Turns out Coldhands is a “Wind of Winter”, the first revealed member of a secret society of undead in the books who are committed to making GRRM go sleepytime whenever he sits down to write about them.
Thats what brought me to this video. I'll try to make this brief, Jojen sees a winged wolf in chains. Jojen wants to help the wolf be free, but Bloodraven has no intentions of healing Bran. The winged wolf is not Bran. Several characters go through the dark basements of KL and feel like something or someone else is down there with them. Littlefinger tells Ned he is going to stuff him in the walls and leave him there as a joke. Jaimie has nightmares of being deep down under KL. Jaimie tells people that Brandon Stark killed himself with a "Tyroshi Torture Device". Aerys didn't run when Ned showed up at his gates during the rebellion. Aerys was killed by Jaimie before Ned took the City. Jaimie was sitting on the throne with his sword layed over his lap just like the Kings in the crypts of Winterfell. Have you figured it out yet?? Aerys was going to use the imprisoned Brandon Stark as leverage to force Ned to surrender. Jaimie hated Aerys and the Starks so much he killed Aerys before Ned reached the gates! Jamie lied and Brandon Stark is still down in the prison cellars!!
@@pyramidion5911 i'm not sure i believe this, but the plot and character motivation are so good😭 i would read an entire other story built upon this premise
There’s another piece of evidence saying that cold hands is much older than any living character at the start of the story. When his gigantic elk dies of exhaustion or something like that, coldhands speaks the old tongue over it as a sort of eulogy. My theory is that he has to be ancient, like thousands of years ancient. We will probably never get an answer in the future books but I think he was one of the original founding members of the watch that fought alongside Azor ahai or the last hero. David lightbringer has a great theory on this. Basically the founding members of the nights watch were all undead since the wall is in such a remote place, how big it is, and how much food living people need is crazy if all the forts were manned. Also there is a quote from Dolores ed where he complains that “even if I die they’ll just pick me back up again and put me back on my post, we won’t even be able to quit when we’re dead jon.”
Or he could even be Azor ahai! I enjoyed David Lightbringer’s video on this theory. Since Leaf is 250 years old, I think her using the term “long ago” means Coldhands has truly been dead (undead, semi-dead) for eons.
It doesn't say "old tongue", it is just a tongue Bran doens't know. Can be Valyrian. The best fitting character that could be Coldhands is by far The Rogue Prince. Killed a long time ago in the only place in the seven kingdoms where the Children of the Forest live, his body never recovered (everything else from the battle was recovered), he was a main character of his own story who simply vanished in a battle. He is also Bloodraven's ancestor, had the same goals, but probably didn't have such strong powers.
@@petrmaly9087 but what motivation does he have? If he was reanimated by children of the forest why not cut through them and go to kings landing where his niece and wife is struggling to rule and has schemers and mutineers around every corner?
@@ianlachey1726 First thing is options he have. Many his reanimation is linked to the will of the CotF, second, they do show people (Bran, Bloodraven) visions of the past and the future, he knows he needs to serve behind the wall, to get visions to his descendant bloodraven and later to protect Bran. He is of no use to his wife and kids as he doesn't have a dragon.
I'm on team Raven's Teeth, personally. It just makes sense that Bloodraven would revive one of his loyal companions. Brynden's last ranging has "Last Hero" vibes, so I figure all of his guards died one by one as he sought the children beyond the wall.
the old gods might in their own way. the only gods we see actually have any power would be R'hllor and The Old gods, possibly even the God of Death if you wanted to debate that. I don't see any issue with a sacrificial ritual performed by a man with the best genetic makeup to be a magical overlord, that would make sense to me. @@onyedikachukwumiracle
@@onyedikachukwumiracle He does have the power to do most anything else... stands to reason that he figured out how to summon enough power and resurrect one of his most loyal men. Perhaps he has more but keeps them hidden.
The Danny Flint theory is my favourite but the Raven's teeth makes the most sense to me. Does every mysterious figure have to be someone we've heard of?
@pamelaguerra3768 because in life we don't always get statisifying resolutions. And for author who loves human heart in conflict with itself a unsolved mystery seems a perfect connection to that seeking answers and never finding them.
@@pamelaguerra3768 It might not be intended as a mystery so much as a piece of foreshadowing and worldbuilding. That someone can exist who’s part ice wight but on the side of humanity and still sentient might be an important fact toward the end of the books. The ‘who’ of Coldhands might not be so important as the ‘what’.
@@pamelaguerra3768 what if it isn't a mystery? people seem to make a mystery out of everything theese days, especially in Asoiaf. the fact that Bran questioned who Coldhands was doesn't mean that we will eventually need to know who he really is. it could be the same as with magic in their world.. a double edged sword who may cut you with disappointment when you know his identity because it might not be someone interresting enough for you
I would add that if he were Benjen, he would likely show encouragement to Bran in what he's about to undertake with Bloodraven, and come across as a bit more protective. Similar to his talk with Jon on the wall about doing what's necessary, especially since would still be a frightened boy, more so than Jon.
Coldhands was a member of the Nights Watch who went north with his Lord Commander Bloodraven. I doubt George will ever give us his real name nor that it is important. I personally think there is more than one Coldhands and that Bloodraven has a few loyal undead crows serving under him as his "force on the ground"
I subscribe to this, but have more - I'm thinking Coldhands was a warg and evaded mindless ice zombiehood by his familiar warging back into his raised corspe - the same way I think Jon Snow will come back, raised by the Others yet regaining his own consciousness.
I like the Danny Flint one. Haven't heard of it yet. But let's face it, Coldhands is obviously Euron, who is secretly Quaithe, as well as Howland Reed, Bloodraven, Patchface, Moqorro, Jaquen H'ghar, the ghost of High Heart and of course Balerion the Cat at the same time.
The "Long Ago" comment can easily be thought of as Leaf using the term from Bran's perspective, as she's talking to him at the time and giving him conext. That being said, even from Bran's perspective, Benjen's disappearance hardly qualifies as "long ago".
I’d lean more towards nights king than any other options presented. He uses an ancient tongue when killing the elk, so being thousands of years old aligns with that. Also, in regards to coldhands having to be “killed” by the others - The nights king gave part of his soul to his other bride and so “died” by the others similarly to how obi wan claims anakin to have “died.” Not a literal total death - GRRM has played this trick with the Elder brother claiming Sandor to have “died” The nights kings story is lost to legend - This is GRRM we’re talking about here. Do we really think the actual historical figure would be a cut and dry evil villain? The nights king may still be (and always have been) extremely loyal to the NW. Maybe a pact with the others could be seen as something in full interest of the realm - perhaps the reasons for the nights king actions were truly inline with the vows of the nights watch (at least by his own perception). It mirrors Jon’s actions with making peace among the wildlings, and furthermore how others have judged those actions by Jon. The nights king was cast down for a pact with the enemy - and so was Jon. Those who would record history and write songs from a lens opposed to Jon’s actions would likely even sing of his romance with the enemy - ygritte (yet another mirror of the nights king). But if coldhands is nights king, he still lives, resurrected, just like Jon.
