Kaylee ,'Shindig'
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I'm trying to think who will Die By Narrative Arc before the end.
The fact that this is now possible shows how significantly the show has diverged from the books. In some ways it's an improvement because it means the story might actually go somewhere, but I do kind of miss the feeling of "this character can't die they're too importa - OH FUCK!!!"
Here's what bothers me. If Ned had known that "Jon" was the legitimate heir there's no way he would have backed Robert's claim to the Iron Throne.
But didnt Jon think he was a bastard? He didn't know about the marriage did he?
And as a badtard wouldn't the child be killed once shit started going down? By that time Ned had been raising him as his own, how do you go back on that lie?
Yeah, it makes sense if Ned thought Jon was a bastard. What I don't like is Lyanna's dying declaration being the name Aegon Targaryen which implies he is legitimate. I suppose Ned could have just not believed her but that also seems out of character to me.
Here's what bothers me. If Ned had known that "Jon" was the legitimate heir there's no way he would have backed Robert's claim to the Iron Throne.
Yeah, that is a problem.
Well, Jon was a baby and all the other possible heirs had just been murdered, right?
It does beg the question: If Ned got to his sister before Jon was actually born, and his sister was still coherent and communicating -- and even told him the baby's name! -- why wouldn't she have mentioned that she and the babydaddy were married, by the way? That doesn't make a lot of sense.
Robert 100% would have killed baby Jon if he had known. Robert was all about Killing All The Targaryens. That's part of the reason it makes sense that Ned told no one (except, possibly, Howland Reed--who was there--and Benjen--who one could narratively believe that he would trust). Ned was oathbound to Lyanna to keep Jon safe. Keeping Jon safe meant making sure no one knew who his parents were.
And, as this episode illustrates, Starks will keep their word way past the limits of common sense.
I'm not saying he would announce Jon was the heir, but surely he would be at least a little conflicted about telling Robert he has the best claim to the throne. He might even put Robert on the throne but he would justify it differently. Knowing there was a legit heir would eat him up. I just don't buy it.