--- title: Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Admits Fans Discovered R+L=J description: There's a theory about Jon Snow that's gaining steam, and now it appears the A Song of Ice and Fire author is onboard as well canonical: https://time.com/3104085/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-plot-twist/ author: Eric Dodds article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-08-12T18:46:44.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-21T09:37:35.340Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Admits Fans Discovered Plot Twist og:description: Jon Snow might not be quite what he seems og:url: https://time.com/3104085/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-plot-twist/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt865f0fd73f334359/69869f4613c79f762d1936ed/jon-snow-s4.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Kit Harington as Jon Snow og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Admits Fans Discovered Plot Twist twitter:description: Jon Snow might not be quite what he seems twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt865f0fd73f334359/69869f4613c79f762d1936ed/jon-snow-s4.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # George R.R. Martin Admits Die-Hard _Game of Thrones_ Fans May Have Already Uncovered the Show's Biggest Surprise > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Game of Thrones Season 5 – New Cast Members [Watch (HLS stream): Game of Thrones Season 5 – New Cast Members](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/eMkyMYkw.m3u8) (2:12)  _Published 2014-07-25. Game of Thrones Season 5 – New Cast Members_ by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Aug 12, 2014 6:46 PM UTC  Kit Harington as Jon Snow Kit Harington as Jon SnowHelen Sloan—HBO by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Aug 12, 2014 6:46 PM UTC For awhile now, there’s been a theory floating around _Game of Thrones_ forums and discussion boards that centers around the notion that Jon Snow isn’t entirely who he appears to be. Up to this point, both viewers of the television show and readers of George R.R. Martin’s _A Song of Ice and Fire_ know Snow as Ned Stark’s bastard, a more-than-competent member of the Night’s Watch and a knower of nothing. But according to this theory, [dubbed “R+L=J” by its proponents](http://time.com/3003227/game-thrones-jon-snow-mother/) and endorsed in recent weeks by no less than [Ned Stark (Sean Bean) himself](http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/sean-bean-legends-game-thrones-chat.html), Snow is much more. R+L=J suggests that Snow is not, in fact, the bastard son of Ned Stark. Rather, he’s the love-child of Ned’s sister, Lyanna (the betrothed of Robert Baratheon) and her captor/suitor Rhaegar Targaryen, (son and heir of the mad king, Aeyrs II Targaryen). There are many little clues sprinkled throughout the series to support this theory, but it didn’t start gaining mainstream traction until earlier this summer when [Bean apparently confirmed it](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2cp9ol/hello%5Fits%5Fsean%5Fbean%5Fa%5Flegend%5Fon%5Flegends%5Fama). Now, it seems, another person loosely tied to the _Game of Thrones_ universe is hinting at its veracity: George R.R. Martin. Here’s [what the author had to say](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-08-12/have-fans-figured-out-game-of-thrones-biggest-plot-twist-george-rr-martin-seems-to-think-so) at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: --- > “” --- It’s possible that Martin could be talking about an entirely different major twist — but R+L=J would be huge for the _Game of Thrones_ universe and has certainly been the most prominent theory in recent months. As for what this revelation would mean for Westeros, that’s less clear. Though Snow’s Stark-Targaryen parentage would be an impressive pedigree, it wouldn’t change his status as either a bastard or a member of the Night’s Watch (and as such, has resolved to “hold no lands” and “wear no crowns”). That said, virtually every claim to the Iron Throne is contested and convoluted at this point. 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