I actually really like the idea of him being the Night’s King. If he gave a part of his soul to an Other that could certainly be an explanation as to how he’d keep his sentience, and to me really implies death and resurrection
I'm still with theory that the Coldhands is one of Blood Ravens followers that went to the wall with him and then went ranging North. Died and then was resurrected by Blood Raven or the children of the forest. Either way by the power of the old gods
@@7PlayingWithFire7 If Bloodraven is connected to the weirwoods then he could probably learn it through that and then teach his companions. My question is what happened to the rest of his companions
Thanks for the nod QTGM. Myself and another fan discussed Ch=Brave Danny in the comments on another channel (Bend the Knee) months ago; they saw our comments and did a video on it too, and furthered the theory in the best way... We know Dany is a 'Flint', but it's unknown which of the four House Flints she comes from. Two of the House Flints have very curious heraldry- House Flint of Widow's Watch has a pair of blue eyes floating at the top of their sigil; House Flint of Flint's Finger has a grey stone hand in the middle of their sigil. Might GRRM have been trying to tell us something by having the only two House Flints with given heraldry each feature details that tie to Coldhands/the Others? If Ch is actually Danny Flint, might her new name derive from the sigil of her house (Flints of Flint's Finger) because a stone hand and a cold hand are effectively the same thing? This was an awesome video. Thanks again for the shout-out :).
Correct me if I'm wrong but those brothers he kills were the mutineers and if Blood Raven can see through Mormont's crow, then that's how Coldhands would know to kill them.
I believe that the Coldhands we know is a long-dead skinchanger that has been warging recently-killed bodies for a long time (that way he doesn’t lose his humanity). Right now, he’s in Benjen’s body
I think he's one of the Raven's Teeth. I bet we will see a him in a vision before Bran has to leave the cave. Love your content, I'm so happy to see this channel blowing up like it is!
I’ve seen a theory that Coldhands is Daemon Targaryen. The evidence is that Daemon was last seen near the isle of faces, which is known for its connection to the CotF. This could explain how Daemon was resurrected and was sent north. Additionally, GRRM loves Daemon and might want to bring him into the main series. I find the theory a little out there but it’s still a fun theory.
I think it's Night's King myself but the reason I don't quite discard Danny is that tales change over time. Look at our own fables and fairytales and see how they've changed over the centuries.
Which makes no sense, tbh. Danny Flint is a “Sweet Polly Oliver”. Polly almost never dies. In all the Polly songs I’ve ever heard, there is literally ONE variant where she dies and that could arguably be due to the time period of the song(the napoleonic wars and the bloody code, titled “Willie Taylor”, altho more popular versions have the heroine become a ship’s captain). And while rape isn’t exactly uncommon in old ballads, it’s not as ubiquitous as all that, and almost never occurs in Polly songs. Generally, Polly is accepted as one of the soldiers, even after her identity is discovered(altho that might also coincide with her dismissal from the army, because she’s getting married). But Danny Flint’s death being changed to “raped and murdered by her comrades” would make sense in the context of propaganda. Especially if she were to die in a mysterious way, at the hands of magical creatures that aren’t supposed to exist. For one, the whole concept of a penal colony at just about the ends of the earth would have most people rioting. It might make sense for a couple of centuries during the bloody codes, but during the medieval period? For thousands of years? Across multiple countries? But what better way to assure people that the watch is full off bad nasty people than the story that they had a female member who was literally raped to death? It also has the double impact of discouraging people from following their loved ones to the Wall. Because it’s impossible to believe that the families left behind when some guy took a deer bc his people were starving wouldn’t just pack up and go with on occasion. Make it sound dangerous, so they’ll stay away. Finally, it would explain the mysterious death of a watch member in a way that the teller could understand themselves. It’s not mysterious forest creatures, I’m the commander of a penal slave colony full of bad people.
Just subbed. 1) when was the wall raised, 2) timing of the 13th Lord Commander, 3) if a Stark, given repetition of Brandon name in that family, Coldhands speaking literal truth, 4) who were the ‘they’ who killed him, 5) wouldn’t the Children of the Forest say ‘we’ killed him, 6) Martin’s fondness for using the Undead/zombie trope in his story.
I like the Raven's Teeth theory. It would be interesting if we get to meet Coldhands before he met his final fate in a future Dunk and Egg book. Though whether the White Walkers were even active in this time period is unclear.
they're not bound by dragon magic so I'd bet that they were "active" whatever you mean by that. they're comming south as some kind of punishment, not because they want to just erase all humanity "Eren-yeager style." they most certainly lived far more north though in that time period
I like the theory that Coldhands is Dunk from the novelas, bind to serve Bloodraven. This sad end to an amazing character is very likely to GRRM writing 😅
Dunk becoming BloodRaven's own Darth Vader is a ironic end for him, since Brynden thought Dunk would be needed for the realm in the future, It would be super unexpected If this was his future that Brynden talked about!
Yess!!! I'm so glad you covered the Flint theory! As I commented on your text post from yesterday, it's probably my favorite theory from ASOIAF! Love it, love it, love it.
Coldhands is not Benjen, but I think Benjen is going to be the next “Coldhands”. If Ravens Teeth theory is correct then Bloodraven wanted someone he could trust as his thrall, and Bran will follow suit with Benjen. Just a thought
The newest theory is that coldhands is actually Daemon Targaryen. According to reddit, his death wasn't confirmed and theres tons of convoluted contrivances that could explain how he survived his battle with Aemond over the gods eye. 😂
What about the theory that cold hands is Ser Dunk the tall? He was killed long ago. He is big and rides a huge elk. Dunk always had a strong bond with horses. They both have a Scar on their face.
i quite like the idea that coldhands is 'the thing that came in the night' from old nan's story. being a former member of the night's watch, he may have known of the black gate, and luring young boys through it may have been a part of the crow's or the children's bidding. and his introduction as 'your monster, brandon stark' would also fit this as bran in particular was very terrified of this specific story, although not being able to go through the gate could complicate this
The best fitting character that could be Coldhands is by far The Rogue Prince. Killed a long time ago in the only place in the seven kingdoms where the Children of the Forest live, his body never recovered (everything else from the battle was recovered), he was a main character of his own story who simply vanished in a battle. He is also Bloodraven's ancestor, had the same goals, but probably didn't have such strong powers. In the show we see his preferred language is Valyrian, while Bran recognises him speaking in a foreign tongue...
I like the Raven’s Teeth theory myself. When I first read it I wasn’t aware of that bit of lore. My initial impression was that Coldhands was just some random dead ranger that Bloodraven was able to warg into (or something equally magical) to hijack that the others did. It’s boring, but the long ago can be explained to be whenever, the name doesn’t matter because it could be anyone and maybe there are multiple Coldhands, and the magic lets him do all the various things we see him do. Thinking back after a few years, a good part of that doesn’t feel like it matches with a world of so many named characters. I’m cautiously optimistic it will be revealed!
His name is perhaps Brandon Stark, and he might be the Brandon Stark, our Bran sees in his final Weirwood vision in his final chapter in A Dance With Dragons, the prisoner who gets his throat slit by the white haired woman in front of the Winterfell Weirwood. Just my hypothesis, because Coldhands, when asked who he is, tells “I am your monster, Brandon Stark”, and he seems to be rattling and covering up something around his neck, perhaps a wound made by slitting his throat “…long ago”.
Coming back to this months later, on a bunch of medication that doesn't let me sleep when I actually want to, got me thinking. I think it's going to make the most sense for the identity to be revealed in She Wolves of Winterfell. Possibly a character we haven't encountered yet as a mortal. Maybe a callback to someone who appeared earlier in Dunk and Egg. But almost certainly a Raven's Teeth member.
About it being unlikely that it’s Nights King cause the body decomposed - we know from when they find Othor’s body that even maggots and worms won’t touch a wighted corpse, which might extend to bacteria. That would slow the decomposition process. Furthermore, “ice preserves” so I think it’s possible that the magic could preserve the body for all that time.
