Game of Thrones has had a lot of fan theories surrounding the zillion plots and subplots of its doomed characters. For a couple of years, one of the most prevalent was the theory that Jon Snow was actually the a Targaryen. Virtually endless amounts of speculation filled the blogs, show forums, and conversations of the show's global audience.
WARNING: Game of Thrones SPOILERS ahead
Fans were rewarded last season when it turned out all of the speculation was true. Far from being Ned Stark's bastard, he turned out to be the joint heir of both the Targaryen and Stark bloodlines.
Maybe Jon Snow isn't the only one.
Season Six is when the speculation about Tyrion Lannister began in earnest. In Episode 2 “Home,” he is forced to physically face two of Daenerys’ very sullen and out-of-sorts dragons. Rhaegal and Viserion,the ones locked up in the catacombs. Instead of roasting Tyrion, we watch a surprisingly emotional and tender exchange between them. When he unchains the shackles around the neck of one Dragon, the other one comfortably rolls over to give him access to its neck.
Very undragonly behavior, especially with a rank stranger. The question that immediately popped into everyone's head was why? Even Varys seems to struggling with 'what the hell just happened'. Tyrion wrote off his near tears and their dog like sweetness with a glib explanation. They sensed he was there to help them, as Tyrion implied?
Or is there more to it? And isn't there always something more to it in this maddeningly constructed megasaga?
Lots of people now believe that Tyrion is actually the illegitimate son of Aerys Targaryen,“The Mad King”. According to the internal mythos of the Westeros universe, this offers another explanation for the dragons not roasting him on contact.
Is there anything to it? Let’s take a look at some of the possible clues.
Joanna Lannister and Aerys II “The Mad King” Targaryen:
Games of Thrones is based on an uncompleted series of books. A Song of Ice and Fire.
We know the Targaryens had a penchant for making babies with women who are either married to or betrothed to someone else. Exhibit A: Jon Snow.
In the books, Rhaegar Targaryen is obsessed with Lara Stark ending in her pregnancy and death upon the delivery of Jon Snow. But he is hardly the only Royal who desires a woman committed to someone else. The Mad King Aerys has an enduringly rapey eye for Joanna Lannister---even after she and Tywin were married. During the so called 'bedding ceremony' he 'took liberties with her'. Whatever that means, and boorishly observed it was a pity that the tradition of first night (which allowed the king to sleep with new brides--think "Braveheart") was banned. Aerys’ general satyriasis and his specific designs on Joanna were a stumbling block for Tywin.
It’s possible that Aerys got his way and bedded Joanna Lannister, by force, blackmail, or ennui.
Joanna died giving birth to Tyrion, as we are reminded on a constant basis.
Given the traditions of Game of Thrones, Tyrion is his only heir. Cersei is married (and queen) and now in another family. Jaime, his oldest son is a member of the Kingsguard and can't marry, so.....Tyrion is the only legitimate heir of House Lannister.
Tywin pretty much threw up in his mouth whenever this was mentioned, which is odd given his tiresome speeches on family and legacy.
From the books:
Men’s laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors, since I cannot prove that you are not mine. To teach my humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father’s sigil and his father’s before him. But neither gods nor men shall compel me to turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse.
It makes you wonder how differently things would have turned out if DNA testing had been available to medieval Europe.
So we've established motive: Raging case of royal hot pantsiness, and prior suspicion: 'God I wish I could prove you are a bastard' on the part of Tywin.
Tyrion’s appearance:
Tyrion also looks different from the Lannisters. Even beyond the dwarfism. And the differences lean Targaryen.
Jaime and Cersei--and their three children --have classic Lannister looks: green eyes and golden blonde hair. Their parents, Joanna and Tywin were blonde first cousins.
On the other hand, Targaryens are very distinctive. They are known for silver hair and purple eyes. In the books, Tyrion's hair color is so pale blond that it's almost white (Peter Dinklage, obviously has dirty blonde--but can you even imagine him bleach blonde?). His eyes are also David Bowielike: one green and the other black.
So whats up with Tyrion's eyes and whitish hair?
Tyrion’s, Dany’s and Jon Snow’s mothers all died at childbirth.
Snow’s, Dany’s and Tyrion’s moms all died during childbirth. For Game of Thrones so many important details, a connection like that probably isn’t a mistake.
Tyrion’s childhood obsession with dragons:
Lots of people think that his love of dragons is a hint to Tyrion’s true lineage. You know who else has an affinity for fire and dragons?
