember, at one point he was headed to the Wall, so it would be kind of fitting if he helped out with an expedition up north.
As for where he’s been or how Jon would run into him on Dragonstone? Gendry had never been in a boat before. Chances are he never made it to King’s Landing. He probably crashed back into Dragonstone, the very island he attempted to flee, and just sort of hid until Stannis and Melisandre peaced out.
Game of Thrones Season 7 continues on Sunday nights on HBO.
