History Fridge / GameOfThronesS7E7TheDragonAndTheWolf

** Though this fridge horror is slightly softened thanks to [[DeliberateValuesdissonance Westerosi views]] on incest being much looser than a modern idea of it. [[labelnote:From the books]]Tywin and his wife were cousins, as were Eddard's parents Rickard and Lyarra. And there have been uncle-niece marriages on the Stark family tree.[[/labelnote]]

!!FridgeLogic
* Bran assumes that being born in Dorne would make Jon's last name Sand, but the thing is, it was always clear that Jon wasn't born in the North as Ned's cover story was that he conceived Jon after his wedding to Cat in Riverrun, in the south while fighting the rebellion; maybe in the Riverlands, maybe in the Crownlands, maybe in the Stormlands, maybe in Dorne, he was never specific, but the North was never an option. What mattered was that he was the son of a northern noble and was raised in the north.
** Considering that Ned was known to have taken an Army south post-Sack of King's Landing to put down any further resistance and the last place he pacified was Dorne, it's always been a good guess.
* Just how easily everyone bought Ned's cover story. To recap. Ned was known to be famously straitlaced and prudish. To the point that those who knew him well found the idea of him siring a bastard after he married, to be difficult to believe. He raises said bastard with his trueborn children, humiliating Cat in the process. He also for some strange reason refuses point blank to tell anyone who the mother is. At the same time he came out of Dorne, carrying his dead sister's body, (who had per the rebels' own propaganda been raped by Rhaegar). He also totally coincidentally had a newborn with him. And no one made the connection at all? Men like Tywin, Varys, Baelish, who could read and see conspiracies a mile away just accepted Ned Stark's bastard?
** Firstly, the baby looked more Stark than Targaryen, and he grew up to look more like Ned than even his actual sons,[[labelnote:From the books]] Many characters have noted that Ned and Lyanna resembled each other in terms of looks [[/labelnote]] and this boy did not have the typical Targaryen platinum blonde/white hair colour. Secondly, he was a young man who had only spent a wedding night with his newly wed before going off to war, that had an unpredictable outcome, such that, as an unsure soldier, it wouldn't be inconceivable to assume that he had [[PreClimaxClimax pre-battle sex]] with some [[UnusualEuphemism female camp follower]] (like Tyrion and Shae). Alternatively, it would have been believable that Jon was a product of a [[GladtobeAliveSex tryst]] with Ashara Dayne,[[note]] this, of course, being before the Tower of Joy incident[[/note]] on whom Ned had an earlier, well known, crush before his unexpected marriage with Catelyn. Thirdly, [[GoodisnotDumb giving some due to Ned]], he (and Howland), may have hidden the existence of a newborn baby from Dorne around the southerners, until he made it back to Riverrun. [[note]] Catelyn didn't receive any advance news about Jon until she saw him with her own eyes for the first time once she reunited with Ned [[/note]] Also, Jon, like Ned's own children, always stayed in the North, away from the radar of any suspicious southern noble, such that nobody bothered about him or the identity of his mother. Fourthly, King Robert, Stannis, Tywin, Varys, and Baelish were more obsessed with fugitive kids of the Mad King, Viserys and Dany (particularly Viserys, as he was the next in line after Rhaegar), even up till Robert's death. And even if they considered the possibility that Lyanna and Rhaegar had a child ('by rape'), the fact that she died in what was apparently a miscarriage would have negated that possibility in their minds. And lastly, Ned Stark was [[GoodIsNotSoft one of the most powerful and dangerous men in Westeros after Robert's Rebellion]] -- if '''he''' said that Jon was his bastard, '''everybody had to take his word for it''', and nobody, not even Catelyn, could dare investigate any further into this matter and not earn his wrath.
** Ned followed OccamsRazor and it worked. The simplest, most obvious explanation was that he, a young soldier, went south and had either an affair or a one-night stand that resulted in a baby. As the OP mentioned, he was known for his honor. People believed he didn't name the woman because 1) he didn't want to do her further dishonor by naming her or B) he didn't want to do himself further dishonor by telling the world he slept with a whore. Dozens of men had bastards during the war (in the books, Robert had at least two during that time.) No one went looking for a deeper explanation because the one he gave was completely plausible.
** We are also estimating how widely known Ned Stark is for his prudishness. Only people who know Ned believe that, or someone like Stannis Baratheon who generally has that insight about people. But Robert Baratheon believed it and he's Ned's best friend, albeit his understanding of people was shallow. Furthermore, everyone knows that lords father kids out of wedlock all the time or do things in private they don't admit in public. Tywin, whoremonger in private but StraightEdgeEvil in public, is a good example of that, and fathering bastards in general is not really dishonorable, or rather it's only dishonorable to people who have the sentiment of marital fidelity, which many in Westeros don't since most marriages are ArrangedMarriage. Only Jaime Lannister brings this up in the show, and even he's using it to goad Catelyn and push her buttons.
** People believed it because they wanted to. Stalwart, honorable Ned Stark shows himself to have feet of clay, as susceptible to temptation and infidelity as any other Great Lord of Westeros? Far too juicy a tidbit to not believe, spread, and rub in whenever he shows up acting like his shit don't stink.
** Also, it's not completely true that he refused to name Jon's mother. He kept Catelyn and the children in the dark, but told Robert that Wylla the wetnurse was the mother.
* How is Viserion able to breathe fire? He was killed by a serious throat injury in the previous episode, with some of his flame breath gushing out through the open wound. It's also been established that wights do not regenerate.
** Lack of regeneration hasn't stopped human wights from moving with the speed, strength, and weapon use of regular humans despite lacking the muscle structure and brain matter to do so.
** Is it even fire, it didn't melt the Wall so much as cut through it and it doesn't even have the same color as dragonfire, chances are it's just the Night King powering him up with different power.
** Even "normal" dragons are so magical the worldwide supply of magic rises noticeably when they return. There's absolutely no reason to believe that their fire breath has any anatomical basis or follows normal physical laws, anyways.

