Robert, why did Gemma stop making content and delete her channel? The two of you are the cornerstones of this community. She had a lot of great videos....
@@thing_under_the_stairs these theories are mostly goofy but also part of why I love ASOIAF, its so open-ended and interconnected, like a web, that people just can imagine their own version of things
@@Ar1AnX1x That's the part I like the least. The lack of definition. The fact that everyone can have their own story. It's not a video game. We should all imagine something somewhat similar, or else what kind of story telling is that? I mean, does the author not want us to know HIS story? I just feel like open ended is somehow narrative cowardice, unwilling to say anything concrete or give anything definition.
@@kennyhudson9201 it's not that open-ended that its just whatever you want it to be, there's definitely things there for you to pay attention to that there's a certain point to, by 'open-ended' I don't mean lazy writing, I mean left up to interpretation which is basically how some of the best art is like you actually have it backwards, writing a scenario which can mean different things to different people is so much harder to do than telling your audience what to think
I love how all of the various ridiculous theories about "Who Old Nan really is!!!1!" would be exactly the kind of fantastic stories that Old Nan herself would love to tell. A long lost relative or a magical creature, disguising herself as an old woman, so she can share a prophecy to a later generation is just the sort of tale she would weave, along with a wink to really send a chill down the spine of a child.
I’ve been listening to you for 6 years now. Your knowledge, vocabulary, and natural way of speaking is unmatched among all RUclipsrs. I deeply appreciate your work and I can safely say as someone that has read all the books you’ve helped me thoroughly understand them.
well said. I fear George will not finish the books. Years ago I thought that I read (or maybe just wished it?) that a team of writers were assisting him in hopes of a completed series. Either way, Robert belongs the team dedicated to finishing the last 2.
If Hodor is indeed a Descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall, then that means he possibly has three living relatives by the time of the first book. Old Nan of course, but also Lord Selwyn Tarth (Maybe) and his daughter Brienne. In A Feast For Crows, Brienne mentions a shield hanging in the Armoury of her Family's hall, Evenfall hall, which matches Duncan's shield as described in The Hedge Knight. GRRM confirmed Brienne is descended from Duncan, so either her Mother or Father is a descendant.
If Old Nan is around 100 years old, Duncan would have been less than 10 years old when she was born. This tracks, considering that Walder Frey is a toddler when Duncan was in his late teens. I don't think Nan is a relative of his.
Iirc lord selwyn is theorized to be a bastard sired from a targaryen princess and Sir Duncan. She was sent away to Evenfall and wed the old lord of Tarth before she gave birth.
i appreciate how you bring in the narrative function of characters and events when the fandom gets bogged down in theories and speculation. you've reminded me how i thought of old nan when first watching the show and reading the books. a humble yet remarkable glimpse into the magic that lies hidden in westeros, and a charming example of the ancient oral tradition
Old Nan occupies an interesting and important narrative role. For one as an expository vehicle for GRRM adding to in-universe history , lore and mythos etc. And of course to impact characters she tells her stories to and the reader. Her tales of varying degrees of truth are quite eye-opening that there is seemingly much more going on beneath the surface (especially magically) in this universe from the first book. Many of her stories do have a lesson and some also tease future elements in the narrative , some have and will play on or echo her tales. Also , clearly a perspective of a very old Northern person. Ntm , an archetype imo , a sort of blend of the old wise woman and a less magical seemingly benign version of a crone. And as the vid mentions an embodiment of the North remembering and of the ancient oral traditions. Her stories have impacted and will live on via the Stark children and the likely the many many others she has told her tales. She is both a literal and figurative throwback. Do look forward to likely reading about Nan in her younger days in D&E and any part she plays in "She-Wolves" ; which itself will be an interesting insight into a fascinating and contentious period of Stark history.
This is why Tyrion's spiel about Bran and stories in the show's final episode resonates with me more when I take the books into account than when I think of the show. Stories like Old Nan's (and others, in the books) should indeed bind people together now that dark winds are rising again, not gold, armies, or sigils. Problem for the show is that we don't get many of those stories, but Tyrion's speech applies very well to the books.
To me, Old Nan is the beginning of the poem, and Brandon becoming the King, because "we need a King to tell the stories" was the end of the poem. I think this little line in that final episode on the TV show was shared by GRRM with the showrunners to have that little motif come to an end. It starts and ends with a storyteller... perhaps GRRM is emodied as Old Nan and Brandon in the books, as our storyteller.
