The night is dark and full of Game of Thrones spoilers, so don't read the rest of this article if you haven't watched the season eight premiere!
Game of Thrones isn't always dark and brooding. Occasionally the HBO series takes a break from all the murder, backstabbing, and gut-wrenching sadness to slip scenes in that might as well be straight out of a buddy comedy. While Jon shares a number of hilarious moments like this with Tormund, the king of sarcastic one-liners is the foul-mouthed sellsword Bronn, played by actor Jerome Flynn.
Throughout the series, Bronn forges friendships with both Tyrion and Jaime Lannister, helping them out of sticky situations (like drowning in a lake in the midst of a battle against dragons, for instance) and providing plenty of comic relief along the way. However, Bronn is also the type of guy who seems to care only about one thing: money. Lots and lots of money. Enough money that can he buy himself his own castle, specifically. It's that sleazy "Every man for himself" mentality that has fans worried that Bronn might actually accept Cersei's proposal to murder her brothers in a bit of "poetic justice" (with that crossbow).
As you might recall, a few seasons back, Cersei goes back on her agreement with Bronn and arranges for Wyllis Bracken to wed Lollys Stokeworth instead of him, meaning he loses both a wife and the castle she comes with. Jaime assures him that he'll get an even better one when they return from Dorne, but so far, the one-handed Kingslayer has yet to repay his friend. Cersei, however, is willing to offer him multiple chests of gold and the promise of future favors. Still, there's a moment from season one between Bronn and Tyrion that could be a hint that the sellsword won't follow through with his deal with Cersei.
Way back in the season one episode "The Pointy End," Tyrion has a pretty frank discussion with Bronn about how he sees their new friendship. While he appreciates his companionship, Tyrion also isn't a fool.
Tyrion: What do you want from me, Bronn? Gold? Women? Golden women? Stick with me and you'll have them all, for as long as I'm around and not a moment longer. But you knew that; that is why you took up arms so valiantly to defend my honor!
Bronn: Alright, but don't expect me to call upon your lordship whenever you take a shit. I'm not your toady, and I'm not your friend.
Tyrion: Though I would treasure your friendship, I'm mainly interested in your facility with murder. And if the day ever comes where you're tempted to sell me out, remember this: whatever the price, I'll beat it. I like living."
Sure, while Qyburn tells Bronn that Cersei handsomely rewards those who do her big favors — "What would she do for the man who rids her of her treasonous brothers?" he muses — we find it hard to believe that Bronn would actually sink so low. Not only are we confident his bond with the two Lannister brothers is strong enough to prevent him from killing them, but this is an opportunity for him to leverage a great deal more gold out of Tyrion than Cersei is willing to pay. After all, he says he'll "beat" whatever price his would-be murderer offers Bronn, which would be close to 10 chests of gold (if not more).
It's important to note that nothing is written in stone when it comes to Bronn. Despite his history with Jaime and Tyrion, there's a chance he could decide to destroy his friendship with them once and for all for the chance of being in Cersei's good graces.
Flynn, who plays Bronn, recently told Digital Spy that "Bronn's a determined type. He's either going to get his castle, or he's going to die getting it." That sure seems like a way of saying he values material things over his former friendship with the Lannister brothers, no?
Then again, with Bronn headed North to Winterfell, we have a feeling he'll get caught up fighting alongside Tyrion and Jaime against the Night King's army. Hopefully there won't even be enough time to assassinate his former buddies from King's Landing.
