Faceless Men: who is Jaqen H'ghar?

[@Kvamus]

Imagine having people discuss your imagination in such depth and detail.

[@Lambullghini]

I'd probably have a mental breakdown in less than 13 minutes in

[@Z.Brytel46]

I feel the same way when i see people discussing religion.

[@Mordecrabs]

Freaking RR Martin had to be so genius to create an awesome world.

[@Manicanian]

@@Z.Brytel46 Or theories about infinite universes and what's before the big bang?

[@gigicestone4902]

I'd be down.

[@metalsteakful]

Syrio might have a similar philosophy to Jacen because they’re both from Bravoos and their culture is deeply influenced by the faceless men.

[@SamuraiCypher]

Allie exactly

[@weirdwesteros1109]

Agreed. The Faceless Men and Braavosi are all descendants of Valyrian slaves so it would make sense they share similar belief systems.

[@xanderellem3646]

That's my thought too.

[@Torgo1969]

Greasy-haired little bastards...

[@Hurmeri]

There's no clue where the man who called himself Jaqen is from. After all, apparently Arya could join the murderer's cult, and she's not just a foreigner, she's from a different continent. As to Jaqen's way of talking? That's from Lorath, but "Jaqen" could just be pretending to be from such a faraway part of the world because it's useful. People only remember that he's an exotic foreigner, and ironically forget all the details that could lead to him being caught (like how his height probably doesn't change even if he does switch faces). As to culture, I agree there. Sicily's culture has some imprint of the Mafia on it, even though very, very few Sicilians are part of it. The people of Braavos v. the Faceless Men would probably be similar.

[@Thaddius0]

I had always interpreted Jaqen and Syrio as opposites almost as a warning. "What do we say to the god of death? Not today" in the sense that hes telling Arya to reject the death cult.

[@tjmakes_]

Ooooh… dang that’s a great detail 😳🤩

[@AreNam100]

Might be true..

[@samuelbankston2108]

True, interesting point. It seems he wasnt indeed part of the cult. Or why would he say that.

[@david6054]

That is a good theory. Personally I think Syrio and a man are not the same person but Syrio might be a scout of sorts with Aria being destined to join the faceless men. The "not today" part could be preparation to teach her not to fear death but to take control over it. But yeah what you say does make a lot of sense

[@ICU1337]

This one sentence was better than this 17 min clip filled with "maybe..."

[@BarkerT]

This guy was my favourite male character in GoT. His way of speaking is so cool. “A man has said.” “A man has patrol duty”😂”A girl lacks honour.” Also being a badass killer and teacher makes him very intriguing.

[@dolphininbikiniateallmyore0s]

David SAME BRUVV ✋🏻😭😭

[@patrickstewart6260]

So not your favourite? Other than arya, I can't think of a woman who's more interesting than jaqen. Who's your favourite character then?

[@BarkerT]

@Patrick Stewart My favorite female character is a pick of Arya, Brienne and Daenerys. Each of them has a satisfying character arc in the show. Enjoyed most scenes with them in it. Of those three, I have to go for Daenerys, who was the person who made the biggest difference to the outcome of the story. Throw in her dragons and the many battles and scrapes she has, she rocked in nearly every scene. That the writers allowed her to die like that was criminal.

[@SuperPrettyPink101]

I had such a crush on him 😅 he's just so cool 😎

[@MRJMXHD]

Same

[@im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username]

Euron in the books: psychotic mass murderer who is organising an unprecedented ritual to a dark blood demon Euron in the show: ａ　ｆｉｎｇｅｒ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｍ

[@sweetrain9482]

@Sam Lim nope.

[@vegurion2]

@Sam Lim nope

[@upstream5316]

@@ikariyabiollante867 Jaime Lannister is pretty. Euron, a little less. No point of having big peepee if women want to puke when they see you. Okay, he is not that bad-looking but the sister of Reek is.

[@Alisson3426]

@Sam Lim nope.

[@erikjuhasz3626]

U forgot that all of his jokes consist of saying that theon has no dick.

[@flyingo]

A man is perhaps the most intriguing character in the entire story.

[@user-bt6sr8kt9t]

Flying O for real , they could make a whole movie about this faceless men concept. So mysterious

[@kananstarks9362]

Nah stop reaching this story is deeper than the bible

[@anneneville6255]

I hope we will find more about him in the books, because it will never happen on the show.

[@sharong9563]

Indeed

[@brandon8045]

A man is celebrating the treble treble

[@mirabelwindsor9424]

The phrase "no one knows what caused the Doom of Valyria" could mean that No One does in fact know. The Faceless Men know.

[@danlightened]

Ah! Good catch.

[@johnwayne1069]

Arya did it after slaying the night king with SkIlLs

[@gauravyadav8916]

Brahh

[@zackdyer93]

🤯🤯🤯

[@user-gi74]

oh. wow.

[@vanbeet5105]

There is something so mysterious about Jaqen H'gar; whenever he's on screen, you look at his eyes, his stare, his demeanour, his half smile, his way if speaking; its like he's holding a deep secret which we're not ready to hear. Most intriguing character in the show for me.

[@MimiBlackbird]

Most definitely agree. Phenomenal acting.

[@kunegundabrunhildabrum-bru4306]

in books he is even more mysterious, bcs when Arya is training to be faceless, he isn't her teacher, also this girl Waife is very mysterious character in books, in series she is just a different character, she never hurts Arya, she was helping Arya and she was a child or at least child body and face

[@flaviaCOK8105]

Senti o mesmo que você em relação a Jaqen.

[@MyZ001]

@@kunegundabrunhildabrum-bru4306 Does Arya still have to kill her to get away? Im sure the show wrote her like that to give Arya more of a "struggle" and also to make the killing more gratifying/justified

[@robmlisanti]

Its the Obsidian order

[@Ibbelino]

A man is very confused. I switched prof pic and name so now this doesn't make any sense...

[@DapperDill]

A man edits his comments.

[@tautvyyduxx]

Bcs he's a faceless man

[@lexlavi]

Sexually?

[@KATNYC_718]

Ha! Love that!😆😆😆👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@tyreesetutudua5462]

@@KATNYC_718 no one loves it

[@elliejin2528]

Although he only plays a supporting role, every scene he plays leaves a deep impression on us. Terrific acting!

[@luzluna6808]

So true.

[@ofaestival]

Loved him in jt

[@robertdelgado8395]

@@luzluna6808 oooji

[@saadahsan2994]

can’t argue with that, he was phenomenal indeed

[@Rogalik88]

He was great in Stranger Things too.

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

So many lives would have been saved if Arya had said “Cersei, Tywin, Joffrey.”

[@vixxxenfoxxx3660]

Right? But that would be too easy. Though, I would loved to have seen another purple death or two. Pretty epic death scene.

[@cherylT321]

Where would the fun be in that?

