SPOILERS FOR GAMES OF THRONES THROUGHOUT 

Monday night’s emphatic episode of Game of Thrones (our full review here) did more than just set Season 6 alight with some tremendous shocks and captivating dialogue. “Home” provided a sequence which has been firmly lingering on the mind ever-since, and it involves everyone’s most beloved Lannister.

Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion – a firm fan favourite and one of the most important personalities across the Seven Kingdoms – is currently stationed in Meereen; a city divided between the New World and the Old. In a bid to regain connection with the “Mother of Dragons” Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion heads under the city’s Pyramid to free two of her three dragons kept in captivity – Rhaegel and Viserion.

Being able to come into such close proximity with these unpredictable and extremely territorial fire-breathers and leave entirely unscathed raises a few eyebrows. Perhaps Tyrion Lannister of King’s Landing, a former Master of Coin and acting Hand of the King, is actually no Lannister at all. Maybe, just maybe, we are seeing the dawning of Tyrion Targaryen…

Now this is a theory. I want to make that extremely clear. But throughout the show and book’s progressions, both David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and George R.R. Martin, have given clear indicators that “The Imp” has a far more interesting and developmental past than simply being a dwarf.

Tywin Lannister

Those with keen eyes and ears might recall that Tyrion’s father Tywin was once the Hand to the last Targaryen to sit upon the Iron Throne – “The Mad King” Aerys II. He is Daenerys’ father and was killed by Jaime Lannister during Robert Baratheon’s rebellion; of which whom is often referred to as “Kingslayer” throughout Westeros.

It is largely believed across the GoT community that Aerys raped Tywin’s wife Joanna on their wedding night, and that the pair maintained a secret relationship for many years: up to six in fact. Their illicit union supposedly resulted in the birth of youngest sibling Tyrion, who Joanna died giving birth to.

You don’t have to know much about the show or books to know that Tywin hated Tyrion. Most commonly because he considered his son to be a “freak” and wildly disrespectful to the house name. But it would seem all the more plausible that the unrelenting hatred was because Tyrion serves as a constant reminder that he is both not his true bloodline, and indeed a byproduct of a heinous crime. It would also give additional weight to Tywin’s decision to join Robert Baratheon in his fierce and uncompromising rebellion against the Targaryens which virtually eliminated the entire house.

Jaime & Cersei

Tywin was also extremely fond of publicly belittling and shaming Tyrion, perhaps as a direct reflection of his treatment whilst serving King Aerys who is believed to have made the head of the Lannister house’s life miserable. Despite being raised alongside brother Jaime and sister Cersei, the distance between the siblings is extremely apparent, and that is largely to do with the father embracing tormenting behaviour. The relationship between Jaime and Cersei is extremely close…extremely, whilst even from the very get-go, Tyrion is deemed as the outsider; to viewers and readers alike. It is clear to all that he doesn’t quite fit into the family unity, image or mentality.

In the opening episode of Season 3 “Valar Dohaeris”, Tywin delivers one of his many monologues about his ashamed son, but this one is particularly nasty and memorable. “You are an ill-made, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust and low cunning.” he tells Tyrion.

In terms of psychical features – beyond his size, mind – Tyrion also shares distinct similarities to that of the Targaryens. In the books, it is explained that he has both green and black eye colour (a strong indicator of mixed bloodlines), and hair ‘so blonde it seemed white’. Both Dany and her now deceased brother Viserys have long, flowing silver-blonde hair, unlike the Lannisters who all share golds.

If you watch the show closely, you’ll recall an extremely important realisation in the first season when Robert’s Hand of the King Ned Stark (also deceased…) knew categorically that Joffrey was not the son of the King and Cersei Lannister because every other Baratheon boy has been born with brown hair.

game-of-thrones-season-6-tyrion-lannister-lord-varys

To further strengthen the complex relationship shared between supposed father and son, fewer moments rendered Tyrion and Tywin quite like in Season 4 which concludes with the death of the Lannister’s leader. After months of imprisonment, trials, discrimination and ill-treatment as the Lannisters and King’s Landing are convinced that Tyrion poisoned King Joffrey at The Purple Wedding to Queen Margaery Tyrell, it all boils to a head in the season finale “The Children”. Tywin brings lineage to the very forefront of rapport when he tells Tyrion directly “You’re no son of mine,” after he has been shot in the gut with a crossbow arrow.

But “Home” really solidified what was up until then merely speculation amongst fans. Tyrion loves dragons. A creature entirely representative of House Targaryen. So much so that their house emblem is a three-headed fire-breather. Nobody is able to connect with, or even approach these mythical beings apart from those worthy enough. Dragons are more than a currency or a name; they simulate a God-like power.

Tyrion expresses to Varys, Missandei and Grey Worm that dragons are extremely intelligent creatures; ones which should be respected and certainly not locked away. They understand and accommodate to those who reciprocate such tolerance. He believes that he can befriend them and let him remove their restraints without becoming a human piece of charcoal.

Daenerys-and-Drogon-Official-HBO

During the nerve-shredding exchanges with Rhaegel and Viserion, Tyrion explains how he had always longed for a dragon ever since he was a young boy, so much so that he cried himself to sleep after begging his uncle for one on his Nameday. It is also written in Martin’s novels that Tyrion has had dragon dreams which is a signature trait of Targaryen mind experiences.

tyrion and the dragons

And to refer back to the Targaryen emblem; it has widely been commented on that the three-headed dragon must be reflective of three principal figures in the bloodline. So far there is believed to only be one single Targaryen left – Dany – but armed with the theory that Jon Snow (Ned Stark’s bastard) is half Stark and half Targaryen, literally making him ‘the song of ice and fire’, and now possibly Tyrion, the three heads are complete…

What are your thoughts on this theory (and it is a theory, just to relay…) Let us know in the comments below.