I honestly thought I'd heard all the theories possible about anything GoT related, considering we haven't had new material in a decade, but the Brave Danny Flint theory is amazing!
I love the idea of Cold Hands being the first Sister of the Watch, taking up Dark Sister. Love it. However, I think Cold Hands is actually ancient. The best friend of the Last Hero, who died (along with the Hero's horse and dog) on the journey to the Heart of Winter.
An alternate, alternate take To understand reference Forbidden Planet and Only Kids are Afraid of the Dark. The Id Monster and Dr. Weird respective. This is essentially Time Traveling Bran. Bran, while training with BR goes extremely far into the past. While there in spirit the connection to his body is cut (maybe the tree is damaged, or they have to move him from the cave). Bran learns to skinchange the dead, or wights, and has been waiting until he's past the moment in time he went back to return to himself. "your monster, Brandon Stark", as in Forbidden Planet, he's literally Bran. Recall in the same chapter Coldhands immediately responds to the Last Greenseer question, while BR appears slightly confused. Either this makes Old Bran the 3Ecrow watching Bran with BR, or it might indicate he knows how BR appear privately to Bran. Common theory is that BR might not know how he's perceived to others. However, if this is an older version of Bran he'd know this. It might also resolve your early speculation about knowing when and where Bran is for Sam to retrieve. If he is Bran, he'd remember where he was and when. It might also circle back to the Last Hero (Last Greenseer). If Old Bran had used the Body of that Hero and returned with the CotF to create the NW, it might make sense. The prophecy is about the reborn AA returning. If he was there in Spirit and is now returning to his own body, it would fit the idea of a returning AA.
I’ve never seen anyone talk about the “champions” of the lord of darkness that melisendre sees in her visions. I believe the man with the wolf head could be benjen stark being a mirror to the original nights king as they are both starks and nightswatchmen. Jon would also be an obvious candidate as well being half wolf and lord commander
I don’t think Martin saying Coldhands isn’t Benjen makes it true since he’s also said that Berrick isn’t Berrick anymore after his resurrection, it seems that Martin says that they’re different beings after death
Valid point but why would Leaf say Benjen is old. Leaf is hundreds of years old so I’m inclined to believe that Coldhands is the Nights King whose name is Bran Stark
@@benjaminklein8379 oh I don’t think it is benjen because of leaf saying “long ago”, I’m just saying that Martin saying No doesn’t really mean much because of how he treats the undead
Great video! I'm inclined to believe it's Danny Flint since they can't go past the wall or into Bloodraven's cave. It fits nicely, also the thing about the Dark Sister, that would be cool and matching the tone of the series.
@@Sheija Do we know for sure that Coldhands was murdered by the Others? Ch doesn't have the blue eyes of an other or wight; they're black. Also, as Ch says, the blackened hands thing happens to anyone who dies because blood pools in the extremeities once the heart stops beating- so it's not something specific to wights. Leaf does tell Bran "they" killed Ch long ago; seemingly in reference to the wights/Others; but we don't know for sure who "they" is because nobody asks and the subject is promptly changed by a cotf after Ch's death is mentioned. For all we know "they" could've been the Watch brothers who betrayed Danny and killed her. Would certainly explain why Ch (Danny) killed the surviving watch mutineers of Crasters and referred to them as "foes". She punished them for turning on their own like was done to her.
@@ashleyofnaath It’s pretty clear that she’s talking about the Others/wights. She says that when Bran and them reach the cave, and are forced to abandon Coldhands outside. Bran says “they’ll kill him” - talking about the wights outside the cave. Leaf replies, “No. They killed him long ago.” It would be pretty unusual in terms of language for her to be referring for a completely different group of people.
He's the original Night's King on a redemptive path. He gave his Queen his seed and his soul which, combined with his magical or symbolic death "long ago" lead to his current undead state. Referring to fellow NW men as "crows" is a useful obfuscation for the fact that, as a Stark named Brandon (per Nan's retelling of the story), he is a sort of Brother to Bran Stark.
I don’t believe Bloodraven was sent to the Wall for punishment. I think Egg sent him there because they knew it was necessary to have a “Targaryen” there e/or beyond the Wall. Egg had visions or believed on the visions of others Targaryen since he “created” Solarestival.
Starks are always involved in the northern lore. I think it’s safe to say it is a past stark that was involved in the nights watch. I also think it could be a (nameless) “title” that every stark who’s died north of the wall, which could mean that benjin is CURRENTLY cold hands without it being 100% the case. In any case, I don’t think we will ever get it spelled out for us, but we will probably have a good guess once winds comes out
When he says "your monster, brandon stark" could he be implying Bran warged into him in the past and this was the outcome? "yours, yours, yours" from the crow amplifies that implication for me. Or it could mean they have been waiting for Bran and he is there to serve him.
The only thing against Brave Danny Flint theory is that Leaf specifically says about Coldhands "They killed *him* long ago." So unless The Children of the Forest are big users of gender-fluid terminology in an oppressive world of tradition and stark (heh) enforcement of gender roles then there's no chance it's Danny Flint. Danny Flint was also killed by other Night's Watchmen, not the Others, so Leaf's conversation wouldn't even make sense because she was just talking about The Others not being able to kill Coldhands anymore because they already did.
Other comments have pointed out that George's terse and unexpanded response to the question leaves the door open to Coldhands not being Benjen, but is possibly still Benjen's corpse, piloted perhaps by Brynden, one of the Children, or someone from the Weirwood net. Anyone with the right power, really. Assuming this could be the case, it begs the question: why is Coldhands different to the other wights? One of the most distinctive physical features of wights we know to be absent from Coldhands: the cold, icy blue glint of the eyes. It's easy to dismiss the eye colour as a trivial detail regarding the Other's control, but its absence does suggest that it's directly tied into whatever it is that changes a mindless wight into... whatever Coldhands is. The very last time we see a Wight in the series thus far is with Thistle, where we learn there's something more supernatural going on here than just blue coloured eyes, she has pale, flickering lights in her empty sockets, and the Varamyr chapter ends with those eyes as the focal point of the scene as they stare down Varamyr's consciousness in his wolf. We've seen that the wights must harbour some lingering element of their personality, some small scrap of self still clinging on deep inside them. Jon suspects as such with the cunning of the wights who attacked Mormont, then we have Paul not attacking the ravens, and finally Thistle. Thistle's last moments were spent in agony, tearing her face apart as she fought off Varamyr, mind and soul. And the very first thing her revenant does upon its raising is stare at him specifically. She sees him. To go out on a massive limb, perhaps this whole thing hints at how wights work in the first place. They're violent, murderous things, but if they were nothing but complete automatons piloted by the Others, those touches of personality likely wouldn't exist. Perhaps the deathly cold in the Other's sorcery literally freezes some small part of the soul as their victims die, leaving them in a perpetual state of agony and torment. Paul dies literally angry and attacking an Other for its mistreatment of a horse, and his fondness for beasts follows him to his undeath. Thistle dies resisting Varamyr, and immediately carries a burning, frosty vengeance in her gaze aimed directly at him upon her return. Maybe that's why the Others seem so callous and cruel in their limited appearances, they want to inflict a terrifying death in order to create a useful, frenzied servant. In a sense that makes them analagous to Stoneheart, and how her anguished demise coloured her resurrection. So perhaps Benjen was turned into a regular wight, only for Brynden or the Children to find him and pluck out that tormented pearl of frozen consciousness, leaving the body as an empty vessel for someone else to use. Perhaps every single wight's death is literally a mercy, as you're putting their soul at peace.