* Just how easily everyone bought Ned's cover story. To recap. Ned was known to be famously straitlaced and prudish. To the point that those who knew him well found the idea of him siring a bastard after he married, to be difficult to believe. He raises said bastard with his trueborn children, humiliating Cat in the process. He also for some strange reason refuses point blank to tell anyone who the mother is. At the same time he came out of Dorne, carrying his dead sister's body, (who had per the rebels' own propaganda been raped by Rhaeghar). He also totally coincidentally had a newborn with him. And no one made the connection at all? Men like Tywin, Varys, Baelish, who could read and see conspiracies a mile away just accepted Ned Stark's bastard?

* Just how easily everyone bought Ned's cover story. To recap. Ned was known to be famously straitlaced and prudish. To the point that those who knew him well found the idea of him siring a bastard after he married, to be difficult to believe. He raises said bastard with his trueborn children, humiliating Cat in the process. He also for some strange reason refuses point blank to tell anyone who the mother is. At the same time he came out of Dorne, carrying his dead sister's body, (who had per the rebels own propaganda been raped by Rhaeghar). He also totally coincidentally had a newborn with him. And no one made the connection at all? Men like Tywin, Varys, Baelish, who could read and see conspiracies a mile away just accepted Ned Stark's bastard?

** Though this fridge horror is slightly softened thanks to [[DeliberateValuesdissonance Westerosi views]] on incest being much looser than a modern idea of it. [[labelnote:From the books]]Tywin and his wife were cousins, as were Eddard's parents Rickard and Lyarra.[[/labelnote]]

* Now that Viserion is an [[{{Dracolich}} ice dragon]], is any other place outside Westeros safe? The dead may not cross the sea easily, but that can't stop the Night King from establishing a foothold on Essos, as he can fly to the Free Cities, massacre some settlements and raise another undead force from the victims (and some additional White Walkers from captured babies). Even if they establish a foothold in just one city, they can easily steam roll Essos, especially since massive military forces like the [[TheHorde Dothraki]] and [[BadassArmy Unsullied]] are not at Essos right now. Whatever military force a Free City can muster (even a professional mercenary one) can be wiped out by the dragon. The only effective tool against the Walkers is [[{{Unobtainium}} Valyrian steel]], which is not only as rare in Essos as Westeros (except, maybe, Qohor), but can only be wielded as daggers or swords, not javelins or bolts -- so good luck with anyone trying to engage in a [[NeverBringaknifetoaGunFight sword fight with a flying Night King on a dragon]]. Plus, the Free Cities are either [[{{Captain Oblivious}} ignorant]] or [[FantasticallyIndifferent indifferent]] to the White Walker threat, such that they haven't mass produced either ballistae-with-bolts (multiple numbers of these things would be needed for mortal men to take down that dragon) or dragon-glass based weaponry (which can also only be imported from far off Asshai and, therefore, not readily available, immediately, for the Free Cities), which makes them weaker than the Seven Kingdoms and hence, [[CurbStompBattle easier to conquer for the Walkers]]. So, the idea that one [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere can simply sail away from Westeros and just avoid the White Walkers and the Undead altogether]] is simply not that tenable, and Essos may also be just as vulnerable as Westeros.