I'm a huge fan of the theory that Old Nan is a Child of the Forest. "Michael Talks About Stuff" did a fantastic video a few months ago that at first sounds really far-fetched, but after watching that I'm kinda rooting for it to be true. It would explain her unusually long-life. And if Blood Raven is potentially more in the dark than we think, it would make sense to have someone in Winterfell who could keep an eye on the Starks in the hopes of finding a powerful Brandon and (eventually) leading him to Blood Raven. Very tin-foily, but I'm here for it! Makes it very fun to go back through the books and look for connections.
Some humans just live longer than average lives, it doesn't have to be explained beyond that. Walder Frey's around the same age and she's certainly no Child of the Forest. Beyond that she simply shares what is in actuality really common folk tales and stories in the North and much of Westeros.
While she has certainly lived a long time, especially in the context of life expectancies in Westeros, it isnMt supernaturally long. She’s around the same age as Maester Aemon.
“Bless your heart;” I can’t believe that you keep the ASOIAF content going. It’s alway fantastic, though. Much love to you and yours. You keep the story alive for us all.
She is there to give the reader a quick introduction of the tone of this world. She is also well woven into the 'color' of the backstories of the culture of the north. She adds mystery without explanation. She is a survivor of the long night (or a few?) who has seen many things that youth can not accept or will not understand. She ties the present to the past so we the reader begin to know the north.
I’m right there with ya buddy! Me and some friends got trashed last night and I ended up eating way too much Taco Bell and Wendy’s. And now this morning, there’s no hangover so I’m not paying for the booze but I am paying for the fast food lmao
While I see the appeal of imagining Old Nan as some magical, long-lived protagonist, I think the converse is equally impactful ... that she was just a wet nurse that loved stories and simply happened to outlive everyone and so became something mysterious and archetypal and will, after the time of the books, become somewhat mythologised herself in the shared memories of the Starks and others ... perhaps eventually becoming a character in a story all her own.
Old Nan rocks! She's one of the best characters in ASOIAF. Despite her embellishments, her stories are always true. GRRM plays with prophets and prophecies. Many people are following false prophets such as Melisandra. The true prophets are Maggy the Frog, the Hedge Witch of Bald Hill, and Old Nan.
Nan is a character that embodies the reason why reality becomes just stories, then legends,, then myths. She is the bridge between reality and fiction.
Most of the characters depicted in A Song of Ice and Fire resemble specific archetypes that seem to parallel the 7 holy figures in the faith. Old Nan is an example of the Crone.
Excellent analysis. We benefit from analyzing from a literary perspective instead of from an in-world one in order to understand the role a character is playing. Some characters are disguised as other characters and stuff like that, which comes to us from analyzing the little details of the books but some others like Old Nan serve to tell a greater story more fluidly. She gives richness to the world of ASOIAF.
Old Nan is simply the Syrio Florel for the entire Stark family, she provides stories, ideas, concepts and magical histories so that each of the Stark children can relate what they experience to the past and thus have context for their life
This. The only bit I disagree with in the video is that GRRM is doing anything subtle with her. She is an authorial expository tool for world-building; not to convey fact or truth, though any of the things she talks about could wind up being so, but to draw the reader into the cultural worldview of the characters.
'Micheal talks about stuff' made a great video about an alternative theory that Old Nan is 'Leaf' - the child of the forest in Bloodravens cave. I've seen many people in this comment section say so, but his video goes in great detail, and with a lot of textual evidence to back it up!
Sadly, the actor who played Old Nan on the show died between Seasons 1 and 2. That's why Osha got her line from the book about the red comet meaning dragons.
Your closing statement about stories made me.immediately think of this line from Dr Who: "You said memories become stories when we forget them. Maybe some of them become songs."
Great video! I think, that old Nan ist just an alter ego of GRR Martin, and in this respect, of course, something like omnipotent. Through her, the author communicates how important stories are, and that stories often make history, perhaps better history than the one we are experiencing right now, for example.
Agreed! I think she's an example of how the North remembers what happened in their history and pass it down. While it's just believed to be stories, it's all true. But I don't think she necessarily "knew" they were true, so much as she believed they were important to share and pass down as knowledge to the next generations.
The other source worth noting here is GRRM's children book 'the ice dragon,' It's not set in Westeros as such, but may be a story that Nan tells the Stark Kids. It also ends with a pool that is always frozen even in summer, like the pool that exists in the Godswood at Winterfell.
There's an interesting section I recall about Old Nan, during Clash of Kings. When everyone is claiming that the red comet is a sign of their own victory, I think Bran asks Old Nan what it means and she says "Dragons are back". She's the only one that knew!
