'Game of Thrones' Season 7 Release Date and Spoilers: Could Tyrion Be a Third Targaryen and Take on the Iron Throne?
It's the twisted and complicated conspiracy theories that makes the cut to become cult favorites like "Game of Thrones," because it reveals a deep level of viewer investment and commitment to the show. And certainly GoT has never lacked in that department, as fan constantly churn out mind-blowing possibilities about how the show could end and who will rise to the Iron Throne.
This time, the subject of speculation is Tyrion Lannister, formerly Hand of the King to Joffrey Lannister, currently Hand of the Queen to Daenerys Targaryen. The dwarf-sized intellectual is a fan favorite in Game of Thrones, so it's not at all surprising that avid viewers only wish the best for the long-suffering estranged Lannister. But one theory particularly stands out: Tyrion could be a Targaryen, after all, which means he can stake a claim to the Iron Throne.
The Theory: A + L = T
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To make sense of this Game of Thrones theory, you should at least have read the books, or paid close attention to GoT. If R + L = J, then there's A (Aerys Targaryen, the Mad King) + J (Joanna Lannister) = T (Tyrion Lannister). This would explain why Tywin Lannister hated his youngest son so much. And as far as obvious, if overreaching, evidence is concerned, Tywin's last words to Tyrion right after the latter shot him was, "You're no son of mine."
The three-headed dragon
Perhaps even more compelling is Game of Thrones' Season 6, where we saw Tyrion connecting with Daenerys' dragons. He's been obsessed with them in his youth, even while the rest of the world can't be bothered to have them exist. While this fascination would seem innocuous at first to the viewer, GoT book readers would know that only specific people can command dragons - Targaryens. They're the only clan to have such an affinity with dragons, to the point that their sigil is a three-headed dragon.
Oh, and let's not forget: three dragons - Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion - need three riders. Daenerys has first heard of this prophecy in the House of the Undying. We have Daenerys, Jon Snow (who had just recently been revealed to be Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark's son), and if the theory were to be true, Tyrion.
In the world of Game of Thrones, fans no longer believe in coincidences, and Daenerys, Jon and Tyrion certainly have a lot of them: all killed their mother in childbirth, all shunned by their families, all grew up as outliers, and all seeking to find their place back in the Seven Kingdoms, wherever that may be.
Why Tyrion being a Targaryen would be a good thing
If all of this is true, Tyrion being a Targaryen (and thus having a legitimate stake on the Throne) would actually be one of the best things to happen in the series. Tyrion is a brilliant intellectual who understands politics, something that both Dany and Jon have yet to fully understand, and is compassionate and kindhearted. He is fiercely loyal to his friends and allies, principled and uncompromising. These make for a good king, especially in the embattled kingdom of Westeros.
(Plus, everyone loves Tyrion. It's not half bad to have him as King, after all.)
We still have a long ways ahead to find out. Game of Thrones Season 7 will be back summer 2017.
