Where are the Images of the sorcerer(6:04) and Young Varys(4:31) sourced From? Are they the artists in the description? I ask because they look like official video captures, and If they are, I've missed a show.
@@mrsnulchhe just has an incredible voice for speaking, and especially storytelling... He enunciates well and is also articulate.. this is, of course, my personal opinion.. but that doesn't make it any less true!
Bloodraven is the answer to every mystery. Who was the sorcerer speaking to? Bloodraven. Who is Jaquen Hagar? Bloodraven. Why do I keep eating cheese even though it doesn't always agree with me? Bloodraven
Interestingly, GRRM implied in an interview a few years ago that the flames may not have actually spoken. Time and memory have colored things, so spake Martin. However, I don’t take this to mean that Varys did not hear a voice. Only that trauma and time have made him misremember where it came from. Rather than the flames, I think George is hinting that there was someone else in the room… If we don’t know who the wizard is, then we certainly can’t guess at who this potential other person is. But the presence of a second, particularly one responding to the ritual, may change the context of the event. Rather than it not mattering who Varys is, maybe it matter a great deal, and he was castrated to ensure the end of his line. Maybe he is a Blackfyre after all?
Interesting observation. Maybe he was after all focussed on seeing his body part burn and didn't properly register who spoke, after all. But yeah too little to build on. It could've been anyone.
Keep in mind that just because it didn’t come from the fire, doesn’t mean it wasn’t “magical” per se. If the sacrifice was made to summon an entity, that could be what was speaking and answer who the “other” person in the room was.
@@wizardvrse7338 oh I’m sure it was magical. My only idea here is that maybe he was in such a state that he didn’t realize someone had walked into the room, or he has simply forgotten this third-party.
I wish the video had mentioned… In the show, the Red Priestess asks Varys if he wants to know who the voice was and what it said. D&D then drop it like a hot plate. Was this a “show only” thing, or were D&D glossing over something GRRM told them?
i think the point of that was simply to show how uncanny the red priests are, Melissandre also knows about "you know nothing John Snow" even though she never met Ygritte, John didn't tell her and John prob never told anyone else.
In Star War's defence, that story in NOT about the whole galaxy, but the struggle between Light and Dark side of force, plus, most of Star Wars is set in the Skywalker Saga, hence why everything is so connected. And against it, there's Lando appearing in fucking Star Wars Rebels and ehhhhh
Robert Carlyle did an amazing job with that part! He really made the character come to life. And I loved the costumes he wore! 😍 An all-around great character, one of my all time favorites. ❤
This is tempting to think that he's secretly a distant Targaryen or Blackfyre bastard and was bought because of his hair, making him shave it afterwards, and that blue flames represent the great other, and it's possible I guess, but as you said nor everything will (nor should) be connected to one another. But some things will be. So I guess wait n see on that. Well, that is if we ever have the final books
The whole thing had a Lovecraftian vibe as far as I can tell. So I'm thinking either 'The Great Other', 'The Drowned God' or some other eldritch horror. I think the point of the scene is to plant the seed that these horrors are real is this universe and one could be serving them unwittingly while believing to server a benevolent power as Stanis seems to be.
Important thing to note, regarding Varys being a Blackfyre, I recently learned that eunuchs don't go bald - so George is probably trying to subtly draw our attention to the fact that Varys' head is something he purposely shaves. Has he something to hide? If we get to a situation where Varys is unable to shave his head, (if he is imprisoned for example) might we see something he doesn't want us to?
Hair in the books were the first thing people in power woud notice if they want to figure your heritage...then your eyes, body shape and so on...but Hair is the first on the check list. That would explain why Varys shave his head, always is wearing long clothes and almost never look powerful people directly in the eyes alegating that do not want to disrespect looking directly. Varys know how the game for power works...and do not intend to draw too much attention.
Varys uses a lot of disguises. Wouldn't being bald create the largest change when wearing a wig and allow for ease of use? I don't think he's as fat as we are lead to believe too. We've probably seen him in a lot more scenes than we realize.
That's not actually true of all types of baldness Varys looks like his got Alopecia Universes, male pattern baldness, the type of baldness that you won't get without growth hormone, testosterone from your balls, it's usually just up top not weird like alopecia, I copped it bad once, my hair has grown back now but once my hair fell out in weird places, I eventually shaved my head just to make it less obvious, it's looks strange, It has something to do with the immune system apparently, although they really don't know what causes it, good eye though, I doubt they even thought about the baldness, I can't recall how Varys looks in the books, maybe the series producers liked the way his bald head looked, maybe the actors got alopecia in real life, does he have eyebrows? I heard that the eunuchs are more often than not, overweight, I guess they would use food as a coping method, a sex drive is a pretty important aspect in a males life, Growth hormone is essential for a males muscles development, what was he thinking when he came up with the eunuchs warriors, man with higher testosterone tend to be aggressively suited to become the type of cannon fodder suited to war LOL, surely there's a way to stop them raping everything and being discussing sick fucks, Just because power corrupt testosterone fueled guys are often up for some rape after a good blood bath, doesn't mean you have to employ nothing but eunuchs, I know I'd never rape any women, I never had that overbearing mother figure nor a father figure that I was in competition with for my mothers affection, I guess that's why I'm not into porn where women get choked and annul penertration, It's pretty disgusting to me, but I must be rare in this world because porn is almost completely unbearable, I'm not sure why but I can guess that racist white men are turned on by woman that are shamed and violated by African men / black guys, often more than one at a time, personally if I am imagining that I'm there doing it with the woman I find it breaks the fantasy as my own dick isn't as tanned, and the unavoidable issue with porn is the fact that those meathead guys have no consideration or desire for the female form, or sex drive, I think they are into power so much that they need to humiliate dominate the woman to reach sexual gratification, so what do I see in porn? Guys jerking themselves off! What's the fucking point watching that, these guys can't blow, so many of them pretend to blow and it defeats the purpose of watching it, I may as well use my imagination and forget porn. Jesus how did I end up talking about this?
My read is that his voice changes because he's being sincere and genuine, and his voice is different in every other time because he's constantly playing a part
@@friedkeenanInteresting - are you saying that his characters, i.e the gaoler who meets Ned, have a fully different accent and tone - a different voice - because he's acting *then*. But that when his voice changes in the middle of normal speech, when he is himself - that's genuine? I do like to think it isn't more complicated than that. The human heart in conflict with itself being the most important thing for George
@@Slechy_Lesh What I mean is that I think that when Varys tells Tyrion about his castration, his voice becomes different because he is slipping out of any character and is being genuinely himself. At all other times, he plays characters that range in how close they are to who he genuinely is, but none quite reaching the sincerity of who he was when telling the story of his castration. It could of course be that Varys plays a character even then, too, but like you say I feel like GRRM wouldn't leave something like that on the table, though of course he wants us to question it just like Tyrion feels he must. That distrust of another's seeming sincerity also very much feels up GRRM's alley.