Old Nan is a storytelling trope. In many books, tv shows, and movies there’s an old person that spouts out old tales and prophecies. Nobody takes the oldster seriously (like Robb gently making fun of Nan’s tales) but their stories usually foreshadow an upcoming event in the show/movie/book. The prophetic old person is just a story writing trope to dump some foreshadowing on the reader/ viewer
Old Nan is the woman of the circle. There are always three - four of you count the dead one. That represents the seasons and often serve as wetnjrses for particularly magical castles. Old Nan represents Autumn as they age they shift from one stage to the next. Only 3 live at any time which is why you get the these witches in pairs of three as with Alys Harrowway
I like the idea that she indeed was with ser Duncan and that Hodor is his descendent. Their height is not the only thing they have in common. I've heard a theory about ser Duncan is linked to his foot (the foot that he paid with the life of Prince Baelor) and why he was allowed to keep it. It suggests that he will be using his foot to save lives in the tragedy of Summerhall, including the life of Princess Rhaella and her unborn son, Prince Rhaegar. Wouldn't it be a beautiful parallel if Ser Duncan also died holding the door for others to live? Seems pretty on brand for GRRM.
This is George having a bit of fun with the necessity of world-building expository dumps. Who better to tell the reader the stories and legends of the world, than a kindly elder who tells them to the POVs, and also the reader. I'm seeing some comments here making fun, but how else would you rather learn the lore? Expo-dumps might be "immersion breaking" or "inorganic," but I find using Old Nan' educating and entertainment of the kids to be a very naturalistic way of introducing aspects of the backstory.
She’s a glamoured Child of the Forest. She was Nettles, and started working with Bloodraven. She replaced the real Old Nan, and settled in. When she thought Bran was dead she called Sheepstealer and flew away breathing fire. She went back to Bloodraven cave. Now Bran knows her as Leaf.🍃
its a nice idea but i gotta agree with indeepgeek here she didnt really do a very good job if that was her mission and the 80 year wait seems pointless when bloodraven can communicate with him anyway
@@thomasclark9564 Just after Winterfell is burned, Bran is warged into Summer and snooping around. He sees "a winged snake flying through the sky breathing fire" or something like that. It's easy to read it as symbolic foreshadowing... but the literal interpretation is that Summer saw a dragon flying away from Winterfell after it is destroyed.
Story will end with Old Nan going to King Bran saying something like Bran should tell her a story sometime and dies. So that Bran will go back in time and tells a Young Nan the stories of his experiences through time. Simply because Nan loves stories.
I agree but also I feel she is a comparison of Brandon Stark, in other words you don't see her tell the stories to anyone else even though she may have, but you see her tell them to Brandon, up to this point being the oldest woman in the north she is basically the memory of humanity, and is foreshadowing and peppering Bran for his roll as the memory of Westerose, as Brandon says he coming for me he wants to destroy me because I'm the world's memory!
I agree! I think Martin used this character to bring attention to this more traditional, generational wisdom of women so often dismissed as "old wives' tales". Those stories survive because they're valuable!
I agree about story-telling completely. Nowadays, in real life, these are called myths, which is simply another word for history. Embellishments aside, they exist with elements of truth. Recently, I read that Altantis was now settled as a completely fictional tale. Fictional tales don't last thousands of years. Nan is a counterbalance to the three eyed Crow in many ways. It's so easy to brush her aside, yet she openly tells the truth about so much! If I recall correctly, she dies during Theon's takeover of Winterfell. By this time, Bran is on his way to meet the Three Eyed Crow.. (Please correct me if I'm wrong), but this too is significant. She has all the qualities of a wildling, without actually being one. She's far older than anyone knows. She's very wise and observant. There's more to her than meets the eye, for sure. Perhaps she is a product of a mating between a Child of the Forest and a First Man? She's quick-witted and knowledgeable about the oddest things. She's baffled me for a while. Thoughts?
A lot of illiterate societies have storytellers to keep track of family history as well as teaching valuable lessons. Since the world of Ice and Fire has a mostly feudal society where the commoners can't read, Old Nan is extremely valuable. She's what the commoners know and telling noble children what she knows from her long life is very useful! Of course, the noble Starks also have the benefit of being taught how to read and write!
The best theory that Old Nan was playing a role is that she was told she'd tell the stories to a Bran, one of them, not exactly our Bran, son of Ned. So many Brandons have passed, she believes it was all a lie, as "Crows are liers". And, yes, her being Shiera Seastar is ludicrous. My favourite option is her being Leaf. I really liked this vid tho.
It’s quite impressive to live this long in Westeros! She may be only 1 of 2 GOT characters who actually died of old age; the other, of course is Maester Aemon.
