Because George R.R. Martin loves drama. The author of the books loves twisting family ties into pretzels. In his world, Targaryens have a long tradition of intermarriage to keep their blood “pure.” It’s weird, but it’s canon.
So, making Jon and Dany related serves two purposes. First, it makes their romance a tragic irony. Second, it sets up the ultimate conflict: who gets the Iron Throne? Dany has the dragons, but Jon has the better claim as the son of the firstborn son.
It’s like a game of musical chairs, but with bloodlines and a lot of fire. The show played this card masterfully—right up until the final season, when everyone just wanted them to stop yelling at each other.
But Wait, There’s More: The Incest Factor
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this is incest. And it’s not just a little bit—it’s a full-on Targaryen tradition. Remember, Daenerys’s parents were brother and sister (Aerys and Rhaella). So, yes, Dany was born from sibling love.
Jon’s parents were not siblings, but his father Rhaegar was Dany’s brother. So, they share about 25% of the same DNA. That’s closer than first cousins. To put it in modern terms: it’s like dating your mother’s nephew. Not great for a family picnic.
But in the world of dragons and prophecies, this was practically normal. The show even winks at it when Tyrion says, “We need to control the narrative.” Yeah, Tyrion, that’s one spicy narrative.
Game Of Thrones: Daenerys Knows She’S Related To Jon Snow – GMDJ
