Examining R+L=J

I'm not sure there is much of a debate in R+L=J anymore. The show confirmed it and since GRRM asked D&D "Who is Jon Snow's mother?" clearly Lyanna was who he had in mind since it's unlikely they would change something so crucial that even GRRM wanted to confirm that they knew. Since Lyanna is his mother, the only logical conclusion is that Rhaegar is his father since there would be no reason to hide his parentage if it were anyone else because he wouldn't be a threat to Robert's throne. The only reason to hide Jon's true parentage is if he is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryan, even more reason if he is a legitimate son because then he'd be the true heir to the throne.

Well, personally I already feel as those the show is, unfortunately, inconsolably and unequivocally ruined. D&D have simply destroyed too much of the overarching story for the endings to even vaguely resemble each other.

If you ask a show watcher what the message of the series is, they are clueless unless they have external knowledge of the underlying themes. The show is not anti-war, not anti-feudalism and misses out the key themes of the books.

RLJ being correct in the show is just the pivotal of the predictable catastrophe the show has become.

What do I do if RLJ is not true? Rejoice, laugh maniacally etc.

You mention how you don't know if you could watch the show anymore if they 'get this one wrong', well for me this has already happened, not just once, but multiple times. When did the show truly diverge from the books? In Tyrion's escape, I believe, this fundamentally changes the story, and was the first true warning sign of what was to come.

Im a firm believer in R+L=J the holdouts remind me of the Japanese that kept fighting well into the 50s after WW2. Its like on one level i ire the tenacity but on the other its like time to come around.

From a general fan standpoint, I don't think Jon being a Targaryen is as important as Jon being a pivotal figure/hero. He can be a nondescript bastard as long as he still saves the world. I'm very keen on the idea that the characters, in the hearts of the fans, have become far more important than any prophecy or theory they are expected to fulfill. Stannermen is perfect example: "Stannis isn't Azor Ahai? Then the hell with AA, give us Stannis!"

I think many Dannermen and Jonnermen :grinning: are the same and all three make up a majority of the fans.

I myself could care less who is or isn't a Targ (convinced there is nothing special about Targs) and the idea that a "nondescript bastard boy makes good" sounds like a good story.

I may even post my "Danny isn't really a Targaryen" theory unless it has been done to death.

I might watch the rest of the show even if R+L=J is disproved in the books but will certainly feel much different about it :-1: . I can hear the collaborative groaning of the readers. But with D&D and GRRM getting dump trucks of $$, they will just laugh. All the way to the bank.......