The Wildest 'Game of Thrones' Fan Theories Still in Play

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take note : despoiler for the Game of Thronesbooks and TV adjustment to follow . Proceed with caution .

While enduring George R.R. Martin ’s excruciatingly slow composition stride , obsessive rooter of theA Song of Ice and Fireseries have scour the account book ' encompassing mythology for clues on how the saga might flirt out . The problem : many of the storylines onGame of Thrones , the wildly popular TV adaptation , have moved past where they stood at the end of 2011’sA Dance With Dragons , the most recently publish novel in Martin ’s best - selling series . The show has further complicated speculation efforts by altering significant plot points and introducing entirely new 1 into the mix , as well .

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HBO

HBO waits for no man , and thesixth - season premiere , the follow - up episodeandepisode threemade it clear thatGame of Throneshas no patience for Martin ’s dilly - dallying . In a single 60 minutes in the premiere , two fan theory that still have n’t been definitively answered in the books got sort out on the show : 1 . Did Jon Snow " warg " into his direwolf after getting stabbed ? ( Nope . ) 2 . IsMelisandre a very , very quondam womanworking some sinewy mojo to keep herself looking spry ? ( Yep ! )

While either or both of those theory may still be in play in the record book themselves , we wo n’t know for certain until Martin releasesThe Winds of Winter(date still improbably TBD ) . But what about the numberless other theories whipped up by rule book lover over the years that could still peradventure get work into the show ? As we prepare for sequence two , let ’s run through the most intriguing fan theory – batshit crazy though some of them may be – that could conceivably still happen onGame of Thrones .

Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, aka R + L = J

Many hints have been render in the book and in various HBO episodes that Jon Snow is not , in fact , Ned Stark ’s bastard boy . This well - known hypothesis posits that the seemingly slain Lord Commander of the Night ’s Watch is the offspring of Ned ’s dead sister Lyanna and her dead courtesan ( and possible secret husband ) Prince Rhaegar , who was the heir to the Iron Thrones and also a much - older brother of Daenerys . Plausibility : Almost certain . Among hardcore Martin fans ( Martinheads ? ) , R + L = J is basically assumed to be true , and this looks like the season we ’ll get out one means or another ; thanks toset - watchersandcasting - call listingsthat would seem to confirm that component of this theory will finally be harness , possibly via flashback as soon as episode three . If genuine , this would mean that Jon Snow is the half - nephew of Khaleesi . A spinoff theory , A + L = J , points to a more menacing lineage : that Lyanna was raped by Rhaegar ’s throw out of kilter father , King Aerys II Targaryen – an unpleasant possibility that would make Jon Snow the half - blood brother of Daenerys .

Tyrion is a secret Targaryen, aka A + J = T

R + L = J open up the floodgates for potential secret Targaryens cover across theGame of Thronesuniverse . In Tyrion ’s pillowcase , the theory goes that Mad King Aerys either had an affair with or raped Tywin Lannister ’s wife , Joanna , during Tywin ’s tenure in King ’s Landing as the Hand of the King . This prompted Tywin to break with the king and return to Casterly Rock , where Joanna subsequently perished during childbirth as Tyrion move into the world . plausibleness : Very potential . The Tyrion - as - bastard theory would go far to explicate why Tywin had no making love for Tyrion – and add more impact to Tywin ’s dying words : " You ’re no boy of mine . " The theory also impart more depth to Tyrion ’s sports meeting - up with Daenerys last time of year , since , like Jon - Daenerys under A + L = J , it would make them half - sibling .

The Hound is still alive and he’s digging graves on the Quiet Isle

DidSandor Cleganedie after his battle with Brienne at the end of time of year 4 ? While his foster daughter with behavioural issues Arya Stark left him behind to waste , we never get a line him expire . In the Koran , the call for Brienne ( who does n’t face up the Hound in Martin ’s interlingual rendition … ) sees a gravedigger while making a Inferno catch at the spiritual enclave on Quiet Isle – a vast , hooded man who ’d lately take protection there in search of a mere life . The Hound ’s cantankerous horse , Stranger , is also seen in the stables . But Brienne does n’t put two and two together . Plausibility : Possible ! Rory McCannwas spotted detain at a hotel near the Belfast setback in August , andIan McShane will appear in an upcoming episodeas a character who matches the general description of another Quiet Isle resident . If true , strap in – it just might be Cleganebowl sentence ( see below ) !

