‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8: Which Characters Know the Truth About Jon, Cersei, and Jaime?

There are so many details that a Game of Thrones super fan has to keep straight. There are questions of who’s related to whom, who lives in what castle, and where everyone literally is at any particular time. Ironically, though, there are some things that fans know about the world of Game of Thrones that not even the characters know. These are the secrets that have defined the story, and could threaten to push everything towards disaster in the final season.

As far as we’re concerned there are three major secrets that ought to be revealed this season — and all three could have major ramifications for the Game of Thrones finale. We know the truth behind each secret, but not all the characters do.

Ahead of the Game of Thrones Season 8 premiere this Sunday, April 14, we thought it would be useful to remind ourselves who knows the truth about Jon Snow, who knows all about Cersei’s double-cross, and who understands why Jaime Lannister became a Kingslayer.

Who Knows Jon Snow is a Targaryen?

The last two seasons of Game of Thrones have managed to confirm that Jon Snow isn’t Ned Stark’s bastard son, but in fact Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen’s legitimate son and heir, Aegon Targaryen. While most Game of Thrones fans and A Song of Ice and Fire readers had managed to work that out ages ago, it took the show seven seasons — and Jon Snow still doesn’t know! (Neither does his aunt/lover Daenerys Targaryen.)

At this point, only two people know the truth about Jon Snow: Bran Stark and Samwell Tarly. It’s also possible that Howland Reed, Meera Reed’s father knows something, but the show has yet to work him into the plot. So we can expect that a major thread in Game of Thrones Season 8 will be how the rest of the characters respond to the news that Jon Snow isn’t…Jon Snow.

Who Knows Cersei Lannister Has Double-Crossed Jon and Daenerys?

Game of Thrones Season 7 almost gave us the “Marvel team up” some of us have been secretly wishing for since Day 1: Cersei Lannister pledged to support the Stark and Targaryen forces in the impending war against the Night King. Tyrion believed it to be a miraculous triumph, and Jaime was gung-ho about fighting for the living.

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However, then it was revealed that Cersei lied to Tyrion about promising the Lannister armies’ support. In fact, she had deftly dispatched Euron Greyjoy on a secret mission across the Narrow Sea to secure the Golden Company. Jaime was aghast, and left King’s Landing to ride north alone.

So Jaime knows, and Euron, and likely Qyburn. However, it would seem that no one in the North knows of Cersei’s treachery, and that they will only learn of it when Jaime arrives.

Who Knows Jaime Killed the Mad King Aerys to Save King’s Landing?

Though it might not be as earth-shattering a secret as Jon Snow’s parentage or Cersei’s betrayal, Jaime’s been hiding the truth about his most notorious deed for decades. While the Seven Kingdoms revile him as a Kingslayer, Jaime knows that he had to kill the Mad King Aerys to save King’s Landing from genocide.

We know that Jaime knows, and Brienne knows, too. It’s possible that either Cersei or Tyrion know, as well, but it’s not been established. So for now, we’ll say the secret is safe with Jaime, Brienne, and probably Bran Stark. (One of Bran’s visions in his Three-Eyed Raven training was the moment that Aerys ordered, “Burn them all!”)

Why does this even matter? Well, if Jaime rolls up to Winterfell without Brienne or Bran to vouch for his honor, it’s unclear if Jon and Dany will be able to place their trust in him.

Game of Thrones Season 8 premieres on HBO on April 14. 

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