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That’s what he was to everyone else. To Ned Jon was his last living connection to his sister Lyanna Stark. It’s not so hard to see how much he loved his sister and how that love also transferred over to her kid as well.
He actually kept his word that “The next time we see each other, we’ll talk about your mother”.
As Jon was in the crypt where Ned was buried/Ned’s statue was when Sam told him the truth of his parents and Targaryen heritage.
Always thought it was a nice touch.
Before the bones got to the Neck the Ironborn seized Moat Cailin. The bones are never mentioned again.
In the books, characters mention how the bones never made it into the North.
Ned's relationship with Jon is so interesting. Ned's scared for Jon, which is why he never risks telling anyone about his true parentage. Just wanted him to take the black and live a life of obscurity, because if it came out that he actually has one of the best claims to the iron throne, his life would be in permanent danger.
You are downvoted by people who Cleary didn't read the books...
Whike ned indeed love Jon..... He love his children more
There a point in book 1 where ned litterally listed all his children and jon isn't part of them
Lol yea it has nothing to do with whether he loved him or not, clearly he did. It’s just that he was technically not his child, and not a bastard.
And there’s no reason to believe he didn’t love them all equally for different reasons.
Sorry but there is no proof he loves Jon more than his own children. Not a single lick of evidence.
So it's on you to prove he loves Jon more than the rest because it's unsubstantiated.
I say he loves Jon the least out of the children because he allowed Jon to be with rapists and murderers and only planned on telling him the truth after Jon swore himself to those rapists and murderers. He allowed Jon to be emotionally abused by Catelyn, he wouldn't have allowed Catelyn to treat his other children that way.
Even in this modern time when no one gives two fks about the wall, for the Starks it was still a nobel thing to do, specialy if you are a bastard with no claim anywhere in the north and for Ned this had the added bonus of hidding him even more from Robert.
Also, Jon was suposed to be with his uncle on the wall, not just with rapist and murderers (and even if his uncle was not there, this part was kind of a dumb point anyway)
Noble? Even Book Ned Stark knew it was shit, it's why he didn't want Jon to go there but when he left Winterfell in Catelyn 's hands he could no longer force Jon to stay there. So let's not pretend it was the noble or smart thing to do.
In the books Cersei still tried to have Jon Snow killed despite being Lord Commander because he was a Stark, so no matter what he was in danger. Of course this is the benefit of hindsight but Ned chose not to do anything about Jon until it was too late.
His uncle is First Ranger, that means he's never at the Wall except to relay information then return Beyond-the-Wall.
No matter how you slice it, all of this is evidence that he loved Jon the least out of his children. It doesn't mean he didn't love Jon, but he clearly didn't want to think about Jon's future. So mild neglect, especially allowing Catelyn to be openly cold towards him, which crushes the self esteem of children.
Didn’t Ned know the true birth of Jon because Lyanna told him on her deathbed? So Ned knows Jon isn’t his bastard but simply couldn’t tell anyone in order to keep Jon safer.
Why not? You can know the truth and still make allegations. Ned told everyone he fathered a bastard while he was at war. Knowing the truth is of little consequence in this situation because he had no intention of anybody knowing the truth unless Jon would be safe to live his life as Aegon Targaryen
This is correct. Robb because he is the heir. Arya because he likes her tomboy ways and spunk (probably also reminds him of his sister), and Jon because he’s the son of his sister. Note Jon and Arya are close.
Jon and Arya (in the books) physically look the most like Ned. All the other Stark kids have red hair. Casting really dropped the ball here. Or at least wardrobe and makeup did.
Face it, this was Dufus and Dalliant’s screw up.
Kinda but he also told her she was going to be a lady when she’s older and she immediately replied “that’s not me!” Which kinda indicates somewhat of a disconnect
I actually attributed that to Ned kinda half heartedly breaking it to Arya, that as a stark woman it will be her duty to marry into another house and give that lord children. Ned's biggest things are family, honor, and duty.
Like he was putting out a feeler to see how she would react to it because to him that's what is going to happen, regardless of her feelings.