[@alifeofcarlontae8334]

She doesnt say they names because she wants to kll dem herself

[@eiyp3]

@@cherylT321 Where was the fun in the actual ending of the show? Atleast that way show would have ended way back

[@OludayoKolawole]

That would have been far too difficult

[@justinq1977]

He didn't tell her everything about being a faceless man because he knew she wasn't meant to be a faceless man but Arya stark. He knows something we haven't learned yet where he's aware she's got a purpose.. don't think it'll be killing a night king in the book like the show but she'll have some purpose to come

[@emilyfoster3292]

I respectfully disagree. They needed an Arya Stark but not the Arya Stark. I strongly believe that the Waife wins the fight in the dark and takes her face and sword. Remember when they wear a face they get everything else too. If she truly became no one they get her face and the position needed in the north. Remember their goal was probably to go to the wall to begin with, why else would a faceless man get caught? But then she finds out what she needs to give up anyway and runs away. I'm quite sure if you look at Arya side in the last season she doesn't have any stab wounds on her midsection but instead thin slice scars on her side that the camera focuses on. It looks like Arya got Waife good a couple times but lost in the end. They didn't tell her because they needed to try and trap her first.

[@tien4930]

@@emilyfoster3292 You make sense, really. However let’s be honest with ourselves. Do you really think the writers had the foresight to consider all this? Logic basically went out the window with the last few seasons. I can imagine the Faceless men in the books may have some grand plan for her, but in the show it was merely a plotline to keep Arya busy until she can reunite with her family.

[@MobNuke]

Arya doesent kill the night king in the book? I had a feeling theres no way cos that was so stupid

[@jakesyma49]

@@MobNuke The books aren't there yet. In the books, Jon is still dead and that's where they leave off.

[@cneff3494]

tolkien?

[@EmilSosnin]

"To this day, no one knows what caused the the Doom" *No one knows what caused the Doom* *No one are The Faceless Men*

[@AesthetixPro]

therefore "no one" killed the kNight King... lol

[@AAa-iw7zd]

Wow good read there

[@eboranshard6220]

@@AesthetixPro Yes indeed they did !

No one knows what is west of Westeros.

[@MrRandomSuperhero]

Interesting idea, but Martin usually doesn't go for that type of play on words. Though it would be fun

[@johnnyace8339]

If they wanted too...game of thrones have enough of a storyline to extend for another 10 seasons after the white walkers

[@settingsun8403]

depends on whether people pirate or actually pay money

[@rubennovais]

They intend of doing a prequel show

[@RuskiVodkaaaa]

the game of Thrones ends, it is a separate story from the novels. But a spinoff is 100% going to happen as HBO has 4 spinoffs (from which 1 will be picked and hopefully released to the public in the next few years).

[@GladysAlicea]

There are two more unfinished books in the series, which is prob why the last seasons were so rushed...Sunday's episode was unexpected, don't you think?

[@frogwhisperer2067]

Or three episodes

[@taytayqueen7024]

I really really really wanted Jaqen to show up in s8. 😭

[@therealmajortv2435]

A man mustn't want

[@SiddarthaTB]

he will show up in the books, just need to wait for the book

[@Tal__Shachar]

I really wanted a good finale 0_0

[@michaelsoares5908]

We really really wanted a good season

[@lewispeter9537]

Zelpoke I agree

[@jon4th4n75]

The Faceless Men are probably the most interesting elements in the books and show. They're a shadow government that pulls all the strings of the world behind the scenes. Clearly they're rich and powerful beyond comprehension what with their proximity (and most likely ownership) of the Iron Bank. They can basically decide who dies when and have limitless resources to do so. They're one of the deep elemental forces of this world and I really hope GRRM expands upon their lore in future books.

[@ce5122]

I highly doubt that, they just seem to be a regular assassin death cult

[@mdraj5655]

​@@ce5122Normal assassin's can't change there appearance at will nor they can do perfect imitation of a person. Faceless men are magical assassin's who delivers death to anyone they are hired to kill

[@ce5122]

@@mdraj5655 i’m talking in terms of their goals they are just an assassin death cult. They seem to have zero political aspirations.

[@vernoncarpenterjr6213]

Welcome to the illuminati whom own the federal reserve and DC and control all countries as well as the 6 corporations tgat own ALL the media and all industry and they are satanist..every one of em. Same as all hellywood. Waky waky.

[@arnaul_de_lapras5853]

@@mdraj5655 yeah but nothing more than assasins

[@fayeharrison565]

Your work is so very far above the average on youtube I am proud and privileged to support it in a small way. Thanks for this installment.

[@AltShiftX]

Thank you Faye!

[@kefkapalazzo1]

How the hell did you comment 20 hours ago

[@guesswho1047]

Agreed!

[@Haik0]

I see you have no idea how hard it is to put together such video, with all the relevant information and a well structured coherent script, add to that "some" personal life and a job (other then KZbin) and you've got yourself a mount. Of course much desirable to enjoy such content at least every week, but not surprising what so ever, that it takes long.

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Vine Central witchcraft

[@sirjamesonsmith161]

A man was playing GTA & was Jaqen 'A Car

[@tubinitbro]

bwuahaha thank you for this.

[@elishuatv]

Awesome Bro 😂😂🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@emperorpenguin2140]

You have a brilliant mind 🦒

[@st4ne4rmthevill63]

You sir, win.

[@camaryandrews7785]

😂😂😂 I love it

[@coyleedmondson9451]

D&D kinda forgot about this plotline

[@MrChikoci]

No shit right, d&d just kinda forgot the 10 years of build up and make it their shitty way, still can't forgive them for what they've done

[@Raptorman0205]

Two men did not know what they were doing without another man's writings.

[@salmasabbar9]

actually 2 books are still on their way

[@TheDorianTube]

@@salmasabbar9 That's cute, lol. He started the books in 1996, 3 years later he published the second one, one year later the third, FIVE years later from that the fourth, another SIX years later the fifth. Now, NINE YEARS LATER, the sixth book is still under ''Forthcoming'', and even if tomorrow he publishes it, the seventh will probably never see the light, the guy is already old.

[@salmasabbar9]

@@TheDorianTube shiit .. you just destroyed the last drop of hope i had.. but he rly said that in an interview so idk

[@bisaster5471]

In the Doom of Valyria, around 10:00, I read a theory somewhere that the 14 flames were unstable, and the deeper they mined, the more unstable these volcanoes get. They mine deep and hot because this is how they hatch their Dragons. This is where magic comes in, Valyrians have Fire Mages, deep in the mines of 14 Flames, they conduct magic to keep the volcanoes stable. This comes into play with the Faceless men causing the Doom of Valyria theory, because how would they cause the doom? They assassinated all Fire Mages in synchrony, causing all 14 Flames to become unstable all at once and the Doom of Valyria occurs.

[@Fluxxxx]

Since you’re a recent comment I have a questions. Do you know what season and episode has the alchemist meeting that maester and Samwell Tarly? I missed it and want to go back🙏🏻

[@Fluxxxx]

Or was it in the books?

[@bisaster5471]

@@Fluxxxx I don't recall Sam meeting the Alchemist in the show, I do however, recall him sneaking around the Citadel. I try my best to forget the show because of the Season 8 disaster.

[@stanza77]

You might have seen that theory right here on his channel my friend, I just watched it yesterday. I think it’s called “what ended Valyria?”

[@bisaster5471]

@@stanza77 I haven't actually, I've been reading a lot of ASOIAF content on A wiki of ice and fire website lately. I'd give the video a go.