That massively depends on the fuel. What you maybe mean is "the blue part of a flame is hotter than the red part". Just colouring a flame blue by adding something that burns blue doesn't do a lot to the flames temperature.
Ackshually, this is not true. This would be true of the color of flames is purely determined by blackbody radiation, but in reality, the color can also be due to photon emission based on the energy levels between the electron shells.
My interpretation of "A song of ice and fire" before ever reading the books was, that the fire may melt the ice, but it will turn to water and out out the flames. What's the middle ground between ice and fire? Water. The Ironborn, and their Drowned God.
Its really quite synchronistic that I just watched Game of Thrones all the way through in the last month and you are making so many videos about it too at the same time.
Its been a long time since I read the books and watched the show but didn't Varys have the sorcerer locked up in a box when he told Tyrion this, so Varys must have got the info from the sorcerer? So he must reveal this in the books when or if they ever get released.
The show and the books may, and probably will, end up very different from each other. Plus, even in the show I don't think it's ever outright said the dude in the box is THE sorcerer. Big V may just be taking out some other practitioner, and not THE guy.
@@abrahamroloff8671 I hope the book ends differently, the show did not end well😃. I had forgotten about the sorcerer a long time ago but now I need to know what happened.😁
Earlier today I was in the grocery store and I pulled a vine ripened tomato off of its vine. I thought "root and stem..." and my mind drifted to... "what did Varys hear?" I came home to this video. Spooky.
Varys “did not understand”. But he remembered the words. And eventually of course he would have translated them. So now he does understand what was said, and it is important for Varys’ character and development.
Does seem likely that even if he didn't understand the words at the time he would eventually, as Master of Information, have them translated. This could be piecemeal word for word, or possibly tell someone in full, have them translate it, then kill them outright to keep the secret safe. Either way, no one else but Varys would know. And at least in the books Varys supposedly never meets up again with this sorcerer so perhaps it was he who translated it. It is so difficult to get dead people to answer the phone sometimes.
In some cases i actually prefer the ambiguity , as it adds to the mystery & intrigue imo. Also makes the universe and arcana feel that much bigger and aspects ineffable. When you have all the answers and a total grasp on all the questions and mysteries to me it makes the universe feel much smaller and tangible. There are certain reveals of course we want and need but others almost best left to speculation , as it drives imagination and future debate. Certain reveals can actually be underwhelming compared to theories and speculation. To me has to be the right balance of necessary reveals along with mysteries / unexplained and imo GRRM strikes that balance very well. The mysteries and ambiguous elements add to the vastness and intrigue. Per Varys' sorcerer incident , as the vid says it seems to be mostly how it affected and drove Varys from that moment forward more than anything else. As is the case with many other in-universe magical and / or prophetically related events / concepts. Lets say even Varys potentially not fully understanding what happened to him (let alone the reader) could add to the impact even more. And why the sorcerer selected V many of us think he is likely of Valyrian blood , quite likely a Blackfyre even , so that magical and also royal blood could be the reason he was coveted. As the Blackfyres are essentially Targs / with Targ blood , just an illegitimate line originated via two very legitimate & royal Targs.
I like that line of thinking. Not knowing may just be part of the fun, as a magician would tell you perhaps. If it's got something to do with the whites I'd like to know, otherwise I am okay not knowing. I just keep wanting to see more of the Others
@@divyanshu.26 in this case i'd personally rather keep it mysterious. To me just does not seem directly tied into the biggest magical goings on most influential to the main plot . Its a vast universe with all sorts of different magic , so would be interesting if this is beyond the magic we've already encountered in the narrative. Just shows the vastness and scale of mystery at play in this universe.
@@divyanshu.26 i even think about the Aegon I prophecy reveal , its nice to know of course. But does that reveal really making the Targs more interesting , dynamic or complex ? It actually somewhat turns them into white-knights and justifies the Conquest. I personally enjoyed the speculation in terms of what drove Aegon , was the Conquest fully justified or not ? etc. Overall GRRM tends to strike the balance of reveals and mysteries quite well. So i'd rather he hold back in certain cases than over-reveal. Even if any of the Lannister siblings are Targs or not (Jaime , Cersei and Tyrion) ; to me its more fun to look for clues in either direction (which of course GRRM gives clues to multiple possibilities) and speculate about it. Rather than simply given a direct answer on that. Ntm not sure there is a definitive in-universe vehicle for clarity regarding a concept like that anyway.
I wholeheartedly agree. I think it’s just a mystery that explains some of Varys’ character and motivations. And I also think that his voice changes because he was telling the truth.
A scene in episode 5, season 6 merits, Varys - not lying. A red sorceress recounts his exact story, in the throne room of the great pyramid. As I haven't read the books, I don't know if this was a series adaptation or not, but it certainly ties into this video.
...Maybe the "sorcerer" was a younger Marwyn the Mage using knowledge acquired in Ashai (on his way back, perhaps). Marwyn joins Dany. Varys is with (F)Aegon. At a tense and crucial moment of negotiations between the two camps, Varys spots and recognizes him and loses it. In a rage he loses control and undermines everything he's worked for while Tyrion looks on laughing. Doubtful maybe, but it would be fun.
I hadn’t thought that Varys made it up. I believe it’s true and agree that it’s more important in the story how Varys reacted than what really happened. I didn’t realize this was Varys convincing Tyrion that he was personally against Stannis due to his use of magic.
my theory is that the sorcerer actually was doing something that to us would have seemed very minor, the idea that the magic that turned varys into who he was was actually a rather mundane and minor affair.
I wonder if Pyat Pree might be the sorcerer, or somehow related. After dany burns down the house of the undying, Pyat is found gibbering in some unknown tongue. (...and jumping from foot to foot. ... maybe a little like Patchface? hrm) tin foil. but maybe Pyat was a lesser solo sorcerer in traveling through Lys to find kings blood, and his mutilation of Varys connected him with his future serving the house of the undying in Qarth. Maybe he meant to do similar things with dany (using kings blood for magic), but was thwarted.
What struck me as interesting is the timing on this. I wonder if the ritual is what woke the night king back up and stared the process of the long night.
Granted we never know for sure what George is planning, but I don't understand how this would make sense ? Like why would a sacrifice with fire magic "activate" some ice magic ?
@@Raye938 nah that seems like such a minor and tertiary detail to be the literal inciting action of the entire story. Its never even brought up again at any point.
@@gloameyedprince And yet YOU are here on a video about his stories? Are you talking to yourself? And then laughing at how you imagined you slam-dunked on your comment? Get your head right, silly.
GRRM did say in an interview not to take Varys's story about hearing a voice too literally as it happened a long time ago and Varys might be misremembering things. As too why Varys was castrated, they say there is power in kings’ blood and according to Crusader Chris, Varys might be one of the few remaining Blackfyre's if Illyrio Mopatis's wife Serra was Varys's sister or related somehow. Varys could have been castrated by someone (possibly a certain rogue maester with his own agenda) determined to end the threat posed by the Blackfyre's once and for all. Though why Varys's wasn't just killed outright if he was such a threat remains a mystery.