** And adding further insult to injury, after having annulled his marriage to Elia and thereby made their children illegitimate, he names his son by Lyanna ''Aegon'' -- the same name as his son by Elia. So Elia's son lost his legitimacy, his place as second in line to the throne, and his ''name'' to his new half-brother.

* While it's somewhat hard to pinpoint the earliest possible moment that Sansa could have caught on to the fact that Littlefinger was pitting her and Arya against each other was, Petyr's scheme could not have gone unnoticed past one particular moment: when he tried to lead Sansa into the assumption that Arya wants to be Lady of Winterfell. He doesn't know that nobility, titles, and positions of power are things that Arya couldn't care less about -- but ''[[OutOfCharacterIsSeriousBusiness Sansa]]'' [[OutOfCharacterIsSeriousBusiness does.]] If she had any doubts about his involvement before the scene, none would have been left afterwards. Her having been his BastardUnderstudy also likely helped her figure out what tricks he was trying to use.

** There appears to be no need for solid evidence in Westeros trials anyhow. All that seems to be needed is the judge/ruler's opinion to be swayed. This is why Tyrion demanded trial by combat in Season 4.

** Firstly, the baby looked more Stark than Targaryen, and he grew up to look more like Ned than even his actual sons,[[labelnote:From the books]] Many characters have noted that Ned and Lyanna resembled each other in terms of looks [[/labelnote]] and this boy did not have the typical Targaryen platinum blonde/white hair colour. Secondly, he was a young man who had only spent a wedding night with his newly wed before going off to war, that had an unpredictable outcome, such that, as an unsure soldier, it wouldn't be inconceivable to assume that he had [[PreClimaxClimax pre-battle sex]] with some [[UnusualEuphemism female camp follower]] (like Tyrion and Shae). Alternatively, it would have been believable that Jon was a product of a [[GladtobeAliveSex tryst]] with Ashara Dayne,[[note]] this, of course, being before the Tower of Joy incident[[/note]] on whom Ned had an earlier, well known, crush before his unexpected marriage with Catelyn. Thirdly, [[GoodisnotDumb giving some due to Ned]], he (and Howland), may have hidden the existence of a newborn baby from Dorne around the southerners, until he made it back to Riverrun. [[note]] Catelyn didn't receive any advance news about Jon until she saw him with her own eyes for the first time once she reunited with Ned [[/note]] Also, Jon, like Ned's own children, always stayed in the North, away from the radar of any suspicious southern noble, such that nobody bothered about him or the identity of his mother. Fourthly, King Robert, Stannis, Tywin, Varys, and Baelish were more obsessed with fugitive kids of the Mad King, Viserys and Dany (particularly Viserys, as he was the next in line after Rhaegar), even up till Robert's death. And even if they considered the possibility that Lyanna and Rhaegar had a child ('by rape'), the fact that she died in what was apparently a miscarriage would have negated that possibility in their minds. And lastly, Ned Stark was [[GoodIsNotSoft one of the most powerful and dangerous men in Westeros after Robert's Rebellion]] -- if '''he''' said that Jon was his bastard, '''everybody had to take his word for it''', and nobody, not even Catelyn, could dare investigate any further into this matter and earn his wrath.

** People believed it because they wanted to. Stalwart, honorable Ned Stark shows himself to have feet of clay, as susceptible to temptation and infidelity as any other Great Lord of Westeros? Far too juicy a tidbit to not believe, spread, and rub in whenever he shows up acting like a paragon of virtue.

** Ned Stark's reputation for being almost unrealistically good and pure in comparison to most other lords in Westeros probably got on the nerves of even his closest allies, so the thought of him sullying his reputation in such a manner would be too satisfying to not be believed. They believed it because they wanted to.