The Hound and the Mountain will fight to the death, aka Cleganebowl

If Cleganebowl help get their means , thetwo nefarious Clegane brother will square off in a deathmatch , allow the Hound to seek retribution from his sadistic sib for the childhood face - burning that scarred him . The most call back - out version predicts that Cersei , put on test by the High Sparrow , will choose trial by combat and name Ser Robert Strong as her champion , which will prompt the High Sparrow to summons a certain tower gravedigger from the Quiet Isle ( see the theory above).Plausibility : improbable . Given that the Hound has n’t been re - introduced yet and the first season - six trailer made it seem like Cersei wo n’t be go on trial run ( Cersei : " I choose fierceness " ) , it ’s hard to think the Cleganebowl hype materializing this season , despite the Rory McCann sighting . But maybe it ’s being teed up for next year ? no matter , do n’t get any of this stop you from watchingthis awful fan - create Cleganebowl TV . Get plug .

Benjen Stark has turned into a mysterious character named Coldhands

call up Benjen Stark ? Of course you do . Benjen , Ned Stark ’s younger brother , was a Isle of Man of the Night ’s Watch who cryptically disappeared early on on in the first season , never to be seen again . Fans have long since believed him to be every single deep figure regard north of the Wall ( and , nonsensically , some way out in Essos ) , honcho among themColdhands . Plausibility : perchance ! The show has thus far avoided adapting the most orphic book character of them all , but there is still plenty of clock time to craft a lurid return for upright ol' Benjen . look at that Benjen ’s name was rag to get Jon Snow to do out of his room in the time of year - five finale by the stabby mutineer who end the Lord Commander ’s watch , we make out that the showrunners are acutely cognizant of Benjen fever . Could he be that drape figure swinging a morning star in the woodsin the time of year - six preview ?

The dragon has three heads, aka there will be three dragon-riding Targaryens

Fantasy fans love symmetry . The House Targaryen sigil consists of a dragon with three head and " the three head of the dragons " is also one of the unwieldy metaphor that pops up throughout the script series . In the time of year - two successiveness atthe House of the Undying , the Mother of Dragons is inform that she ’ll have to portion out her nipper eventually . If her select steed is Drogon , who will ride his firing - emit siblings , Rhaegal and Viserion ? It stands to reason that they ’ll have Targaryen stemma , right?Plausibility : It could occur . In scenes for this calendar week ’s episode and in the season - six trailer , Tyrion is shown attempt to shoot the breeze the two dragon lock up in the catacombs of Meereen . Could he be one of the three rider , per A + J = T ( see above ) ? We ’ve already told you about R + L = J – is Jon Snow the third rider ? The wildcard in this possibility is Bran . He is n’t a Targaryen , but he does own the power to " warg " into other sentient beings , as he ’s done with his direwolf and Hodor . Andquoth the Three - Eyed Ravento Bran , back in season four : " You ’ll never walk again , but you will fly . " By " warging " into a spoiled - ass Draco maybe ?

Dragon eggs are stowed under Winterfell

An odd spot of actual - acres trifle we learned from the books : despite its placement , the ancient Stark fastness of Winterfell is maintain warm by weewee from red-hot springs shoot through its walls . It ’s mentioned a lot , but the germ of that oestrus is up for debate . Some northerly legend speak of a cluster of dragon egg lay by a former Targaryen queen ’s dragon years ago . plausibleness : Probably not . InA Clash of king , Bran glimpses through his Direwolf Summer a " winged snake whose roaring was a river of flame " across the Winterfell sky , meaning that flying dragon have emphatically been in that part of the public before . If there is a state of war of dragons and zombi coming , take a obscure Draco closer to the Wall would certainly come in handy . But the amount of explanation this would require to seem like a legit game distributor point make this theory hard to buy into from a show perspective .

Bran eats a paste made out of Jojen’s remains

Jojen Reed ! In the account book , Jojen survived to reach the Three - Eyed Raven alongside Bran , only to mysteriously disappear once they get inside . And then Bran is given a " bloody - tasting " potion imply to activate his latent view ability . Was the cardinal ingredient … Jojen ? There ’s mint to imply that Jojen fuck he ’d be head the direction of Soylent Green once they hand their name and address , and was willing to be Miracle - lather in order for Bran to accomplish his luck . plausibleness : Slim fortune . Bran Stark ’s hipster - ish friend was a hackey - sack away from a drumfish round before his untimely death at the hired hand of a walk skeleton in the cupboard back in season four . The young seer was the one to convince Bran to guide northerly of the Wall and seek the Three - Eyed Raven … only to perish right outside of their terminus . Womp womp . Jojen was also scorched by a Child of the Forest so as to prevent him from turning into a wight , so there ’s no Jojen leave for the Jojen library paste .