Gets further in that it supposedly takes blood, king's blood, to activate a glass candle. Sounds like an erection to me. Another weird thing is that maesters are left with a glass candle overnight with a task of getting it to ignite by morning. All maesters are male and as such would probably not think of the candle in a phallic manner or be able to do anything with it. However there is one at the citadel who might be able to: Alleras/Sarella, aka the Sphinx. She is not only a female passed puberty, but also a descendant of Dorne nobility. Conceivably if given a dark room alone with a phallic object she might use it in this way. She's not had touch of anyone in a while at the citadel, is in the right age bracket for hormones to be racing, and if the moon is right this may all fit together like a hand in glove, or at least something in something else. You know. This is scenario is something GRRM seems to have hinted at many times, but other than being a weird bit of "oh that's what all that meant" I'm not sure what he will do with it beyond that. Maybe it will come down to Sam needing to use a candle to contact someone and failing repeatedly. She then asks him what he knows about how it is to be activated, gets an inspiration and ushers him out of the room. 'The Sphinx is the riddle, not the riddler'. In this case, the Sphinx would be the solution, not the question.
People tend to see faces and shapes in clouds and burnt toast. Mishear song lyrics. It is possible that Varys' drugged and terrified mind thought random fire sounds (crackling, hissing) sounded like foreign speach just to make sense of the situation. Maybe a rouge sorcerer wanted a vision in the flames, but it doesn't mean he was important or that it was linked to the overall story. Not every nut job is part of a larger conspiracy. Bad people do bad things without a greater plan to it. The most important takes from that story are how this shaped Varys, his beliefs and attitude, and also why Varys was chosen in the first place and why he was worth a lot of money.
Robert, I would love to see you collaborate with Michael talks about things. I’ve recently become acquainted with his catalog and I think his theories are well founded and excellent
I also wonder will we ever know who is the new Asor Ahai is, or the answer of all the other prophecies. It looks like many of them are happening as told - like the "girl with the serpents in her hair", but also are made to be very ambiguous and different characters interpret them differently. As Melisandre tried to explain, the pictures she sees in the flames are real visions, but their meaning is never clear, as it depends how well you understood/interpreted them. This is a side of the magic and prophesies I really enjoy, as is really close to real life prophesies - like the Delphi Oracle telling the king "A big empire will fall" and him interpreting it as he will win the war, but it was his empire that ended up falling. I have the feeling that many of the prophecies and magic will never be fully explain, but as you said - there is no need for it. The interesting thing is how those things affect peoples lives.
I love telling people that. that the prophecies or what happens isn't necessarily the most important part, what matters more is how those events shape the characters that DO survive
If Varys had been lying, he wouldn't have immediately given Tyrion a reason to doubt it, as his tale is insane enough to be doubted on its merits alone.
7:48 Dany's vision might refer to some sigils of the great houses: -crimson firelions is Lannisters, -yellow serpents is Martell from Dorne, -unicorn was sigil of some of the lesser houses (Brax of Hornvale + Doggett + Rogers but they're nobodies rly), dunno about the blue flame. -Fish is Tully sigil, -foxes is Florent sigil (who were momentarily with Stannis and Renly too if i remember right, one of the Storm bannermen anyway), -wolves are Starks. -Flowering tree might refer to Tyrell's bannermen (Appleton or Rowan) or they are just what they are, trees and birds -The grey horse is NOT probably: Dany's wedding gift because that one was a mare. Rhaego the unborn baby was named as a "stallion" in prophecy but died in womb thanks to black magic. Bracken nobles from Riverlands (nobodies) have the only stallion banner but it's red. *In the books, a great flaming comet flew through sky. This put many things in motion as several people saw it and thought it as a sign for different things. Rhllor's believers also talk about a comet signaling the coming of a herald of Rhllor or smth. Personally I believe that Rhllor has his "hands" in lot of the events set in motion. Rhllor is also described to have a dark counterpart (god?) which is shunned by fire worshippers. *Important notion is that Dany was born in island of Dragonstone. Melisandra just mistook this herald for Stannis as she had vision about Dragonstone and a comet, don't remember but it's in the 2nd or 3rd book. Thus I end my essay that no one asked for
I can't read fiction, just the way it's structured, gives me a migraine, but listening to You, I'm a child fascinated by stories once more. Truly Thank You for bringing this story to me. You can't imagine how much I enjoy your work!!
"It spoke in a language that Varys did not understand..." - This is our last attempt to reach you about your cars extended warranty. Varys: "... and since that day, I have hated magic..."
Im kinda on team parlor tricks on this one. He was a young child, and a drugged one at that. We dont know that he actually heard anything, and we dont know that the spell actually worked (surely if it had, the sorcerer would want to keep Varys around to sacrifice other bits of him for other spells? He'd already paid a lot for Varys, it seems it'd be a waste to just throw away a potent and expensive magical ingredient) Its possible Varys was chosen because he had some secret kingly heritage, but its just as possible that the sorcerer just mistakenly believed he did. Given that fire magic didnt really work very well at the time, I really think the most likely explanation is that either the spell didnt work, or that Varys simply made the whole thing up.
The show runners totally dropped the ball with Varys as a character in the last couple of seasons. Plus he never got to tell Tyrion that rest of this fookin story
I think royal blood being special is just a misunderstanding of ancient blood magic. Likely relating to Valyrians. E.g. everyone with "Royal blood" that we've seen had their blood used can trace their lineage back to old Valyria in some sense. The Children of the Forrest do something similar but with the blood of the first men. It's where my mind goes when I'm trying to explain the relevance of the dragons bringing magic back. Since Fire and Blood/World of Ice and Fire we've been speculating that there's some genetic experiment angle to old Valyria. But where would the comet fit into all of this? Is it even real? An illusion by Quaith? Tyrek Lannister? That would be an interesting video.
11:56 I mean, yeah of course you’re right here. But damn is that a pretty significant seen with big implications for a big unknown factor in the world to be just hand waved away as “ah it’s just backstory for this character and influenced why he acts like he does now, don’t look into it further.” 😅
The blue flame was actually R.R. Martin talking to his book characters. He needed to check in so he could see if it was fine if he didn't actually finish the books
Probably no larger significance on the story than being the kickstart for Varys' charachter and possibly a hint for him being a Blackfyre. The blue flames just hinting at this being something more than a mere trick.
I've always felt like Varys is a secret Targaryen, and I think he knows it. It would explain his plots to help Young Griff, as well as Daenerys and Viserys through Illyrio in the first book.
Consider it as a high budget fanfic. Then read the books and imagine your own ending. If we get more books that is great but I have a feeling, even if grrm finishes ADOS, he won't answer every question or resolve every storyline. We are gonna be left with a ton of unanswered questions either way. Therefore, I do hope you try them out! Take your time and enjoy them; you never know, perhaps TWOW will be out by the time you finish them!😊
I am a hopeful fan and I still have faith in winds of winter but there is absolutely no chance that the whole series will ever be finished even if grrm lived to 200
as it is stated in the video, probably the important part in the plot is why Varys was specifically chosen and paid at a high price. King blood is required for powerful magic. I believe this story is there to point out to the Faegon plot, Varys himself being a Blackfyre and Faegon being his nephew.