[@lpfan2818]

Nothing helps GoT withdrawal more than an AltShiftX videos.

[@3DaiYo4Kai56]

Yeah

[@TheHivesbane]

I'm watching Film Buffs channel in the meantime. It's a reaction video series with someone who knows nothing of GoT and has never watched before, the sweet summer child.

[@eahere]

+

[@sfurtado3]

so true

[@shellenewilliams9612]

tell me about it

[@howardho7783]

Another explanation of why The Faceless Men and Syrio talk about the same stuff is because they share the same Bravosi culture.

[@jfraserfisher]

Exactly!

[@kidadd]

slow down, coach. you lost me.

[@mahntoaste2864]

@@kidadd he said one thing

[@RemoveChink]

Braavosi religion is not homogenous. The Faceless God is not the majority faith there.

[@RemoveChink]

@sosy1178 It is one of the signatures of Braavos, the Isle where they have every temple imaginable. They even have a sept there.

[@Anttimation]

"The man without a face sounds like a faceless man." I have to agree with that.

[@luddinho98]

Can't argue on that

[@carterf3585]

Big if true

[@jaydenleslie4431]

i was looking for this comment :D

[@ahojohn330]

Quite the astute observation 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@heartattackjack9349]

It's simple Jaqen H'ghar is the 'many faced god'. Each one is a part of this 'god', to the point that they become him. The Waif is not one of them because she still has her ego, and her anger. The faceless men are the 'many faced god', because each one can be someone else on a dime, but are always their 'god'. I believe each one gives up his ego, his sense of self, and is then used by their 'god' in order to accomplish certain events. Sort of like clones that are always connect to the first one. Doesn't matter if one dies as another takes his place.

[@jessiejanson1528]

this makes the most sense. especially since various jaqen's seem to know what the other knew despite the death. not to mention, their voices comes with the face. so there is certainly some magic to it. having memories come with it as well wouldnt be strange. but them all being the god/the god knowing them all would fit this as well.

[@ballsballsballs3617]

@@jessiejanson1528 that’s what I noticed, they can all be jaqen but if they’re consciousness isn’t connected in some way why would they all know everything that Arya has said and been through

[@upsydaysy3042]

Medieval Borg!

[@JoshuaKevinPerry]

Wouldnt the Faceless oppose the White Walkers the strongest? Walkers steal the gift

[@greent26tube]

Great point here. This is what I was thinking.

[@TheFreakKid12]

an interesting idea, the others/white walkers pervert the gift of death and in a way enslave the people, to do awful things

[@gordanator2060]

The Faceless worship death, and the White Walkers don't exactly raise people from the dead (in the way the red priests do), instead they simply animate their already dead corpses, kind of like the way the faceless use the corpses for their work. In a way the White Walkers are more like a live personification of death, hellbent on spreading death across the world. Even Melisandre refers to them as death whenever interpreting the nights-watch message for Stannis; "*Death* marches on the wall." So, if anything I would say the opposite.

[@first_of_hername160]

Wrong. FM respect death. It's a gift of peace not eternal torment. They don't kill as many people as possible, they don't want to spread death, where did you get the idea from ? They enjoy life while they can and most of all they are against slavery. They are totally against WW.

[@gordanator2060]

The faceless men recognize that theirs a personification of death within every religion in westros, they refer to him as 'the many faced god' and serve as a cult of sorts to this god viewing their work as a service to him, (like a sacrifice of sorts). If you want to know where I got *that* idea from perhaps you should watch the bloody video. And on the topic of "where did you get that idea from," do you *really* think their just out to 'enjoy life?' Really?!

[@jakeorzali]

2016... simpler yet more exciting times. A time when we actually thought the show was going to provide amazing revelations, backstory, intricately detailed relationships and maybe a bit of beautifully written closure. Instead, welcome to season 8. The final season that has arrived probably 2 seasons too soon. Because it’s too complicated so... dracarys.

[@nergal2741]

yeah so much deepness to be dived into and tell a great story .. instead, stab the enemy #1 of the series ("winter is coming") with 1 move and just burn everyone to become .. the complete opposite of the intended

[@davemanmartin]

@@nergal2741 Maybe George is happy that they did such a bad job and left so many things unanswered that the main result is more people will want to read the books. The books have to be at least 1000x better than the show, the producers made sure of that

[@afrogreen]

well said

[@nergal2741]

@@davemanmartin probably yeah :D

[@MoralDeQue]

@@nergal2741 "...and just *burn* everyone to become..." *B U R N T H E M A L L!!!*

[@TVGGAMEZCO]

the amount of detail GRRM puts in the lore is absolutely insane and I cant imagine making sure everything connects

[@melvinsamson5684]

You should delve into Tolkien's lore. Nothing comes close to how rich that is

[@Daydy377]

Keep waiting then

[@Camibug]

It’s probably why he’s having trouble finishing the series! So many story lines to tie together!

[@Camibug]

@@melvinsamson5684 idk GRRM lore absolutely does in my opinion.

[@saadlachhab3893]

@@melvinsamson5684 if prefer GRRM’s world tbh, but to each his own, Tolkien is great too

[@erikaenander5374]

I love your explanations. You don’t insist that you’re absolutely correct, but you do raise good questions. And a good question is always more productive than a flat answer.

[@giantWario]

The main reason why I feel like thinking that Syrio is a faceless man is really silly is because their views of death are complete opposite: «What do we say to the God of Death? Not today» and «Death is a gift». Syrio might believe in the Many-Faced God (which make sense, hes also from Braavos after all) but he certainly doesn't worship him.

[@first_of_hername160]

True :)

[@brandonking3976]

Well, I think speech patterns are actually a huge part of the connections. The speech habits of "A man/woman/boy/girl" is actually Lorathi in origin, starting in the days of the blind priests. It makes sense for Jaqen/Pate/Alchemist to say things like this, as he's supposedly from Lorath. However, Syrio is Braavosi, and would have no reason to speak the way he does.

[@first_of_hername160]

Syrio doesn't speak like this all the time , he only speaks this way while he trains Ayra and it's not the same way Jaqen speaks. Salador San also uses some phrases that Jaqen uses and it doesn't mean a thing :) In the book Arya and Jaqen chapters are so detailed and he is so finely described and so different than Syrio that I'm shocked anybody could come up with such a dumb theory. Even GRRM was surprised to learn people have such ideas :))

[@brandonking3976]

first_of_her name What? How would you know how Syrio speaks when not training Arya? He never appears anywhere else.

[@first_of_hername160]

He doesn't speak exactly like Jaqen. Jaqen in A Clash of Kings is very well defined with lots of details. Just keep calm and read the book :) I know people believe in conspiracy theories and bend facts to suit they mindset and it's the same with hardcore Syrio fans :DD

[@keshavsfunactivities]

A man is tired now from watching GOT. A man will take a nap.

[@Ms.MD7]

Lmao this is GOT's version of Yoda

[@Nooneis0]

True!!

[@joand2217]

😂😂

[@tiffanyallen3348]

😂😂😂😂😂I’m crying

[@brianstephens8337]

The house of black and white is in Braavos, where Syrio was from. Similarities in their religion and how they regard death ("there is only one god...") could easily be interpreted as the effect that the Faceless Men have had on Braavosi culture. Makes much more sense if that's the case and Syrio was exactly who he seemed to be.