Old Nan was a wet nurse for Brandon Stark, Cregan Stark's son. That's almost a 100 years before ASOIAF timeline. She's definitely some sort of ancient being that manages to convince everyone around that's she's been there "since their father's baby time" which just keeps going on and one while the generations of Starks succeed each other.
This deep dive is amazing. I gave up on Martin after 5 years of not completing his First Story line, fire and ice. I’ll never buy another book until that is finished because I think why bother on the history when the main story line isn’t complete. 😢
OFF TOPIC...but whenever you could do a video about The God's Eye, the Isle of Faces, the green men, that would be AWESOME. I feel like it's going to play a huge role in the conclusion of ASOIAF
It'd be hilarious if she was an immortal, but was so lowkey and unimportant that nobody noticed or cared. Like she's been serving the Stark family contently for over a thousand years with no further ambitions besides telling kids stories.
This is an updated version of a video first published in October 2018
i just saw last hour the old one for a second time, lol
Damn. I thought for a moment I had invented time-travel.
Nuh uh
Cheers mate
Robert, why did Gemma stop making content and delete her channel? The two of you are the cornerstones of this community. She had a lot of great videos....
She's also an excellent way to share stories of the world in a good way. Instead of an appendix you get stories baked in naturally for the reader.
Every woman in these books is Shiera Seastar, and every man is Benjen.
Except for the ones who are either Rhaegar Targaryen, Euron Greyjoy, or Jaqen H'gar, of course. And half the women are Ashara Dayne.
@@thing_under_the_stairs these theories are mostly goofy but also part of why I love ASOIAF, its so open-ended and interconnected, like a web, that people just can imagine their own version of things
@@Ar1AnX1x That's the part I like the least. The lack of definition. The fact that everyone can have their own story. It's not a video game. We should all imagine something somewhat similar, or else what kind of story telling is that? I mean, does the author not want us to know HIS story? I just feel like open ended is somehow narrative cowardice, unwilling to say anything concrete or give anything definition.
R+L=Benjen
@@kennyhudson9201 it's not that open-ended that its just whatever you want it to be, there's definitely things there for you to pay attention to that there's a certain point to, by 'open-ended' I don't mean lazy writing, I mean left up to interpretation which is basically how some of the best art is like
you actually have it backwards, writing a scenario which can mean different things to different people is so much harder to do than telling your audience what to think
She’s the shrouded lord, the great other, and Azor Ahai all in one. She’s also Ser Pounce’s human form.
She is everyone and knows everything. The OmniNan
I pretty sure that she is the BatNan
Nan the Nuilder
OmNan, for short
She and OmniWalder should really get together than
Hopefully she is not heralding nanageddon
She’s a secret Targaryen. Naenarys Targaryen
She has white hair. Based theory
She's the one who hid the dragon egg(s?) at Winterfell.
I laughed way harder at this than would appear adequate.
She is wighted Nissa Nissa obviously
Lol
I love how all of the various ridiculous theories about "Who Old Nan really is!!!1!" would be exactly the kind of fantastic stories that Old Nan herself would love to tell. A long lost relative or a magical creature, disguising herself as an old woman, so she can share a prophecy to a later generation is just the sort of tale she would weave, along with a wink to really send a chill down the spine of a child.
I’ve been listening to you for 6 years now. Your knowledge, vocabulary, and natural way of speaking is unmatched among all RUclipsrs. I deeply appreciate your work and I can safely say as someone that has read all the books you’ve helped me thoroughly understand them.
me as well, one of my favourites ❤
He has a delightful voice.
Ditto
well said. I fear George will not finish the books. Years ago I thought that I read (or maybe just wished it?) that a team of writers were assisting him in hopes of a completed series. Either way, Robert belongs the team dedicated to finishing the last 2.
@@michaelbayer5094 I think he’ll finish WoW. It’s not looking good for Spring.
Remember, they SPECIFICALLY mention that Old Nans body was never found after winter fell was sacked. She is a glamoured Children of the Forest
This is the most lagging and most correct tinfoil ASOIAF theory
I’m here for it
@@rhondacombs7571 It was Leaf all along. Leaf was also Nettles. Gray Area figured this out
Oh here, that's an interesting idea
I like this, maybe shes half children of the forest half human, like the ghost of high heart
Oh my sweet summer child what do you know about Old Nan
❤❤❤
i liked for two reasons...
1) LOL
2) 169 likes.
