There are only two episodes left in Season 6 of HBO’s Game of Thrones, and it’s a big deal. This was the first season that the showrunners went largely “beyond book” and the implications for book fans are mounting.
Most show-watchers know at least one book-reader that is constantly referencing character arcs (often of characters not even on the show) or sagely repeating a prophecy as if that piece of theory is the key to predicting what direction the show will go. We’re theory-hounds ourselves and if you aren’t (yet!) then settle in as we present to you the key Book Theories still relevant to the show!
As a reminder there are many that the show has rendered irrelevant. Clegane Bowl has seemingly been canceled. The identity of the Harpy doesn’t appear to matter. You will never convince us that Tyrion is a secret Targaryen*. The Bloodraven and Bran theories have been blown wide open and, sadly, we’re pretty sure Varys isn’t actually a mermaid.
So what theories are still in the game? Check out our significant list of seven below, scored in Raven Eyes for likelihood. Spoilers everywhere.
R+L=J or Who is Jon Snow’s Mother?
Theory Explained: One of the earliest mysteries of A Song of Ice and Fire is the identity of Jon Snow’s mother. There are many well-written and very detailed articles/essays about this theory and outlining all of the evidence would be its own article, so we are just going to cover some of the big points. To refresh your memory, Ned Stark returned from Robert’s Rebellion with a baby that he claimed as his own bastard. As far as it is presented in the books (and show), the only time he acknowledges the identity of the mother is when discussing the issue with Robert (and he does not even really confirm that Wylla is Jon’s mother; he may have been confirming the name of the servant Robert is referring to). He does not discuss the issue with anyone else, even threatening Cat when she tries to bring up the subject. But fans have pieced together the many clues and have deduced that Rhaegar Targaryen + Lyanna Stark = Jon Snow (or R+L=J for short). It is already stated in the books that Lyanna was held at the Tower of Joy in Dorne for the duration of the war, and Ned found her there after the sack of King’s Landing (in the show, we have already seen young Ned’s confrontation with the Kingsguard). Unfortunately, Lyanna died shortly after extracting a promise from Ned, a promise that haunts him for the rest of his life. There is enough evidence in the books to suggest that Lyanna died in childbirth, and fans assume that the promise is somehow related to protecting her newborn child (i.e., Jon). There’s also evidence to suggest that Lyanna was not raped by Rhaegar but went willingly (e.g., her comments about Robert and her betrothal, her reaction to Rhaegar playing his harp at the tourney at Harrenhal). And, of course, there is the blue rose imagery woven throughout Lyanna’s presence in the novels (e.g., the rose crown at Harrenhal, blue roses in Ned’s dream about Tower of Joy) and Dany’s vision of a blue rose growing out of a chink in a wall of ice, which many assume to be connected with Jon.
Probability: 3 out of 3 Raven eyes for sure.
R+L=J is the the most accepted fan theory. It’s also important to remember that GRRM asked David Benioff and Dan Weiss to guess the identity of Jon Snow’s mother during his first business meeting with them, so GRRM expects that people paying attention to details can figure out the mystery. The clues are in the books, and the show has included some of these clues (e.g., referring to the tourney at Harrenhal). The inclusion of the Tower of Joy sequence in season 6 is further evidence the reveal is coming (maybe in the last episode of season 6?). Otherwise, why include the Tower of Joy at this point in the story if it doesn’t bear some impact?
The Dragon has three heads, and two of them may be Azor Ahai and The Prince That Was Promised
Theory Explained: Azor Ahai was a legendary hero, wielding a burning sword called Lightbringer, destined to fight against the darkness. It is strongly believed by various characters in the books that Azor Ahai will be reborn in this time, destined to fight against the darkness that the White Walkers will bring. Melisandre states, “When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt” and that this “warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.” The Prince That Was Promised prophecy reads much the same, also a prophesied savior and hero to deliver the world from darkness and a bleeding star is supposed to herald his coming. The main mention of the Prince is during the book version of Daenerys’ trippy journey through the House of the Undying when she sees a vision of Rhaegar, holding his son Aegon while saying, “He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire”.