[@alexanderzack3720]

exactly.... would also explain why arya had to show that coin to ANY bravoosi and they would know what to do

[@malud.7638]

Also the faceless men BUILT the city.

[@marcospatricio8283]

I still think the theory about Syrio being a faceless man makes sense, although it's not perfect 1-a faceless man went to Westeros to, among other things learn more about dragons. His plan was to pose as a skilled swordsman, make a name on the next tournament Robert set, and join the court. Inside it, he'd spy on the small council and read more about Targaryen history but 2-for his luck, the first sword of Braavos died recently, and even better: the hand of the king needs a skilled swordsman to teach his daughter! That means more free time to do sneaky shit, and would also explain why he frequently sends Arya to run fool's errands, such as standing still on one leg atop some stairs, or chasing cats. There, he sees potential on the little girl 3-he's captured and was to be used as a mean to lure Arya back into the clutch of the lannisters. They did it with the ship she'd use to go back home, what would keep them from doing this to Syrio? 4-that faceless man changes faces while on the black cells, and takes the identity of J'aquen. He's planning a escape when the night's watch takes him. He proceeds to plan annother escape when he meetd Arya again, by pure coincidence

[@georgecervantez7389]

@@marcospatricio8283 Interesting!

[@neckogecko5238]

from the one god line, i always thought syrio was once part of the faceless men, but left. he didn’t want to be part of the wacky death cult but still subscribed to the idea that death is the only god, but instead of accepting it as an inevitability he taught arya that death can be fought.

[@bluesnjax9134]

And as Arya left with her training before taking whatever vows would have bound her to the faceless ones, Syria may have done the same, bringing his skills and using them in the outside world.

[@jaymiddleton1782]

Forel was my favourite character. The fact that he “died” off screen had me convinced he survived, that he was such an amazing swordsman that he could defend himself with a broken wooden sword, and that he would gloriously return at some point in the future. Obviously that felt less and less likely to happen as the show went on. Such a shame, he was a great character.

[@codemcloud6073]

I felt the exact same way. What a waste of such a great opportunity, they hype this character up to be one of the greatest swordsman in the world and all we get is 45 seconds of him with a wooden sword?... also being as good as he would living that life and being surrounded by so many cut throat people mainly the lannisters I don't think for a second he would go anywhere without at least one real sword or at least a midsize blade. With his experience he knows shit can pop off at any second no matter where you are. So yeah not showing if he died and then never using him was suuuuuch a waste. I can't believe how badly they screwed up especially the last season smh.

[@RTU130]

Ye

[@nickguido4413]

They were never afraid to show you your favorite character getting brutally murdered in exquisite detail so a character like Syrio dying off screen WAS deeply suspicious. re: The Hound

[@petrhula241]

I don't understand why he don't pick up some sword against the guard knight. There was many swords because he kill lannisters soldiers

[@ANSELAbitsxb]

He had like 5 mins of screen time.

[@ryuzakii01]

The actor of Jaqen is german and I saw him most of the time in a cafe next to my school in berlin. Still can't believe I met a GoT actor in real life. Was too scared to walk up to him so I made my friends go talk to him lol.

[@varthasvegenos]

So I guess you didn’t actually meet him then. Whoops.

[@key2laif]

He is no one

[@ryuzakii01]

@@varthasvegenos stay mad, nobody

[@rotgutted]

Krass, wusste nicht dass er deutsch war

[@vanbeet5105]

Im sure he told them, "A man is no one"😂😂 In german probably

[@jaqenhghar3788]

A man sends his best regards!

[@Gio-yq8jj]

Jaqen H'ghar got’em

[@switchclaw]

A man can disguise as a white walker and learn Night King's secrets. But no. A man is an asshole.

[@cristaniancatembung1160]

A man needs head.

[@cheeseclover]

you are literally everywhere unless i’ve just seen your clones

[@jonathandickey1]

I wish you good fortune in the wars to come.

[@cowheaddoe2544]

I’ve always loved the way your organize your info boards. Those last minutes zooming around it all was exhilarating and made the info perfectly digestible.

[@UmJammaLamma]

Only thing that confused me about Jaqen (disclaimer: I've only watched the show, so maybe the books present this differently) is that he seems visibly surprised and fearful when Arya names him as her third mark at Harrenhal. If he is truly "no one" and is just assuming Jaqen's name for a disguise, why would he be afraid and then agree to help Arya escape as a result?

[@jaydaniel7742]

This is actually a very good point!

[@Machuter]

good point

[@Johannes-br6zn]

I thought that the Faceless Man panicked a bit because he had a debt to be payed to his god, but Arya asked for the death of someone who was already dead. Ergo the Faceless Man was confronted with an impossible task. But now that I think about it, you might have a point. It has been close to a decade since I've read the book, but I think Jaqen was begging Arya to pick a different name, which was very uncharacteristic for him.

[@Xsomono]

I always figured it was because Arya got him into a dilema as he on one hand has to do his duty to the many faced god, so he has to deliver him the deaths that were promised, and he himself is a valid sacrifice, so he kind of has to do it. But on the other hand he probably had other important things to do and it would have been bad if he couldn't do some task because he had to kill himself. Perhaps he was even on some mission related to his religion which would kind of make it a sort of holy quest. Tha would leave him torn between having to serve his god by delivering a death, ergo suicide, and serving his god by completing whatever task he was given. So an impossible choice for him.

[@ICU1337]

Over thinking it in my opinion. The name is just a pointed intention. A guide for his blade. He doesnt actually need a name, a description was all he went off of to kill one of the other targets. So her saying his name was a clear intention to point the blade at yourself. You definitely over thought this, in my opinion.

[@Lebgefaehrlich]

i always saw jaqen not as a person, but more like a role all the faceless men could take on. I think he is truly no one, the name, the face and his charakter are just a way to interact with the outsiders.

[@jusatin]

If you watched through the video, that is what he is saying. Jaqen is not a person, but just a face. In the video the "original" faceless man, who we saw first, is referred as Jaqen so it's easier to understand.

[@FrederikaEilers]

I'm confused because in the books the faceless men have distinct talents. There is a chapter where they come for a meeting and it's clear Jaqen has more abilities than others, like the person who can only change his nose. They are not interchangable as AltShiftX states.

[@jusatin]

+Frederika Eilers He's talking more about the show here, only taking some "behind the scenes" knowledge from the books. As has been said, the books and the show are quite similar but not 100% alike, so I think Alt is going more after the show, touching the books when it explains more than creates more questions.

[@robp4074]

+Jussi Ahonen this is only thing negative thing about this video, since asx refers to show and book he usually distinguishes between the 2, here he didn't. Book Jaqen clearly is more of a no one than all the other Faceless Men.

[@first_of_hername160]

+Rob, I agree this is the weak point. On the other hand in the show we only see one Faceless Man but I agree in the book he is outstanding and it seems Arya is the one who can come close to him thanks to her "many gifts" like warging.

