I'll be
very disappointed if they present the dead rising to kill those in the crypt as a 'twist' - I have seen people speculate that the Iron in the swords that cover them will stop them rising; but I think that comes from actual folklore rather than GoT lore.
Speculatively I'm guessing the series will pan out something like
ep 3: big battle - Night King dies - his army of Wights die and the remaining White Walkers flee - everybody turns the army south to Cersei;episode ends with one of the White Walkers growing a crown out to become the new Night King
- I think Brienne will die in Jamie's arms, to reverse what he said before about dying in the arms of the woman he loves; a more basic version of that would be if Jamie dies in her arms.
(and I'm guessing a couple of other major-ish characters)
ep 4: setting up pieces episode - both armies of the living converging; might be a good time for Jon and Danaerys to have a falling out - make it a three way battle.
ep 5: Battle for the living - followed by some kind of agreement; would make sense if Jon keeps the North but as an under King to Danaerys
(Jamie to die in Cersei's arms if he doesn't die before; Hound and Mountain to kill each other)
ep 6: Battle for the dead; the new Night King has resurrected the dead on his way down south and reaches Kings Landing
- everybody dies - the dead win
- I don't actually think that's going to be how it ends but it would be cool
I think Arya's face stealing is going to be critical at some point - maybe a way to defeat the mercenaries by taking the place of their leader (?)
Obviously I'm hoping for any single thing to be right so I can claim foresight