The other oft mentioned phrase that seems to tie into these two prophesied heroes is that “the dragon has three heads”, another piece of cryptic wisdom that vision-Rhaegar doles out to Daenerys. Many believe that Azor Ahai and The Prince That Was Promised are interchangeable, or that the prophecy could apply to multiple people and that in conjunction with the dragon has three heads, there probably are… wait for it…three people.
The question is who? Currently, the front runners amongst the A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones analysts seem to be Jon Snow and Daenerys. In A Dance with Dragons, Jon was killed under the bleeding star of the unfortunate bleeding Ser Patrek of King’s Mountain, the salt from his tears and the smoke from his steaming wounds being the salt and smoke of the prophecy. And, as we have seen in the show, Jon is reborn and Melisandre certainly seems to have switched allegiances in the show, admitting to Davos that she now believes that Jon is the Prince That Was Promised. In the books, she is getting there as well, having looked in the fires and seeing “only Snow”. Daenerys, on the other hand, was reborn in the fires of Drogo’s funeral pyre under the bleeding red comet in the sky. If these two fulfill two of the heads of the dragon, then the next question is, who is the third?
Those theories range from the plausible (Tyrion, Bran, etc.) to the absurd (Hot Pie, the Hound, basically any fan favorite). We think we may have to wait and see for those answers.
Probability: 3 out of 3 Raven Eyes
This prophecy is mentioned too many times throughout the books and in the show (remember that time that Renly called Stannis “a ham” when Melisandre spoke of him being born amidst salt and smoke?) to not come true in some fashion. With Jon being brought back to life this season (Thanks Mel! We don’t know if you’ll be responsible in the books as well, but still, much appreciated), it seems only a matter of time until he fulfills his destiny to save everyone against the White Walkers. He just has to survive the next episode…we hear there is some kind of battle. Daenerys, too, seems ready for the wars to come, already a dragon rider. In the books, it was Maester Aemon who believed that Dany was the Princess That Was Promised, as Valyrian nouns are gender neutral. Linguistics aside, if she of the many titles wants to take part, she better get on Drogon’s back and fly back to Westeros or she’ll miss the great battle she is supposed to help win.
Who is the Valonqar?
Theory Explained: Teenage Cersei visits Maggy the Frog to find out her future. Most of Maggy’s prophecies have already come to pass, (Tommen, you are definitely next, sorry/not sorry) but there is one that still hasn’t reared its ugly head.
Maggy tells Cersei, “And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.” Valonqar is high Valryian for little brother and Cersei’s immediate thought goes to Tyrion. Brother and sister have a highly volatile relationship. She has hated him from birth, blaming him for the death of her mother, Joanna. As the years pass, the rivalry between siblings becomes more dangerous and fuels Cersei’s fear that Tyrion is indeed the one. It doesn’t help that Tyrion is his usual spiteful, sarcastic self around her. One day that’s going to get you in trouble, Tyrion! Oh wait…
Probability: 3 out of 3 Raven Eyes.
What Cersei takes for granted is that Tyrion is not her only younger sibling. Although twins, Cersei was born first. Jaime and Cersei’s TV relationship is moving a bit slower than their book relationship. By A Feast for Crows Jaime comes to realize that Cersei has been using him and he’s had enough, and he rejects his sister in favor of personal development. There’s one last little scene from the books coming up for Jaime and Brienne shippers (it’s not what you think, Bronns of the world) and we really do hope we get to see it on the show.
Could Jaime be the one to end Cersei’s life? Both Jaime and Cersei have had thoughts about their deaths and always imagine that they must be together in the end. In A Storm of Swords, Jaime thinks to himself, “We will die together as we were born together.” In A Dance With Dragons, Cersei tells her Uncle Kevan that “We came into this world together, Uncle. He would not go without me.” These are just two of many instances that the twins believe that they are destined to leave the earth as they came into it.
