It Might Be Ridiculous, but the ‘Game of Thrones’ Theory About Cersei and Jaime Being Targaryen Holds Some Weight to It

Game of Thrones has plenty of theories for anyone interested, ranging from an in-depth conspiracy among the Maesters to Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) being the time-traveling son of Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). It’s safe to say that some are utter nonsense, but, honestly, there is one strange idea that I think is surprisingly plausible. The theory goes that the Lannister twins, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Cersei (Lena Headey), are not Lannisters at all, but bastard Targaryens fathered by the Mad King. The series never explores this as a possibility, nor do the books, up to the point that George R. R. Martin has completed, but I think the fans could be on to something here.

Usually, I prefer to stick with the facts as they are presented, but I make an exception for Game of Thrones because it seems like no one is ever who they claim to be. Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Marcylla (Nell Tiger Free), and Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) are supposedly Baratheons, until the story proves that they aren’t at all. For so many seasons, the show claimed Jon (Kit Harington) was Ned’s (Sean Bean) son until it was revealed that he’s Rhaegar (Wilf Scolding) and Lyanna’s (Aisling Franciosi) son. Even in the prequel series, House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) sons use the name Velaryon when they aren’t actually related to that family. Game of Thrones has given us reasons to doubt things that are presented as fact and, based on everything else we know, the theory that Jaime and Cersei are the children of the Mad King kind of fits, even offering a parallel to the list of royal children who are not who they claim to be and providing a little irony to Tywin’s (Charles Dance) blatant favoritism.

Aerys Having a Child With Tywin’s Wife Isn’t Out of the Question

It sounds unlikely, but hear me out. This theory is based on the fact that Aerys II seemed to have an interest in Tywin’s wife, Joanna. When they were young men, Tywin was Hand of the King, placing the Lannisters in King’s Landing. More suspicious is the fact that the companion book, The World of Ice & Fire, mentions rumors that before marrying Tywin, Joanna was Aerys’ lover. Even within the fantasy world, that is not considered credible, but we know by now that plenty of things happen behind closed doors in King’s Landing that everyone would deny. But, even if we assume that is not true, at Tywin and Joanna’s wedding, Aerys was said to take “unwonted liberties” during the bedding and to openly wish for the ancient tradition of the first night, which allowed the king to sleep with a new bride. It’s fair to say, if nothing else, Aerys was interested in Joanna, and as the king, he likely wasn’t used to being denied.

But what I see as the clearest evidence is that something caused a falling out between the Lannisters and the Targaryens. The World of Ice & Fire also mentions that Aerys’ wife, Rhaella, abruptly dismissed Joanna after having her as a lady-in-waiting for several years. While she didn’t give a reason for this, the novel also mentions that while Rhaella was used to her husband’s infidelity, she refused to put up with it when it came to her ladies. Joanna was sent back to Casterly Rock too early for the twins to have been conceived, but she had to visit Tywin closer to the right time, and his role as the Hand of the King puts her and Aerys in the same place. Yet, the intrigue grows when, shortly after Jaime and Cersei’s birth, Tywin and Aerys fell out and eventually became outright enemies, which I find suspicious.

Cersei and Jaime Would Be Good Targaryens

The Targaryens have several things that set them apart from the rest of Westeros, even after the dragons are gone. They are known for their silver hair and tendency to go mad, and Cersei and Jaime have several Targaryen traits. I admit, they look like Lannisters, but that doesn’t necessarily come from Tywin. Joanna was Tywin’s first cousin, making her a Lannister as well, which could explain why Cersei and Jaime have golden hair, even if they are not Tywin’s children. After all, Jon Snow inherited the Stark look from his mother. I think it’s also worth noting that some Targaryens don’t have the iconic look either. Queen Alysanne, who married her brother, Jaehaerys I, was described to have honey-colored hair, so it’s certainly possible for a Targaryen descendant to have blond hair rather than silver.

But what makes me more interested in this theory is that Jaime and Cersei’s personalities would make sense for Targaryens, as would their incestuous relationship. Targaryens famously marry their own siblings, which no other family in Westeros does. In fact, there are several cases where the siblings choose to marry each other against the wishes of their parents or regents. This was the case for Jaehaerys I and Alysanne’s marriage and even Aerys II’s parents, who wed in secret. In a similar situation, Jaime and Cersei carry on a secret relationship for most of their lives, and Cersei admits that the only other man she was interested in was Rhaegar, who would also be her brother if she were a Targaryen.

Yet that is not the only Targaryen mold Cersei and Jaime fit because the saying that “when a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin” is true of Cersei and Jaime. In the later seasons of Game of Thrones, Cersei goes mad, even taking a page from Aerys’ book and using wildfire against her enemies. Meanwhile, Jaime becomes a hero, though his arc is convoluted. This evidence is the most compelling to me, because, as strange as the theory initially sounds, Cersei and Jaime’s behavior is exactly what you would expect if they were Targaryens.

Cersei and Jaime Being Targaryens Has Interesting Implications

I love the implications this theory creates, because it would mean that Tyrion, the son Tywin despised, was his only true heir, which would be karmic justice for the character. It also goes along with the fact that, despite the tension between them, Tyrion carries Tywin’s legacy as a strategist better than Jaime or Cersei. It also creates a new connection between Jaime and Tyrion, as both would have killed their own father.

Cersei and Jaime being bastard Targaryens certainly wouldn’t be the only example of illegitimate children being believed legitimate in Game of Thrones, paralleling the events surrounding their own children, though if it is the case, Joanna kept the secret better than Cersei. It would also mimic Jon’s true identity as a Targaryen who never knew it. I realize, in the end, that even if this were true, too many of the people who would know are dead for it to ever come to light, but between the parallels and surprising plausibility, the theory that Cersie and Jaime are actually Aerys’ children is worth considering.