So far, Daenerys has been pretty careless with her children, who also happen to be the most powerful weapon in Westeros. Viserion was killed by the Night King during the unbelievably stupid Operation Capture a Wight. And Rhaegal was killed when Daenerys somehow didn't see the massive fleet of ships approaching her. That leaves her with only Drogon, her favorite dragon, who is vulnerable to Cersei's big ass crossbows.
But what if Drogon is not the last dragon left in the world? According to one fan theory that has been passed around the internet over the years, "in the fifth season, when Drogon spends almost a whole season gone, he's actually laying eggs and is in fact a female."
The theory has been brought back this week because of one thing fans caught in the promo for Episode Five. As one Redditor explained, "Euron Greyjoy looks up at the sky and hears a roar and gets scared. Since he has seen the dragons for a long time he wouldn't be scared for just a dragon, but what if theres more dragons?"
Now, this sounds insane since Drogon is a male, but George R.R. Martin's books have made very clear the complicated nature of dragon sex and reproduction. In Fire & Blood, Martin's new history of the Targaryen dynasty, he briefly discusses the sex of Vermax, who was the dragon of Rhaenyra Targaryen's eldest son Jacaerys Velaryon:
Mushroom also claims that Vermax left a clutch of dragon’s eggs at Winterfell, which is equally absurd. Whilst it is true that determining the sex of a living dragon is a nigh on impossible task, no other source mentions Vermax producing so much as a single egg, so it must be assumed that he was male. Septon Barth’s speculation that the dragons change sex at need, being “as mutable as flame,” is too ludicrous to consider.
While this account casts doubt on Septon Barth's claim that dragons can change sex, this topic is something that's hotly debated within Martin's source material. As the Game of Thrones wiki explains of dragon reproduction:
Historians, like Septon Barth, Grand Maester Munkun, and Maester Thomax, disagree on the mating habits of dragons. Dragons lay large, scaled eggs to reproduce. According to Archmaester Gyldayn, and agreed upon by Maester Yandel, the ability of a dragon to lay eggs is proof that said dragon is female. When a dragon is never observed to have laid eggs, this is taking as proof that it must have been male. However, according to Barth and Maester Aemon, dragons have no fixed gender, but are “now one and now the other, as changeable as flame”. Barth believed that dragons can change sex at need, but Maester Anson believes this to be erroneous, and states in his Truth that Barth's statement is simply a misunderstood esoteric metaphor.
Surprisingly, given how much detail he goes into everywhere else, Martin doesn't explicitly say how Dragons mate and reproduce. However, considering dragons are gender fluid, it's possible that Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal could have produced more eggs while off in Essos. One Reddit user also points to actual (!) science and an ability called parthenogenesis in which reptiles can reproduce without a mate.
Culture Editor
Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries.
I am an avid Game of Thrones enthusiast with an in-depth understanding of the intricate details of the series and its source material. Having closely followed George R.R. Martin's works and delved into the lore of Westeros, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, allowing me to dissect and analyze the nuances of the narrative.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Dragon Reproduction in George R.R. Martin's Universe: The article refers to the complexity of dragon sex and reproduction as discussed by George R.R. Martin in his book "Fire & Blood." It mentions the dragon Vermax, associated with Rhaenyra Targaryen's eldest son Jacaerys Velaryon, and the debate surrounding its gender and ability to lay eggs.
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Dragon Sexuality and Gender Fluidity: The debate on dragon sex and gender fluidity is a recurring theme in Martin's source material. Historians such as Septon Barth and Maester Aemon have conflicting views on whether dragons have fixed genders or can change sex at need. The article explores the idea that dragons may be "now one and now the other, as changeable as flame."
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Dragon Mating Habits: The mating habits of dragons are hotly debated in the Game of Thrones universe. The ability of a dragon to lay eggs is considered proof of being female, but there are conflicting views on whether dragons can change sex. The article mentions historians like Archmaester Gyldayn, Maester Yandel, and others who disagree on these matters.
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Dragon Eggs and Parthenogenesis: The article introduces the possibility that Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal could have produced more eggs while off in Essos, drawing attention to the concept of parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis is a real biological phenomenon in which some reptiles can reproduce without a mate.
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Promo for Episode Five: The article mentions a fan theory speculating that Drogon might be laying eggs, and this theory gains traction due to a scene in the promo for Episode Five. The reaction of Euron Greyjoy, who is familiar with dragons, is interpreted as a potential hint that there might be more dragons in the world.
In conclusion, the article weaves together fan theories, observations from the Game of Thrones series, and insights from George R.R. Martin's books to explore the intriguing possibility that Drogon might not be the last dragon in the world, opening up discussions on dragon reproduction, gender fluidity, and the mysteries surrounding these mythical creatures in the lore of Westeros.
