The last episode of Game of Thrones season six was arguably one of the best in the show’s history.
So if you haven’t caught up yet then get off this website immediately and camp yourself in front of a TV until you’re ready, because there are spoilers ahead – if you haven’t seen season six yet, then continue at your peril.
The last episode in season six was rammed full of jaw-dropping moments, but one of the more subtle – though very much still HOLY SHIT-worthy – moments was the Tower of Joy scene that revealed Jon Snow’s mother to be Lyanna Stark – sister of Ned Stark.
Up until then fans had been under the impression that Jon was the bastard son of Ned. And while it wasn’t confirmed, the thinking seems to be that Jon is actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen, the older brother of Daenerys. This would give Jon a legitimate claim to the big old Iron Throne that people keep getting their heads chopped off over.
A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin had done a pretty good job not letting on the truth about R + L = J until now, but a Reddit user has thinks he might have dropped a sly hint in a Q&A back in 2002.
DeadHopesAndDreams points out that when asked who gave Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister – all characters whose mothers died – their names, Martin refrained from referring to Ned as Jon’s father.
It’s hardly a blatant giveaway, but it does seem strange that Martin would mention Dany and Tyrion’s mother and father in his answer while stop short of doing the same for Jon.
Pretty sneaky. We like it.
