Season 8 of Game of Thrones saw the extinction of many noble houses, with some fates, such as that of the Freys and Martells, being more ambiguous than others. In the fight for power on the Iron Throne, many families’ lines were extinguished through war, betrayal, or in the final battle against the white walkers. The most notable houses that went extinct in Game of Thrones, though not necessarily in the novels, were House Tyrell, House Bolton, the Mormonts, Umbers, and Karstarks.
In Game of Thrones’ finale, some houses’ fates were left ambiguous for the future, though still had a remaining family member which meant they hadn't fully died out. By season 5 of Game of Thrones when Stannis and Shereen Baratheon were killed after Renly and Robert, House Baratheon was seemingly extinct. This was the case up until season 8 when Queen Daenerys legitimized Robert’s bastard Gendry Rivers, making him Gendry Baratheon, the Lord of Storm’s End. House Baratheon was reinstated by legitimizing a bastard, but the Freys and Martells, who had prominent members killed off and a lack of explicit leadership, had more ambiguous statuses.
House Frey saw the end of its trueborn male line at the beginning of GOT season 7 when Arya murdered Walder Frey, used his face, and poisoned all of Walder’s male heirs as revenge for the Red Wedding. The sheer amount of Frey men present at the Twins who all died suggests that may be the end of House Frey, but in reality, Walder was known for having a plethora of children and bastards, all of which likely weren't there. Additionally, Arya only killed the Frey men, leaving Walder’s wife and all his female heirs alive. This means that House Frey is not extinct, they can still be ruled by the Frey women, especially if their future husbands and or children take the Frey name.
The case for House Frey's women was more explicit, but House Martell is purposefully left ambiguous. After Oberyn, Trystane, and Doran Martell are all murdered, it appears the legitimate male line is extinguished, but that may not be so. In Game of Thrones season 8, the new Prince of Dorne is mentioned as supporting Daenerys’ claim, as well as being present at the trial of Tyrion and election of Bran as the King of Westeros. His name nor house are explicitly stated, but he is wearing the typical clothing and sigil of House Martell, suggesting there was another Martell heir or cousin not previously mentioned. Also, Toby Osmond, the new Prince of Dorne’s actor, revealed he believes his identity is a Martell, possibly a younger brother to Oberyn and Doran.
For House Martell’s noble fate, Dorne is also ruled under different regulations than the rest of the seven kingdoms - women have just as much claim to the throne as men. Oberyn’s bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes, and his paramour Elaria who could have ruled were all murdered by the end of Game of Thrones, but the novels introduced alternate children of Prince Doran that the series never included. Princess Arianne Martell was set to become the heir to Prince Doran with his elder son Quentyn being exiled, though the real plan was that he was sent to ask Daenerys to marry him. Doran’s other children in the novels aren’t canon in Game of Thrones, but since Dorne was barely explored in the series, it’s possible there are still more male or female Martells capable of carrying on the house’s legacy.
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August 07, 2021 at 11:50PM