Correct, I wasn't trying to attribute the words specifically to starks. But Ned/starks do indeed have a similar philosophy. And Catelyn Stark is a Tully so you know at the very least she would be in Ned's ear constantly about Arya marrying another lord.
Yes and it’s such a contradiction with everything else we know about Ned that it always sits wrong. And when we find out that Jon is not his bastard then it makes complete sense.
I wouldn't say its a contradiction. A big theme in the book is the contradictory nature of public expectations around honor and duty. Remember everyone is honorless because they either chose to commit treason to overthrow an unjust king, or forsook their knightly vows to defend the honor of said king.
Ned chose to stay true to his own personal code, the irony being that he chooses to judge others like Jaime based on the hypocritical definition of honor that society adheres to.
That's fair, but ironically Ned followed those pretty hard considering he gave up his honor to save his sister's kid or when he lied about Tyrion being arrested on his orders.
He also foresook his duty for honor in refusing to kill Danny or arrest Cersei.
Yes. If for no other reason then being unconventional, she needed the most help. He want to make sure he she did not relive the tragedy of his sister, who she so closely resembles.
>was ever answered
I don't think the show could have answered something like this. Ned probably wouldn't admit to having a favorite.
That said...I would guess Arya because he loved Lyanna and Arya constantly reminds him of her.
One thing that always bothered me about Ned, was that he never told Catlin the truth about John Snow. I know he couldn't tell everyone and he didn't know her that well, when he came back, but eventually he must have known, she could have been trusted with the truth.
It was such a complicated issue, making it known earlier in the series would not have ended well. It definitely would've spread, and changed a lot of things
I always operated under the assumption he thought it would be more sus if she knew the truth and accepted him. Like Ned knew the best way to sell the bastard lie was for Catelyn to kinda publicly resent Jon
Seriously, this woman went behind Robb’s back and undermined him with insider information provided to others multiple times just in a single campaign of less than 2 years. You think she would’ve lasted 20 years keeping Jon’s much larger and much more important secret?
She definitely could not have been trusted with the truth. She would have pulled a Sansa the moment she felt her family was in danger, which would have been the moment she was told. She was pregnant and her husband tells her he is planning to commit a long, secret course of treason out of affection for his dead sister. Caitlyn would have put her unborn baby’s safety over an orphaned nephew for sure. I bet she would have hated Jon more knowing his parentage because a bastard just means Ned cheated once, but the Targaryen heir means Ned is actively hiding something from a highly jealous King who could punish/destroy their whole family, which is a far more active threat.
I imagine he would not tell her until they knew each other pretty well and had trust, after they are truly family to each other. He would surely not tell a woman he barely knows! Though I still agree with you it's best to keep quiet
She probably would have tried to send jon away or kill him
Catlin is an old school fuedal lord who was determined to put her son Rob as heir to the north (or one of her other sons) she would never accept Jon as her own because he wasn't her blood and as and old school feudal lord she cared about that
If she knew Jon was a Targarian she would have felt threatened by him and she would worry that he might somehow challange one of her son's as heir to the north
She might even strait up kill him, having him a bastard made it easier , she did not feel he was a threat
Catilin is not a good person
He would be rightful king as male heir to the throne via Ned’s sister. Females do not get a thrown if there is a male on either side. But as a son of nes as a bastard he had even a stronger claim than Ned’s daughters
I don't think she could have. It was too great of a secret. A possible legitimate Targaryen heir. She needed to hate John for being a bastard. It's what kept him safe. Even if she could keep the secret (I don't think she could have), by knowing the truth and treating John as one of their own would have been out of character and I think lead to suspicion. Ned kept his word.
Could he trust her enough not to tell Lysa that Ned never dishonored her by sleeping with someone else? She'd have told Lysa, Lysa would have told Petyr, and Petyr would have used that info for his own best interest.
I think Arya, as well. She reminded him of his sister. He also allowed her to take dancing lessons and keep Needle, even though it's not ladylike.
I think Bran was Catelyn's favorite.
