These Littlefinger theories contain ambitious SPOILERS so avoid betrayal and chaos if you’re not caught up on the show and the books.
We probably won’t know the true nature of Petyr Baelish, a.k.a. Littlefinger, until the very end of George R.R. Martin’s series A Song of Ice and Fire, because he’s one of the best players of the Game of Thrones, and he’s a vault of secrets, like Varys.
Theories about Littlefinger in Game of Thrones run the gamut from his desire to climb to the top of the heap by any means necessary, to his plan to watch it all fall to rubble and ash. Maybe Littlefinger wants to burn it all down and start from scratch, giving little guys such as himself a shot at the big time, not having to eke out an empire from a small patch of stony land in the Fingers. What is it about finger size and overcompensating? Or is his ultimate angle to restore the nearly extinct Blackfyres to the throne because that would truly mock the world and bring some personal satisfaction?
Speaking of mockingbirds, why did Littlefinger trade out House Baelish’s sigil of the Titan of Braavos for his personal sigil of the mockingbird? We have a few ideas. It probably has something to do with the true nature of the mockingbird. While appearing small and unimportant, the bird puts its own eggs in others' nests for someone else to raise. And then there’s the whole mocking thing. That GRRM. So clever. Also, Baelish doesn’t exactly want to flaunt his connection to the Iron Bank. Maybe he’s in cahoots with those guys and doesn’t want to remind anyone that his great-grandfather was a Braavosi sellsword.
Now, for some tinfoil Littlefinger Game of Thrones, if you haven’t spotted some already in this intro. What if Petyr and Littlefinger are Jekyll and Hyde, struggling like a Braavosi Tyler Durden to see who wins in the end? No? How about this one - he’ll end up with Margaery and they’ll plot their way across the seven kingdoms on the Schemes and Shade Tour? Maybe? He’s helping the Children of the Forest take back what’s theirs in a kind of CotF Strike Back? Stop it?
Okay, well, with a man who plays things closer to the vest than Varys but not as close as the Queen of Thorns, it’s simply hard to say just what Littlefinger’s deal is. But until the Catelyn is out of the bag, let’s look at a few Littlefinger theories and possible motivations.
Why Did Sansa Lie About Littlefinger?
Photo: HBO
We have no idea why but hopefully she doesn’t have thing for Littlefinger. Ewww. Just ewww. We know she would be doing the realm a service by killing him so maybe and instinctively Sansa knows not to have Brienne flay him.
Burn, Baby, Burn
Photo: HBO
Petyr Baelish comes from nothing and may end up with power and money, but ultimately, he wants to watch the world go to hell so that all men must and will die, leaving the world as a blank slate to make over again.
Maybe paving the way for Daenerys, her army, and her dragons to lay waste to Westeros is part of that world burning. But what will he do with a fireproof Mother of Dragons? Try to marry her? If Sansa is out of his league, this seems doubtful.
Look at the brain on Preston Jacobs. His elaborate theory about Littlefinger’s ultimate goal is mind-blowing. Essentially, Jacobs says that it’s curious how Littlefinger is so great with money, yet the Iron Throne is heavily in debt. This is by design, Preston Jacobs explains. Start with part 1, obviously.
He’ll Buy His Way to the Top
Photo: HBO
The small folk are tired of rulers and their wars, fighting among themselves over family titles, women, slights, and the throne, while they, the people, suffer and die from these wars and the rogue bands of raiders wars leave in their wake. Maybe the last thing the seven kingdoms need is more rulers. Maybe the world needs to do away with the Iron Throne altogether. Littlefinger may just be the new man for the job.
If you ask Varys, he'll say, ”Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick. A shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” So does that mean Baelish can bankrupt the realm, pretend to save it, feed the people (there are more of them than royals), and melt down the Iron Throne? Or hire someone to sit there for him?
Risk-Taking Is the Key to Littlefinger’s Success
Photo: HBO
Littlefinger is possibly one of Martin’s best characters because he does things that real people do. He takes huge risks. Sometimes they work out. Sometimes Sansa lives long enough to gain a mighty lady knight, a horde of Wildlings, and a resurrected brother to come kick your butt. But no matter how many losses Baelish takes, he manages to get more wins. Since he lost the only person he ever loved, Catelyn, he’s got nothing left to loss. So his long game is both calculated, and making supreme lemonade out of the lemons rolling away from something he probably intentionally or inadvertently caused.
He’s in League with the Children of the Forest
Photo: HBO
Now, hold on. Don’t throw any Golden Dragons. What if Petyr’s loss of Catelyn’s hand switched something off inside Littlefinger? And after that, he has no use for men or women. His power grab and war-making has a point: give it back to the Children. Start with a clean slate. Screw men and their Iron Thrones.
Look at the brain on Preston Jacobs. His elaborate theory about Littlefinger’s ultimate goal is mind-blowing. Essentially, Jacobs says that it’s curious how Littlefinger is so great with money, yet the Iron Throne is heavily in debt. This is by design, Preston Jacobs explains. Start with part 1, obviously.