Duh! Obviously we all know that
If Hodor is indeed a Descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall, then that means he possibly has three living relatives by the time of the first book. Old Nan of course, but also Lord Selwyn Tarth (Maybe) and his daughter Brienne. In A Feast For Crows, Brienne mentions a shield hanging in the Armoury of her Family's hall, Evenfall hall, which matches Duncan's shield as described in The Hedge Knight. GRRM confirmed Brienne is descended from Duncan, so either her Mother or Father is a descendant.
If Old Nan is around 100 years old, Duncan would have been less than 10 years old when she was born. This tracks, considering that Walder Frey is a toddler when Duncan was in his late teens. I don't think Nan is a relative of his.
She isn't dunks desendant she is a possible lover
Dunk has three descendants in GOT, Hodor, Brienne, and the “Thick as a Castle Wall” Gren aka The Aurochs
Iirc lord selwyn is theorized to be a bastard sired from a targaryen princess and Sir Duncan. She was sent away to Evenfall and wed the old lord of Tarth before she gave birth.
Aurochs? I never caught that tell me more
Much like LOTR, ASOIAF is a story about stories. Nan is the personification of “the north remembers”
I like this a lot and it makes total sense.
She's the only one that actually remembers .
Nan is the personification of "folk lore is more reliable than ivory tower knowledge" which is a very common trope.
i appreciate how you bring in the narrative function of characters and events when the fandom gets bogged down in theories and speculation. you've reminded me how i thought of old nan when first watching the show and reading the books. a humble yet remarkable glimpse into the magic that lies hidden in westeros, and a charming example of the ancient oral tradition
This. Exactly.
Old Nan occupies an interesting and important narrative role. For one as an expository vehicle for GRRM adding to in-universe history , lore and mythos etc. And of course to impact characters she tells her stories to and the reader. Her tales of varying degrees of truth are quite eye-opening that there is seemingly much more going on beneath the surface (especially magically) in this universe from the first book. Many of her stories do have a lesson and some also tease future elements in the narrative , some have and will play on or echo her tales. Also , clearly a perspective of a very old Northern person. Ntm , an archetype imo , a sort of blend of the old wise woman and a less magical seemingly benign version of a crone. And as the vid mentions an embodiment of the North remembering and of the ancient oral traditions. Her stories have impacted and will live on via the Stark children and the likely the many many others she has told her tales. She is both a literal and figurative throwback.
Do look forward to likely reading about Nan in her younger days in D&E and any part she plays in "She-Wolves" ; which itself will be an interesting insight into a fascinating and contentious period of Stark history.
Another great video. And a shout out to the late Margaret John who played Old Nan in the show. She was awesome.
This is why Tyrion's spiel about Bran and stories in the show's final episode resonates with me more when I take the books into account than when I think of the show. Stories like Old Nan's (and others, in the books) should indeed bind people together now that dark winds are rising again, not gold, armies, or sigils. Problem for the show is that we don't get many of those stories, but Tyrion's speech applies very well to the books.
I think this is the best theory. Shes been around so long and passes along important events. Shes a story teller and an educator.
To me, Old Nan is the beginning of the poem, and Brandon becoming the King, because "we need a King to tell the stories" was the end of the poem. I think this little line in that final episode on the TV show was shared by GRRM with the showrunners to have that little motif come to an end. It starts and ends with a storyteller... perhaps GRRM is emodied as Old Nan and Brandon in the books, as our storyteller.
I'm a huge fan of the theory that Old Nan is a Child of the Forest. "Michael Talks About Stuff" did a fantastic video a few months ago that at first sounds really far-fetched, but after watching that I'm kinda rooting for it to be true.
It would explain her unusually long-life. And if Blood Raven is potentially more in the dark than we think, it would make sense to have someone in Winterfell who could keep an eye on the Starks in the hopes of finding a powerful Brandon and (eventually) leading him to Blood Raven.
Very tin-foily, but I'm here for it!
Makes it very fun to go back through the books and look for connections.
What a decade of wait did to this Fandom is sad
Some humans just live longer than average lives, it doesn't have to be explained beyond that. Walder Frey's around the same age and she's certainly no Child of the Forest.
Beyond that she simply shares what is in actuality really common folk tales and stories in the North and much of Westeros.
@@mementomori771 Yeah man, how dare people use their imaginations. Absolutely horrifying.
While she has certainly lived a long time, especially in the context of life expectancies in Westeros, it isnMt supernaturally long. She’s around the same age as Maester Aemon.
“Bless your heart;” I can’t believe that you keep the ASOIAF content going. It’s alway fantastic, though. Much love to you and yours. You keep the story alive for us all.
Old Nan is a great character! There is definitely more to her than meets the eye.