The Mad Queen Daenerys Targaryen
Theory Explained: There is this belief that the Targaryen’s carry an insanity gene in their DNA (most likely due to all that inbreeding, if we’re being honest, or dragon blood). In A Song of Ice and Fire, it is mentioned that in each Targaryen there is the potential for madness or greatness. Sometimes the madness does not manifest itself until something triggers it. For Daenery’s father, King Aerys II, it was being imprisoned following the Defiance of Duskendale. What exactly was/is/will be the trigger for Daenerys? Was it when she allowed for her brother to be burned to death via molten gold? One can even speculate that her life up until the events of the novels had led her to be paranoid of betrayal and/or any acts of defiance. We see in the novels that she has already started down a path to madness. For example, she has 163 slavers of Meereen crucified in retaliation for the killing of slaves, without differentiating between those slavers who committed the heinous crimes and those who had no involvement. This arbitrary justice can be viewed as her moving closer to embracing her mad side. Was it the fact that these people killed slaves that upset her so, or was it the act of defiance that caused her to react with this draconian form of punishment? The fact that she integrates former slavers into her government says a lot about her true motivations. She also has shown that she has no problem using torture on innocent people (like the wine seller’s daughters in A Dance with Dragons) as a means of gathering intelligence. This points to her being complacent with extreme acts of violence as a means of consolidating her power and as a preventative measure against any form of resistance. Characters from Mace Tyrell to Arianne Martell make comments in the series of Daenerys’ proclivity to this mad side of her personality, although we must acknowledge some bias. In her final A Dance with Dragons chapter the shadowbinder Quaithe says to Daenerys, “Remember who you are, Daenerys, … The dragons know. Do you?”
Probability: 2 out of 3 Raven Eyes
While the methods of consolidating her power are cruel, she is not smiling and taking pleasure in these merciless acts of violence. She’s an evolving character with complicated motivations. However, her paranoia over being betrayed is something that makes us believe she has the potential to fully embrace that side of her personality. The fact that she acts so often on fiery impulses is something to ponder. While Daenerys seems to have good intentions as a conqueror, that doesn’t necessarily make her a good ruler. She is learning to rule but her ultimate destiny may not be a Queen of Peace. We don’t see much use for dragons as peacemakers.
The Grand Northern Conspiracy
Theory Explained: This theory still has legs, though we don’t know for how much longer. Book fans latched onto this idea after A Dance With Dragons was published. By the end of ADWD several events have occurred in the North in which, despite House Stark’s scattered, houeseless, and powerless status, the major Houses of the North have all gone out of their way to pledge or demonstrate their continued allegiance to House Stark. Remember, at this point in the books, Robb is dead, Rickon, Bran, Arya and Sansa are all still missing. Jon is a member of the Night’s Watch (well, up until those last few pages). Stannis holds the Wall and the Boltons are Wardens of the North. And yet we’ve got little girls writing snarky letters, Lords baking vengeance pies and a general arrangement of the North in opposition to the Boltons. Many readers find this all suspect. Far too convenient for the story and, frankly, against GRRM’s style. Unless something else is going on.
So what’s the point? It all boils down to many of the Great Houses of the North being present during the time that Robb Stark declared his brother, Jon Snow, his legitimate heir should Robb die before issue. Not only does the North seek revenge against the Boltons and Freys, but they are carefully moving towards the idea that Robb Stark gave them a taste of: a true King in the North for a Northern Kingdom completely separate from the rest of Westeros. This kind of political power would be very appealing to the Northern Houses, whose culture and economy is far removed from that of the South. They’ve identified the guy with the greatest claim to that power and they are carefully setting the board to their advantage.
Yes, as so many theories in ASOIAF, this one ends with Jon Snow. In this case, as Lord of Winterfell and King of Winter.
Probability: 1 out of 3 Raven Eyes.
While the show hasn’t done much set up for The North Remembers (looking at you, Glovers. You are dead to us.) many show watchers believe that the mere idea of the fierce Northern Houses betraying their vows to House Stark is completely unbelievable. Particularly in the climate the show has presented, in which Sansa is alive and claiming her birthright, while Jon Snow is no longer a member of the Night’s Watch and seeking to support his sister’s claim. And the capture of Rickon and murder of Shaggydog? Could this be a bait and switch? Is there something else going on? The Umbers are a complicated house in the books so they could be playing off that idea for the show. Why does the show keep carefully mentioning the Manderlys even though we’ve never met them? Because Sansa is in the North, it is less likely that the Northern Houses would want Jon as King, but that’s not saying they aren’t open to a Queen. And we’re still holding out for an epic Manderly bake-off.