[@fbiniggas3254]

The Dark Brotherhood has become much more confusing

[@etowaifumura4952]

the no face astrid broke my heart

[@Yungshamgod]

fbi niggas 😭😭

[@khajiit5556]

Khajiit us confused

[@koolkid9633]

cicero likey

[@bananavader2306]

Apparently the coffin mother ( i forgot the name) is the many face god

[@StraightJackie]

Personally, I believe Jaqen is not one person. When he takes the poison, only for him to be standing behind Arya, they both have Jaqens face. However, when she peels off the faces of the corpse, there are so many faces it is hard to tell who that person actually was (which i suppose is what makes it creepy). But working off that, the Alchemist clearly was using Jaqens face as well. I believe that Jaqen is not a human, rather he is a public persona for the faceless men. I would think they wouldn't want their real faces shown anyways, and since they're "no one," then they're all technically Jaqen.

[@SuperAngryPacman]

In case anyone needs more convincing that Syrio Forel is not a Faceless Man, just look at their philosophies. Sure, on the surface they teach Arya about similar things, but there's one detail that they completely disagree on. One of Syrio's awesome quotes is "Boy, girl, *you are a sword, that is all*." He teaches her that Needle is a part of her identity, an extension of her body. Contrast this with the Faceless Men; the kindly man says "You need to rid yourself of all this," of her treasures, demanding that Arya abandons Needle.

[@Valosken]

That seems a stretch. By no means a conflict.

[@turbopotato4575]

"you are a sword, that is all" doesnt mean its a part of her identity, it means it IS her identity and that shes nothing but a weapon (just like the faceless men are only weapons in the hand of the Many-faced god.) So this only proves that hes a faceless man even more.

[@Lovelylove500]

does syrio mean it literally that she's needle or that she's just a servant who should be ready to strike at a moment's notice? if so, it would be in accordance with jaqen's philosophy, that she's just a servant to the faceless god and shouldn't question who she kills as she's just the sword that strikes. not saying that syrio=jaqen though.

[@АлмазЗияпов-ю2ц]

Bullshit

[@jackmuller5478]

your argument is far less clear and conclusive than you make it seem like.

[@Divine_Chareka]

Another missed opportunity by the GOT series was letting Jaqen appear in Season 8. It would've blown our minds.

[@Puschit1]

Maybe he did and we didn't notice because he was wearing the face of someone. In fact, maybe we saw several faceless men imposing characters we know - which would explain a lot of the issues we have with season 8 :) Bronn acting out of character all of a sudden? He was a faceless man at that point!

[@jchahda2270]

@@Puschit1 don't use that as an excuse for bad writing

[@Puschit1]

@@jchahda2270 I was joking, obviously, indicated by the smily

[@jhtrq1465]

@@Puschit1 More covincing theory : A faceless man murder the self concistency of the story and the writting skill of the 2 shits that runned this show

[@chavitanwar2126]

Maybe he could've told arya that he followed her because he didn't really care about the many faced god 😂

[@Rillymonray]

Another thing with the whole syrio forel thing, is that the house of black and white is in braavos. The culture in Braavos is heavily linked to the faceless men. Just by Arya showing that coin to a person from braavos she was able to be transported there for free. So of course the first sword of Braavos is going to teach Arya the same foundations of the faceless men

[@lydialorraine5164]

That's what I thought. They are from the same place so it makes sense

[@Anasteroiddestroyer]

Why couldn't Syrio be a faceless man if we go by this theory that they are all "no one" thus immortal? Who cares if he died because by this logic, no one died.

[@ht.6315]

Exactly what I thought... and I'm glad this is probably not true because I love Syrio and Jaqen is a bit of a dick

[@nestor5280]

@@ht.6315 Little finger is also from Braavos. When Visery Targaryen was with the "whore" in the first season she said that she has met a man with many faces due to her job. Little finger owns a brothel and hires "whores" so i wouldnt be surprised if Little finger is behind all this

[@ht.6315]

@@nestor5280 how do you know littlefinger was from braavos?

[@ticket_puncher]

12:40 I love how him saying he "threw the egg into the sea" could also be a metaphor for him giving the faceless men the egg and balon getting thrown into the sea

[@yuki-ts6fr]

After the fight with Brienne and Arya, Brienne asked who taught the techniques, Arya said no one.

[@000lowkey]

yuki nyoobi she ain’t lie lol

[@LeCharles07]

Syrio didn't teach her that long and she was still ametureish when she left kings landing. Recall the scene when Arya first meets Hot Pie and Gendry as they all prepare to leave King's Landing, it's pretty clear she is not a confident combatant yet. Compare that scene to the scene where she trains with Brienne and how even just the way she wears the sword conveys her comfort with it and that's not even mentioning the way she fights. Syrio taught her the basics but it was the Faceless Men that molded her into the weapon we see train with Brienne.

[@alejandrakizelsztein2095]

Gentleman Yuki g

[@ieatyourbrain8478]

The show ain't canon anymore

[@silentobserver9418]

cringe

[@mwyz]

The transition around 7:00 with "not all characters have a sercret identity...but some of them do" and then going into Jaqen's alternate identities and mysterious actions in Oldtown was so well done. The way you script these videos is so impressive.

[@dauavicent]

😁😋😍

[@clayrogers2670]

You guys are missing the obvious. Jaqen is Ser Pounce. He has taken the face of a royal cat to spy on the Lannisters and get cozy with Margaery because she's hot as hell and Jaqen ain't no fool.

[@westerosfalls5750]

The best theory ever ;D

[@sickkunt1573]

Clay Rogers except margaery is ugly as fuck, still have a point.

[@aislinnkern8729]

Sebbe no

[@ogfrogman2990]

Clay Rogers A boy believes this true

[@MrDaftJustice]

Sebbe u stupid?

[@SalahLFC11]

When Aarya says she is Aarya stark of winterfell and she is going home, Jaquen says girl is finally no one. How is she no one when she didn’t forget a single thing about herself

[@jasperd9678]

because internally, she doesn't have a home. 2 reasons. 1, she believes her entire family is dead and that winterfell is taken over, 2 she loves so many places and people that she couldn't choose one to go to. saying she's heading home is untrue because she believes she doesn't have a home. she lied to him about her own identity, making him believe she's ready to abandon her identity.

[@anudeep6123]

@@jasperd9678 But aren't faceless men supposed to be contract killers? If Arya did complete her training and is a faceless man/no one now, shouldn't she be killing those who have a price on their head and have paid the faceless assassin's cult rather than Arya stark's enemies? Doesn't make sense

[@jasperd9678]

@@anudeep6123 they didn't know about it, thats why when they figured it out they abused her like they did. she wasn't a faceless man, she just said a statement that was untrue therefore convincing jaquen that she was ready. when in reality she wasn't, and at that point she didn't want to be a faceless man anymore. they simply didn't know who she was killing.

[@BigLepordy1242]

She says that after. She kills the girl who was also training to be a faceless man that tried to kill her, then hangs her face in the hall of faces. Jáquez H’ghar/a man finds her there and says “a girl is finally no one”. After that she says “a girl is Arya Stark. And I’m going home”

[@jessiejanson1528]

i dont even remember half of this anymore, but i thought arya wasnt arya anymore, like she had someone elses face under the mask. ie. she was killed, someone wore her face and then took over her life as part of a mission as countless other faceless men have done. As an aside, it also seemed like they all knew things they couldnt know unless they have memories that come along with the face or unless they constantly sent in reports... given the magic nature of the cult, memories tied to face masks seem possible.