"more to her than meets the eye" -> Optimus Nan
She is there to give the reader a quick introduction of the tone of this world. She is also well woven into the 'color' of the backstories of the culture of the north. She adds mystery without explanation. She is a survivor of the long night (or a few?) who has seen many things that youth can not accept or will not understand. She ties the present to the past so we the reader begin to know the north.
Just sitting on the toilet hypothesizing about Old Nan. 2024
As did your ancestors as far back as…. 1992 or something? History is a cycle.
I’m right there with ya buddy! Me and some friends got trashed last night and I ended up eating way too much Taco Bell and Wendy’s. And now this morning, there’s no hangover so I’m not paying for the booze but I am paying for the fast food lmao
Robert!! You never disappoint!!! Very well written. And delivered!!
Phoneomenal presentation.. always wondered about her but never deep dived. This was truly illuminative and well-researched. Kudos!
It is said in Ankhian folklore that if danger ever threatens the city, the ornamental wooden hippos on the Brass Bridge will get up and run away.
Why, a fellow Discworld fan in the wild. There are dozens of us. Dozens!
Oook.
Thankfully the Bridge is guarded by Sgt Colon (on nights where the wind is blowing in the wrong direction for the Opera House to get Guarded.)
While I see the appeal of imagining Old Nan as some magical, long-lived protagonist, I think the converse is equally impactful ... that she was just a wet nurse that loved stories and simply happened to outlive everyone and so became something mysterious and archetypal and will, after the time of the books, become somewhat mythologised herself in the shared memories of the Starks and others ... perhaps eventually becoming a character in a story all her own.
Old Nan rocks! She's one of the best characters in ASOIAF. Despite her embellishments, her stories are always true. GRRM plays with prophets and prophecies. Many people are following false prophets such as Melisandra. The true prophets are Maggy the Frog, the Hedge Witch of Bald Hill, and Old Nan.
Nan is a character that embodies the reason why reality becomes just stories, then legends,, then myths. She is the bridge between reality and fiction.
I would love GRRM to do a story book of old nans stories.
Most of the characters depicted in A Song of Ice and Fire resemble specific archetypes that seem to parallel the 7 holy figures in the faith. Old Nan is an example of the Crone.
Nah 'cuz she's fire 😍
@Marcara081 what? Old Nan is fire so she can't represent the crone? Elaborate please.
@@timschrade5084 Too hot to be crone.
To each their own my friend.
If she is the Crone, then who are the Maiden, The Mother, The Father, The Warrior, The Smith and the Stranger?
Thanks for keeping up to date with your other channel! Your narration is top notch imho.
Excellent analysis. We benefit from analyzing from a literary perspective instead of from an in-world one in order to understand the role a character is playing. Some characters are disguised as other characters and stuff like that, which comes to us from analyzing the little details of the books but some others like Old Nan serve to tell a greater story more fluidly. She gives richness to the world of ASOIAF.
11:28
OLD NAN: "What about Long Night?"
BRAN: "We've already had it."
OLD NAN: "We've had one, yes. What about second Long Night?"
She passed on the memories and stories of old, too the young. Honorable act for a simple nanny.
Beautifully expressed thoughts on Old Nan, thank you❤
Old Nan is simply the Syrio Florel for the entire Stark family, she provides stories, ideas, concepts and magical histories so that each of the Stark children can relate what they experience to the past and thus have context for their life
Ole Nan was important simply because she remembers the things that people forgot. She lived the stories that the Stark children needed to learn.
Old nan is a device that dumps lore about the background history of Westeros, for the readers benefit.
Thank you for stating the obvious.
@@zico739Thank you for doing the same thing
This. The only bit I disagree with in the video is that GRRM is doing anything subtle with her. She is an authorial expository tool for world-building; not to convey fact or truth, though any of the things she talks about could wind up being so, but to draw the reader into the cultural worldview of the characters.
Wong, she’s clearly John snows real mum (ned likes them dusty)
The correct answer.
'Micheal talks about stuff' made a great video about an alternative theory that Old Nan is 'Leaf' - the child of the forest in Bloodravens cave. I've seen many people in this comment section say so, but his video goes in great detail, and with a lot of textual evidence to back it up!
Another simply great video! I really enjoy your insights and perception, keep it on!
Sadly, the actor who played Old Nan on the show died between Seasons 1 and 2. That's why Osha got her line from the book about the red comet meaning dragons.
She is a time traveling Stark with a secret suit of armor. The Invincible IronNan
Your closing statement about stories made me.immediately think of this line from Dr Who: "You said memories become stories when we forget them. Maybe some of them become songs."
Love Old Nan. Glad you did this video of her.
