Warning: This post contains spoilers for the sixth season of Game of Thrones.
In the season six finale of Game of Thrones, viewers saw Varys fulfill the mission he had set out on in the eighth episode, successfully securing the Tyrells and the Sand Snakes as allies for Daenerys Targaryen in the wars to come. He was then able to make it back to Meereen in time to set sail for Westeros as a member of Dany’s inner circle.
Prior to these scenes, many had questioned Varys’s allegiance to the Mother of Dragons, referencing past instances in which the Spider had turned on those he had seemed faithful to. In fact, back when he was still the acting Master of Whisperers for the Baratheons/Lannisters in season one, Varys even told Ned Stark that his loyalties lie only with the realm. However, one Reddit user theorizes that everything Varys has done since the beginning of the show has been in the name of putting Daenerys on the Iron Throne.
“So I have been maintaining that Varys is playing the best game out of anyone,” gmnitsua writes. “He conspired with Illyrio to get Daenerys married to Khal Drogo. Varys conspired with him to get her dragon eggs. Varys conspired with Jorah from the beginning. To me, a lot of her success is owed to Varys.”
The Redditor then goes on to speculate over a scene in season four when Varys seemingly betrayed Tyrion after taking the time to befriend him.
“I was rewatching the trial of Tyrion after Joffrey’s assassination, and I recalled a confused feeling I had not remembered since seeing the episode. Before the trial, and after the battle of Blackwater, Varys visited Tyrion and congratulated him. They actually spend a good deal of time developing their friendship. But when Varys is called to the stand to testify, what happens? He testifies against Tyrion. He gives a damning analysis of Tyrion. And I wondered why he did that, since I heard it. I thought he was somehow doing this to protect himself, the way Bronn later refuses Tyrion’s request to be his champion. I was somewhat content with that logic. But as I watched it last night I found new logic that served that scene greater purpose. He wanted Tyrion to be found guilty. And why? He wanted to give him to Daenerys. He conspired with Jaime to free him. He organized his passage to Daenerys. And he got abducted by whom? Jorah Mormont. A person who conspired with Varys from the very beginning. Deliberate or no? Definitely convenient. I don’t think anything accidentally happens to Varys. It’s all part of the Spider’s web.”
Whatever the case may be, the only thing we know for sure is that we’ll have to wait until season seven for more information.
See the full theory below.
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Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com