Game of Thrones Season 6 Spoilers: Why You Shouldn't Beleive a New-Ish Theory Regarding 'R+L=J'
ByFor readers of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" epic fantasy novels, conspiracy theories are fairly common and thoroughly explored.
But the massively popular HBO television based on the novels, "Game of Thrones," has allowed us all to re-hash such discussion. One such theory (the theory), has erupted of late due to the show's progress finally catching up to where Martin is in his books.
(Spoilers below, obviously)
Now that Jon Snow is dead, "show-watchers" are turning to the "R+L=J" theory for evidence that he will come back and Martin's readers have welcomed the discussion. For the uninitiated, the YouTube channel Alt Shift X details the theory here.
A Redditor named "ghostchief" proposed an alteration to the theory in the form of a flashback kicking off season six. The Redditor essentially suggested that Rhaegar Targaryen (R) and Lyanna Stark (L) produced twins: Jon (J) and Meera Reed. Meera is the brother of Jojen Reed, and the two characters accompanied Bran and Hodor to find the three-eyed raven in season four.
Meera and Jojen's father is Howland Reed, who was the only survivor of the fight at the Tower of Joy, Lyanna's final resting place where she made her brother Ned (you remember Ned, aka: Sean Bean) make her a mysterious promise.
Thanks to the eagle-eyed folks at Watchers on the Wall, it seems almost certain that viewers will be treated to an epic flashback at the Tower of Joy which will almost certainly reveal Jon's true parentage.
Detailed by The Huffington Post, ghostchief's scene suggests Howland took the baby girl home to Greywater Watch while Ned took the baby boy home to Winterfell, both to be raised as their own children.
Here is why it will not be true in the show or in Martin's books.
1. It is way too convenient that Jon and Meera wound up with their respective families' hallmark looks. Jon with a long, solemn face and grey eyes and Meera with the mossy green eyes many people from her home have.
2. Their looks also present a problem to the theory because they are notably different. If they were twins, and Jon clearly took on Lyanna's features, Meera should look more like a Stark. Further, Meera should like an older version of Arya, Ned's youngest daughter. Physical descriptions are important in this story (i.e.: "the seed is strong").
3. Twins are hard to come by in Westeros, at least among main characters, but there is at least one pair. Martin wrote that Jamie and Cersei Lannister could pretend to be one another when they were young, so it stands to reason that they at least were born with the same hair and eye color.
4. The symbolism and clues to Jon's death and (potential) resurrection are undeniable and have been building for years, especially in Martin's books. To pull the rug out and leave Jon dead only to raise a minor character like Meera to fulfill such an ancient prophecy would be a major disappointment and waste of time.
So, in closing, here is Alt Shift X's explanation for why Jon is probably getting resurrected and why it is a big deal.