22 best moments from Game of Thrones season 8

19. Jon learns his lineage

When it comes to payoff moments in the final stretch of Game of Thrones, there are few that can stack up to Jon finding out about his real parents. This goes beyond just the interaction between Sam and Jon in the crypts (though it must be mentioned that John Bradley and Kit Harrington absolutely killed that scene). For 10 years, the show has been dancing around Jon’s lineage. Right from the get-go, with Ned telling Jon “when I return, we’ll speak of your mother” (and by the old gods and the new, what I wouldn’t give to watch that conversation), it’s clear that Jon’s parentage is going to be important somehow. It’s been the show’s slowest burn. For perspective, the fact that he’s Lyanna’s child was revealed all the way back in Season 6 — almost three years ago, at this point.

In season 8, Jon’s heritage finally becomes the incendiary plot device it was destined to be. In a lot of ways, his identity as a Targaryen coming out is the axis on which the season spins. Would Daenerys have become so unhinged if she hadn’t discovered that she doesn’t actually have the most legitimate claim to the Iron Throne, as she’s believed all this time? Would she have felt so betrayed if Sansa hadn’t spread that information?

It’s hard to know. But Jon finally coming to know that he’s a Targaryen gives us a new perspective on so many other scenes (looking at you, Maester Aemon). It had to make the list.