A Guide to 6 of the Craziest 'Game of Thrones' Fan Theories

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the first four seasons of Game of Thrones, including Sunday night's Season 4 finale.

As entertaining as Sunday night's Season 4 finale was, the cold reality is now setting in among fans of George R.R. Martin's epic Song of Ice and Fire saga: We have a long wait ahead of us for any new episodes or pages. Whether you're waiting for next spring's Season 5 premiere or the release of the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, it's going to be a while. To help pass the time, let's disuss some fan-generated theories — some completely bonkers, some oddly compelling — about the future of Westeros.

[Related: 'Game of Thrones' Secrets From the Showrunners]

Fans of the TV series, these theories are not going to spoil anything that happens in currently released books. Is it possible that some of these crackpot ideas end up being correct? Sure, but we won't be intentionally spoiling anything. We're going to reference some things from the earlier books that didn't make it into the show, but this won't ruin any of your future viewing experiences. If the threat that one of these theories might be correct makes you uncomfortable, please hop off here.

A big thanks to A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the users at /r/asoiaf, and a group of nerdily thorough friends for helping put this together. If you have any suggestions of new theories or improvements to anything below, put them in the comments or hit up @YahooTV.

1. Jon Snow is the Son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark (R + L = J)

Why this makes sense: Ned is so honorable that it seems borderline impossible that he would cheat on Catelyn. He's also such a white knight that if he promised his sister he wouldn't tell anyone her secret, he'd likely take said secret to the grave, especially if it was, "Please protect my son because he has Targaryen blood and the Baratheons and Lannisters will definitely kill him if they find out."

While there are a lot of accusations that Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna, it's also more than possible she willingly eloped with the Dragon Prince. If Lyanna was pregnant with an heir, it makes sense that Rhaegar would leave three members of the Kingsguard — including top Westeros badass, The Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne — to protect a pregnant Lyanna at the Tower of Joy. Lyanna was said to be screaming during the battle when Ned "freed" her and was found in a pool of blood, both things that could have been caused by childbirth.

[Related: We Recap the 'Game of Thrones' Season 4 Finale]

Jon is said to resemble Arya, who is said to look a lot like Lyanna. There was also one of Daenerys's visions in The House of the Undying, where she saw a blue rose growing out of a wall of ice. Lyanna's favorite flower was the blue rose and Jon, of course, was stationed at The Wall as a member of the Night's Watch. When you consider the name of the series — A Song of Ice and Fire — it could mean everything is revolving around Jon, who would be the mix of ice (Stark) and fire (Targaryen).

The only living person who could verify this theory is Howland Reed, who's been missing since dispatching his children to help Bran and company. There's also a compelling theory that Rhaegar's famous silver-stringed harp is hidden in Lyanna's tomb at Winterfell, which would help corroborate the bloodlines of Jon. Oh, and Sean Bean (Ned Stark) hinted at a twist in Jon's parentage back in 2011.

Why this is insane: This one makes sense and is essentially canon, but one potential piece of evidence against it is when Jon burns his hand defeating the wight at Castle Black. Targaryens — such as Dany — usually can't burn, but remember that Viserys didn't have a great time with molten gold. It's also possible the icy Stark blood plays a part or that the Targaryen heat-resistance is related to the existence of dragons, which were not around when Jon toasted his hand.

2. Tyrion Is Half-Targaryen

Why this makes sense: Tyrion is loathed by his father to the point of being removed as the heir to Casterly Rock, and we know Mad King Aerys had eyes for Joanna Lannister, Tywin's wife. There's also the fact that there are three dragons, and, in theory, you would need three riders (Daenerys; Jon Snow, if he's indeed Rhaegar's son; and Tyrion).

[Related: We Chat With One of the Victims of the 'Game of Thrones' Season 4 Finale]

Why this is insane: Tywin might just hate Tyrion because his birth resulted in the death of Joanna and he's a drunk, whore-mongering dwarf who has embarrassed the family name. There are other candidates to ride — or warg into — the dragons, or something could befall one of the beasts along the way. There's also the fact this arc would really undercut the entire Tyrion-Tywin arc that concluded Sunday night. There is almost zero evidence to support this.

3. Syrio Forel Is Alive and Well

Why this makes sense: The former First Sword of Braavos was Arya's instructor at King's Landing and was last seen squaring off against Meryn Trant with only a piece of wood. We never see him die, nor does Arya see him perish in the book. Martin isn't one for subtlety when offing beloved characters, so it would be odd that Forel would meet the god of death offscreen and off-page, especially going against a knight as openly derided as Trant. He was also our first real introduction to Braavos, which has become more and more important as characters from the show visit there. Soon after we see the last of Forel, Arya meets Jaqen H'ghar, another Braavosi and Faceless Man who changes his appearance in front of her before departing. Coincidence? Possibly, but there doesn't seem to be many coincidences in Westeros or Essos. Also, HBO did not include Forel in the In Memoriam video at last summer's Comic-Con.

Why this is insane: It's possible Forel is just a minor character who is dead, and the refusal of fans to let him go is simply us being stubborn. And sure, Martin has implied that considering the situation he was left in, he's toast. But considering the importance of Braavos and the fact we never saw a body, it's fair to keep the dream alive.