* While it's somewhat hard to pinpoint the earliest possible moment that Sansa could have caught on to the fact that Littlefinger was pitting her and Arya against each other was, Petyr's scheme could not have gone unnoticed past one particular moment: when he tried to lead Sansa into the assumption that Arya wants to be Lady of Winterfell. He doesn't know that nobility, titles, and positions of power are things that Arya couldn't care less about - but ''[[OutOfCharacterIsSeriousBusiness Sansa]]'' [[OutOfCharacterIsSeriousBusiness does.]] If she had any doubts about his involvement before the scene, none would have been left afterwards. Her having been his BastardUnderstudy also likely helped her figure out what tricks he was trying to use.

* More Fridge TearJerker again but one really has to feel for Robert knowing that he went to war all for the sake of the woman he loved - or at least loved the idea of - without realizing that she didn't feel the same. Even if things had been different and the Rebellion had never happened, Robert was doomed to die unloved and miserable.

** And adding further insult to injury, after having annulled his marriage to Elia and thereby made their children illegitimate, he names his son by Lyanna ''Aegon'' - the same name as his son by Elia. So Elia's son lost his legitimacy, his place as second in line to the throne, and his ''name'' to his new half-brother.
* Now that Viserion is an [[{{Dracolich}} ice dragon]], is any other place outside Westeros safe? The dead may not cross the sea easily, but that can't stop the Night King from establishing a foothold on Essos, as he can fly to the Free Cities, massacre some settlements and raise another undead force from the victims (and some additional white walkers from captured babies). Even if they establish a foothold in just one city, they can easily steam roll Essos, especially since massive military forces like the [[TheHorde Dothraki]] and [[BadassArmy Unsullied]] are not at Essos right now. Whatever military force a Free City can muster (even a professional mercenary one) can be wiped out by the dragon. The only effective tool against the walkers is [[{{Unobtainium}} Valyrian steel]], which is not only as rare in Essos as Westeros (except, maybe, Qohor), but can only be wielded as daggers or swords, not javelins or bolts- so good luck with anyone trying to engage in a [[NeverBringaknifetoaGunFight sword fight with a flying Night King on a dragon]]. Plus, the Free Cities are either [[{{Captain Oblivious}} ignorant]] or [[FantasticallyIndifferent indifferent]] to the White Walker threat, such that they haven't mass produced either ballistae-with-bolts (multiple numbers of these things would be needed for mortal men to take down that dragon) or dragon-glass based weaponry (which can also be only imported from far off Asshai and, therefore, not readily available, immediately, for the Free Cities), which makes them weaker than the seven kingdoms and hence,[[CurbStompBattle easier to conquer for the walkers]]. So, the idea that one [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere can simply sail away from Westeros and just avoid the White Walkers and the Undead altogether]] is simply not that tenable, and Essos may also be just as vulnerable as Westeros.
** Apart from that, now that the Walkers have Eastwatch, what's there to say that some of them won't commandeer a ship or fleet from its harbour, with a zombie crew, and sail to some place across the narrow sea- say Ibben or Braavos- and establish a foothold on Essos over there via a sneak attack or amphibious assault (with the assistance of the dragon, of course)?

*** There is no reason for them to do it now but once all of Westeros is dead what really stops them to learn how to sail? The chains they used to drag Viserion seems like those used in harbor after all.

** Though this fridge horror is slightly softened thanks to [[DeliberateValuesdissonance Westerosi views]] on incest being much looser then a modern idea of it. [[labelnote:From the books]]Tywin and his wife were cousins, as were Eddard's parents Rickard and Lyarra.[[/labelnote]]

