MovieChat Forums > Game of Thrones (2011) Discussion > REVEALING Jon Snow's Parentage

REVEALING Jon Snow's Parentage

posted 7 years ago by vicky_lc2001 (1907)
30 replies | jump to latest

Do you think that Jon's parentage would be revealed to Jon and other characters like Dany in the show? How would they reveal it you think? And what impact would it have on various characters?

I don't think Dany would be very happy to learn of another Targaryan tbh because he would represent a threat to her supposed right to the 7 Kingdoms. And I would assume she would doubt, suspect, and reject it even when she first hears of it.

But if it is revealed, I just cannot imagine how it will be revealed, through Bran? I can see Bran revealing it to Jon but to others aside from his companions, I don't know. I also don't think it will be in the records for Sam to see, why would anyone have written it down in a ledger anyway? If Sam begins to suspect, it's more likely due to inconsistency in the records like Ned going into the Tower without an infant and coming out with one.

What happened to the nursemaids in the Tower of Joy? How would Reed, Ned's companion even go about relating it, we have yet to see him. I'm starting to think even if they show him, he won't have a big role to play.

Or will they use the Dragons to reveal Jon's parentage? Maybe Varys even knows through his little birds?

Any theories? I'm most intrigued by this actually than anything else.

PS. I'm going through the first book again as an audiobook this time and I was struck by Dany stating that she had expected to marry her brother because the blood had to remain strong and unpolluted, similar as to how a human doesn't breed with animals but with other humans (to paraphrase). A Targaryan breeds with a Tragaryan, not with others. Now these are her brothers sentiments actually that she at 13 accepted & expected in the first book. So I wonder if she would feel the same way if she finds out there is another...

[–] Atarimaster (442) 7 years ago

The way I see it, only Bran CAN reveal it because no one else knows. It’d be real bad writing IMO if they give Bran the vision about this big secret, and then a nursemaid suddenly comes up saying: »Oh, I knew it all along! Would’ve told you earlier if I’d known that you people don’t know.«

And I think he WILL reveal it, in some way or another. Either because he feels that Jon should know, or because his tongue slips.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

Lol, I guess it would be pretty funny if it was the nursemaids that made the revelation. But would others aside from Jon or the North believe Bran? Would Dany take Bran's word for it?

Could Bran take another to his visions of the past? It would be nice if he could show Dany the Mad King.

[–] Atarimaster (442) 7 years ago

Well, there ARE theories that the Mad King goes mad because of Bran taking another trip to the past (just like it happened with Hodor). I don’t think so, but – who knows? We’ll see…

[–] Volley (3366) 7 years ago

Oh my word, if Bran is the reason Aerys goes mad, that'll be a massive twist, because all plots in the show go back to Robert rebelling against him.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

This is the best twist I ever heard for GoT!

[–] winslow (1318) 7 years ago

They've already shown with Edd at The Wall how Bran gets people to believe him. Since he binge watched the first 6 seasons in abut 20 seconds, he can tell people things about themselves that would have been impossible for him to know.

[–] klownz (478) 7 years ago

They already revealed it a few episodes ago.

[–] Atarimaster (442) 7 years ago

The OP is talking about when it’ll be revealed to the people of Westeros, not to us.

[–] Apis (1624) 7 years ago

I think that Bran will tell him, and then Jon will think of a northern Lord who told him in the latest episode that "a Targaryen cannot be trusted" and decide to keep it a secret for a while.

How exactly are Jon and Dany related, first cousins?

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

Dany would be Jon's aunt since his father Rhaegar and Dany were siblings.

Would you prefer for Jon to know about his parents before the other principal characters or vice versa? I think I would prefer for the others to find out about his past before he does.

[–] Apis (1624) 7 years ago

I'd also like for at least one character (besides Bran) to find out before Jon. It would make the story more interesting. But I don't know how this could be achieved since Bran is the only one who knows so far, and I doubt he will just tell this to some random character before telling Jon.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

I guess the reason I would like someone else to find out before Jon is because Jon like Ned is always the reluctant leader, he is always thrust into power. Jon finding out right after Bran I feel would be the type to try to keep it between them and it ends there. But if others knew, then they can be the catalyst for this revelation to be public rather than private.

But I worry how they can reveal his parentage effectively on the show, in a way that is satisfying without being tacky. I really liked their handling of the parentage revelation to both Bran and to us viewers, so I wonder how they will do it when they reveal it to others.

Who do you think will be the second to find out about Jon? Jon himself? Sansa maybe? Even perhaps Little Finger? And do you think it will happen this season?

[–] Apis (1624) 7 years ago

It would be cool if Bran tells Jon about his origin, and Jon asks him to keep it a secret. But some time later there's an oncoming battle with WW, and they all desperately need one more dragon rider. And then Jon admits to everyone that he can do it (or Bran blabs out "Jon can do it")

Since we are speculating here, how would you like it to be revealed?

P.S. Yeah I think it will happen this season, maybe in the last episode.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

I'm not sure but Jon is on his way to see Dany leaving Sansa behind with Little Finger. Arya is also on her way to Winterfell, so perhaps Bran tells Sansa and LF finds out? And I'm not sure how such a revelation would impact Sansa? Would it impact her very negatively or positively?