I never thought Benjen Stark was Coldhands. Mainly because of the "died long ago" bit. I have been warming up to the Raven's Teeth theory. Though the reason we don't know any specific member is the reason I'm not convinced of it.
I like Coldhands being the Night’s King, if only because having a character that ridiculously old around could be a chance to glimpse at some of the foundational events of the Wall. As for decay, we do know maggots and things that eat bodies shy away from the undead; Benjen’s companions who were killed and turned into wights had been dead for months, but besides the cold their bodies looked fresh. And not to get too weird but there have been cases of properly stored bodies irl being near-fresh even 2000 years after the fact, and that’s not even accounting for magic! (Look up Lady Dai for that one) I’m just saying a little ice magic and a tree-stasis cocoon could to wonders for even the crustiest corpse.
Honestly I mostly side with the nights king theory. I thought of this even before watching this video and definitely believe it is the most probable as the white walkers could have turned on the nights king back then
Its clear that Coldhands can only be one man: Yoren(my boy!) when he’s south of the wall he loses some power and when hes north he goes by Coldhands, but either way he sticks to his mission of serving the Watch (and his hobby of saving Stark children). Its a reason everyone talks about how bad Yoren smells (the hide the smell of death, duh)
The nights watch vow states, that their watch lasts until they die, so Coldhands could have been a member until he died, but after that he won't be able to open the black gate, since he is a member no longer. This could have been a security mesure against the whitewalkers using undead night's watch members.
I had forgotten about Danny Flint and had never considered her for Cold Hands but that makes sense. A woman in a man's role, like Dany being the Prince that was promised, even though we know now that it can be Prince or princess. If it's not her then an anonymous member of the Raven's Teeth makes sense too.
@11:04 That would be amazing if that turned-out to be the case because House Stark loves to name their sons Brandon even more than House Durrandon loved to name their sons Durran or House Gardener loved to name their sons Garth. I swear to god if there is a male Stark whose name you don't know, you have a 50/50 chance the name will turn out to be Brandon
I saw a theory once that he might be from House Hoare. I think the theory said he was at Harrennhal when the dragons attacked it. And that's why he seems to be afraid of fire. I think i got that right. I think he ended up at the Wall
I don‘t know how useful this is, but it always felt significant to me that Coldhands is described (and addressed) specifically as a „ranger“. I.e. he died as a member of the Watch‘s military arm, the Rangers. Of course, that still includes a lot of people (like Benjen who it definitely isn‘t), and it‘s not like many builders or stewards were on the list to begin with. On the other hand, it arguably excludes Lord Commanders, who are no longer part of any of the three orders. But actually, I feel like this might point to a much more banal, but also very likely, answer to the question of Coldhands‘ identity. Namely, he is just „a Ranger“. Not a specific one we would know, but one whose identity is either completely irrelevant or forgotten entirely, including by himself. This strikes me as by far the most likely answer. People in George R R Martin‘s works don‘t have to be anyone special to play an important role. This is true especially beyond the Wall.
I think that cold hand being killed by the others can still refer to the night king as he may have not been physically killed but he gave up his soul to the other symbolically killing brandon stark and turning into the knights king. Also he does say I’m your monster Brandon and old Nan has said that his name was Brandon.
I quite like the theory that coldhands is being possessed by the thousands of years old spirit of bran, and is waiting for bran to get lost in the weirwoods or something so he can enter his own body again.
When cold hands says "Your monster", I believe he is referring to the three eyed crow, not himself. Meera: "Who sent you? Who is this three eyed crow?" Cue creepy crow moment... Bran: "A monster." Cold Hands: "Your monster"
At this point my head-canon is that Coldhands is Azor Ahai. The original one. Elric Shadowchaser. Like Jon he died and became a type of Wight, and then he went on and fought the others and became a Hero. After the fighting was done He became a founding member of the Night's Watch and became their first Ranger who went north beyond the wall, as well as their first Ranger who went beyond the wall and never returned.
I've always interpreted "long ago" coming from a child of the forest to be in the thousands of years ballpark. Leaf isn't characterized as being old and she's over 200 so it makes sense to me that anything she calls old would be significantly longer than that. Given that corpses can last thousands of years in the real world if frozen for that long, it doesn't seem like a stretch to say that ice magic could make an undead remain functional for thousands of years. I've always been a fan of David Lightbringer's theory that Coldhands was one of the Last Hero's 12 companions
Turns out Coldhands is a “Wind of Winter”, the first revealed member of a secret society of undead in the books who are committed to making GRRM go sleepytime whenever he sits down to write about them.
Tool
@@noKnic1989 why you calling the dude a tool😂 he's just making a joke about a lazy writer
@@finger3306 he’s not lazy, just old and primitive. But don’t get it twisted he’s one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time
The theory that Coldhands' name is Brandon Stark sounds so stupid yet genius. He just reveals his name but no one takes notice. I Iove it.
I hope right tho lol
Thats what brought me to this video. I'll try to make this brief, Jojen sees a winged wolf in chains. Jojen wants to help the wolf be free, but Bloodraven has no intentions of healing Bran. The winged wolf is not Bran. Several characters go through the dark basements of KL and feel like something or someone else is down there with them. Littlefinger tells Ned he is going to stuff him in the walls and leave him there as a joke. Jaimie has nightmares of being deep down under KL. Jaimie tells people that Brandon Stark killed himself with a "Tyroshi Torture Device". Aerys didn't run when Ned showed up at his gates during the rebellion. Aerys was killed by Jaimie before Ned took the City. Jaimie was sitting on the throne with his sword layed over his lap just like the Kings in the crypts of Winterfell. Have you figured it out yet?? Aerys was going to use the imprisoned Brandon Stark as leverage to force Ned to surrender. Jaimie hated Aerys and the Starks so much he killed Aerys before Ned reached the gates! Jamie lied and Brandon Stark is still down in the prison cellars!!
@@pyramidion5911 i'm not sure i believe this, but the plot and character motivation are so good😭 i would read an entire other story built upon this premise
Coldhands is Brandon Stark and Tyrek Lannister is a horse 😂
Maybe not Bran the Broken, but one of the 50 or so other Brandons in House Stark. He was probably a warg though if he can control elks and ravens.
Coldhands just being a rando also named Brandon Stark is an amazing surreal anticlimax 😂
It's THE Brandon Stark. The wild wolf
There’s another piece of evidence saying that cold hands is much older than any living character at the start of the story. When his gigantic elk dies of exhaustion or something like that, coldhands speaks the old tongue over it as a sort of eulogy. My theory is that he has to be ancient, like thousands of years ancient. We will probably never get an answer in the future books but I think he was one of the original founding members of the watch that fought alongside Azor ahai or the last hero. David lightbringer has a great theory on this.
Basically the founding members of the nights watch were all undead since the wall is in such a remote place, how big it is, and how much food living people need is crazy if all the forts were manned. Also there is a quote from Dolores ed where he complains that “even if I die they’ll just pick me back up again and put me back on my post, we won’t even be able to quit when we’re dead jon.”
Or he could even be Azor ahai! I enjoyed David Lightbringer’s video on this theory. Since Leaf is 250 years old, I think her using the term “long ago” means Coldhands has truly been dead (undead, semi-dead) for eons.
It doesn't say "old tongue", it is just a tongue Bran doens't know. Can be Valyrian. The best fitting character that could be Coldhands is by far The Rogue Prince. Killed a long time ago in the only place in the seven kingdoms where the Children of the Forest live, his body never recovered (everything else from the battle was recovered), he was a main character of his own story who simply vanished in a battle. He is also Bloodraven's ancestor, had the same goals, but probably didn't have such strong powers.