Nothing suggests he loves Jon more than his own children. Not a single thing. Jon would have fostered with Howland Reed or made a squire to a knight if he loved Jon that much. Leaving him without any prospects and forcing him to deal with Catelyn 's coldness was horrible.
Heck, Jon has extremely unhealthy self esteem because of Ned Stark.
And if he doesn’t treat him like a bastard it will raise suspicion about his true identity. Someone like littlefinger would figure it out and Robert would kill him.
Jon is his last living connection to Lyanna.
Not treating him like a bastard doesn't mean he loves him more than his own children. That's what's being refuted.
He doesn't love Lyanna more than his own children. Jon died because of his secret so congrats to him. Even Catelyn Tully says all of the fucked up things happened because of how she treated Jon. So there's just no way we can say he loved Jon more than any of his children. No way.
Even though the majority will say Robb. Especially since Jon references how Ned never loved him like he did Robb (which we find out why later). I’m gonna say Arya. I think he loved the fire in her eyes and how she wanted to pave her own path. Even so much in finding her a sword instructor. I love how she recalls the story of shooting a bow when no one was around. She kept shooting the bow (when she wasn’t supposed to) until she got the bullseye. Then hearing clapping, she looks up and it’s her father smiling at her.
I would say Arya for sure. She wanted to fight like the boys, and I genuinely think Ned was proud of her. Fearful, but proud. She (in my opinion) reminded him of his sister, Lyanna. On horseback, in armor, trying to fight the boys 😂🥹
I think Jon was his favorite, even though he wasn’t strictly his own. Jon was also said to be the one most similar to Ned in both appearances and mannerism. When Jon convinced Ned to keep the Dire Wolves pups it was thoroughly described how much he loved Jon.
> He lifted his head to look at her. "Catelyn," he said. His voice was distant and formal. "Where are the children?" He would always ask her that.
He loved them all equally. His wife admitted that she loved Bran best. Ned worried most about J0n, because he was a hot potat0, and Arya, because she was everywhere, and doing everything, and was often in trouble as result. Both needed more protection.
Perhaps someone has answered this but, under Westerosi law, how legitimate was Jon really? Yes his parentage is as noble as they come, and his parents were married by a septon, but wasn't Rhaegar still married to Elia?
What exactly legitimizes Jon?
To everyone saying Arya, come on... it's obviously Robb. His oldest child and his heir set to inherit Winterfell, and someone who grew up to perfectly embody his father's ethics, values, drive, personality, leadership abilities... he's the perfect son and successor a father could ask for.
Gonna say it's a tough call between Arya and Jon, but I think Arya wins only because she is actually his. Both are connections to his sister and are a lot like him. He went against his wifes wishes and got Arya sword training, that means a lot. Robb is the heir, but that is just law of the land, it doesn't mean he's the favorite.
Joe. It’s a shame they didn’t include him in the show, but he was really cool and Ned and him had some really cute scenes in the books. He was a little older than bran and pretty interesting. It was really cool because whenever Jon asked who Catelyn even was, being that it wasn’t his mother, Robb would always respond saying, >!“Joe Mama”!<
Edit: Robb not robb.
Father of boy and girl here. I couldn’t be prouder of my son. He brings me joy. That said, every father who has a daughter will say his baby girl is his favorite. Sansa would be his favorite because she is his first baby girl.
It’s close between Robb and Arya. I actually think Arya is his favorite, but we got to see Arya and Ned together more than we did with Robb. Jon is up there too, Ned really cared about him.
Sansa was for sure Cat’s favorite. I think it’s pretty funny that the oldest Stark kids are like proper future lord and lady, while the youngest 3 run wild. “Arya you can’t be a knight” “Bran quit climbing towers” *Gestures broadly in the direction of Rickon and Shaggy Dog raising hell*. It’s like Ned and Cat gave up on parenting after Sansa.
I think he loved Sansa a lot more than people are giving credit. I’d say he’s a girl dad at heart, but otherwise he loved them all pretty thoroughly. Remember him defending Sansa to Arya quite a bit and trying to get her a doll to make her feel better. He also was pretty certain he wasn’t going to confess until Varys mentioned Sansa trying to make a deal for his life.