My guess would be some sort of spell to communicate with the unalive, given the "offering" perhaps symbolizing some sort of rebirth or something, then the blue flame tied to all the wight magic
Sorcerer to boy: Come here, young man. I need your help to invent a new breakfast cereal. Boy to sorcerer: What sort of breakfast cereal? Sorcerer: Twigs and berries.
,,, ' ... in a fully realized & complex way etx ... thnx n kudos to IDG,, The LANGUAGE!?! " -> pure bliss fo' neuroDiv me ... greetings from berlin .,.
Maybe Bran talking with Varys in Astral-projection time travel? Maybe there are no gods in this universe, only elemental magic? Or, It's only a lie. Maybe Varys never hear a voice.
Given how good Varys is at playing different roles, I do not believe that him noticeably changing his voice is something like an „involuntary artifact“ of a prepared story. Either he did believe his story was true, and the change happened due to his emotional state, or he was simply faking that as a signal „now I am telling the truth, please believe me“. Which brings us not one bit further to the truth. And I doubt we will ever know what George really intended.
One of the best and creepiest mysteries that always stays in my mind… By the way Robert, I've just started reading the "Memory Sorrow and Thorn" books by Tad Williamson, which Martin says were a great influence on him. There are many many things in the first book which are clear bases for Martin's setting and premise, some even seem to hint at things to come or the ancient past of Westeros. Have you thought of looking into MSTh and unpacking these concurrences?
Great points being made from 9:45 The ASOIAF world is more realistic BECAUSE we're not given all the answers. There will be plotlines left to be interpreted by the reader. And every reader will have a different perspective. On that point, if GRRM doesn't finish the books then that's OK. It means we're left wondering and guessing about the futures of these characters, same as we might do in real life for our loved ones.
I believe that's why the song of ice and fire became an unfinishable project. George has simple too many loose ends to tie up. He simply could not burn and eunuch's manly parts in peace. He had to come up with a mystery for that as well.
Kinvara asked if Varys wanted to know what the voice said in the flames, she was actually just fishing for an answer herself because nobody actually knows
This is a revised and updated version of a video first uploaded in July 2018
Where are the Images of the sorcerer(6:04) and Young Varys(4:31) sourced From? Are they the artists in the description? I ask because they look like official video captures, and If they are, I've missed a show.
What mic do you use Robert?! I can't get over the sound quality of your voice!
shame it couldn't be re-rendered in 1080 or better
@diox8tony A.I. artwork no doubt.
@@mrsnulchhe just has an incredible voice for speaking, and especially storytelling... He enunciates well and is also articulate.. this is, of course, my personal opinion.. but that doesn't make it any less true!
He heard the actual Winds of Winter release date.
Alternate universe, then?
😂😂😂
:D :D
I’m so god damn mad at this point all I can do is give u a like.
So all he heard was static?
Bloodraven is the answer to every mystery. Who was the sorcerer speaking to? Bloodraven. Who is Jaquen Hagar? Bloodraven. Why do I keep eating cheese even though it doesn't always agree with me? Bloodraven
Who sent the catspaw assassin? Bloodraven...
(Actually, I wouldn't put it past him.)
Yes. But who sent Bloodraven?
Ans: I’m not saying it was aliens…
@@PermanentExile is shierra sea star an alien
Still got 998 answered to match is remaining eyes🤷🏼♂️🤓😎✌🏼
@@PermanentExileI dunno 🤷🏼♂️ Maybe it was Haviland Tuff or the ones who created the Wild Card Virus 🦠? 🤓😎✌🏼
The Unsullied mention to Dany that their God, 'The Mother of Hosts' speaks only to them ever since their manhood was sacrified to the fire...
Great point. I often wonder if Varys is actually an unsullied soldier selected to work to manipulate the kingdoms for someone's benefit.
I completely forgot about this
Brilliant observation.
@Walk_on_Part_In_a_War Unsullied do get chubby if not bought in large numbers...
Huuuuh. Now there's something to consider.
The voice: « Your call is important to us, please hold for the next available…. »
the voice wanted to talk to him about his car warranty?
@@tooslow4065 That was the exact joke I wanted to make, but it seems you got here before me, so here's a like instead.
press 1 for valyrian
9:17 “…simply some kind of long distance communication”
In Braavos roaming charges cost an arm and a leg, but in Myr…
OUCH!!!
Man, long-distance prices in the day were really out of hand.
They had you by the balls
The voice told him about how they botched the ending of Season 8
"And since that day I have hated magic"
😭😭😭😭😭😭
"And since that day I have hated screenwriters."
😂😂😂
🤣
i think you mean the last 4 seasons
You’re what David Attenborough is to nature documentaries to the world of A song of Ice and Fire . Loving these updated videos.
Interestingly, GRRM implied in an interview a few years ago that the flames may not have actually spoken. Time and memory have colored things, so spake Martin.
However, I don’t take this to mean that Varys did not hear a voice. Only that trauma and time have made him misremember where it came from. Rather than the flames, I think George is hinting that there was someone else in the room…
If we don’t know who the wizard is, then we certainly can’t guess at who this potential other person is. But the presence of a second, particularly one responding to the ritual, may change the context of the event. Rather than it not mattering who Varys is, maybe it matter a great deal, and he was castrated to ensure the end of his line. Maybe he is a Blackfyre after all?
Interesting observation. Maybe he was after all focussed on seeing his body part burn and didn't properly register who spoke, after all. But yeah too little to build on. It could've been anyone.
Keep in mind that just because it didn’t come from the fire, doesn’t mean it wasn’t “magical” per se.
If the sacrifice was made to summon an entity, that could be what was speaking and answer who the “other” person in the room was.
@@wizardvrse7338 oh I’m sure it was magical. My only idea here is that maybe he was in such a state that he didn’t realize someone had walked into the room, or he has simply forgotten this third-party.
you beat me to it
I wish the video had mentioned… In the show, the Red Priestess asks Varys if he wants to know who the voice was and what it said. D&D then drop it like a hot plate. Was this a “show only” thing, or were D&D glossing over something GRRM told them?
Yes! I was thinking this as I was watching the video. Such a mystery! Love it!
i think the point of that was simply to show how uncanny the red priests are, Melissandre also knows about "you know nothing John Snow" even though she never met Ygritte, John didn't tell her and John prob never told anyone else.
Pretty sure that was show only but it’s been several years since I’ve read the books
"If all events and people and character's past were related". I think the writers of Star Wars should take note of this.
Definitely. New Star Wars feels so small
C3PO is the Forrest Gump of Star Wars.