I really like this Daemon tinfoil actually. Must be very sad he didn't get to take his dragon with him.
@@petrmaly9087 but what motivation does he have? If he was reanimated by children of the forest why not cut through them and go to kings landing where his niece and wife is struggling to rule and has schemers and mutineers around every corner?
@@ianlachey1726 First thing is options he have. Many his reanimation is linked to the will of the CotF, second, they do show people (Bran, Bloodraven) visions of the past and the future, he knows he needs to serve behind the wall, to get visions to his descendant bloodraven and later to protect Bran. He is of no use to his wife and kids as he doesn't have a dragon.
I'm on team Raven's Teeth, personally. It just makes sense that Bloodraven would revive one of his loyal companions. Brynden's last ranging has "Last Hero" vibes, so I figure all of his guards died one by one as he sought the children beyond the wall.
I agree that Raven’s Tooth is the most likely outcome.
@@QuinnTheGMb
Does Bloodraven have the power to resurrect people?
the old gods might in their own way. the only gods we see actually have any power would be R'hllor and The Old gods, possibly even the God of Death if you wanted to debate that. I don't see any issue with a sacrificial ritual performed by a man with the best genetic makeup to be a magical overlord, that would make sense to me. @@onyedikachukwumiracle
@@onyedikachukwumiracle He does have the power to do most anything else... stands to reason that he figured out how to summon enough power and resurrect one of his most loyal men. Perhaps he has more but keeps them hidden.
The Danny Flint theory is my favourite but the Raven's teeth makes the most sense to me. Does every mysterious figure have to be someone we've heard of?
I mean... yeah kind of, what's the point of setting up a mystery we can't answer?
Danny Filth actually
@pamelaguerra3768 because in life we don't always get statisifying resolutions. And for author who loves human heart in conflict with itself a unsolved mystery seems a perfect connection to that seeking answers and never finding them.
@@pamelaguerra3768 It might not be intended as a mystery so much as a piece of foreshadowing and worldbuilding. That someone can exist who’s part ice wight but on the side of humanity and still sentient might be an important fact toward the end of the books. The ‘who’ of Coldhands might not be so important as the ‘what’.
@@pamelaguerra3768 what if it isn't a mystery? people seem to make a mystery out of everything theese days, especially in Asoiaf. the fact that Bran questioned who Coldhands was doesn't mean that we will eventually need to know who he really is. it could be the same as with magic in their world.. a double edged sword who may cut you with disappointment when you know his identity because it might not be someone interresting enough for you
I would add that if he were Benjen, he would likely show encouragement to Bran in what he's about to undertake with Bloodraven, and come across as a bit more protective. Similar to his talk with Jon on the wall about doing what's necessary, especially since would still be a frightened boy, more so than Jon.
Well said
assuming that a zombie is capable of feeling the same way as their living selves.
I just don’t see why Bran wouldn’t recognize his own uncle
Coldhands was a member of the Nights Watch who went north with his Lord Commander Bloodraven. I doubt George will ever give us his real name nor that it is important.
I personally think there is more than one Coldhands and that Bloodraven has a few loyal undead crows serving under him as his "force on the ground"
That would be a really interesting idea, a small force of undead Raven’s Teeth
This is one of the coolest theories I've heard... Although I don't know that they would all have the same black hands
This is what I'm guessing.
Black hands from congealed blood like he said. They'd all have them
I subscribe to this, but have more - I'm thinking Coldhands was a warg and evaded mindless ice zombiehood by his familiar warging back into his raised corspe - the same way I think Jon Snow will come back, raised by the Others yet regaining his own consciousness.
I like the Danny Flint one. Haven't heard of it yet. But let's face it, Coldhands is obviously Euron, who is secretly Quaithe, as well as Howland Reed, Bloodraven, Patchface, Moqorro, Jaquen H'ghar, the ghost of High Heart and of course Balerion the Cat at the same time.
The "Long Ago" comment can easily be thought of as Leaf using the term from Bran's perspective, as she's talking to him at the time and giving him conext. That being said, even from Bran's perspective, Benjen's disappearance hardly qualifies as "long ago".
Yeah Benjen disappeared like 2 years ago , when Bran was talking to leaf
Bran is still under 10 years old in the books tho. For him the about two years Benjen has been gone is a long time
@@otttimon5654 I think he is 10 now. Anyway, it wasnt bran who used the term 'long ago' it was leaf, describing when coldhands died.
@@umwha I was playing of the parent comment arguing Leaf used long ago from Brans perspective not hers
I’d lean more towards nights king than any other options presented. He uses an ancient tongue when killing the elk, so being thousands of years old aligns with that. Also, in regards to coldhands having to be “killed” by the others - The nights king gave part of his soul to his other bride and so “died” by the others similarly to how obi wan claims anakin to have “died.” Not a literal total death - GRRM has played this trick with the Elder brother claiming Sandor to have “died”
The nights kings story is lost to legend - This is GRRM we’re talking about here. Do we really think the actual historical figure would be a cut and dry evil villain? The nights king may still be (and always have been) extremely loyal to the NW. Maybe a pact with the others could be seen as something in full interest of the realm - perhaps the reasons for the nights king actions were truly inline with the vows of the nights watch (at least by his own perception). It mirrors Jon’s actions with making peace among the wildlings, and furthermore how others have judged those actions by Jon. The nights king was cast down for a pact with the enemy - and so was Jon. Those who would record history and write songs from a lens opposed to Jon’s actions would likely even sing of his romance with the enemy - ygritte (yet another mirror of the nights king). But if coldhands is nights king, he still lives, resurrected, just like Jon.
Coldhands is obviously a corpse being warged by ser pounce. Aka the prince that was promised.
Maybe the real coldhands is the Frey pies we’ve eaten along the way.
Take as much time as you need on your videos, they're great and welcome addition to my day!
I actually really like the idea of him being the Night’s King. If he gave a part of his soul to an Other that could certainly be an explanation as to how he’d keep his sentience, and to me really implies death and resurrection
I'm still with theory that the Coldhands is one of Blood Ravens followers that went to the wall with him and then went ranging North. Died and then was resurrected by Blood Raven or the children of the forest. Either way by the power of the old gods
My issue with that theory is why do they know the old tongue?
@@7PlayingWithFire7 If Bloodraven is connected to the weirwoods then he could probably learn it through that and then teach his companions. My question is what happened to the rest of his companions
No Cold Hands is Arthur Dayne, who asexually spawned Jon Snow through mitosis.
LOL
Lyanna: Ned, raise Arthur Dayne's mitosis baby. That was so fucking rad how he did that, I did not see that shit coming. Promise me, Ned.
@@thatsoundslikeheresytomeyo4960
I like this dialogue, it fits well with how I imagine Lyanna to be
Thanks for the nod QTGM. Myself and another fan discussed Ch=Brave Danny in the comments on another channel (Bend the Knee) months ago; they saw our comments and did a video on it too, and furthered the theory in the best way...
We know Dany is a 'Flint', but it's unknown which of the four House Flints she comes from. Two of the House Flints have very curious heraldry- House Flint of Widow's Watch has a pair of blue eyes floating at the top of their sigil; House Flint of Flint's Finger has a grey stone hand in the middle of their sigil. Might GRRM have been trying to tell us something by having the only two House Flints with given heraldry each feature details that tie to Coldhands/the Others? If Ch is actually Danny Flint, might her new name derive from the sigil of her house (Flints of Flint's Finger) because a stone hand and a cold hand are effectively the same thing?