Would she use the information against Jon? I hope not though, I don't want to see this type of discord amongst the Starks. Both Theon and Sansa were severely disliked by fans and I feel like both are starting to redeem themselves. Sansa betrayed her family once, and it got her father killed and that was a very hard lesson for her. And they are showing a parallel between Sansa and Cersei, but Sansa was raised as a Stark and that environment is still very different to one being raised as a Lannister. So I hope she really does redeem herself.

I think someone else needs to support Jon's Targaryan ancestry, aside from Bran being the source, and it needs to be from someone from the South I think. Bran shouldn't be the only source. Someone not Northern and thereby not influenced by Stark loyalty.

[–] prometheus1816 (1051) 7 years ago

Dany is Jon's aunt. Rhaegar Targaryen was Dany's older brother. There was Arys, who was the Mad King Jaime killed. His children were Rhaegar, Viserys and Danaerys. Any children Rhaegar had with either Elia Martell or Lyanna made Dany and Viserys their aunt and uncle.

[–] Apis (1624) 7 years ago

Thanks. So, his aunt is younger than him.

Targaryens were inbreeding so much that I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Jon is his own grandfather.

[–] prometheus1816 (1051) 7 years ago

Yep. I'm surprised that Jon isn't Dany's oldest sister's cousin's brother.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Or neighbour's!

[–] prometheus1816 (1051) 7 years ago

True. True.

[–] Otter (24464) 7 years ago

Bran is back with the Night's Watch, and will presumably soon be reunited with Jon and Sansa, and isn't that going to be inconvenient for Mr. Kinginthenorth! Not one but two rightful and legitimate heirs to the Stark title underfoot!they'l

But now Jon is heading for Dragonstone where he'll meet Dany, and he's desperate for help fighting the Zombie Apocolypse and she's desperate to marry whatever man will deliver the biggest chunk of Westeros. Do you think they'll marry before Bran has a chance to tell him that this hot chick he wants to marry is his aunt, or after the marriage has happened? Either way it'll be no biggie, cousin marriages are legal and common in Westeros, and if Dany is threatened by his possibly greater claim to the throne, the easiest way to eliminate him as a threat is to marry him. Once they're married, he'll be a good obedient husband.

[–] NorthernLad (472) 7 years ago

My problem with Bran revealing it is who would believe him? Why would they believe him? Because he has these visions of the past? How are they going to make that a credible source? Some other source will have to back it up.

[–] Kawada_Kira (7269) 7 years ago

Howland Reed is the last remaining survivor of the battle at the tower where Ned received baby Jon from Lyanna. Bran could have Jon reach out to Howland Reed to confirm it. As House Reed is sworn to House Stark, all Jon has to do is summon him to meet his new king, and he'd surely come and tell him all he knows.

[–] NorthernLad (472) 7 years ago

That has to be the best way to confirm it. I just don't see how Bran can show up and say..."Well I've been having these visions of things...here's what I saw." Even in Westeros they would label him crazy.

[–] Atarimaster (442) 7 years ago

»Even in Westeros they would label him crazy.«

Not necessarily.
Bran could do something like he did when he met Edd, i.e. telling him that he saw him at the Fist of the First Men. Maybe he could say to Jon: »So, you lost your virginity in a cave, huh?«
;-)

… but of course, it is better if there’s someone to confirm the story at the tower.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

My problem with that is both Bran and Reed are clearly Stark loyalists, Bran being a Stark and Reed a Northern Bannerman of the Starks. I feel we would need another source that's not Northern to support Jon's Targaryan past.

[–] NorthernLad (472) 7 years ago

Good point. And I think you're right. It'll probably have to come out some other way then.

[–] shoolaroon (29) 7 years ago

I've been thinking that as Jon is biologically a Targaryan on his father's side that he may also be immune to fire just as Dany is. That's when she realized she could hatch the dragon eggs, when she had some incident that showed her that she was immune to fire (I forget now exactly what it was but it was in Kal Drogo's tent). I think a similar thing will happen with Jon that will reveal him publicly as a Targaryan. Maybe he can withstand the dragons. Or befriend them. Or maybe the Red Witch might try some fire magic on him for some reason.

[–] Kawada_Kira (7269) 7 years ago

Jon suffered a significant burn on his hand when he killed the wight back in season 1. In the books it's frequently mentioned, how he always has to flex his burned hand. So he's not immune to fire.

[–] shoolaroon (29) 7 years ago

Good catch, I missed that (obvioiusly :) !

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

I think it would be a great way to support or to out Jon's Targaryan ancestry but not all Targaryans are immune to fire like Viserys or when Jon burned his hand killing the White Walker. However, I guess they could change things a bit and give him that one immune to fire moment for whatever reason.

TBH, I really am disappointed with how they revived Jon, I was thinking of him being revived through other more fitting means either due to his Targaryan roots like burning in a funeral pyre or because of the Old Gods referencing his Stark side. I'm hoping that GRRM handles this aspect very differently from the show.