[@BeastinlosersHD]

I'm just waiting for someone to sit on the throne in the end, and then takes off their mask to be someone else. Then it cuts to the credits and rock and roll starts playing

[@urmama54]

but that person still isn't the actual person...

[@ling1864]

spiderman theme would be better but ok

[@Buggabones]

Takes off mask and it was Ser Pounce the entire time, fades to nyan cat song.

[@rakeshbadgujar5994]

Ur Mama

[@AliceDiableaux]

I'd actually love this, and a lot more than were D&D seem to want to head in season 8.

[@EddieUsername]

I'm not even a GoT fan, but the depth in the world and the story is just so good that I had to keep watching lol

[@lightofthesevenstars]

lord of the rings is similar

[@Xsomono]

Can really recommend reading the books. At the end of every other chapter you just put the book down with your mind blown. Martin's world is just breathtaking. Easily the best story I've ever read and I read a lot.

[@DOC_951]

… because you’re a fan.

[@LeumazDnazor]

"I'm not a fan, but I am super invested in this world I'm totally not a fan of"

[@cosmicpebble-s7z]

That makes you a fan

[@mc_gaming2007]

"As assassins, Faceless Men are trained to use deception, perception, poisons and....sticks...to kill their targets"

[@tailordurden8445]

Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated

[@wingerding]

@@tailordurden8445 it's the sticks he's pointing out

[@BennyHolden-ls7sj]

My understanding without reading the book, is that Jaqen H'ghar was a spirit of the dead, who had no human form or name until he wore the face of a human he choose to be or told to be, or utilised by selection and useful for an assassin, the actor who played the character I think portrayed Jaqen was a master stroke and the actor himself gave the character great depth and a sense of pervading foreboding and frightening cruelty but underpinned by his strict religious beliefs to the many faced god. I 'am not sure if the many faced god had a plan to seek out Arya but Syrio was instrumental in the fact that Arya turned to Bravos to seek her revenge on the Lannister's and everyone else who wronged her because of her age and her powerlessness to fight back at the time. Crucially the fact when she presented the coin to cross the narrow sea, was a deep societal message to anyone from Bravos to assist the bearer of that recognisable coin without question or reward. If you are dead, in effect you would become nothing or "no one" simply because you only existed in real life as sentient by definition of your life in the present, but in a situation of a possible after life you become an erased spirit? Hence the reasoning when she pulls off the face of the last dead person to see herself she becomes no one.

[@bananaOyster]

8:03 I think you meant matryoshka (a multilayered doll) and not babushka (an old lady with a shawl).

[@김유라-s4e]

bananaOyster lol

[@BrilliantStrategist]

yes in russian

[@solanaavila5040]

in my country we call the dolls babushka maybe is one of those things lost in translation in some areas

[@fijau]

I call matryoshka doll a shitty toy...

[@PRL1290]

You unintentionally rhymed. 👍

[@sammere1521]

Since the Faceless Men believe in magic, are they aware of the white walkers? If so, wouldn't a species, that reanimates people given the "gift" of death, be of interest to them?

[@kerrybrennan7099]

This is an interesting notion.

[@odette4253]

Even Jaquen actor comfirmed that

[@karlos1008]

Damn that's a great point.

[@painlord2k]

The Faceless Men would consider someone undead as an affront to their God. More so if someone animated the dead instead of raising them alive (like some Red Priest(es))

[@painlord2k]

Their big problem, anyway, would be with anyone animating the dead.

[@codyinacoma]

Hey man, I just wanted to let you know that I'm a Warhammer guy, and every time your videos come on, I always watch them. Makes me want to rewatch the show. This dude was my favorite.

[@ThePubbub]

My question is: what happens if Bran wargs into a Faceless Man?

[@blacksowrd53]

It's more magic than removing your own original face I think

[@xkickit17]

Do not divide by zero

[@ThePubbub]

@@xkickit17 😅

[@pr1meashez623]

What if he wargs into a dragon

[@colet1096]

@@pr1meashez623 I think we may find out soon

[@ericmcclelland7151]

The biggest thing for me that says syrio is not a faceless man is because of the iconic line that he says to Arya "what do we say to death we say not today"

[@Raz.C]

I feel like we only like Jaqen because he has a great face. He has an interesting face. If it weren't for that, I suspect that we wouldn't care much for him.

[@badlyrosenthal5149]

i mean maybe if you were deaf and watched the show with no subtitles. you have a point, but you fail to realize how badass and intriguing he actually was to watch.

[@arhamsaa]

@@badlyrosenthal5149 bAdAsS

[@omegasage777]

It's more than just his face, though. His voice and the way he speaks are intriguing enough without him also being handsome :)

[@doriangreen3231]

They should have had Clint Howard play him.

[@Raz.C]

@@doriangreen3231 That would have been funny as fuck!!!! Or Michael J. Pollard (though unless you saw the 80s/ 90s movies that he was in back then, you probably wouldn't be able to fully grasp why he'd be perfect [in a comical sense] for the role).

[@brianland2944]

I am rewatching these videos and I really hope you will get back up and rolling with the new season. This channel is the best!!!

[@Evergreen_Wizard]

You confused “babushka” with “matryoshka”. Matryoshka is the name of the Russian many-layered dolls. “Babushka” means “grandmother” in Russian. To be fair, “grandma the assassin” sounds equally hilarious and badass at the same time being a character you would totally expect in the song of ice and fire universe.

[@LetsSingTheDoomSong]

OMFG I would die happy if Olena Tyrell was exposed to be an assassin 😅

[@aye2you]

​@@LetsSingTheDoomSong she IS an assassin

[@kylemagaro231]

I still don't get how the faces can change your gender, height, and voice.

[@AltShiftX]

Magic!

[@kylemagaro231]

@@AltShiftX Ya, it's just weird and unexplained in the show and I haven't read the books.

[@uzafar92]

@@kylemagaro231 I don't think they do. That's something the show made up for views. I have read the books and none of them have Arya take face of opposite gender or a any other faceless man take face of a female. (atleast not so far).

[@teresadavis9283]

Could be just a type of glamour.

[@rondentzjr1962]

Kyle Magaro it’s simple if you are no one you can be anyone.

[@KingOfMadCows]

The Faceless Men do have a thing against choosing who to kill themselves. Jaqen would only kill the people Arya told him to kill. The Kindly Man was not happy that Arya killed the Night's Watch deserter. They seem to see themselves as being the instruments of death but they don't actually choose who dies. So it's questionable if they're actually pulling the strings in any of these conspiracies. If no one paid them to go after the Targaryens, they can't just decide to kill them. Also, Jaqen clearly didn't want to die when Arya named him so that kind of throws the "being no one" thing into question. Although it could be that he didn't want to die because he was concerned about his mission rather than his own life.

[@HLWiley]

A good point, but if the person is *not really* Jaqen H'ghar, giving that name doesn't mean anything.