I immediately thought of Star Wars as well. It feels like that universe has about 5 planets and a few dozen people, mostly related to each other.
BINGO
In Star War's defence, that story in NOT about the whole galaxy, but the struggle between Light and Dark side of force, plus, most of Star Wars is set in the Skywalker Saga, hence why everything is so connected.
And against it, there's Lando appearing in fucking Star Wars Rebels and ehhhhh
"What did Varys hear in the flames?"
It was a whisper: "The... final two books... will never... get finished".
"What did Varys hear in the flames, and why was it Bloodraven?"
I can just hear Rumpelstiltskin "All magic comes at a price, dearie!"
Robert Carlyle did an amazing job with that part! He really made the character come to life. And I loved the costumes he wore! 😍 An all-around great character, one of my all time favorites. ❤
@@mjean6762 He was, by far, my favorite character and actor in that entire show.
Yessssss we love a Rumple moment
This is tempting to think that he's secretly a distant Targaryen or Blackfyre bastard and was bought because of his hair, making him shave it afterwards, and that blue flames represent the great other, and it's possible I guess, but as you said nor everything will (nor should) be connected to one another. But some things will be. So I guess wait n see on that. Well, that is if we ever have the final books
“What did Varys hear in the flames? We don’t know “
Glad I watched the video
And I'm glad I read your comment. xD
lmao
The whole thing had a Lovecraftian vibe as far as I can tell. So I'm thinking either 'The Great Other', 'The Drowned God' or some other eldritch horror.
I think the point of the scene is to plant the seed that these horrors are real is this universe and one could be serving them unwittingly while believing to server a benevolent power as Stanis seems to be.
R'hlor isn't something I would call "benevolent" considering all the burning of people.
@@inthefade Yes, but despite that Melesandre still believes that he is, is the point.
I was thinking Euron Greyjoy. Don't know if the age and timing works out, how old actually is Varys?
@@toggerz7487 You think Euron was the voice or the sorcerer?
Important thing to note, regarding Varys being a Blackfyre, I recently learned that eunuchs don't go bald - so George is probably trying to subtly draw our attention to the fact that Varys' head is something he purposely shaves. Has he something to hide? If we get to a situation where Varys is unable to shave his head, (if he is imprisoned for example) might we see something he doesn't want us to?
Hair in the books were the first thing people in power woud notice if they want to figure your heritage...then your eyes, body shape and so on...but Hair is the first on the check list. That would explain why Varys shave his head, always is wearing long clothes and almost never look powerful people directly in the eyes alegating that do not want to disrespect looking directly. Varys know how the game for power works...and do not intend to draw too much attention.
Varys uses a lot of disguises. Wouldn't being bald create the largest change when wearing a wig and allow for ease of use? I don't think he's as fat as we are lead to believe too. We've probably seen him in a lot more scenes than we realize.
@@stuartingram8492 Varys also uses glamours. I wouldnt be surprised if what were told is his normal appearance is actually a disguise.
That's not actually true of all types of baldness Varys looks like his got Alopecia Universes, male pattern baldness, the type of baldness that you won't get without growth hormone, testosterone from your balls, it's usually just up top not weird like alopecia, I copped it bad once, my hair has grown back now but once my hair fell out in weird places, I eventually shaved my head just to make it less obvious, it's looks strange, It has something to do with the immune system apparently, although they really don't know what causes it, good eye though, I doubt they even thought about the baldness, I can't recall how Varys looks in the books, maybe the series producers liked the way his bald head looked, maybe the actors got alopecia in real life, does he have eyebrows? I heard that the eunuchs are more often than not, overweight, I guess they would use food as a coping method, a sex drive is a pretty important aspect in a males life, Growth hormone is essential for a males muscles development, what was he thinking when he came up with the eunuchs warriors, man with higher testosterone tend to be aggressively suited to become the type of cannon fodder suited to war LOL, surely there's a way to stop them raping everything and being discussing sick fucks, Just because power corrupt testosterone fueled guys are often up for some rape after a good blood bath, doesn't mean you have to employ nothing but eunuchs, I know I'd never rape any women, I never had that overbearing mother figure nor a father figure that I was in competition with for my mothers affection, I guess that's why I'm not into porn where women get choked and annul penertration, It's pretty disgusting to me, but I must be rare in this world because porn is almost completely unbearable, I'm not sure why but I can guess that racist white men are turned on by woman that are shamed and violated by African men / black guys, often more than one at a time, personally if I am imagining that I'm there doing it with the woman I find it breaks the fantasy as my own dick isn't as tanned, and the unavoidable issue with porn is the fact that those meathead guys have no consideration or desire for the female form, or sex drive, I think they are into power so much that they need to humiliate dominate the woman to reach sexual gratification, so what do I see in porn? Guys jerking themselves off! What's the fucking point watching that, these guys can't blow, so many of them pretend to blow and it defeats the purpose of watching it, I may as well use my imagination and forget porn. Jesus how did I end up talking about this?
@williamhermann6635 i dont think he does actually. What part of the text makes you think he is useing a glamour?
"Dany kinda forgot about the iron fleet but they certainly haven't forgotten about her"
"We are trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty."
"Try RUclips Premium for free for one whole month!"
"There is a critical recall on your car's ___________ and it needs serviced immediately or you will die."
It said "Shave your head if you're going bald, it looks better"
"Ba da pa pa pa .. I'm lovin' it"
-The voice in the flames
His voice changes because he's traumatised. On some level he's gone back there - when he was that terrified boy
Or maybe thats what he wants Tyrion to think? Either way, I do think Varys would be conscious of his tone of voice
My read is that his voice changes because he's being sincere and genuine, and his voice is different in every other time because he's constantly playing a part
@@friedkeenanInteresting - are you saying that his characters, i.e the gaoler who meets Ned, have a fully different accent and tone - a different voice - because he's acting *then*. But that when his voice changes in the middle of normal speech, when he is himself - that's genuine? I do like to think it isn't more complicated than that. The human heart in conflict with itself being the most important thing for George
@@Slechy_Lesh What I mean is that I think that when Varys tells Tyrion about his castration, his voice becomes different because he is slipping out of any character and is being genuinely himself. At all other times, he plays characters that range in how close they are to who he genuinely is, but none quite reaching the sincerity of who he was when telling the story of his castration. It could of course be that Varys plays a character even then, too, but like you say I feel like GRRM wouldn't leave something like that on the table, though of course he wants us to question it just like Tyrion feels he must. That distrust of another's seeming sincerity also very much feels up GRRM's alley.
Strangely, blue flames are actually hotter than red/orange/yellow flames.
If u burn a fridge u get green flames.
That's not strange. It's common knowledge
That massively depends on the fuel.
What you maybe mean is "the blue part of a flame is hotter than the red part".
Just colouring a flame blue by adding something that burns blue doesn't do a lot to the flames temperature.
@@leichtmeister Thank you! For context everyone, hand sanitizer burns blue, and you can hold it in your hand as it burns.