Meera Reed and Jon Snow are twins

Or , R + L + Star Wars= J + M. In this hypothesis , Lyanna Stark did not give birth to one kid but two – a male child and a young woman . The male child was entrust to Ned Stark ; the girl was passed on to Howland Reed , Ned ’s safe Quaker . Yep , Jojen ’s fizgig - exert sister – primarily known in the show for having above - medium rabbit - skin skills – is yet another secret Targaryen!Plausibilty : Low . For one affair , it ’s beyond cliché , post - leading Wars . Meera , who is slated to come out this time of year , has simply been too nonaged of a character for this theory to have much value on the show . Of all the underage characters in Westeros , pointing to Meera is about as interesting as pointing to Unsullied Soldier No . 4812 and make him Daenerys ’s little brother . But her resemblance to Jon Snow makes it impossible to throw out totally .

The Maesters are conspiring against everyone

accord to a one we meet in the book , maesters have worked for century to stamp out all the world ’s illusion , kill off the dragons and deport Aemon Targaryen to the Wall . Though most are unseen , the maesters have members in every great menage of Westeros . While all center are on the Red Priests and the Faceless Men , this wide - spanning Westerosi organisation operate mighty under everyone ’s noses – yet their material agenda thus far remains unknown . Plausibility : Too complicated . Perhaps you noticed that the Season 6 premiere went out of its room to found maesters in all the master locations ? There was a new one serving the Boltons in Winterfell , as well as another one in Dorne . This theory might explain Pycelle ’s eagerness to have Daenerys assassinated back in time of year one , and we wish the estimate of an organization dedicated to scientific discipline and reason as a counterpoint to the Red Priests . Plus , their as - yet - unseen fastness , the Citadel , is home to all the Koran in the world – and may give away how deeply this cabal goes once it graces our screens . Still , it would all palpate like tacked - on intrigue .

The Boltons are vampires

While the show has done a decent job of adapting the Boltons ' creepiness for the covert , it omits Roose ’s creepiest fetish : leeches . Forget the skinning ; this mofo spends most of his downtime in the books covered in parasite , as a way of evoke the speculative humors from his body . It ’s his No . 1 watering place treatment . This compulsion with renewal and bloodletting has brought many devotee to extreme conclusions about Roose ’s vampiric nature . Plausibility : Not potential . Considering that Martin addresses ghosts , automaton , and even loup-garou ( via warging ) , it ’s not precisely a stretchiness to cogitate that Westeros might have an analogue to vampires . One theory posits that Roose is immortal and practices a modified adaptation of the Faceless Men ’s brass - pare by pare young workforce alive , wear thin their skin , and keep the whole matter refreshed by bloodletting on a regular basis . AfterMelisandre ’s openhanded revealin the time of year - six premiere , we have intercourse that age is nothing but a turn , if you bed how to cuckold it .

Game of Thronesgoes full-onSweeney Todd

This is paw down our favorite theory , and with Walder Frey set to reelect at yet another portentous banquet ( according to one of theseason - six drone ) our hearts are fill with hope . InA Dance With Dragons , we gather Wyman Manderly , a bon vivant northerly lord who is clear himself off as being firm to the Lannisters but is secretly bloodless about the perfidy of the Starks at the Red Wedding . Later on , three Frey men whom Wyman had been host before Ramsay ’s marriage ceremony go missing . And then Lord Manderly serves three giant nitty-gritty Proto-Indo European at the nuptials , to the var. of a song name " The Rat Cook . " But what is in those pies?Plausibility : Probably not . " The North Remembers " is not just a tormentor tagline run murderously , it ’s a call to politically minded cannibalism . Unfortunately , the show has ( yet ) to enter us to Wyman Manderly , and Ramsay has already been married off . But with so many Freys running around and the writers reassigning floor lines , we ’d be truly bummed not to see a fistful of them baked intosomebody’spigeon Proto-Indo European .

Ben Philippeis a Thrillist Entertainment contributor . His hypothesis is that Grey Worm was somehow never fully Unsullied and is now dissemble because Missandei is being way too thirsty . Find him on Twitter@GoHomeBen .