This was an awesome video. Thanks again for the shout-out :).
Correct me if I'm wrong but those brothers he kills were the mutineers and if Blood Raven can see through Mormont's crow, then that's how Coldhands would know to kill them.
I believe that the Coldhands we know is a long-dead skinchanger that has been warging recently-killed bodies for a long time (that way he doesn’t lose his humanity). Right now, he’s in Benjen’s body
I just found your channel yesterday and have been watching all your theory videos. This came out at a good time. Keep it up you make good videos
I think he's one of the Raven's Teeth. I bet we will see a him in a vision before Bran has to leave the cave. Love your content, I'm so happy to see this channel blowing up like it is!
@12:45 If Dickon Tarly = Coldhands, who is the person that everything THINKS is Dickon Tarly?!
Rhaegar, duh.
I’ve seen a theory that Coldhands is Daemon Targaryen. The evidence is that Daemon was last seen near the isle of faces, which is known for its connection to the CotF. This could explain how Daemon was resurrected and was sent north. Additionally, GRRM loves Daemon and might want to bring him into the main series. I find the theory a little out there but it’s still a fun theory.
Just “a little out there”? It’s very out there
@@cmox1830 most sane asoiaf theory
The Daemon played by Matt Smith?
Bigger reach than Highgarden
Plus it is rumoured he wields dark sister sometimes.
Danny Flint wasn’t killed by the Others though, she was killed by brothers of the Night’s Watch.
I think it's Night's King myself but the reason I don't quite discard Danny is that tales change over time. Look at our own fables and fairytales and see how they've changed over the centuries.
@@shinrugal true true
Which makes no sense, tbh.
Danny Flint is a “Sweet Polly Oliver”. Polly almost never dies. In all the Polly songs I’ve ever heard, there is literally ONE variant where she dies and that could arguably be due to the time period of the song(the napoleonic wars and the bloody code, titled “Willie Taylor”, altho more popular versions have the heroine become a ship’s captain). And while rape isn’t exactly uncommon in old ballads, it’s not as ubiquitous as all that, and almost never occurs in Polly songs.
Generally, Polly is accepted as one of the soldiers, even after her identity is discovered(altho that might also coincide with her dismissal from the army, because she’s getting married).
But Danny Flint’s death being changed to “raped and murdered by her comrades” would make sense in the context of propaganda. Especially if she were to die in a mysterious way, at the hands of magical creatures that aren’t supposed to exist.
For one, the whole concept of a penal colony at just about the ends of the earth would have most people rioting. It might make sense for a couple of centuries during the bloody codes, but during the medieval period? For thousands of years? Across multiple countries?
But what better way to assure people that the watch is full off bad nasty people than the story that they had a female member who was literally raped to death?
It also has the double impact of discouraging people from following their loved ones to the Wall. Because it’s impossible to believe that the families left behind when some guy took a deer bc his people were starving wouldn’t just pack up and go with on occasion. Make it sound dangerous, so they’ll stay away.
Finally, it would explain the mysterious death of a watch member in a way that the teller could understand themselves. It’s not mysterious forest creatures, I’m the commander of a penal slave colony full of bad people.
Love the mention of Stonesnake. He should make an appearance sooner or later
My expectation is he might be seen as a wight later on.
I hope he is alive and well.
Just subbed. 1) when was the wall raised, 2) timing of the 13th Lord Commander, 3) if a Stark, given repetition of Brandon name in that family, Coldhands speaking literal truth, 4) who were the ‘they’ who killed him, 5) wouldn’t the Children of the Forest say ‘we’ killed him, 6) Martin’s fondness for using the Undead/zombie trope in his story.
I like the Raven's Teeth theory. It would be interesting if we get to meet Coldhands before he met his final fate in a future Dunk and Egg book. Though whether the White Walkers were even active in this time period is unclear.
they're not bound by dragon magic so I'd bet that they were "active" whatever you mean by that. they're comming south as some kind of punishment, not because they want to just erase all humanity "Eren-yeager style." they most certainly lived far more north though in that time period
11:45 technically any undead brother of the night's watch would fit this since they're released from their vows when they die
I like the theory that Coldhands is Dunk from the novelas, bind to serve Bloodraven. This sad end to an amazing character is very likely to GRRM writing 😅
Dunk becoming BloodRaven's own Darth Vader is a ironic end for him, since Brynden thought Dunk would be needed for the realm in the future, It would be super unexpected If this was his future that Brynden talked about!
10:47 He might also be referring to House Stark collectively and addressing Bran specifically.
“HBO’s Throne of Games”. That show is 🔥
Any chance Cold Hands is literally ‘Monster’, Gilly’s child? More time traveling shenanigans haha.
Lol! It won’t be that but it might a craster kid. Or maybe from the earlier generations of the craster project
Yess!!! I'm so glad you covered the Flint theory! As I commented on your text post from yesterday, it's probably my favorite theory from ASOIAF! Love it, love it, love it.
Love your videos! Cheers to getting out and getting busy post lockdown!
Danny Flint was murdered at the Nightfort by brother of the Night's Watch
Coldhands is not Benjen, but I think Benjen is going to be the next “Coldhands”. If Ravens Teeth theory is correct then Bloodraven wanted someone he could trust as his thrall, and Bran will follow suit with Benjen. Just a thought
The newest theory is that coldhands is actually Daemon Targaryen. According to reddit, his death wasn't confirmed and theres tons of convoluted contrivances that could explain how he survived his battle with Aemond over the gods eye. 😂
What about the theory that cold hands is Ser Dunk the tall? He was killed long ago. He is big and rides a huge elk. Dunk always had a strong bond with horses. They both have a Scar on their face.
Easy, Coldhands is a character from ASOIAF
damn, you're good.
I’d never heard the Danny Flint theory before. I really like it!
Cold hands is the captain of the ravens teeth. Bloodraven personal guard
that manga style artwork of dany flint is gorgeous
i quite like the idea that coldhands is 'the thing that came in the night' from old nan's story. being a former member of the night's watch, he may have known of the black gate, and luring young boys through it may have been a part of the crow's or the children's bidding. and his introduction as 'your monster, brandon stark' would also fit this as bran in particular was very terrified of this specific story, although not being able to go through the gate could complicate this
The best fitting character that could be Coldhands is by far The Rogue Prince. Killed a long time ago in the only place in the seven kingdoms where the Children of the Forest live, his body never recovered (everything else from the battle was recovered), he was a main character of his own story who simply vanished in a battle. He is also Bloodraven's ancestor, had the same goals, but probably didn't have such strong powers. In the show we see his preferred language is Valyrian, while Bran recognises him speaking in a foreign tongue...
It has to be him!
He is GRRM's favourite character for a reason!
Possibly. Another connection between them is Dark Sister.
I like the Raven’s Teeth theory myself. When I first read it I wasn’t aware of that bit of lore. My initial impression was that Coldhands was just some random dead ranger that Bloodraven was able to warg into (or something equally magical) to hijack that the others did. It’s boring, but the long ago can be explained to be whenever, the name doesn’t matter because it could be anyone and maybe there are multiple Coldhands, and the magic lets him do all the various things we see him do. Thinking back after a few years, a good part of that doesn’t feel like it matches with a world of so many named characters. I’m cautiously optimistic it will be revealed!
His name is perhaps Brandon Stark, and he might be the Brandon Stark, our Bran sees in his final Weirwood vision in his final chapter in A Dance With Dragons, the prisoner who gets his throat slit by the white haired woman in front of the Winterfell Weirwood.
