'Game Of Thrones' Season 5 Spoilers: Young Griff, Tyrion And Jorah Storyline Changes?

We need to talk about "Game of Thrones" Season 5. Even if you've never read all the George R.R. Martin novels constituting "A Song of Ice and Fire," you're well aware of the many departures from the source material the HBO series has made this season. Whether it's Sansa Stark at Moat Cailin or Jaime Lannister headed to Dorne, it's clear the "Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss aren't afraid to make something that may be entirely different from "A Song of Ice and Fire." Most recently, there have been changes that have book readers wondering what will happen to characters introduced in Tyrion Lannister's storyline in "A Dance with Dragons."

Warning: "Game of Thrones" Season 5 spoilers and "A Song of Ice and Fire" discussion ahead.

In "Game of Thrones" Season 5, Tyrion embarked on his journey across the Narrow Sea after killing his father. He had some help from Lord Varys, but a subsequent trip to a brothel led to his capture by Ser Jorah Mormont. The two are now traveling to Meereen, mostly in silence. They were attacked by the Stone Men as they traveled through the ruins of Valyria. Tyrion was pulled into the river by one of the Stone Men, but rescued by Jorah. At the the end of "Game of Thrones." Season 5, episode 5, "Kill the Boy" the duo finally have a conversation and Jorah finds out he contracted greyscale disease.

As has been the refrain this season, Tyrion's storyline was changed dramatically between the book series and the television series. Most of it makes sense: Do we really want to spend 10 weeks on detours and precarious situations that are more nuisances than dangers? However, Tyrion's journey in the novel version was aided early on by a crew led by Griff that included Ser Rolly Duckfield, Septa Lemore and Haldon. There was also a teen named Young Griff. Tyrion quickly figured out that Griff is Jon Connington -- loyal to House Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion -- who fled to Essos in exile.

Connington's crew holds an even bigger secret: Aegon Targaryen. Tyrion learns that Young Griff is actually Aegon -- long believed to have been killed by Ser Gregor Clegane, aka the Mountain, during Robert's Rebellion. Connington was tasked with raising Aegon to become a proper king with Duckfield serving as a guard and Lemore and Haldon as his tutors. Aegon was taken away from King's Landing, where the son of a tanner took his place.

In "A Song of Ice and Fire," the Shy Maid is attacked by the Stone Men and Connington contracts greyscale. Tyrion is captured at this point, and the two parties continue as separate point-of-view chapters in "Dragons." Connington recruits the Golden Company to aid Prince Aegon Targaryen in his conquest of Westeros. Backed by a massive army, Aegon quickly gains a foothold in the Stormlands, taking castles and lands while the news of his arrival spreads. In the book version, Aegon's story concludes as they plan to take Storm's End.

There are plenty of doubts over the legitimacy of Aegon, but word of his appearance in Westeros reached King's Landing and Dorne. In the released chapter of "The Winds of Winter" featuring Arianne Martell, the Dornish princess is headed to the Stormlands to meet Aegon.

So, what do we make of Young Griff's absence in "Game of Thrones" Season 5 and Jorah contracting greyscale? If Young Griff is a red herring, that would be a massive blow to his future storyline in "The Winds of Winter" and the legitimacy of his claims. Sure, Aegon could stake a claim in the Stormlands, but if he's not a real Targaryen, that would mean he had no claim to the Iron Throne. There's also the significance of Daenerys Targaryen with her dragons and the implications of the R+L=J theory.

Many fans don't buy the whole Aegon thing and are happy the Griffs have yet to make appearances in "Game of Thrones." The Griffs were only introduced in the fifth book of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, and, unlike other theories, it doesn't appear Martin hid a lot of secrets that point readers to a concealed Aegon. In contrast, the R+L=J theory has plenty of textual evidence to support the idea that Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark are the parents of Jon Snow. One popular fan theory is that Fake Aegon is a Blackfyre pretender in disguise, basically representing the latest rebellion against House Targaryen. Of course, this would require a heavy history lesson explaining how a bastard Targaryen was legitimized and started House Blackfyre, which the TV show likely couldn't wedge into its tight schedule.

Considering all the surprises of late, Benioff and Weiss could sneak a quick tease of this storyline into the "Game of Thrones" Season 5 finale. If Young Griff doesn't make it to the show, he'll be in some nice company. "Game of Thrones" has not adapted Coldhands, Lady Stoneheart or everybody's favorite prophetic court jester, Patchface.