George R. R. Martin’s New Game of Thrones Release Officially Confirms a Popular Westeros Fan Theory

Game of Thrones has several spin-offs, but one recent addition has brought the franchise to the stage for the first time. After a slight delay, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new play Game of Thrones: The Mad King has officially begun its run, giving a glimpse of Westeros in a different era. This story is the most closely connected to the events of Game of Thrones, set just a single generation before the original HBO series. Most significantly, it features the infamous Tourney at Harrenhal, a pivotal moment in Westeros history that neither the flagship HBO series nor George R. R. Martin‘s books explore at length.

‘The Mad King’ Answers a Question That ‘Game of Thrones’ Never Confirmed

In bringing the Tourney at Harrenhal to life, The Mad King reportedly resolves a long-standing mystery that neither the HBO series nor the books ever confirmed. The Knight of the Laughing Tree, who defended the honor of Howland Reed and became a focus of the Mad King Aerys II’s paranoia, is an important part of the event, but their identity is never uncovered. Leaning into a popular fan theory, the play apparently establishes that this knight is Lyanna Stark (played by Harmony Rose-Bremner), which adds even more significance to her story as revealed in Game of Thrones.

As the story goes, the Knight of the Laughing Tree was short, had a booming voice, and carried a shield bearing a weirwood tree, joining the lists late to challenge the knights whose squires bullied Howland Reed. Even King Aerys II didn’t know who the knight was, much to his frustration, but he failed to unmask the knight. With only clues such as their appearance, a shield referencing the Old Gods, and the fact that the Stark siblings were the only witnesses to what happened to Howland, fans have proposed several theories about the knight’s identity over the years, with the possibilities ranging from Howland himself to Ashara Dayne to even Ned Stark himself.

While each theory could fit, the most popular by far is that Lyanna is the Knight of the Laughing Tree, and that is what the play depicts. In this version of the story, Lyanna’s brothers don’t know what she is doing, leaving few, if any, who could confirm her role during the years of Game of Thrones. However, one person does discover the truth. In The Mad King, Lyanna confesses the truth to Rhaegar (Noah Ritter), who helps conceal her involvement. The fact that the Knight of the Laughing Tree’s identity is a secret shared between Lyanna and Rhaegar makes it instrumental to their relationship and the events that significantly shape the lead-up to Game of Thrones: the war and the birth of Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

Is ‘The Mad King’ Officially ‘Game of Thrones’ Canon?

While it may be exciting for the truth behind this mysterious event to finally be uncovered, it’s also important to remember that The Mad King isn’t officially regarded as canon. While Lyanna largely fits as the person behind the Knight of the Laughing Tree, and many fans will be thrilled that the play supports their theory, it isn’t a full confirmation. The story is an adaptation, which means things could drastically change from Martin’s vision. The full title, Game of Thrones: The Mad King, even connects the play to the HBO series more than A Song of Ice and Fire. Although Lyanna is the Knight of the Laughing Tree in the play, Martin could reveal a different version in his upcoming novels, if and when they are published.

However, the play’s resolution to this long-held mystery isn’t just coming out of nowhere; Martin himself was involved in the production, meaning he could easily have shared privileged information with The Mad King‘s creative team. While he is known for being vocally critical of changes to his stories, Martin previously praised the play, saying, “Duncan [Macmillan]’s masterful script honours the world completely,” which lends credence to the likelihood that the story follows Martin’s intended plan — if not to the letter, at least in the major plot points. Confirming the fan theory that Lyanna is the Knight of the Laughing Tree, however, adds an exciting layer to Game of Thrones‘ latest spin-off.