[@chasemerritt1944]

+H. L. Wiley it's the equivalent of pointing at him and saying "you" if he feels a religious obligation to kill who she says, he can't just slip out on a technicality of her not knowing his name.

[@Christopherjazzcat]

+Chase Merritt in the show she doesn't know the torturer's name but Jaqen says her knowing what people call him ("the tickler" I think) is enough.

[@across_the_narrow_sea7856]

I've always thought the "no one" is just a set of rules and skills that let them be untraceable and effective killers and bound them to the order so they don't go around Westeros killing everyone left and right. The origins of the order is bringing the justice so they have to be bound by the rules but they are still men. Jaqen is very human in ACoK, he flirts, he teases and makes jokes and he enjoys very human pleasures. However Rorge and Biter are scared of him so maybe he is higher among the order hence he can take liberties of their rules ?

[@vishishify]

KingOfMadCows the first faceless man wasn't really an assassin. he was just handing out the gift to all those who he felt deserved it. Given that he was a slave, it makes sense that he goes after the slaves masters. He kills the slaves because he thinks he is bringing them happiness, as death seems more preferable than being a slave. The first faceless man wasn't a part of the faceless order. The roles they operate by probably came after he left the slave mines or after getting to bravos.

[@ARS_journal]

Arya's journey is the most favorite and interesting part for me in the show.....she is the only stark who was literally alone and amongst the enemies and people she can't trust......she had to go through hardship and even have trouble for a good meal......being a daughter of a lord and having a great childhood she was the ultimate survivor for me......

[@fabriziozagonel5720]

Seen this now in 2022 and finally understanding who was the alchemist and how that guy Pate was alive when Sam arrived. Your channel is trully greatl

[@kjhart91]

personally I just think it was a bummer of a subplot that is not really going anywhere other than in the form of Arya being a badass now

[@pipifoo1604]

Kip Hackman haha badass she is

[@eyeswydeshut359]

The writers of the show butchered it. They just wanted to end it, they never even wanted to do an 8th season.

[@homevalueglass3809]

They should have taught Ayra with swords, then it would have made more sense going forward.

[@abrarbw]

This video is not really about the show though.

[@shanecauley5933]

"There is only one god and it is what is between a woman's legs." --Salladhor Saan, another Braavosi badass

[@djapa9453]

By this my life shall be carried out

[@SlifWon]

Except that he is not Braavosi, soo...

[@phatphuc9276]

All hail Lord Vaj. 🙏🏼

[@pietrotettamanti7239]

Shane Cauley Salla, Jacquen, Syrio, Robert, Daario, Belwas the Strong, Barristan and I could go on... there is a whole list of badasses which I totally love. Sadly, most of them died.

[@NASAastronautStep-Mom]

That explains why you hear oh god in the bedroom

[@mikevanderman2727]

Nice work, great analysis.

[@taran509]

Who else is watching this after s8 ep 5 and knows theres no chance the faceless men are coming back

[@overlord7877]

Maybe in the show but hopefully in the books there will be more

[@samuellars8802]

None of these videos should be considered relevant to the tv show

[@overlord7877]

@@samuellars8802 agreed

[@fazzzam810]

@@overlord7877 are the books and the series so different?

[@abrarbw]

@@fazzzam810 very different. I'd suggest you to pick up the books. They are absolutely brilliant.

[@transformersloverjon]

You could chock that coincidence about Jaquan and Syrio up to Braavosi cultural similarities.

[@KaiCalimatinus]

transformersloverjon Or Syrio used to be or is another Faceless Man

[@MrStrigori]

transformersloverjon Jaqen pretends to be from Lorath tho, not Braavos.

[@harpe9415]

Ser Stigori The faceless men are from Braavos, Jaqen is from Lorath, but the faceless man pretending to be Jaqen is from Braavos.

[@HamidBnj]

Remember when brian asks arya who taught you fight like this? She answers no one, it sounded wierd now it makes sense

[@shapeshifter7676]

I believe Syrio is also a Faceless Man and all Faceless Men have some kind of "Hive mind" or shared memories or some magical way of communicating with one another, so when Jaqen first met Arya he knew that she was trained by Syrio, when Arya went to the House of White and Black the Faceless Man there knew about Arya from those 2. I don't think they're the same person, but they're all connected somehow through the many faced God

[@bodytoxic98]

I would've payed for this kind of content

[@Tom-pk4gl]

Then become a Patreon supporter...

[@VertFirstQuestion]

"I would've payed if it was not already free" he wants to say ;_;

[@Ostrichpepsi]

+Tom Heimweg you get it for free though so why would he?

[@tictacufo3326]

I think you can find the answer by yourself, stupid question.

[@MrUselessjob]

Sometimes you like something so much, that you're willing to throw money at it, because it's awesome.

[@MagicalHerb]

Seemed to me in the show he warned her of the hardship and pain involved in the training pretty adequately even seeming as tho he did not want her to take the path. Yet he offered it anyway as he likely saw something of himself in her drive for personal revenge, at least what he can remember of his original life sparked an intrest in Aria I think.

[@grayfoxpianist11]

Fantastic as always, Shift. Thanks for making one of the most confusing subplots of the series (right up there with the Meereenese Knot in terms of its impenetrability) more understandable. P.S. What a great username for the guy who transcribed the Forsaken chapter, hahaha. "Oh."

[@AltShiftX]

Cheers mate!

[@J_Tevo]

+Alt Shift X Keep it up, your work is great

[@9938gangsta]

+Alt Shift X brexit

[@Galahad54]

I think Arya is dead, and The Waif with Arya's face is a great assassin. But Arya is not faceless, so maybe not. Would certainly explain a long setup so that Arya with assassin's talents can be explained.

[@keepit1000beatz]

Well we know how important Arya's training was now

[@vicaras1]

Faceless man is going to kill her in the next few weeks

[@OrphanCrippler1]

@@vicaras1 Thatd be pretty awesome

[@Gstarspara9]

Or the faceless man is Arya

[@vicaras1]

@@Gstarspara9 good point maybe she'll take out Jon or aunt Danny.

[@carsonlove531]

Joshua Sovea that would be the worst writing ever

[@Widow-Cicada]

The “Drowned Crow” is a representation of the Greek mythology’s God of Death: Thanatos. This entity appears with a crow on it’s shoulder. Therefore, this supports the claim

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Exactly and the drowned god sounds very much like death to me as well

[@rgtunderworldrgt7773]

One of the most underrated,under deveoped, under told characters in the entire series

[@sophisitcatedpsyco]

That quote about the Doom. "To this day, NO ONE knows what happened." Hmmmmm

[@kebeiwjwgseywgw5590]

Lol

[@sparklight6899]

Books will surely have something to say But in my opinion *rhaegar targaryen,elia Martel,ageon targaryen one of these is still alive* somewhere & Jaqen h'ghar could be one of these & help Arya in killing cersie or mountain

[@brbweed6199]

Jaqen H'ghar is just TOO mysterious to be just a servant of the faceless god. I think the Rhaegar Targaryen theory is pretty fitting to this character there definetely is more about him

[@sparklight6899]

I'm thinking about this too or maybe Aegon targaryen-elder brother of Jon snow ...who knows

[@maevependragon]

Same

[@PurpleBadger]

But Syrio teaches Arya the exact opposite things? 'What do we say to the God of Death? Not today.' Like he's wanting her to not get tangled up with the Faceless Men?