Just my hypothesis, because Coldhands, when asked who he is, tells “I am your monster, Brandon Stark”, and he seems to be rattling and covering up something around his neck, perhaps a wound made by slitting his throat “…long ago”.
Never heard the Danny Flint theory before but it's my new favorite 🖤
I personally subscribe to him being a part of the original 13? group that was with Azor Ahai at the end of the long night
Coming back to this months later, on a bunch of medication that doesn't let me sleep when I actually want to, got me thinking. I think it's going to make the most sense for the identity to be revealed in She Wolves of Winterfell. Possibly a character we haven't encountered yet as a mortal. Maybe a callback to someone who appeared earlier in Dunk and Egg. But almost certainly a Raven's Teeth member.
I like this idea a lot, especially considering it’s already mostly written.
About it being unlikely that it’s Nights King cause the body decomposed - we know from when they find Othor’s body that even maggots and worms won’t touch a wighted corpse, which might extend to bacteria. That would slow the decomposition process.
Furthermore, “ice preserves” so I think it’s possible that the magic could preserve the body for all that time.
A Quinn video just as I got lunch! Love your content.
*I would love it if Coldhands was the Night's King, but he's probably Benjen.*
maybe cold hands is the friends we made along the way
I think that Coldhands, the 13th Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, the last hero and Bran the Builder are all the same guy.
I honestly thought I'd heard all the theories possible about anything GoT related, considering we haven't had new material in a decade, but the Brave Danny Flint theory is amazing!
George always gives the coolest nicknames to random characters like stonesnake ,nimble dick and who could forget shit mouth
Uther Shett
I love the idea of Cold Hands being the first Sister of the Watch, taking up Dark Sister. Love it. However, I think Cold Hands is actually ancient. The best friend of the Last Hero, who died (along with the Hero's horse and dog) on the journey to the Heart of Winter.
There is also a theory from Crusader Chris that states that Coldhands is the Warg King the Starks defeated long ago.
An alternate, alternate take
To understand reference Forbidden Planet and Only Kids are Afraid of the Dark. The Id Monster and Dr. Weird respective.
This is essentially Time Traveling Bran. Bran, while training with BR goes extremely far into the past. While there in spirit the connection to his body is cut (maybe the tree is damaged, or they have to move him from the cave). Bran learns to skinchange the dead, or wights, and has been waiting until he's past the moment in time he went back to return to himself.
"your monster, Brandon Stark", as in Forbidden Planet, he's literally Bran. Recall in the same chapter Coldhands immediately responds to the Last Greenseer question, while BR appears slightly confused. Either this makes Old Bran the 3Ecrow watching Bran with BR, or it might indicate he knows how BR appear privately to Bran. Common theory is that BR might not know how he's perceived to others. However, if this is an older version of Bran he'd know this.
It might also resolve your early speculation about knowing when and where Bran is for Sam to retrieve. If he is Bran, he'd remember where he was and when.
It might also circle back to the Last Hero (Last Greenseer). If Old Bran had used the Body of that Hero and returned with the CotF to create the NW, it might make sense. The prophecy is about the reborn AA returning. If he was there in Spirit and is now returning to his own body, it would fit the idea of a returning AA.
I’ve never seen anyone talk about the “champions” of the lord of darkness that melisendre sees in her visions. I believe the man with the wolf head could be benjen stark being a mirror to the original nights king as they are both starks and nightswatchmen. Jon would also be an obvious candidate as well being half wolf and lord commander
The boy with a head of wolf is probably bran and the old man is blood raven
I don’t think Martin saying Coldhands isn’t Benjen makes it true since he’s also said that Berrick isn’t Berrick anymore after his resurrection, it seems that Martin says that they’re different beings after death
Valid point but why would Leaf say Benjen is old. Leaf is hundreds of years old so I’m inclined to believe that Coldhands is the Nights King whose name is Bran Stark
Or like Catelyn becoming Stoneheart. Seems fitting.
@@benjaminklein8379 oh I don’t think it is benjen because of leaf saying “long ago”, I’m just saying that Martin saying No doesn’t really mean much because of how he treats the undead
@@connor4435Long ago from whose perspective?
Great video! I'm inclined to believe it's Danny Flint since they can't go past the wall or into Bloodraven's cave. It fits nicely, also the thing about the Dark Sister, that would be cool and matching the tone of the series.
Danny Flint was murdered by her brothers in the Watch though, Coldhands was killed by the Others.
@@Sheija Do we know for sure that Coldhands was murdered by the Others? Ch doesn't have the blue eyes of an other or wight; they're black. Also, as Ch says, the blackened hands thing happens to anyone who dies because blood pools in the extremeities once the heart stops beating- so it's not something specific to wights. Leaf does tell Bran "they" killed Ch long ago; seemingly in reference to the wights/Others; but we don't know for sure who "they" is because nobody asks and the subject is promptly changed by a cotf after Ch's death is mentioned. For all we know "they" could've been the Watch brothers who betrayed Danny and killed her. Would certainly explain why Ch (Danny) killed the surviving watch mutineers of Crasters and referred to them as "foes". She punished them for turning on their own like was done to her.
@@ashleyofnaath It’s pretty clear that she’s talking about the Others/wights. She says that when Bran and them reach the cave, and are forced to abandon Coldhands outside.
Bran says “they’ll kill him” - talking about the wights outside the cave. Leaf replies, “No. They killed him long ago.” It would be pretty unusual in terms of language for her to be referring for a completely different group of people.
I've always been partial to the Raven's Tooth idea for Ch.
I did think Coldhands was just a member of the Raven's Teeth, but the Brave Danny Flint theory is my favorite now.
i am gonna call it now: its balon greyjoy
He's the original Night's King on a redemptive path. He gave his Queen his seed and his soul which, combined with his magical or symbolic death "long ago" lead to his current undead state. Referring to fellow NW men as "crows" is a useful obfuscation for the fact that, as a Stark named Brandon (per Nan's retelling of the story), he is a sort of Brother to Bran Stark.
I love the Brave Danny Flint theory.
Oh I like that Danny Flint theory alot. I do hope we eventually find out who or what Coldhands really is.
Coldhands might be Maynard plum if he not bloodraven
I’d like if he was truly ancient. Maybe an old warg who served the Stark Kings as a nights watchmen before being killed by the others.
I don’t believe Bloodraven was sent to the Wall for punishment. I think Egg sent him there because they knew it was necessary to have a “Targaryen” there e/or beyond the Wall. Egg had visions or believed on the visions of others Targaryen since he “created” Solarestival.
What is solarestival?
@@umwha I belive it might be Summerhall in portuguese.
Starks are always involved in the northern lore. I think it’s safe to say it is a past stark that was involved in the nights watch. I also think it could be a (nameless) “title” that every stark who’s died north of the wall, which could mean that benjin is CURRENTLY cold hands without it being 100% the case. In any case, I don’t think we will ever get it spelled out for us, but we will probably have a good guess once winds comes out
When he says "your monster, brandon stark" could he be implying Bran warged into him in the past and this was the outcome? "yours, yours, yours" from the crow amplifies that implication for me. Or it could mean they have been waiting for Bran and he is there to serve him.
The only thing against Brave Danny Flint theory is that Leaf specifically says about Coldhands "They killed *him* long ago." So unless The Children of the Forest are big users of gender-fluid terminology in an oppressive world of tradition and stark (heh) enforcement of gender roles then there's no chance it's Danny Flint. Danny Flint was also killed by other Night's Watchmen, not the Others, so Leaf's conversation wouldn't even make sense because she was just talking about The Others not being able to kill Coldhands anymore because they already did.