Disease is Coming for the Seven Kingdoms
Theory Explained: We’re not sure if this one counts as a theory anymore or just as inevitable, horrible, truth. Jon Connington, cut from the show but not our hearts, suffers from greyscale as he struggles to re-establish Targaryen rule in service of his long dead bestie, Rhaegar Targaryen. In the books he’s already wandering around Westeros touching EVERYTHING. Just everything. While the show has afflicted Jorah Mormont with the disease. As far as we know he’s still in Essos searching for the cure on his Queencrush’s orders. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be returning home to also TOUCH EVERYTHING.
This means that an outbreak of greyscale is inevitable for the people of Westeros. It’s a disease they don’t know much about. We don’t even know how Shireen lived through it (yes we do, it was Patchface. Patchfaaaace!) Such a disease will devastate a continent already in turmoil due to war. And just when Jon Snow will need as many bodies as he can get in his army against the Night’s King. Unless he figures out how to recruit Stone Men? Or maybe Jorah will? He’ll have to think up some way of fixing what he started. And they might be conveniently immune to dragon fire…
Probability: 2 out of 3 Raven Eyes.
Jon Connington is the saddest hopeless romantic in ASOIAF. Jorah fills that role for the show. They’ve both got greyscale and they are both touching EVERYTHING. It’s going to happen. What we don’t know is if anyone will bother to ask Patchface for the cure.
R’hllor VS The Great Other
Theory Explained: If you examine the books (or the show for that matter) thematically you can easily identify that the larger conflict in ASOIAF is that of Fire and Ice. George R.R. Martin has done an incredible amount of world building in his novels, filling the stories with harmonious and disparate cultures and religions. Every region seems to have their own religion, which makes sense. However, there’s one religion that doesn’t seem to have any borders—a religion that crosses cultures and holds sway in even the lands most entrenched in their own, native religious practices. That religion is, of course, the worship of the Lord of Light. R’hllor. The Fire-based religion attracts the downtrodden and forgotten of the lands of Westeros and Essos, making it a religion of the common folk. Readers are exposed to the Faith of the Seven, The Old Gods, The Many-Faced God, and even the Drowned God as religions that primarily serve the needs and aspirations of the economically and politically elite. (Sidenote: This is one of the reasons The Crown vs the Faith is even interesting despite the Sparrows’ endless droning, since until now it has been inconceivable that the Faith would not assist the Crown in its goals.)
R’hllor is also one of the only religions in which there is repeated and tangible proof of “magic” by its priests and practitioners. Thoros of Myr and Melisandre of Asshai have both accomplished incredible feats, including resurrections, in the name of the Lord of Light. Other priests, like Moqorro, are performing magic healings and conjurings. That is not to say that R’hllor is not corrupt. Many of his priests and priestesses practice blood magic and ritual sacrifice that looks pretty darn evil.
Conversely we are also faced with Ice. The opposite of resurrection, the necromancy of the god the followers of R’hllor refer to as the Great Other. Melisandre has seen visions in her fires that she believes represent the Great Other, that readers will recognize as Others. Wights. The Night’s King and his army of undead. As well as visions of Bran. Could this mean that the Old Gods, that the show has linked with the creation of The Others by the Children of the Forest, are the incarnation of Death to R’hllor’s Life? Or has the religion of the Children been integrated into the Ice Magic of the Great Other, influenced by death? It’s clear that the Wall is itself an enormous feat of magic, while the abilities of Bran and his siblings, linked to the Old Gods, are also concrete examples of magic.
Probability: 3 out of 3 Raven Eyes.
We know that this will all end in a great battle between the Light and the Darkness, Fire and Ice, Life and Death. But, we’re also familiar with ASOIAF and we know that nothing is simple and truth is always relative. If R’hllor and the Old Gods are the only religions that can claim “real” magic, it doesn’t mean one is evil and the other good. If we’ve learned anything from Arya’s time with the Many-Faced God it’s that we may be seeing two sides of the same very powerful coin.