** Considering that Ned was known to have taken an Army south post sack of Kings Landing to put down any further resistance and the last place he pacified was Dorne, its always been a good guess.
* Just how easily everyone bought Ned's cover story. To recap. Ned was known to be famously straitlaced and prudish. To the point that those who knew him well found the idea of him siring a bastard after he married, to be difficult to believe. He raises said bastard with his trueborn children, humiliating Cat in the process. He also for some strange reason refuses point blank to tell anyone who the mother is. At the same time he came out of Dorne, carrying his dead sister's body, (who had per the rebels own propaganda been rape by Rhaeghar). He also totally coincidentally had a newborn with him. And no one made the connection at all? Men like Tywin, Varys, Baelish, who could read and see conspiracies a mile away just accepted Ned Starks bastard?
** Firstly, the baby looked more Stark than Targaryen, and he grew up to look more like Ned than even his actual sons,[[labelnote:From the books]] Many characters have noted that Ned and Lyanna resembled each other in terms of looks [[/labelnote]] and this boy did not have the typical Targaryen platinum blonde/white hair colour. Secondly, he was a young man who had only spent a wedding night with his newly wed before going off to war, that had an unpredictable outcome, such that, as an unsure soldier, it wouldn't be inconceivable to assume that he had [[PreClimaxClimax pre-battle sex]] with some [[UnusualEuphemism female camp follower]] (like Tyrion and Shae). Alternatively, it would have been believable that Jon was a product of a [[GladtobeAliveSex tryst]] with Ashara Dayne,[[note]] this,of course, being before the Tower of Joy incident[[/note]] on whom Ned had an earlier, well known, crush before his unexpected marriage with Catelyn. Thirdly, [[GoodisnotDumb giving some due to Ned]], he (and Howland), may have hidden the existence of a new born baby from Dorne around the southerners, until he made it back to Riverrun. [[note]] Catelyn didn't receive any advance news about Jon until she saw him with her own eyes for the first time once she reunited with Ned [[/note]] Also, Jon, like Ned's own children, always stayed in the North, away from the radar of any suspicious southern noble, such that nobody bothered about him or the identity of his mother. Fourthly, King Robert, Stannis, Tywin, Varys, and Baelish were more obsessed with fugitive kids of the Mad King, Viserys and Dany (particularly Viserys, as he was the next in line after Rhaegar), even up till Robert's death. And even if they considered the possibility that Lyanna and Rhaegar had a child ('by rape'), the fact that she died in what was apparently a miscarriage would have negated that possibility in their minds. And lastly, Ned Stark was [[GoodisnotSoft one of the most powerful and dangerous men in Westeros after Robert's Rebellion]]- if '''he''' said that Jon was his bastard, '''everybody had to take his word for it''', and nobody, not even Catelyn, could dare investigate any further into this matter and earn his wrath.
** Ned followed OccamsRazor and it worked. The simplest, most obvious explanation was that he, a young soldier, went south and had either an affair or a one-night stand that resulted in a baby. As the OP mentioned, he was known for his honor. People believed he didn't name the woman because 1) he didn't want to do her further dishonor by naming her or B) he didn't want to do himself further dishonor by telling the world he slept with a whore. Dozens of men had bastards during the war (In the books, Robert had at least two during that time.) No one went looking for a deeper explanation because the one he gave was completely plausible.
** We are also estimating how widely known Ned Stark is for his prudishness. Only people who know Ned believe that, or someone like Stannis Baratheon who generally has that insight about people. But Robert Baratheon believed it and he's Ned's best friend, albeit his understanding of people was shallow. Furthermore, everyone knows that lords father kids out of wedlock all the time or do things in private they don't admit in public. Tywin, whoremonger in private but StraightEdgeEvil in public, is a good example of that, and fathering bastards in general is not really dishonorable, or rather it's only dishonorable to people who have the sentiment of marital fidelity which many in Westeros don't since most marriages are ArrangedMarriage. Only Jaime Lannister brings this up in the show, and even he's using it to goad Catelyn and push her buttons.

** Lack of regeneration hasn't stopped human wights from moving with the speed, strength and weapon use of regular humans despite lacking the muscle structure and brain matter to do so.

** Even "normal" dragons are so magical the worldwide supply of magic rises noticably when they return. There's absolutely no reason to believe that their fire breath has any anatomical basis or follows normal physical laws anyway.

** We are also estimating how widely known Ned Stark is for his prudishness. Only people who know Ned believe that, or someone like Stannis Baratheon who generally has that insight about people. But Robert Baratheon believed it and he's Ned's best friend, albeit his understanding of people was shallow. Furthermore, everyone knows that lords father kids out of wedlock all the time or do things in private they don't admit in public. Tywin, whoremonger in private but StraightEdgeEvil in public, is a good example of that.

** Besides, given how secret the wedding was and how no one in the series is above social norms, Ned would have likely killed a bastard by rape as an honor related issues.