Ackshually, this is not true. This would be true of the color of flames is purely determined by blackbody radiation, but in reality, the color can also be due to photon emission based on the energy levels between the electron shells.
omg omg omg this is my favorite mystery in the entire series!!!! thank you soooo much 🥹🤧🤧
My interpretation of "A song of ice and fire" before ever reading the books was, that the fire may melt the ice, but it will turn to water and out out the flames. What's the middle ground between ice and fire? Water. The Ironborn, and their Drowned God.
Its really quite synchronistic that I just watched Game of Thrones all the way through in the last month and you are making so many videos about it too at the same time.
Its been a long time since I read the books and watched the show but didn't Varys have the sorcerer locked up in a box when he told Tyrion this, so Varys must have got the info from the sorcerer? So he must reveal this in the books when or if they ever get released.
The show and the books may, and probably will, end up very different from each other.
Plus, even in the show I don't think it's ever outright said the dude in the box is THE sorcerer. Big V may just be taking out some other practitioner, and not THE guy.
@@abrahamroloff8671 I hope the book ends differently, the show did not end well😃. I had forgotten about the sorcerer a long time ago but now I need to know what happened.😁
Bran has been "get out"ed by the 3er.
Earlier today I was in the grocery store and I pulled a vine ripened tomato off of its vine.
I thought "root and stem..." and my mind drifted to... "what did Varys hear?"
I came home to this video. Spooky.
Do you often think about mutilated genetalia when you're out shopping?
@@syndrome5372 Doesn't everyone?
"the pillar and the stones"
GRRM loves his phallic idioms
Grill the tomatos and look into the fire
Varys “did not understand”.
But he remembered the words. And eventually of course he would have translated them. So now he does understand what was said, and it is important for Varys’ character and development.
You’re right, that’s totally a Varys thing to say. A truth that tells a lie.
Does seem likely that even if he didn't understand the words at the time he would eventually, as Master of Information, have them translated.
This could be piecemeal word for word, or possibly tell someone in full, have them translate it, then kill them outright to keep the secret safe. Either way, no one else but Varys would know.
And at least in the books Varys supposedly never meets up again with this sorcerer so perhaps it was he who translated it. It is so difficult to get dead people to answer the phone sometimes.
In some cases i actually prefer the ambiguity , as it adds to the mystery & intrigue imo. Also makes the universe and arcana feel that much bigger and aspects ineffable. When you have all the answers and a total grasp on all the questions and mysteries to me it makes the universe feel much smaller and tangible. There are certain reveals of course we want and need but others almost best left to speculation , as it drives imagination and future debate. Certain reveals can actually be underwhelming compared to theories and speculation. To me has to be the right balance of necessary reveals along with mysteries / unexplained and imo GRRM strikes that balance very well. The mysteries and ambiguous elements add to the vastness and intrigue.
Per Varys' sorcerer incident , as the vid says it seems to be mostly how it affected and drove Varys from that moment forward more than anything else. As is the case with many other in-universe magical and / or prophetically related events / concepts. Lets say even Varys potentially not fully understanding what happened to him (let alone the reader) could add to the impact even more. And why the sorcerer selected V many of us think he is likely of Valyrian blood , quite likely a Blackfyre even , so that magical and also royal blood could be the reason he was coveted. As the Blackfyres are essentially Targs / with Targ blood , just an illegitimate line originated via two very legitimate & royal Targs.
I like that line of thinking. Not knowing may just be part of the fun, as a magician would tell you perhaps.
If it's got something to do with the whites I'd like to know, otherwise I am okay not knowing. I just keep wanting to see more of the Others
@@divyanshu.26 in this case i'd personally rather keep it mysterious. To me just does not seem directly tied into the biggest magical goings on most influential to the main plot . Its a vast universe with all sorts of different magic , so would be interesting if this is beyond the magic we've already encountered in the narrative. Just shows the vastness and scale of mystery at play in this universe.
@@divyanshu.26 i even think about the Aegon I prophecy reveal , its nice to know of course. But does that reveal really making the Targs more interesting , dynamic or complex ? It actually somewhat turns them into white-knights and justifies the Conquest. I personally enjoyed the speculation in terms of what drove Aegon , was the Conquest fully justified or not ? etc.
Overall GRRM tends to strike the balance of reveals and mysteries quite well. So i'd rather he hold back in certain cases than over-reveal. Even if any of the Lannister siblings are Targs or not (Jaime , Cersei and Tyrion) ; to me its more fun to look for clues in either direction (which of course GRRM gives clues to multiple possibilities) and speculate about it. Rather than simply given a direct answer on that. Ntm not sure there is a definitive in-universe vehicle for clarity regarding a concept like that anyway.
Bloodraven speaking via great grand nephew's smoldering junk
Cant believe no one ever thinks it could be something to do with the great other/ white walkers. Blue flames
I wholeheartedly agree. I think it’s just a mystery that explains some of Varys’ character and motivations. And I also think that his voice changes because he was telling the truth.
A scene in episode 5, season 6 merits, Varys - not lying. A red sorceress recounts his exact story, in the throne room of the great pyramid. As I haven't read the books, I don't know if this was a series adaptation or not, but it certainly ties into this video.
Her : i'm sure he is thinking about another woman.
Me : What did Varys hear in the flames?
...Maybe the "sorcerer" was a younger Marwyn the Mage using knowledge acquired in Ashai (on his way back, perhaps). Marwyn joins Dany. Varys is with (F)Aegon. At a tense and crucial moment of negotiations between the two camps, Varys spots and recognizes him and loses it. In a rage he loses control and undermines everything he's worked for while Tyrion looks on laughing. Doubtful maybe, but it would be fun.
I think that if it's anyone we know about already, it's 100% Marwyn. I'd still say it's more likely not anyone specially important.
i think the wizard was talking to Marwyn in Assai 🤷🏿♀🤷🏿♀
I hadn’t thought that Varys made it up. I believe it’s true and agree that it’s more important in the story how Varys reacted than what really happened. I didn’t realize this was Varys convincing Tyrion that he was personally against Stannis due to his use of magic.
my theory is that the sorcerer actually was doing something that to us would have seemed very minor, the idea that the magic that turned varys into who he was was actually a rather mundane and minor affair.
Yeah, dude was getting lottery numbers
"But to me, it was Tuesday."
That's entirely possible, and it would be an even bigger reason for Varys to hate magic
The videos on friday make me very happy!
I wonder if Pyat Pree might be the sorcerer, or somehow related. After dany burns down the house of the undying, Pyat is found gibbering in some unknown tongue.
(...and jumping from foot to foot. ... maybe a little like Patchface? hrm)
tin foil. but maybe Pyat was a lesser solo sorcerer in traveling through Lys to find kings blood, and his mutilation of Varys connected him with his future serving the house of the undying in Qarth. Maybe he meant to do similar things with dany (using kings blood for magic), but was thwarted.
plus, he pulls a knife when he comes at Dany. - what kind of knife? maybe it was hooked?
omfg dude! this is solid! i like it
Three IDG videos in a week? Sign me up! (Although, I know the cat's paw was "payback" for last week.)