*Tyrion as Secret Targaryen. Look, we get it. There’s suspicious circumstances involving the timing of his conception. That Tywin and Aerys had a falling out over SOMETHING. That Tyrion has really blonde hair and a fascination with dragons and the Dragon has Three Heads. We get it. We just happen to hate this theory. We think Tywin deserves Tyrion as his true heir and that not everyone is a secret Targ. And we wrote the article. We’re officially giving this one 0 out of 3 Raven Eyes. So there!
Hello, we are Fire and Lunch! Five years ago, a bunch of superfans came together to celebrate their favorite book series over food, and the rest is history. You can find our in-depth analysis (complete with POP-toy gifs) of Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, and other fantasy series on tumblr and twitter. If you’re into fast talking, intelligent discourse, and some pretty deep geek humor, check out our podcast, The Piecast.
I was recently introduced to the theory surrounding the Drowned God and various, very old ‘oily black stone’ monuments scattered around Westeros and beyond. Short version is that the Drowned God == Cthulhu, so that’s a fun one to look forward to.
Hate to break it to you, but Tyrion is one of the heads of the Dragon. Just learn to accept it.
@1
it would be so Greyjoy to be killed and eaten by your own god.
@2
No. :)
Can Tyrion be one of the heads of the dragon without being a Targaryen? Because I really like the idea of Tyrion riding a dragon! And swooping into Kings Landing to flame some Lannisters!
R+L=D, N or B +A =J
@5
I was told there would be no math…
I kind of like the theory I heard this year that Meera is Jon’s twin. Ned gets one and Howland gets one. Twins would help explain by L died in childbirth.
But Tyrion Targaryen would go a long way to explaining why Tywin was so adamant that he not become the Lord of Casterly Rock! And that leaves Jamie to be the “younger brother” that does Cersei in, which I think would be far more satisfying than Tyrion doing it.
Of course, technically he’d be Tyrion Hill rather than Tyrion Targaryen, which I would appreciate as it would take some of the sting out of my own name being a bastard surname.
In the book Tyrone has two different colored eyes, a chimera I think it’s called, basically means your mom’s a dirty girl who’s egg was fertilized by two different father’s, that could be a clue to his DNA questions
I still think that Jaime and Cersei are half-targs, Tyrion is Tywin’s only natural son, and both he and Jaime committed patricide. The three heads of the dragon is a reversal of the conquest; instead of a male with two brides, Dany will have two husbands, Jon and Aegon.
@10, Pretty sure Dany is going to kill Aegon, not marry him as he is the mummer’s dragon, one of the three lies that Dany must kill. Aegon most likely will marry Arrianne and take the Iron Throne before Dany gets back to Westeros bringing about the second dance of the dragons when she does return. Also, I’m pretty sure that Dany’s next two husbands will be Euron and Jon, as two of the three great loves for Dany. Dany was shown/told all of this in the HotU in ACoK.
@11. Assuming of course that the House of the Undying was telling the truth.
I have read a lot about the Tyrion theory, but I do get confused about the timing — most of the theory is based on the comments Aegon made about “right of first night” — and if he DID do it, wouldn’t he then be Jaime and Cersei’s father, not Tyrion’s?
Like @10 said, it would seem more likely that if anyone is half Targ it would be those two. However, I’m not saying I fully buy it, as I don’t see much point in them being halfblood Targs (unless Jaime is going to be one of the three heads somehow? Though I think the article’s assumption that he and Cersei die together to be much more likely).
As far as who the three heads are, it’s definitely tricky. Some like to point out because it’s a song of ICE and FIRE, Dany is the fire (full blood Targ), Jon, if R+L=J is true, is half and half (Targ+Stark), so the most likely candidate for the last is a full blood ice, which I think means Stark. In that case I think Bran is the most likely, seeing as I assume he will eventually warg the dragons. However, it could also be Arya, if we discount the two husbands guess, or even Rickon or Sansa.
(There’s also speculation that an ice dragon sleeps beneath the wall. Maybe Bran will awaken that one, or the Night King will.)
I do also think Dany with 2 husbands makes sense, but I think it’d be better if the other 2 heads were a man/woman who would be the rulers after Dany dies or steps down. Because let’s face it, she’s a Targ, she’s probably going to go mad, and she’s a conqueror, not a ruler. I’m hoping she bites the dust in the final battle, along with her dragons, so that the two left can then rule (or establish a democracy/republic which is really what the kingdoms need). In that case, who can marry Jon? Arya or Sansa, if that’s not too squicky with them being cousins, or maybe Arianne? Or Asha? Or someone completely new?
