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The show`s treatment of Rhaegar. (Book Spoilers)


Takiedevushkikakzvezdy

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They've got plenty of seasons to deal with it IMO. My guess is they've decided not to waste screen time on it in these earlier seasons, given that the reveal is such a long way off. And they have mentioned Rhaegar every now and then. Look for more lingering focus in seasons 5 and 6 I think.


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Rhaegar hasn't been all that important to present events as of yet. In season 4 we learned that he "abducted" Lyanna and that he was killed by Robert. We learned that he thought nobly and valiantly. This season, we will learn that he had a devoted Martell wife and two lovely kids who were brutally butchered by the Lannisters and their bannermen. Sooner or later, we will undoubtedly get the J=R+L reveal, probably in the last season or the one before. Given that we are only about half way through the series, they still have plenty of time to tell his story.


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He was mentioned almost at the very start of the season with Robert in the crypts, and has been referenced several times since, such as Jorah and Barristan mentioning him to Daenerys. There's only so much they can do when you can't have characters remembering him in thoughts, so they've done well so far. Oberyn's story will give us more info on his family, meaning the Aegon reveal early in Season 5 won't be too difficult to understand.


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Pretty hard to make a character that died years before the events of your story a focal point. As mentioned, he's been talked about here and there and like they have done in the past, when his story becomes important to the immediate plot of the show, they'll start referencing him more.


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I think they've been doing good at mentioning him every now and then.



Season 1- "I kill him every night in my sleep" and "What Rhaegar Targaryen did to your sister was unspeakable"


(Also, Lyanna was mentioned a couple of times too)


Season 2- I can't remember anything but sadly they missed the perfect opportunity of mentioning him- 'The dragon must have three heads' Dany's vision in the House of the Undying.


Season 3- "finest man I ever knew" and the infamous 'Rhaegar fought' quote which puts him in a new light, considering what we've heard about him so far and how Baristan (a honourable man) viewed him.



In season 4 we'll get the back story of Elia and her children which will set things up nicely for Young Griff entering the scene and this controversial Targaryen Prince (Rhaegar) will be mentioned again.




I personally think the person they need to mention more is Lyanna- especially considering the Knight of the Laughing Tree story, her role in the rebellion and being Jon's mother.



However, the problem is the Unsullied don't pick up on these 'minor' dead characters that are mentioned every so often because they don't think they're important. This is why I really think they should have some form of flashback (really disappointing they screwed up Dany's vision it was perfect for putting attention on Rhaegar).



However, when Young Griff is revealed Rhaegar will be more known which sets things up nicely for the R+L=J reveal. More Lyanna, I say.


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I'm thinking he'll be mentioned quite a bit, pretty soon. Oberyn will mention him, and as a result other characters he is interacting with as well. Soon, it will just be Barristan and Dany which too will allow for it. They'll get to it.



They don't need to have some super character profile of him yet. When the time comes, they'll do it.


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This show drops lots of crumbs as it goes. Throw away lines about Greyjoy uncles or Selmy remembering Rhaegar, to stuff like Melisandre predictig Arya's future & them meeting again (may yet occur in the books). With no flashbacks it can be complained there's too much reminiscing in talky scenes (the show making a serious point of upping the action in S4).



The GoT show's technique is having a conversation about a person & then transitioning to that topic/person in the next scene. Like Roose saying Ramsay has his own way of doing things->cut to Ramsay's pork sausage gag in the Dreadfort. Hell they could be blatant & cut from a Selmy/Dany/JonCon talking about Rhaegar scene to the red woman having a profound reaction to lord snow's specialness.


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It's harder for most people to remember things they hear as opposed to see. Rhaegar will get brought up more when he becomes relevant. Dany can always have Rhaegar in a dream or vision. If Euron's introduced with his "warlock" blue lips, attentive Unsullied will notice. That's a point to explain Shade of the Evening, and can segue into Dany trying some and having her little Absinthe-meets-LSD adventure.


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Rhaegar's not actually that important to the TV show. They'll be able to fill the viewer in with a brief sentence here or there. When Aegon shows up they'll presumably have a conservation between him and Tyrion that explains everything.

Since the books and the show are heading in the same direction, Rhaegar should be as important on the show as he is in the books, unless they plan to skip the SOIAF prophecy entirely and just focus on the fight for the IT. Rhaegar should become memorable enough before Aegon is revealed, because if he isn`t, viewers will ask: "Aegon, son of who?!"

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I think they've been doing good at mentioning him every now and then.

Season 1- "I kill him every night in my sleep" and "What Rhaegar Targaryen did to your sister was unspeakable"

(Also, Lyanna was mentioned a couple of times too)

Season 2- I can't remember anything but sadly they missed the perfect opportunity of mentioning him- 'The dragon must have three heads' Dany's vision in the House of the Undying.

Season 3- "finest man I ever knew" and the infamous 'Rhaegar fought' quote which puts him in a new light, considering what we've heard about him so far and how Baristan (a honourable man) viewed him.

Yes, but is that really enough to remember him? The HotU scene really seems like a wasted opportunity now.

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There's numerous versions of the main theme on a harp on youtube & it sounds amazing on that instrument. Just image: Flashback, slow fade. L & R in the Tower of Joy, in love, happy before the depressing future that awaits them & the realm. Rhaegar needed a 3rd child. He explains this and plays on his silver harp to a pregnant Lyanna a melancholic song w/ a hint of hope, the Song of Ice and Fire, & lo and behold, its the main theme we've been hearing before each episode for years finally making it into the show itself. Bitersweet indeed. It all comes full circle. Boom.



This idea is free of charge D&D. Please steal it.


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