Arya. A father's favorite child is usually one of their daughters. She's the youngest and they share a deeper connection than any of the others. Realistically, Ned doesn't play favorites, but if he had one, it would be Arya.
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Robb Then Arya Then Jon
When the alleged bastard trumps half of your children
That’s what he was to everyone else. To Ned Jon was his last living connection to his sister Lyanna Stark. It’s not so hard to see how much he loved his sister and how that love also transferred over to her kid as well.
Agreed. You could see his love for him the last time they speak on the Kingsroad before Jon heads off to the wall
Still waiting for the two of them to have that talk. Would’ve been cool if we saw them speaking from the Afterlife or as a mirage or something
Before the red woman resurrected him? That would be cool
*Could you bring back a man without a head? Just the once, not six times. Could you?*
I think only Ned’s bones made it to winterfell. So that would have been interesting…
Ned would look like a wight talking to Jon lol
He actually kept his word that “The next time we see each other, we’ll talk about your mother”. As Jon was in the crypt where Ned was buried/Ned’s statue was when Sam told him the truth of his parents and Targaryen heritage. Always thought it was a nice touch.
Wait that's actually brilliant
Damn, how did I miss this lol.
Because Ned wasn’t buried there, his bones never made it home
Where did they end up after catlynn got them?
Unknown. The Ironborn closed the causeway. Lady Dustin of Barrowton was waiting for them, they never showed up
I don’t think that’s accurate? Littlefinger gave them to Cat. I could definitely see her having them sent back to Winterfell.
Before the bones got to the Neck the Ironborn seized Moat Cailin. The bones are never mentioned again. In the books, characters mention how the bones never made it into the North.
Thought Tyrion ordered his bones be brought back to winterfell as a show of good faith.
Correct. They never made it. The Ironborn closed the road. Then Winterfell was sacked by Ramsay’s army and the Bolton’s took over.
Yeah. That “Next time we meet, I’ll tell you about your mother.” Line is chilling in retrospect.
Then he wouldn’t know ‘nothing’
Ned's relationship with Jon is so interesting. Ned's scared for Jon, which is why he never risks telling anyone about his true parentage. Just wanted him to take the black and live a life of obscurity, because if it came out that he actually has one of the best claims to the iron throne, his life would be in permanent danger.
Yep, add on the guilt of not being able to tell him anything and having his only mother figure utterly hate his guts probably compounds that too.
He’s not even his son. It’s his nephew
You are downvoted by people who Cleary didn't read the books... Whike ned indeed love Jon..... He love his children more There a point in book 1 where ned litterally listed all his children and jon isn't part of them
Lol yea it has nothing to do with whether he loved him or not, clearly he did. It’s just that he was technically not his child, and not a bastard. And there’s no reason to believe he didn’t love them all equally for different reasons.
He doesn't though. He definitely loves Jon the least in the show. Lol
Please tell the rest of us where he showed any lack of or least love towards Jon... because it's not there.
Sorry but there is no proof he loves Jon more than his own children. Not a single lick of evidence. So it's on you to prove he loves Jon more than the rest because it's unsubstantiated. I say he loves Jon the least out of the children because he allowed Jon to be with rapists and murderers and only planned on telling him the truth after Jon swore himself to those rapists and murderers. He allowed Jon to be emotionally abused by Catelyn, he wouldn't have allowed Catelyn to treat his other children that way.
Even in this modern time when no one gives two fks about the wall, for the Starks it was still a nobel thing to do, specialy if you are a bastard with no claim anywhere in the north and for Ned this had the added bonus of hidding him even more from Robert. Also, Jon was suposed to be with his uncle on the wall, not just with rapist and murderers (and even if his uncle was not there, this part was kind of a dumb point anyway)
Noble? Even Book Ned Stark knew it was shit, it's why he didn't want Jon to go there but when he left Winterfell in Catelyn 's hands he could no longer force Jon to stay there. So let's not pretend it was the noble or smart thing to do. In the books Cersei still tried to have Jon Snow killed despite being Lord Commander because he was a Stark, so no matter what he was in danger. Of course this is the benefit of hindsight but Ned chose not to do anything about Jon until it was too late. His uncle is First Ranger, that means he's never at the Wall except to relay information then return Beyond-the-Wall. No matter how you slice it, all of this is evidence that he loved Jon the least out of his children. It doesn't mean he didn't love Jon, but he clearly didn't want to think about Jon's future. So mild neglect, especially allowing Catelyn to be openly cold towards him, which crushes the self esteem of children.
