Okay, making this a separate topic because there are so many theories that it would just clog up the Season 5 thread. Book and TV show spoilers are unmarked here!
I love theorizing about things and unraveling little secrets, so woo!
Because there are so many different plots and conspiracies in the series, I'll just throw out some random stuff -- address as many as you want. We'll let the discussion proceed naturally from there. I wrote this assuming most of you know about big fan theories already, but if you're new to theorizing, then I can happily elaborate.
All Things Rhaegar:
- R+L=J. The truth? Or is this just a huge red herring?
- Did Lyanna go with Rhaegar willingly, or was she truly kidnapped?
- Did Rhaegar just fancy Lyanna? Or was he trying to "unite Ice and Fire" for a higher purpose?
- Did he intend to usurp the throne? (He promised Jaime that things would change after the Trident)
- Even bigger in scope, what was Rhaegar's ultimate goal?
Conspiracies and Untrustworthy Masterminds:
- Varys-Illyrio Conspiracy -- What are they ultimately up to?
- The Citadel Conspiracy -- Did they really kill the dragons, and why are they trying to eliminate magic from the world?
- Littlefinger -- Does he have some big master plan, or is he just grasping for power when able?
- Euron -- Another plotter with mysterious goals. What's he up to?
- Faceless Men -- They seem to be interested in more than just assassinations.
- Melisandre -- Sincere in her crazy religious beliefs, or manipulating Stannis for some other reason?
- Quaithe -- What do you want with the dragonlady?
- Bloodraven -- What does Groot want? All these magic people and their mysteries, sheesh.
Ancient History and Spooky Legends:
- The Doom of Valyria -- What really happened, and what triggered it?
- The Others / White Walkers -- What the fuck are they, and what the fuck do they want?
- Gods -- Actual beings, or just humans trying and failing to explain natural/magical forces?
- Dragons -- The Fire version of the Others? Ultimately untrustworthy?
- Seasons -- Why are they so broken?
- The Long Night -- What caused it, and is it about to happen again?
- The Night's King -- A big important thing, or just a zany legend?
- Asshai -- What the heck is wrong with it? And will it be important (even in backstory)?
- The Creepy Cthulhu Stone -- "Black, oily stones" have been important in legends around the world. Supposedly fell from the sky. The Seastone Chair, Asshai, and a few other legendary places are made out of it. It seems to "drink light.
Some interesting stuff that The World of Ice and Fire revealed:
Far eastern Essos was once ruled by the Great Empire of the Dawn -- which was formed at least 10,000 years before the Long Night. Making it the oldest known civilization. Later, the "Bloodstone Emperor" killed his sister, the rightful heir, and stole the throne. Tyranny and cruelty followed. He married a tiger-woman and worshiped an oily black Cthulhu stone that fell from the sky. All this angered the gods, who unleashed their wrath in the form of The Long Night. This is so far the only known legendary cause of the Long Night -- no other culture has a myth explaining why it happened.
The Great Empire also built the Five Forts -- similar to the Wall -- to keep out demons and other nasties. They built the forts several thousand years before the Long Night. They are supposedly made of black stone. Possibly the Cthulhu stone.
That's just a starter. Have at it!