Targaryens.
Particularly of note is a conversation with Jon in A Game of Thrones. Tyrion says:
When I was your age, I used to dream of having a dragon of my own. Oh, yes. Even a stunted, twisted, ugly little boy can look down over the world when he’s seated on a dragon’s back. I used to start fires in the bowels of Casterly Rock and stare at the flames for hours, pretending they were dragon fire. Sometimes I’d imagine my father burning. At other times, my sister. Don’t look at me that way, bastard. I know your secret. You’ve dreamt the same kind of dreams.
While this would merit a series of sessions with a child psychiatrist in most families, in Game of Thrones its more like an omen.
Back to the books. In A Dance with Dragons, Tyrion meets a Red Priest named Moqorro. Like all Red Priests, Moqorro can see the future in the flames.
He tells Tyrion he sees, “Dragons old and young, true and false, bright and dark. And you. A small man with a big shadow, snarling in the midst of it all.”
Which: Creepy, but you still root for the little lion/dragon.
Tyrion and Tywin:
In Game of Thrones it's hard being a Lannister dwarf. Especially when your father hates you.
Its even worse when your father is a sharp witted, sarcastic asshole like Tywin.
Its like the guy sits up at night thinking of clever things to insult Tyrion with. Sometimes he skips clever and goes straight for mean. In A Storm of Swords, Tywin tells Tyrion, “You are an ill-made, devious, disobedient, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust, and low cunning.”
Some people make a lot of that “ill-made” crack. It could be an insinuation that Tyrion is no more than the product of Royal rapery between Aerys and Joanna—literally, he was made in the wrong way.
Tywin’s treatment of Tyrion is parallel to Catelyn Stark’s monstrousness towards Jon Snow.
Jamie Lannisters aunt tells him, “I once said to your father that Tyrion is Tywin’s son, not you. He would not speak to me for half a year.”
Genna was clearly comparing Tyrion’s intellect to Tywin’s, but it infuriated Tywin. (although if you think about it, its a shady thing to say to Jamie)
Catelyn Stark hated Jon Snow because she thought Ned banged an unknown southern girl.
You know who else was a Targaryen?
Jon Snow.
In addition to denying that Tyrion is his son, Tywin has a death wish for him.
Seriously.
It's like he's writing little scenes for A Million Ways to Die in the Old West for his legal heir.
From sending him outside the castle in the Battle of the Green Fork to sentencing him to death for Joffrey’s murder, he wants him dead.
On his death toilet, he admits that he always wanted Tyrion dead, and his dying words are a denial that Tyrion is his son.
Food for thought: if Tyrion is a Targaryen, this means he and Jaime each killed the other’s father.
Other Stuff
In Game of Thrones, there’s an inexplicable prophecy that says "The Dragon has three heads.”
Dany hears about it when she visits the House of the Undying. This seems like one of those prophesies so random that they simply must be a plot device by the author.
No less a publication than Time Magazine weighed in with the thought that these “three heads” could be three Targaryen dragon riders that will fly on the three dragons.
One is Dany, obviously...she's been riding them for ages now. Her half brother Jon Snow is a pretty good candidate for Rider #2. The third very well could be Tyrion, due to his thrillingly domesticating effect on at least two of the beasts, and of course the possibility that he is a long lost Targaryen sibling. And of course, he has been saying since the beginning of the series how much he would like to ride one.
"Did someone say Dragon Rides?!!? Me! Me! Over Here! ME! PLEASE!"
In the books, a character named Brown Ben Plumm claims to have Targaryen blood in him. Rhaegal and Viserion are particularly friendly with Ben, a fact he attributes to his distant Targaryen lineage.
Know who else Rhaegal and Viserion are particularly friendly with?
Tyrion.
Also in the books, Tyrion seems immune to Greyscale, the horrible, pus oozing disease that we sickeningly watched Sam Tarwell deal with last week. Mormont just barely touched someone with the affliction and presto: he turns into mummified pork cracklings in a matter of months. Tyrion is just fine, perfectly moisturized and all cheery despite a run-in with the infected. Daenerys believes Targaryens don't get diseases that affect the common people. So you can put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Game of Thrones Fan Theory Likelihood?
In the books, Daenerys says “The dragon has three heads. There are two men in the world who I can trust, if I can find them. I will not be alone then. We will be three against the world, like Aegon and his sisters.”
Yep. Tyrion is probably godzooki.