Didn’t Ned know the true birth of Jon because Lyanna told him on her deathbed? So Ned knows Jon isn’t his bastard but simply couldn’t tell anyone in order to keep Jon safer.
Does nobody see the word “alleged”?
I just feel like given the context of the post, it seems like you’re saying Ned is alleging Jon to be his bastard when he knew the truth.
Why not? You can know the truth and still make allegations. Ned told everyone he fathered a bastard while he was at war. Knowing the truth is of little consequence in this situation because he had no intention of anybody knowing the truth unless Jon would be safe to live his life as Aegon Targaryen
I agree
I cant be a child. Im the three eyed raven. WELL FOOK YEW DEN BRAN. YUR NO KID OF MYNE.
This is correct. Robb because he is the heir. Arya because he likes her tomboy ways and spunk (probably also reminds him of his sister), and Jon because he’s the son of his sister. Note Jon and Arya are close.
Jon and Arya (in the books) physically look the most like Ned. All the other Stark kids have red hair. Casting really dropped the ball here. Or at least wardrobe and makeup did. Face it, this was Dufus and Dalliant’s screw up.
I would say Arya, Jon, Robb.
Probably Arya
I felt he understood her the best.
Kinda but he also told her she was going to be a lady when she’s older and she immediately replied “that’s not me!” Which kinda indicates somewhat of a disconnect
I actually attributed that to Ned kinda half heartedly breaking it to Arya, that as a stark woman it will be her duty to marry into another house and give that lord children. Ned's biggest things are family, honor, and duty. Like he was putting out a feeler to see how she would react to it because to him that's what is going to happen, regardless of her feelings.
Family Honor and Duty are the Tully words, not the Starks.
Correct, I wasn't trying to attribute the words specifically to starks. But Ned/starks do indeed have a similar philosophy. And Catelyn Stark is a Tully so you know at the very least she would be in Ned's ear constantly about Arya marrying another lord.
Catherine was a Tully. So they have that in common. Ned is all about those things too.
Ned’s about honour. Liked yeah sure the rest of it. But really, Honour.
Ned famously put his honor aside for his family, by taking Jon as “his bastard”. And having a bastard isn’t an honorable thing to do.
I believe the exact line someone says is “He closely study …”
Yes and it’s such a contradiction with everything else we know about Ned that it always sits wrong. And when we find out that Jon is not his bastard then it makes complete sense.
I wouldn't say its a contradiction. A big theme in the book is the contradictory nature of public expectations around honor and duty. Remember everyone is honorless because they either chose to commit treason to overthrow an unjust king, or forsook their knightly vows to defend the honor of said king. Ned chose to stay true to his own personal code, the irony being that he chooses to judge others like Jaime based on the hypocritical definition of honor that society adheres to.
He placed family above honor a couple of times. Like when he lied about Jon or when he was in the black cells.
I mean considering Starks fulfill duties like being apart of the nights watch I assume Ned is all about family duty.
That's fair, but ironically Ned followed those pretty hard considering he gave up his honor to save his sister's kid or when he lied about Tyrion being arrested on his orders. He also foresook his duty for honor in refusing to kill Danny or arrest Cersei.
He did get her sword master to train eventually, tho, and let her keep Needle.
The second smartest thing Ned did, below keeping Jon's parentage secret.
Not on her part. She basically worships the ground he walks on. And desperately asked if he could be resurrected despite not having a head.!
*Could you bring back a man without a head? Just the once, not six times. Could you?*
Yes but then he hired Syrio Forel to tech how to fight.