Other comments have pointed out that George's terse and unexpanded response to the question leaves the door open to Coldhands not being Benjen, but is possibly still Benjen's corpse, piloted perhaps by Brynden, one of the Children, or someone from the Weirwood net. Anyone with the right power, really. Assuming this could be the case, it begs the question: why is Coldhands different to the other wights?
One of the most distinctive physical features of wights we know to be absent from Coldhands: the cold, icy blue glint of the eyes. It's easy to dismiss the eye colour as a trivial detail regarding the Other's control, but its absence does suggest that it's directly tied into whatever it is that changes a mindless wight into... whatever Coldhands is. The very last time we see a Wight in the series thus far is with Thistle, where we learn there's something more supernatural going on here than just blue coloured eyes, she has pale, flickering lights in her empty sockets, and the Varamyr chapter ends with those eyes as the focal point of the scene as they stare down Varamyr's consciousness in his wolf.
We've seen that the wights must harbour some lingering element of their personality, some small scrap of self still clinging on deep inside them. Jon suspects as such with the cunning of the wights who attacked Mormont, then we have Paul not attacking the ravens, and finally Thistle. Thistle's last moments were spent in agony, tearing her face apart as she fought off Varamyr, mind and soul. And the very first thing her revenant does upon its raising is stare at him specifically. She sees him.
To go out on a massive limb, perhaps this whole thing hints at how wights work in the first place. They're violent, murderous things, but if they were nothing but complete automatons piloted by the Others, those touches of personality likely wouldn't exist. Perhaps the deathly cold in the Other's sorcery literally freezes some small part of the soul as their victims die, leaving them in a perpetual state of agony and torment. Paul dies literally angry and attacking an Other for its mistreatment of a horse, and his fondness for beasts follows him to his undeath. Thistle dies resisting Varamyr, and immediately carries a burning, frosty vengeance in her gaze aimed directly at him upon her return. Maybe that's why the Others seem so callous and cruel in their limited appearances, they want to inflict a terrifying death in order to create a useful, frenzied servant. In a sense that makes them analagous to Stoneheart, and how her anguished demise coloured her resurrection.
So perhaps Benjen was turned into a regular wight, only for Brynden or the Children to find him and pluck out that tormented pearl of frozen consciousness, leaving the body as an empty vessel for someone else to use.
Perhaps every single wight's death is literally a mercy, as you're putting their soul at peace.
I love the idea that a sister of the watch will use Dark sister
I never thought Benjen Stark was Coldhands. Mainly because of the "died long ago" bit.
I have been warming up to the Raven's Teeth theory. Though the reason we don't know any specific member is the reason I'm not convinced of it.
I saw the reddit post lol it was really good and funny
I like Coldhands being the Night’s King, if only because having a character that ridiculously old around could be a chance to glimpse at some of the foundational events of the Wall. As for decay, we do know maggots and things that eat bodies shy away from the undead; Benjen’s companions who were killed and turned into wights had been dead for months, but besides the cold their bodies looked fresh.
And not to get too weird but there have been cases of properly stored bodies irl being near-fresh even 2000 years after the fact, and that’s not even accounting for magic! (Look up Lady Dai for that one) I’m just saying a little ice magic and a tree-stasis cocoon could to wonders for even the crustiest corpse.
Honestly I mostly side with the nights king theory. I thought of this even before watching this video and definitely believe it is the most probable as the white walkers could have turned on the nights king back then
I do like the Danny Flint theory a lot. Glad you mentioned it!
Coldhands is probably just some random brother of Night's Watch, who associated with the COTF hundreds of years ago, long before BloodRaven.
Its clear that Coldhands can only be one man: Yoren(my boy!) when he’s south of the wall he loses some power and when hes north he goes by Coldhands, but either way he sticks to his mission of serving the Watch (and his hobby of saving Stark children). Its a reason everyone talks about how bad Yoren smells (the hide the smell of death, duh)
The nights watch vow states, that their watch lasts until they die, so Coldhands could have been a member until he died, but after that he won't be able to open the black gate, since he is a member no longer. This could have been a security mesure against the whitewalkers using undead night's watch members.
I had forgotten about Danny Flint and had never considered her for Cold Hands but that makes sense. A woman in a man's role, like Dany being the Prince that was promised, even though we know now that it can be Prince or princess. If it's not her then an anonymous member of the Raven's Teeth makes sense too.
Benjen is actually coldhand's secret brother coldfeet
@11:04 That would be amazing if that turned-out to be the case because House Stark loves to name their sons Brandon even more than House Durrandon loved to name their sons Durran or House Gardener loved to name their sons Garth. I swear to god if there is a male Stark whose name you don't know, you have a 50/50 chance the name will turn out to be Brandon
I think Robert strong is obviosly Dunk from Dunk and Egg stories.
Nah, it's Hodor's dad, dunk's grandson
@@memeaficionado thats also quite good theory
time travelling Dickon Tarly. It checks all the boxes
I saw a theory once that he might be from House Hoare. I think the theory said he was at Harrennhal when the dragons attacked it. And that's why he seems to be afraid of fire.
I think i got that right. I think he ended up at the Wall
I don‘t know how useful this is, but it always felt significant to me that Coldhands is described (and addressed) specifically as a „ranger“. I.e. he died as a member of the Watch‘s military arm, the Rangers. Of course, that still includes a lot of people (like Benjen who it definitely isn‘t), and it‘s not like many builders or stewards were on the list to begin with. On the other hand, it arguably excludes Lord Commanders, who are no longer part of any of the three orders.
But actually, I feel like this might point to a much more banal, but also very likely, answer to the question of Coldhands‘ identity. Namely, he is just „a Ranger“. Not a specific one we would know, but one whose identity is either completely irrelevant or forgotten entirely, including by himself. This strikes me as by far the most likely answer. People in George R R Martin‘s works don‘t have to be anyone special to play an important role. This is true especially beyond the Wall.
I think that cold hand being killed by the others can still refer to the night king as he may have not been physically killed but he gave up his soul to the other symbolically killing brandon stark and turning into the knights king. Also he does say I’m your monster Brandon and old Nan has said that his name was Brandon.
The Dany Flint idea is very interesting and I like it. I favor the idea of one of the Raven's Teeth, but I like Dany Flint more.
Coldhands is the friends we made along the way
@11:04 "It's-a me! Brandon Stark!"
I quite like the theory that coldhands is being possessed by the thousands of years old spirit of bran, and is waiting for bran to get lost in the weirwoods or something so he can enter his own body again.
When cold hands says "Your monster", I believe he is referring to the three eyed crow, not himself.
Meera: "Who sent you? Who is this three eyed crow?"
Cue creepy crow moment...
Bran: "A monster."
Cold Hands: "Your monster"
At this point my head-canon is that Coldhands is Azor Ahai. The original one. Elric Shadowchaser. Like Jon he died and became a type of Wight, and then he went on and fought the others and became a Hero. After the fighting was done He became a founding member of the Night's Watch and became their first Ranger who went north beyond the wall, as well as their first Ranger who went beyond the wall and never returned.
I've always interpreted "long ago" coming from a child of the forest to be in the thousands of years ballpark. Leaf isn't characterized as being old and she's over 200 so it makes sense to me that anything she calls old would be significantly longer than that. Given that corpses can last thousands of years in the real world if frozen for that long, it doesn't seem like a stretch to say that ice magic could make an undead remain functional for thousands of years. I've always been a fan of David Lightbringer's theory that Coldhands was one of the Last Hero's 12 companions