If she’s in that flashback Bran had then she’ll be in the new Dunc and Egg show
Great video! I think, that old Nan ist just an alter ego of GRR Martin, and in this respect, of course, something like omnipotent. Through her, the author communicates how important stories are, and that stories often make history, perhaps better history than the one we are experiencing right now, for example.
I don't think I've seen a video of your's that I agree more with.
And I usually agree with them.
She is a great story teller. There are so few good story tellers.
Since nobody usually asks: how is Old Nan?
I’ll do you one better: Why is Old Nan?
How Old is Nan?
A Nan, a Plan, a Canal: Panama
Win. This. This is winning.
Agreed! I think she's an example of how the North remembers what happened in their history and pass it down. While it's just believed to be stories, it's all true. But I don't think she necessarily "knew" they were true, so much as she believed they were important to share and pass down as knowledge to the next generations.
IDG made a video about Old Nan. I love this channel.
He also made a video about Bill the Pony in LOTR!
The other source worth noting here is GRRM's children book 'the ice dragon,' It's not set in Westeros as such, but may be a story that Nan tells the Stark Kids. It also ends with a pool that is always frozen even in summer, like the pool that exists in the Godswood at Winterfell.
There's an interesting section I recall about Old Nan, during Clash of Kings. When everyone is claiming that the red comet is a sign of their own victory, I think Bran asks Old Nan what it means and she says "Dragons are back". She's the only one that knew!
Old Nan hype!! ty so much for all the great content.
Old Nan Hype!!! ty for the content. Can't wait to hear this....
She's a very important character thank you for making a video of her
I miss this channel and roberts lovely voice. Missed when i used to love GoT. But now i have been digging into Dune content and 3 body problem :'(
Old Nan is a storytelling trope. In many books, tv shows, and movies there’s an old person that spouts out old tales and prophecies. Nobody takes the oldster seriously (like Robb gently making fun of Nan’s tales) but their stories usually foreshadow an upcoming event in the show/movie/book. The prophetic old person is just a story writing trope to dump some foreshadowing on the reader/ viewer
I don't think she is anything other than Old Nan, but I do think she knows things or perhaps sees things.
Old Nan is the woman of the circle. There are always three - four of you count the dead one. That represents the seasons and often serve as wetnjrses for particularly magical castles.
Old Nan represents Autumn as they age they shift from one stage to the next. Only 3 live at any time which is why you get the these witches in pairs of three as with Alys Harrowway
I like the idea that she indeed was with ser Duncan and that Hodor is his descendent. Their height is not the only thing they have in common. I've heard a theory about ser Duncan is linked to his foot (the foot that he paid with the life of Prince Baelor) and why he was allowed to keep it. It suggests that he will be using his foot to save lives in the tragedy of Summerhall, including the life of Princess Rhaella and her unborn son, Prince Rhaegar. Wouldn't it be a beautiful parallel if Ser Duncan also died holding the door for others to live? Seems pretty on brand for GRRM.
This is George having a bit of fun with the necessity of world-building expository dumps. Who better to tell the reader the stories and legends of the world, than a kindly elder who tells them to the POVs, and also the reader.
I'm seeing some comments here making fun, but how else would you rather learn the lore? Expo-dumps might be "immersion breaking" or "inorganic," but I find using Old Nan' educating and entertainment of the kids to be a very naturalistic way of introducing aspects of the backstory.
She's a great story teller
Thank you for creating content! It is very soothing and I love listening to you! Keep up the great work!
I wish I had Old Nan to tell me all these bedtime stories before I went to sleep
I like the idea she is Leaf in disguise when Leaf lived with men for 200 years.
Add onto that she was picked up by a dragon aka sheepstealer because she's nettles too
I too subscribe to Michael’s theories!
😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮 that's a bar
She’s a glamoured Child of the Forest. She was Nettles, and started working with Bloodraven. She replaced the real Old Nan, and settled in. When she thought Bran was dead she called Sheepstealer and flew away breathing fire. She went back to Bloodraven cave. Now Bran knows her as Leaf.🍃
I like that theory too. It just feels right for some reason lol
its a nice idea but i gotta agree with indeepgeek here she didnt really do a very good job if that was her mission and the 80 year wait seems pointless when bloodraven can communicate with him anyway
sheepstealer being there would also be a big change to what we know about dragons in the story which i think might feel a little deus ex machina
@@thomasclark9564 Just after Winterfell is burned, Bran is warged into Summer and snooping around. He sees "a winged snake flying through the sky breathing fire" or something like that. It's easy to read it as symbolic foreshadowing... but the literal interpretation is that Summer saw a dragon flying away from Winterfell after it is destroyed.