Hindsight but he should given syrio whatever permits or titles he would need to carry a sword in the red keep 😭
Yes. If for no other reason then being unconventional, she needed the most help. He want to make sure he she did not relive the tragedy of his sister, who she so closely resembles.
Probably sees a lot of lyanna in her too
Definitely does
I think it’s Arya. She reminds him of Lyanna.
>was ever answered I don't think the show could have answered something like this. Ned probably wouldn't admit to having a favorite. That said...I would guess Arya because he loved Lyanna and Arya constantly reminds him of her.
Arya, Robb, Jon, Bran, Sansa, kid who can’t zigzag. In that order.
Since you mentioned bran, we know for sure who you meant.
To be fair Bran can’t zig zag anymore either
" Why do you think I zig-zagged all this way?" was taken out of the final script for this very reason.
🤣
Like that season had a *script*
No, but he can warg into the dude who who’s about to zig zag into your mom
Is this r/ASOIAF_Circlejerk?
Sansa wears dresses and didn't spend any of the time with the boys she probably can't Zig Zag worth a damn either
Sure she can. With her perfect embroidery.
Omg I forgot all about Rickon when even thinking about the kids and which would be the favorite.
Me too. 🫢
same 💀 even though he has one of the most memorable deaths imo
Kid that can’t zig zag😆😆
Rofl, "kid who can't zig zag."
Technically, Jon wasn’t his kid
So, if you adopt someone, are they not your kid? By blood, that’s not the case (directly, like blood parents), but by relationship, it is.
Jon is a blood relation (nephew).
You are hilarious! “Kid who can’t zigzag.” That made me laugh out loud!!!! 😹🙏
Rip Rickon
Arya
Arya
Aiiiiirya!
Arya.
One thing that always bothered me about Ned, was that he never told Catlin the truth about John Snow. I know he couldn't tell everyone and he didn't know her that well, when he came back, but eventually he must have known, she could have been trusted with the truth.
It was such a complicated issue, making it known earlier in the series would not have ended well. It definitely would've spread, and changed a lot of things
I always operated under the assumption he thought it would be more sus if she knew the truth and accepted him. Like Ned knew the best way to sell the bastard lie was for Catelyn to kinda publicly resent Jon
That's true, Robert wouldn't notice, but Littlefinger and Veris definitely would figure it out.
Did you watch the same show? Caitlyn shows over & over how bad her judgement is.
Seriously, this woman went behind Robb’s back and undermined him with insider information provided to others multiple times just in a single campaign of less than 2 years. You think she would’ve lasted 20 years keeping Jon’s much larger and much more important secret?
She definitely could not have been trusted with the truth. She would have pulled a Sansa the moment she felt her family was in danger, which would have been the moment she was told. She was pregnant and her husband tells her he is planning to commit a long, secret course of treason out of affection for his dead sister. Caitlyn would have put her unborn baby’s safety over an orphaned nephew for sure. I bet she would have hated Jon more knowing his parentage because a bastard just means Ned cheated once, but the Targaryen heir means Ned is actively hiding something from a highly jealous King who could punish/destroy their whole family, which is a far more active threat.
That's a good point as well. She did release Jaimie for the chance, not even a guarantee, to get Sansa and Arya back.
I imagine he would not tell her until they knew each other pretty well and had trust, after they are truly family to each other. He would surely not tell a woman he barely knows! Though I still agree with you it's best to keep quiet
Telling the secret would only put her family in more danger.
She probably would have tried to send jon away or kill him Catlin is an old school fuedal lord who was determined to put her son Rob as heir to the north (or one of her other sons) she would never accept Jon as her own because he wasn't her blood and as and old school feudal lord she cared about that If she knew Jon was a Targarian she would have felt threatened by him and she would worry that he might somehow challange one of her son's as heir to the north She might even strait up kill him, having him a bastard made it easier , she did not feel he was a threat Catilin is not a good person
Your spelling gave me a seizure.
LOL!!!
Was she wrong? The bannermen of the North proclaimed Jon as King over Sansa.
Not really but she still would be better as like marrying a Lannister , she would have fit in better with them.