----------

The crazy theories mentioned thus far don't — intentionally — spoil anything yet to come in the series. For those of you who have read through the end of A Dance With Dragons, let's go ahead and get a little bit weirder. For fans of the show who don't want anything from next season spoiled, this is where we leave you. Again, if you're not caught up on the books, please do not go any further.

SPOILER ALERT: Everything below covers all published A Song of Ice and Fire books, going beyond what's aired on HBO's Game of Thrones.

4. Howland Reed Is the High Septon

Why this makes sense: When you see the idea for this theory, it strikes you as implausible; but when you dive in, fewer things make more sense. Short version: Reed was one of Ned's closest allies, the only living person who was there for the death of Lyanna Stark, the lord who sent his kids to help the youngest Stark progeny, and an ally well-respected by other protagonists ("My father knew the worth of Howland Reed," said Catelyn in A Storm of Swords). Despite all that, we haven't seen any sign of Reed inbthe first five books as the North gets pummeled by flayers and lions and Ironborn.

What we know about the High Septon: He is a small man with gnarled feet, "thin as a broom handle" (same physical traits as the crannogmen), who swept into the position on the shoulder of his army of Sparrows, so he doesn't necessarily have a long history with the church. Brienne of Tarthe also passed him as he was coming from the north, the direction he would need to be traveling to get to King's Landing from Greywater Watch. He has also tricked Cersei into allowing him to restore the Faith Militant and Poor Fellows, which would give him a standing army in the capital to rival the Lannisters. Throw in the fact he's refused to bless Tommen as king (perhaps because he's waiting to crown Rhaegar's true heir, Jon Snow) and there's just enough evidence this makes sense.

Why this is insane: It's not like Martin is against introducing important new characters later in the game, and as well thought-out as this theory is, the evidence is circumstantial. Much like the Syrio Forel section, this is something based primarily on a) how awesome the reveal would be and b) faith.

5. The Hound Is Very Much Alive

Why this makes sense: In A Feast for Crows, Brienne comes across a gravedigger on the Quiet Isle while walking with the Elder Brother. She notes that the man is larger than her with a limp and a face covered by a scarf, and he stops his digging momentarily to pet a dog. The Elder Brother also tells Brienne he came across a dying Sandor Clegane after Arya had left him. But when the Lady of Tarth asks him if Clegane is indeed dead, his reply is a slightly evasive "He is at rest." He later says the Hound is dead, which is a coy way of saying the old, warmongering Clegane has been replaced by a more pious man. Oh, and Clegane's horse is in the Quiet Isle stable.

Now it seems unlikely Brienne will be seeing Clegane the gravedigger after Sunday night's awesome brawl (a fun addition to the series that wasn't in the books), but considering that Arya did not give her traveling companion the gift of mercy, the Hound being alive is still very much in play.

Why this is insane: This one seems clear-cut when you read that chapter of A Feast for Crows (Brienne VI) — unless Martin felt the need to reference a random novice gravedigger who happens to be tall, limping, and fond of canines. Throw in the fact that Gregor Clegane aka The Mountain, has almost certainly been reanimated/saved as Ser Robert Strong by Qyburn (reinforced in the Season 4 finale) and you've got the setup for a battle of Sandor vs. Gregor in a Clegane Bowl for the ages.

----------

Warning: The final theories require a dangerously high amount of disbelief suspension.

6. Daario Naharis Is really Euron Greyjoy. Or Benjen Stark. OK, he's someone.

Why this makes sense: These are easily the most bonkers theories on here, but let's hear them out. First, Daario and ol' Crow's Eye: The characters' physical traits are similar, Euron needed to get his loot for the Kingsmoot somewhere (it might as well have been from the sacking of Yunkai), and the timelines of the two characters manage to maybe not overlap just enough that it's possible. If Euron was using blood magic to travel quickly — or, to say, use the same wind that powers his sails to murder his brother the king — he could bounce between Pyke and Essos as necessary. (Theory sidebar: Euron also could have paid the Faceless Men with a dragon egg to kill Balon.)

If Daario is Benjen, the main idea is that the First Ranger of the Night's Watch and younger Stark brother saw the threat the White Walkers posed while on his ranging, heard the rumor about a Targaryen with dragons, and decided the realm would need those same dragons to survive a breach of The Wall. How to acquire use of the dragons? Become a trusted adviser toDaenerys. So he hopped a ship at White Harbor or Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and headed to Slaver's Bay.

[Related: Why Lena Headey Deserves an Emmy for 'Game of Thrones']

The fact Daario sports a dyed beard in the books (per Tyroshi custom) means he has a built-in disguise that a Westerosi could use. Also remember that Daario immediately killed his fellow sellswords and pledged allegiance to Dany, which is a bold move for a mercenary who had just met a potential new employer (even if said potential employer was a beautiful queen with dragons).

Why this is insane: If Daario is Euron, the amount of sea travel necessary would preclude the double life from being possible unless Crow's Eye had unlimited blood magic for speedy boat travel, a private jet, or the ability to teleport. Daario as Benjen makes slightly more sense from a timeline standpoint, but the move seems incredibly drastic for a Stark and would require him to quickly ingratiate himself as a sellsword leader in a short amount of time. These are the kinds of theories that spring up when you have too many years between books and the Internet, where you can bounce all your random ideas.