Well, that’s my musings.
@@.-@
Definitely plausible!
@7
hmmmm, Score: A tear in a single eye of the Three Eyed Raven? hahaha
@8
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo
@13
the rise of democracy theory is pretty compelling. within FireandLunch we often argue about its merits and likelihood but we all agree it’s a really great theory. and we agree with you, if any Lannisters are secret Targs, its Jaime and Cersei.
Southron Ambitions?
Are Jaime and Cersei supposed to be Targs because that “explains” the twincest?
It makes no sense that some people insist a fantasy book is only good if the heroes introduce democracy. Feudalism is part of the setting of medieval fantasy books. If you don’t like that, read a different genre.
@16 birgit
I agree.
I can understand people’s frustation with the injustices of feudalism, but you can’t go from medieval monarchy to modern democracy in a few years. We’re used to the 21st century assumption that democratic government and freedom of speech are universal human rights, but the historical reality is that, well into the 19th century, “conventional wisdom” viewed democracy as a dangerous and unstable system of government, at best suitable only for small city-states, and at worst doomed to slide into anarchy and constant war, as philosophers like Aristotle and Thucydides argued.
Jon and Meera are believed to be similar in age, but look very different.
Book-Tyrion does have a mix of black and pale-blond hair, and mismatched eyes that probably don’t indicate having ‘two fathers’ but are shared with Euron Greyjoy and Shiera Seastar (though they have different color combos).
Targaryen blood =/= dragon skills, as Quentin Martell demonstrated, and nobody knows if all of the “dragonseeds” who rode dragons in the historic Dance of the Dragons were actually Targaryen bastards. So I think Tyrion could conceivably ride a dragon, whether or not he’s a Targ.
Greyscale has been present in Westeros, Shireen had it, Harlon Greyjoy died of it, the Wildlings get it and kill its victims straightaway, and Arianne said that Myrcella should have been rumored to have it instead of redspots to keep people away while she was smuggled out of Sunspear. It’s highly transmissible, but I’m not certain JonCon will bring Westeros low with it.
Varys? Psh. He’s not ocean-affiliated. Only Patchface and the Manderlys are merlings. Drowned Men are merling wannabes.
I agree that there is a certain poetic justice to Tyrion actually being Tywin’s true born son considering how much he wanted to pass him off.
I think that the three-heads-of-dragon theory feels weirdly asymetric, if it will be Daenerys (fire) plus Jon (ice) plus somebody else. So I’m kinda hoping that Jon will have his own dragon trio. (Ice dragons!) But it’s probably too late in the story to have another dragons hatch and grow… unless they’re already grown up and sleeping… Is it crazy theory?
Where did you get the idea that the wall is a product of magic? The wall was built and maintained by the Builders of the Night’s Watch over thousands of years, it is a totally mundane structure equivalent to the Great Wall of China. Just because they were completely cut out of the show does not mean ‘the wizards did it’.
In fact one of the biggest markers for the decline of the Night’s Watch in the books is the state of repair of the Wall. There are some detailed accounts of entire sections of the wall having collapsed between the occupied strongholds of the Watch. The decay of the Wall gives any and every passage about the Watch its urgency throughout the story. This is one point that I really wish they had shown better in the show as it would have taken maybe 1 or 2 lines of dialogue to justify and thereafter could have been a very useful visual metaphor for impending doom. A huge opportunity missed IMHO.
@21
Brandon the Builder received magical assistance from the Children of the Forest in the construction of the Wall. The wards that keep the Others from crossing most likely came from the Children and it is implied there’s magic involved in the preservation of the Wall during battle. it IS clear that the magic is declining, illustrated by the Wall’s decay and the holes in the Wards that you mentioned.
@20
Interesting! Maybe there’s room for a 3rd idea still. Nature or Life or … what’s between fire and ice? The Steamiest head of the dragon. hahaha. there are theories that there are still dragons out there. Like the idea that the Cannibals on Skagos might not actually be a reference to people but rather the Dragon, Cannibal.