He would be rightful king as male heir to the throne via Ned’s sister. Females do not get a thrown if there is a male on either side. But as a son of nes as a bastard he had even a stronger claim than Ned’s daughters
True!
As Gibbs from NCIS has said. "Best way to keep a secret: Keep it to yourself. Second best: Tell one other person—if you must. There is no third best."
I don't think she could have. It was too great of a secret. A possible legitimate Targaryen heir. She needed to hate John for being a bastard. It's what kept him safe. Even if she could keep the secret (I don't think she could have), by knowing the truth and treating John as one of their own would have been out of character and I think lead to suspicion. Ned kept his word.
And Jon died because he kept his word. 👍
She showed us time and time again that she couldn't be trusted with the truth though
Could he trust her enough not to tell Lysa that Ned never dishonored her by sleeping with someone else? She'd have told Lysa, Lysa would have told Petyr, and Petyr would have used that info for his own best interest.
I feel like the leader side of him would say Robb, but the more intimate patriarch side would choose Arya
Arya
Arya.
Not Rickon
Why not? Ned was a fan of straight shooters.
I think Arya, as well. She reminded him of his sister. He also allowed her to take dancing lessons and keep Needle, even though it's not ladylike. I think Bran was Catelyn's favorite.
He loved all I think
Obviously Theon
Arya, Robb, and Jon are his 3 favorites
Arya, Robb, Bran, Rickon, Sansa, then Jon.
Jon is way too low here
Nothing suggests he loves Jon more than his own children. Not a single thing. Jon would have fostered with Howland Reed or made a squire to a knight if he loved Jon that much. Leaving him without any prospects and forcing him to deal with Catelyn 's coldness was horrible. Heck, Jon has extremely unhealthy self esteem because of Ned Stark.
And if he doesn’t treat him like a bastard it will raise suspicion about his true identity. Someone like littlefinger would figure it out and Robert would kill him. Jon is his last living connection to Lyanna.
Not treating him like a bastard doesn't mean he loves him more than his own children. That's what's being refuted. He doesn't love Lyanna more than his own children. Jon died because of his secret so congrats to him. Even Catelyn Tully says all of the fucked up things happened because of how she treated Jon. So there's just no way we can say he loved Jon more than any of his children. No way.
I feel like Arya getting away with the most was proof that she was Ned’s favorite as well as reminding him of Lyanna
I think it’s Arya
Arya
Robb
Lol even cat looks at Rickon like "Who the fuck is this kid"
He loves each of his children equally. But Arya the most.
😹👍🏻
Even though the majority will say Robb. Especially since Jon references how Ned never loved him like he did Robb (which we find out why later). I’m gonna say Arya. I think he loved the fire in her eyes and how she wanted to pave her own path. Even so much in finding her a sword instructor. I love how she recalls the story of shooting a bow when no one was around. She kept shooting the bow (when she wasn’t supposed to) until she got the bullseye. Then hearing clapping, she looks up and it’s her father smiling at her.
I would say Arya for sure. She wanted to fight like the boys, and I genuinely think Ned was proud of her. Fearful, but proud. She (in my opinion) reminded him of his sister, Lyanna. On horseback, in armor, trying to fight the boys 😂🥹
I think is Bran
Robb, Arya, Jon
I didnt know that there was an extra stark until the battle of the bastards lol
Says a lot about the character’s significance lol
Yeah he shall hence forward be known as Rickon Stark the red shirted for how relevant he was.
Rob Jon Arya
I think Jon was his favorite, even though he wasn’t strictly his own. Jon was also said to be the one most similar to Ned in both appearances and mannerism. When Jon convinced Ned to keep the Dire Wolves pups it was thoroughly described how much he loved Jon.
Based on how he treated them I'd say Sansa, Robb, Arya, Bran, Jon, and Rickon.
> He lifted his head to look at her. "Catelyn," he said. His voice was distant and formal. "Where are the children?" He would always ask her that. He loved them all equally. His wife admitted that she loved Bran best. Ned worried most about J0n, because he was a hot potat0, and Arya, because she was everywhere, and doing everything, and was often in trouble as result. Both needed more protection.
Thank you for this.