Great theory even though I can't agree with it.
Story will end with Old Nan going to King Bran saying something like Bran should tell her a story sometime and dies. So that Bran will go back in time and tells a Young Nan the stories of his experiences through time. Simply because Nan loves stories.
I've always loved your videos but right now I really wish I could give this video 100 thumbs up
I agree but also I feel she is a comparison of Brandon Stark, in other words you don't see her tell the stories to anyone else even though she may have, but you see her tell them to Brandon, up to this point being the oldest woman in the north she is basically the memory of humanity, and is foreshadowing and peppering Bran for his roll as the memory of Westerose, as Brandon says he coming for me he wants to destroy me because I'm the world's memory!
Just re read book one and she’s mentioned so often! I love this video.
I always loved hearing stories from my grandma and my grandpa, even into adulthood.
Nicely done, and with much care.
She's a high level bard!!! ;)
Right around level 50-60. Right?
I agree! I think Martin used this character to bring attention to this more traditional, generational wisdom of women so often dismissed as "old wives' tales". Those stories survive because they're valuable!
I agree about story-telling completely. Nowadays, in real life, these are called myths, which is simply another word for history. Embellishments aside, they exist with elements of truth. Recently, I read that Altantis was now settled as a completely fictional tale. Fictional tales don't last thousands of years.
Nan is a counterbalance to the three eyed Crow in many ways. It's so easy to brush her aside, yet she openly tells the truth about so much! If I recall correctly, she dies during Theon's takeover of Winterfell. By this time, Bran is on his way to meet the Three Eyed Crow.. (Please correct me if I'm wrong), but this too is significant. She has all the qualities of a wildling, without actually being one. She's far older than anyone knows. She's very wise and observant. There's more to her than meets the eye, for sure. Perhaps she is a product of a mating between a Child of the Forest and a First Man? She's quick-witted and knowledgeable about the oddest things.
She's baffled me for a while. Thoughts?
Excellent analysis.
A lot of illiterate societies have storytellers to keep track of family history as well as teaching valuable lessons. Since the world of Ice and Fire has a mostly feudal society where the commoners can't read, Old Nan is extremely valuable. She's what the commoners know and telling noble children what she knows from her long life is very useful! Of course, the noble Starks also have the benefit of being taught how to read and write!
The best theory that Old Nan was playing a role is that she was told she'd tell the stories to a Bran, one of them, not exactly our Bran, son of Ned. So many Brandons have passed, she believes it was all a lie, as "Crows are liers". And, yes, her being Shiera Seastar is ludicrous. My favourite option is her being Leaf.
I really liked this vid tho.
Great stuff, love it!
Even without a plan or bloodraven conspiracy,she could still just be a child of the forest waring a glamor. Leaf says they are among us.
Hodor HAS to be a grandson or great-grandson of Duncan the Tall's.
It’s quite impressive to live this long in Westeros! She may be only 1 of 2 GOT characters who actually died of old age; the other, of course is Maester Aemon.
She’s enrichment. Reinforcing lore & adding depth to other characters.
Well done, Robert!
Old Nan was a wet nurse for Brandon Stark, Cregan Stark's son. That's almost a 100 years before ASOIAF timeline.
She's definitely some sort of ancient being that manages to convince everyone around that's she's been there "since their father's baby time" which just keeps going on and one while the generations of Starks succeed each other.
I was just thinking I hope he drops a new video today . . . Lol Thank you!
“New” = updated version of an old video
This deep dive is amazing. I gave up on Martin after 5 years of not completing his First Story line, fire and ice. I’ll never buy another book until that is finished because I think why bother on the history when the main story line isn’t complete. 😢
OFF TOPIC...but whenever you could do a video about The God's Eye, the Isle of Faces, the green men, that would be AWESOME. I feel like it's going to play a huge role in the conclusion of ASOIAF
“Now that’s a big man!” - D&D
Old Nan is simply naturally communicated exposition and mythical background
New theory: Old Nan is a literary device
Or sheira seastar...
It'd be hilarious if she was an immortal, but was so lowkey and unimportant that nobody noticed or cared. Like she's been serving the Stark family contently for over a thousand years with no further ambitions besides telling kids stories.
This is a fantastic video and I agree.
“Old Nan kind of forgot about who she is.” - D&D
I think the theory that she's glamoured leaf is very compelling. There's quite a few reasons for it in both books and show.
Checked the merch store, I dont see the shirt...
Dude! Brilliant!!
old nan is the embodimemt of "old wives tales"