I figured the change in his voice signified that he was using his real voice.
That was always my first understanding... That we were seeing/hearing him be completely candid and vulnerable for the first, perhaps only, time.
I love the frozen fire/dragon glass myth
What struck me as interesting is the timing on this. I wonder if the ritual is what woke the night king back up and stared the process of the long night.
Granted we never know for sure what George is planning, but I don't understand how this would make sense ? Like why would a sacrifice with fire magic "activate" some ice magic ?
ok now you're freaking me out. what if Varys is a survived "ice baby"????🤔🤔🤔🤔
@@guillaumeesce8113 For perhaps the same reason as say dragon glass would kill white walkers?
@@Raye938 nah that seems like such a minor and tertiary detail to be the literal inciting action of the entire story. Its never even brought up again at any point.
@@OfficialChrissums So far.
This channel endures past the facile fandom, to remind us of the genius of Martin's world building.
Oh, yes, gotta love Martin's colonialist style of world building. lol
@@esmepryde6490 I hear Wakanda will make an appearance in the next installment. Hug that plush toy tight, lady, and wish upon a star.
@@esmepryde6490 And yet you're here on a video about his stories? lmao
@@gloameyedprince And yet YOU are here on a video about his stories? Are you talking to yourself? And then laughing at how you imagined you slam-dunked on your comment? Get your head right, silly.
@@Cletus_the_Elder why not? hes "borrowed' from everywhere else
I think it may have been some of the most genuine dialogue we’ve had from him. But like everyone, I’m left guessing as to whether that’s true or not.
Pretty horrifying when you're getting your stuff cut off and it's not even the worst part of your day.
GRRM did say in an interview not to take Varys's story about hearing a voice too literally as it happened a long time ago and Varys might be misremembering things. As too why Varys was castrated, they say there is power in kings’ blood and according to Crusader Chris, Varys might be one of the few remaining Blackfyre's if Illyrio Mopatis's wife Serra was Varys's sister or related somehow. Varys could have been castrated by someone (possibly a certain rogue maester with his own agenda) determined to end the threat posed by the Blackfyre's once and for all. Though why Varys's wasn't just killed outright if he was such a threat remains a mystery.
Is English your first language?
@@Richard_Nickerson Sorry about my typos, I fixed them.
This. GRRM is way more concerned with how we told stories of magic in our own history than actual magic in the traditional fantasy sense.
@@Richard_NickersonThat was quite rude.
@@Knight860I don't think an apology was necessary. That was a rude and inappropriate question.
Vary's manhood = glass candle
= Hot Pie = bowls of brown
Oh Ho THAT IS A SHINY shiny bit of tinfoil! Nice!!
Gets further in that it supposedly takes blood, king's blood, to activate a glass candle. Sounds like an erection to me.
Another weird thing is that maesters are left with a glass candle overnight with a task of getting it to ignite by morning. All maesters are male and as such would probably not think of the candle in a phallic manner or be able to do anything with it.
However there is one at the citadel who might be able to: Alleras/Sarella, aka the Sphinx. She is not only a female passed puberty, but also a descendant of Dorne nobility. Conceivably if given a dark room alone with a phallic object she might use it in this way. She's not had touch of anyone in a while at the citadel, is in the right age bracket for hormones to be racing, and if the moon is right this may all fit together like a hand in glove, or at least something in something else. You know.
This is scenario is something GRRM seems to have hinted at many times, but other than being a weird bit of "oh that's what all that meant" I'm not sure what he will do with it beyond that. Maybe it will come down to Sam needing to use a candle to contact someone and failing repeatedly. She then asks him what he knows about how it is to be activated, gets an inspiration and ushers him out of the room.
'The Sphinx is the riddle, not the riddler'. In this case, the Sphinx would be the solution, not the question.
This is one of my favourite mysteries in asoiaf. I think/hope its introducing us to something we don’t know yet.
Voice in the flames: We've been trying to reach you about your chariot's extended warranty!
People tend to see faces and shapes in clouds and burnt toast. Mishear song lyrics. It is possible that Varys' drugged and terrified mind thought random fire sounds (crackling, hissing) sounded like foreign speach just to make sense of the situation. Maybe a rouge sorcerer wanted a vision in the flames, but it doesn't mean he was important or that it was linked to the overall story. Not every nut job is part of a larger conspiracy. Bad people do bad things without a greater plan to it. The most important takes from that story are how this shaped Varys, his beliefs and attitude, and also why Varys was chosen in the first place and why he was worth a lot of money.
I love your vids so much I’ll give you airtime on a rewatch 😘
Just Subscribed and already addicted to your Voice. Bravo & Thank You!!
Maybe it was firelord Ozai?
Azula, surely
Lol, I luv this.
I have always had the feeling that situation was tied in with the white walkers and that was what woke them up
After his conversation with Kinvara, I think he heard Daenerys saying Dracarys
Robert, I would love to see you collaborate with Michael talks about things. I’ve recently become acquainted with his catalog and I think his theories are well founded and excellent
I wouldn't be surprised if GRRM himself doesn't even know.
Awesome video as always!
He heard the sound of Dan and Dave laughing maniacally.
It also made him suspicious of in particular! We shouldn't forget that.
I also wonder will we ever know who is the new Asor Ahai is, or the answer of all the other prophecies. It looks like many of them are happening as told - like the "girl with the serpents in her hair", but also are made to be very ambiguous and different characters interpret them differently. As Melisandre tried to explain, the pictures she sees in the flames are real visions, but their meaning is never clear, as it depends how well you understood/interpreted them. This is a side of the magic and prophesies I really enjoy, as is really close to real life prophesies - like the Delphi Oracle telling the king "A big empire will fall" and him interpreting it as he will win the war, but it was his empire that ended up falling. I have the feeling that many of the prophecies and magic will never be fully explain, but as you said - there is no need for it. The interesting thing is how those things affect peoples lives.
❤ Varys
I love telling people that. that the prophecies or what happens isn't necessarily the most important part, what matters more is how those events shape the characters that DO survive
Sorcerer: "When will Winds of Winter be released"
Blue Flame: "More sausage".
Beautiful video!!!
If Varys had been lying, he wouldn't have immediately given Tyrion a reason to doubt it, as his tale is insane enough to be doubted on its merits alone.
7:48 Dany's vision might refer to some sigils of the great houses:
-crimson firelions is Lannisters,
-yellow serpents is Martell from Dorne,
-unicorn was sigil of some of the lesser houses (Brax of Hornvale + Doggett + Rogers but they're nobodies rly), dunno about the blue flame.
-Fish is Tully sigil,
-foxes is Florent sigil (who were momentarily with Stannis and Renly too if i remember right, one of the Storm bannermen anyway),
-wolves are Starks.