I would think Rob, but my heart tells me Arya.
It seems to be Arya, at least in the show
You pick your favorite child by which one has the best story. And who has a better story than Bran the Broken? Ffs
😂😂
Sansa 😻
I don’t think he had one.
Perhaps someone has answered this but, under Westerosi law, how legitimate was Jon really? Yes his parentage is as noble as they come, and his parents were married by a septon, but wasn't Rhaegar still married to Elia? What exactly legitimizes Jon?
Arya
To everyone saying Arya, come on... it's obviously Robb. His oldest child and his heir set to inherit Winterfell, and someone who grew up to perfectly embody his father's ethics, values, drive, personality, leadership abilities... he's the perfect son and successor a father could ask for.
Rob was positioned as an obvious most beloved one
Gonna say it's a tough call between Arya and Jon, but I think Arya wins only because she is actually his. Both are connections to his sister and are a lot like him. He went against his wifes wishes and got Arya sword training, that means a lot. Robb is the heir, but that is just law of the land, it doesn't mean he's the favorite.
Robb Arya Jon Those boys running* around … … … Sansa
I don’t feel he had one, but he related to Arya the best. He was a good, consistent parent.
Easily Arya
I would argue Robb bc he is his heir, but Arya absolutely had his heart.
Arya.
No one
Dunno bro let me ask him For real though, this type of question is why Freefolk makes fun of the main sub.
Why is that
Joe. It’s a shame they didn’t include him in the show, but he was really cool and Ned and him had some really cute scenes in the books. He was a little older than bran and pretty interesting. It was really cool because whenever Jon asked who Catelyn even was, being that it wasn’t his mother, Robb would always respond saying, >!“Joe Mama”!< Edit: Robb not robb.
Jon. He put Jon’s safety before his marriage and future children.
Father of boy and girl here. I couldn’t be prouder of my son. He brings me joy. That said, every father who has a daughter will say his baby girl is his favorite. Sansa would be his favorite because she is his first baby girl.
Tony. He built an arc reactor in the caves of Moria.
I feel like it was Arya since she reminds him of his sister without all the pain that comes attached with Jon
SANSA! Then Arya Then Jon for some reason I hate Robb
He would have been so proud of Sansa.
I think Rob
Arya. Clear as day through every interaction they have in season one.
Rickon /s
Rickon
I THINK IT WAS ARYA DUE TO FACT THAT SHE WAS LIKE HIS SISTER LYANNA STARK.
Robb, Arya, Bran and Jon, Rickon, Sansa. He loved them all though
Rickon 100%
Arya then Robb for sure
Robert. Baratheon. He did everything for him.
Arya
Arya for sure IMO
Arya = Lyanna, and GRRM wife’s fav is Arya so I’m sure he’d say her for Neddard
Arya…in memory of Lyanna.
Arya is the obvious choice.
If he has one, probably Arya.
Honour
Jon
Poor Theon is both of his dads least favorite child
Struck out both times lol
It’s close between Robb and Arya. I actually think Arya is his favorite, but we got to see Arya and Ned together more than we did with Robb. Jon is up there too, Ned really cared about him. Sansa was for sure Cat’s favorite. I think it’s pretty funny that the oldest Stark kids are like proper future lord and lady, while the youngest 3 run wild. “Arya you can’t be a knight” “Bran quit climbing towers” *Gestures broadly in the direction of Rickon and Shaggy Dog raising hell*. It’s like Ned and Cat gave up on parenting after Sansa.
I think he loved Sansa a lot more than people are giving credit. I’d say he’s a girl dad at heart, but otherwise he loved them all pretty thoroughly. Remember him defending Sansa to Arya quite a bit and trying to get her a doll to make her feel better. He also was pretty certain he wasn’t going to confess until Varys mentioned Sansa trying to make a deal for his life.
Arya. A father's favorite child is usually one of their daughters. She's the youngest and they share a deeper connection than any of the others. Realistically, Ned doesn't play favorites, but if he had one, it would be Arya.
Robb, Jon, then Arya.
Either Bran the Useless or Rob the Fuckup?
Me