@17 How about a switch to a constitutional monarchy?
Lady Stoneheart would look mighty regal atop the third dragon. Though, if Jon has three dragons of his own hiding under the wall, that would make the whole deal of a trumpet that collapses the wall a lot more sensible.
I’d strongly consider including the Many Faced God among the religions that demonstrate magic and serve the common people. It was started as a slave rebellion in Valyria and the cost of an assassination varies according to the purchaser and is always a sacrifice (i.e.., not necessarily money and not necessarily excluding the poor). Also, their face-changing is most certainly a form of magic. The fact that they are privy to secrets of rich and poor, move unseen amongst others and are opposed to the Valyrians (i.e., to the dragons) make them players in the game. In the books, we know that one is at the Citadel and taking interest in finding a book. They must have their own goals that have not yet been revealed.
And while I understand why Tyrion as Tywin’s son is better literature (so tragic), the overarching story A Song of Ice and Fire isn’t the story of their relationship. And the evidence is difficult to ignore: the opportunity and interest of the mad king in Joanna, the tensions between Tywin and Aerys, beginning after his marriage to Joanna, Tyrion’s lighter hair (in the books) than his siblings, the dreams of and obsession with dragons (only displayed by Targaryens), his seeming immunity to disease (in the books he was heavily exposed to grayscale, Jon C. less so, yet Tyrion didn’t get it and Jon did. Then, when his slave master died of the plague and Penny was shown getting symptoms, Tyrion was in close contact with both and exhibited not so much as a sniffle.) In another chapter, as the plague spreads through the lands, Danerys shows no fear of growing ill herself, mentioning that the Targaryens historically have never succumbed to illness (save for madness).
There are any number of reasons for the falling out between Tywin and Aerys. Like the fact that people said that Tywin was the one who really ruled Westeros, not Aerys. And yes, Aerys constantly hitting on Joanna probably didn’t help. But I think the real nails in the coffin of their friendship was the Defiance of Duskendale and Aerys’s refusal to have Rhaegar marry Cersei (“You are my most able servant, Tywin, but a man does not marry his heir to his servant’s daughter.”). Things only got worse at the Tourney at Harrenhal, when Aerys inducted Jaime into the Kingsguard, taking away Tywin’s favored son and heir. There’s plenty there to end a friendship.
I don’t believe that Tyrion is secretly a Targaryan, if only because it seems a bit too pat – “see! All your favorite characters are really related! Isn’t that great?” Tywin has plenty of reasons to hate Tyrion already. First, Joanna – by all accounts the only woman Tywin ever really loved – died giving birth to Tyrion. Second, he probably thinks Tyrion is a bit too much like his own father, what with all the drinking and whoring. On top of that, Tyrion doesn’t have the skill set people in Westeros expect from a lord – not only does he lack any kind of martial ability (like Sam), he can’t even be expected to develop those skills because he’s a dwarf. Yes, we like Tyrion and know he’d be a good lord because he’s smart, but people in Westeros don’t care how smart a lord is – you can hire people for that. Lords are supposed to be warriors, first and foremost. Jaime is a great warrior; Tyrion isn’t, and never will be.
@1 If you want a comprehensive theory on the Drowned God and the Deep Ones of Lovecraft myth within ASoIaF, I got a theory for you: https://thesuddenstorm.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/the-truth-behind-the-drowned-god/
In summary: The Deep Ones were half-men, half-fish created by the children of the forest by warging into sea creatures and copulating with human women while warged into those creatures. They also used their water magic to drown whole lands to collect humans to breed with. They created the Deep Ones to destroy the half-giant mazemakers. As creatures of the sea, they also inspired the religion of the Drowned God. They are the “truth behind the Drowned God” — the very phrase used in the books to describe the fathers of the Deep Ones.
When I denied the truth of the Merling Theory here long ago, I must have not yet watched the video, let alone read long explanations and discussions like this one and this other one that extend the theory to assign suspected merling status to a number of other characters and events. I have seen the error of my ways. It’s now my favorite ASOIAF theory.
(No, I don’t expect confirmation. I’ll just headcanon it because it pleases me so much.)