-Flowering tree might refer to Tyrell's bannermen (Appleton or Rowan) or they are just what they are, trees and birds
-The grey horse is NOT probably: Dany's wedding gift because that one was a mare. Rhaego the unborn baby was named as a "stallion" in prophecy but died in womb thanks to black magic.
Bracken nobles from Riverlands (nobodies) have the only stallion banner but it's red.
*In the books, a great flaming comet flew through sky. This put many things in motion as several people saw it and thought it as a sign for different things.
Rhllor's believers also talk about a comet signaling the coming of a herald of Rhllor or smth. Personally I believe that Rhllor has his "hands" in lot of the events set in motion.
Rhllor is also described to have a dark counterpart (god?) which is shunned by fire worshippers.
*Important notion is that Dany was born in island of Dragonstone. Melisandra just mistook this herald for Stannis as she had vision about Dragonstone and a comet, don't remember but it's in the 2nd or 3rd book. Thus I end my essay that no one asked for
I can't read fiction, just the way it's structured, gives me a migraine, but listening to You, I'm a child fascinated by stories once more. Truly Thank You for bringing this story to me. You can't imagine how much I enjoy your work!!
No answer is much scarier than any real answer.
"It spoke in a language that Varys did not understand..."
- This is our last attempt to reach you about your cars extended warranty.
Varys: "... and since that day, I have hated magic..."
The Voice: "I saved a bunch of money by switching to GEICO"
Varys: And thus my hatred for magic was born
Im kinda on team parlor tricks on this one. He was a young child, and a drugged one at that. We dont know that he actually heard anything, and we dont know that the spell actually worked (surely if it had, the sorcerer would want to keep Varys around to sacrifice other bits of him for other spells? He'd already paid a lot for Varys, it seems it'd be a waste to just throw away a potent and expensive magical ingredient) Its possible Varys was chosen because he had some secret kingly heritage, but its just as possible that the sorcerer just mistakenly believed he did. Given that fire magic didnt really work very well at the time, I really think the most likely explanation is that either the spell didnt work, or that Varys simply made the whole thing up.
The show runners totally dropped the ball with Varys as a character in the last couple of seasons. Plus he never got to tell Tyrion that rest of this fookin story
I think royal blood being special is just a misunderstanding of ancient blood magic. Likely relating to Valyrians. E.g. everyone with "Royal blood" that we've seen had their blood used can trace their lineage back to old Valyria in some sense. The Children of the Forrest do something similar but with the blood of the first men.
It's where my mind goes when I'm trying to explain the relevance of the dragons bringing magic back. Since Fire and Blood/World of Ice and Fire we've been speculating that there's some genetic experiment angle to old Valyria. But where would the comet fit into all of this? Is it even real? An illusion by Quaith? Tyrek Lannister? That would be an interesting video.
11:56 I mean, yeah of course you’re right here. But damn is that a pretty significant seen with big implications for a big unknown factor in the world to be just hand waved away as “ah it’s just backstory for this character and influenced why he acts like he does now, don’t look into it further.” 😅
The blue flame was actually R.R. Martin talking to his book characters. He needed to check in so he could see if it was fine if he didn't actually finish the books
Probably no larger significance on the story than being the kickstart for Varys' charachter and possibly a hint for him being a Blackfyre. The blue flames just hinting at this being something more than a mere trick.
There's always the possibility that George himself doesn't know the answer.
He heard a slight whisper from Frank Reynolds saying "just throw me in the trash"
Maester, peasant, Lorde or King we will never know what he was thinking at the end.
This becoming a meta commentary on theories and loose plot threads from the theory and loose plot threads guy blew me
I've always felt like Varys is a secret Targaryen, and I think he knows it. It would explain his plots to help Young Griff, as well as Daenerys and Viserys through Illyrio in the first book.
I'll read the books when they're all finished - I couldn't bare the thought of the only extant ending being the TV adaptation!
Consider it as a high budget fanfic. Then read the books and imagine your own ending. If we get more books that is great but I have a feeling, even if grrm finishes ADOS, he won't answer every question or resolve every storyline.
We are gonna be left with a ton of unanswered questions either way. Therefore, I do hope you try them out! Take your time and enjoy them; you never know, perhaps TWOW will be out by the time you finish them!😊
I am a hopeful fan and I still have faith in winds of winter but there is absolutely no chance that the whole series will ever be finished even if grrm lived to 200
You’ll never read the books then 😂
They'll never be finished and book 5 is right of the rails anyway. Almost as much nonsense as the last series of the show.
Unfortunately at this rate I don't think he will ever finish the series. He's 75 years old
"blood for the blood god, Skulls for the skull throne"
corn! corn!
what did vary hear in the flames? “gotta give that hawk tuah”
as it is stated in the video, probably the important part in the plot is why Varys was specifically chosen and paid at a high price. King blood is required for powerful magic. I believe this story is there to point out to the Faegon plot, Varys himself being a Blackfyre and Faegon being his nephew.
My guess would be some sort of spell to communicate with the unalive, given the "offering" perhaps symbolizing some sort of rebirth or something, then the blue flame tied to all the wight magic
Sorcerer to boy: Come here, young man. I need your help to invent a new breakfast cereal.
Boy to sorcerer: What sort of breakfast cereal?
Sorcerer: Twigs and berries.
,,, ' ... in a fully realized & complex way etx ... thnx n kudos to IDG,, The LANGUAGE!?! " -> pure bliss fo' neuroDiv me ... greetings from berlin .,.
The voice said "Never mind winter... Season 8 is coming!"
Maybe Bran talking with Varys in Astral-projection time travel? Maybe there are no gods in this universe, only elemental magic?
Or, It's only a lie. Maybe Varys never hear a voice.
Given how good Varys is at playing different roles, I do not believe that him noticeably changing his voice is something like an „involuntary artifact“ of a prepared story. Either he did believe his story was true, and the change happened due to his emotional state, or he was simply faking that as a signal „now I am telling the truth, please believe me“. Which brings us not one bit further to the truth. And I doubt we will ever know what George really intended.
One of the best and creepiest mysteries that always stays in my mind…
By the way Robert, I've just started reading the "Memory Sorrow and Thorn" books by Tad Williamson, which Martin says were a great influence on him. There are many many things in the first book which are clear bases for Martin's setting and premise, some even seem to hint at things to come or the ancient past of Westeros. Have you thought of looking into MSTh and unpacking these concurrences?
Great points being made from 9:45
The ASOIAF world is more realistic BECAUSE we're not given all the answers. There will be plotlines left to be interpreted by the reader. And every reader will have a different perspective.
On that point, if GRRM doesn't finish the books then that's OK. It means we're left wondering and guessing about the futures of these characters, same as we might do in real life for our loved ones.
I believe that's why the song of ice and fire became an unfinishable project. George has simple too many loose ends to tie up. He simply could not burn and eunuch's manly parts in peace. He had to come up with a mystery for that as well.
You’re a real deep thinker
Kinvara asked if Varys wanted to know what the voice said in the flames, she was actually just fishing for an answer herself because nobody actually knows