As things stand now, Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) looks like a long shot. His rivals have weapons, cunning and ambitions that far outdistance him.
Which is why he will surprise everyone. Bran, second son of Lord Ned Stark and Lady Catelyn, is the true and rightful ruler.
And with his "greensight," Bran has visions that extend not only to the future but thousands of years in the past. Those visions were made possible by his psychic connection to the Three-Eyed Raven. But now Bran has become the Three-Eyed Raven, and those powers give him a clear edge over all others. He basically has all the intellect and knowledge in the world.
Of course, knowledge can be dangerous. He is one of the few to know the truth about the birth of Jon Snow, which could have devastating consequences.
But Bran has never used his knowledge for personal advantage or to inflict harm. He is not a warrior _ his demeanor is calm and his stature one of reason.
Bran's destiny to take the Iron Throne may have been foreshadowed in the first episode, when his curiosity almost cost him his life after he was pushed out of a tower window after he spied Jaime Lannister and his twin sister, Cersei Lannister, having sex. That fall eventually paralyzed him but led to gaining his psychic powers.
Even George R.R. Martin, author of the books that gave birth to the TV series, said in a 2004 Rolling Stone interview that Bran is the epic's "first viewpoint character. ... (Readers) are thinking Bran is the hero of the story. He's young King Arthur. We're going to follow this young boy _ and then, boom: You don't expect something like that to happen to him."