[@phrophetsamgames]

He most probably believes in the many-faced god thanks to their bravosi culture but at the same time doesn't worship him and see death as a gift.

[@carriesmigla-didier8900]

More like she won't die today, she will say not today to the God of Death and take another's life in her stead.

[@susanadrpaixao]

Agree...also syrio humilliated those soldiers with a wood sword...they would NEVER take him alive after that

[@syduzzamansyd4530]

I think faceless man knew about the prophecies or saw the future that she'll kill the Night King with the ASOIAF dagger. So he came to train Arya as Syrio Forel and to not look like a manipulator he changed his face to Jaqen H'gar, and obviously he can't go around showing himself as a faceless man in the Red Keep... also showing Arya that Syrio died, it'd help her to be motivated to become an assassin and a menace

[@8ty_ate]

If the faceless men worship death and say its a relief from this world why did Syrio always tell Arya to say what to death? Not today.

[@jamesmcmillin796]

Hades. I like that theory

[@adriantwenty8]

agree

[@peterjoyfilms]

Syrio isn't one of the Faceless Men, he is just from Braavos I think

[@keisambautista6046]

Wisdom from hades himself

[@sparklight6899]

Watch ep3 of s8 when melisandre tell Arya Melisandre: *what we says to death* Arya: *Not today* Arya's eyes got some spark in it✨ & she ran to kill NK Becoz NK is the death itself Only 1 way to overcome death is to kill the source of death

[@anetelkos50393]

AMAZING video as always! One recommendation, perhaps change the title to "What's up with Jaqen H’ghar and the Faceless Men?" considering a lot of the video has to do with the overall themes of the Faceless Men that may or may not have to do with Jaqen. Otherwise, you killed it. Video was definitely worth the wait :)

[@AltShiftX]

Good point - I'll change it now (:

[@АлмазЗияпов-ю2ц]

What was the old title? I'm curious now

[@Imjustasimpleman5310]

Could you do a video on whats going on with Loras on Dragonstone?

[@NanoScream]

+Marcus Bierman SPOILERS!! Loras is dying.

[@NanoScream]

AK Gray Either, in true fashion of GRRM spirit, Loras is dying or in even truer fashion, he is just dead. 1) He may be dying because of what they told Margaery and it's because of the burns he sustained by taking Dragonstone. Or 2) He's being tortured or has been killed by men loyal to Cersei. Either way, I doubt Loras will show up further besides a scene or two with him in a coffin or in a bed, dying.

[@felixemmanuelle3884]

Proper way to start this video. "Jaqen H'ghar is definetely the most beautiful character in Game of Thrones."

[@Sourdcuo778]

I think it’s more likely that a friend from Bravos hired Jaqen to free Syrio when he was captured at Kings Landing. Or maybe they were friends themselves or maybe Syrio just had the right coin at the right time and Jaqen was around.

[@butterbubbles5375]

It also makes sense that Syrio Forel was from Braavos. Since we’re shown that people clearly fear and respect the Faceless Men, it makes sense that Syrio, a man seeking to be a great swordsmen, would imitate the ideology of such a powerful group. Since everyone fears the Faceless Men, it stands to reason that some people would want similar effectiveness and ideas to the Faceless Men without foregoing their individual willpower. So Syrio was probably just a Braavosi swordsmen who realized the strengths and gifts of the Faceless Men and followed their beliefs in hopes that it would instill him with power and purpose.

[@vixxxenfoxxx3660]

'seeking to be a great swordsman'? I thought he already was, like so great he was the first sword?

[@xtensioncordtv1969]

@@vixxxenfoxxx3660 he was saying that when syrio was younger he was aiming to be a great swordsman. So when syrio was a young man and training he adopted the beliefs of the faceless men

[@vixxxenfoxxx3660]

@@xtensioncordtv1969 gotcha. Now THAT makes sense. I'm just now starting the books. I was trying to hold out til George R. R. Martin finished the set but a friend gave me her collection and I couldn't help it. I really hope Syrio is actually gone and pops back up. He was an amazing character.

[@xtensioncordtv1969]

@pyropulse your arguing with me about my interpretation of someone else's headcanon. Tbh I haven't given much thought about syrio's actions except looking at the syrio=jaqen theory so if your wondering so many questions based on my replying comment I'd suggest asking the person who started this comment chain.

[@A.N.A8]

Jaqen H’ghar is the best character in Game of Thrones and most interesting one as well. I loved him from the first scene I saw him. Sadly GRRM didn't give him a lot to do however show runners tried their best to bring him back but it was kinda underwhelming he was stuck inside the temple most of the time.

[@across_the_narrow_sea7856]

I agree A.N.A . Jaqen is the best character , better even than Tyrion and Jon although I love them too. I wish the show did the justice to the Faceless Men plot. I only hope the real Jaqen shows up in the next book and we see more of him next seasons.

[@aryahghar8660]

Jaqen is at the Citadel in the book. GRRM brought him back and I think we will get more in WoW.

[@Sealwithwificonnection]

Arya H'ghar It was never confirmed he's Jaqen, though. We speculate it but it could be any faceless men. It also brings forth the question: why would the faceless men want the dragons dead? If you remember at the beginning of AFFC 'Jaqen' killed some dude to get some books on dragon killing or something. Then he ends up at the citadel. The magic is returning and the magic apparently can revive the dead. it's also been strongly hinted that the return of the dragons is correlated with the return of the magic. My theory is that since the faceless men think of death as a gift, they'd be against resurrection, I'd think. So if the dragons bring the magic, they bring forth resurrection, therefore making them blasphemous? Or does the magic bring the dragons? I dunno, what do you think?

[@TennysonsMariana]

to be honest, I just liked jaqen's looks. he's also not a nasty bastid. his eyes, his stature, his accent his smile. nothing to do with who the actor is playing him. i'm sure that guy doesn't walk around looking like Jaqen

Arya H'ghar Most of these idiots never read the books. They only know the poor man's version of the story as told by the silly TV soap opera.

[@moldycarrot9267]

So many great tangents that the show will never explore.

[@PastaAivo]

6:33 A far more likely explanation is simply that Syrio shares some ideological and martial basis with faceless men, seeing as they are from the same region and the faceless men have such a massive cultural significance to the braavosi (like everyone understanding and honoring the iron coin etc.)

[@borismuller86]

So much info in such a short space of time! My brain hurts 😫

[@dr150]

Hit pause and remind. Rinse and repeat.

[@pinoygoesviral2302]

these are not infos. just theories.

[@goatismyname]

Preston Jacobs makes a good case for the Faceless Men being contracted by the Golden Company, to out Blood Raven. And Jaqen's on the job, along with Rorgue and Biter. He was in the Black Cells with a plan to go to the Wall. Now with his companions dead, Jaqen has gotten himself next to a Glass Candle, possibly to get a location for B.Raven. Maybe Preston is wrong about half of it, but the argument is good. I think the guild of assassins is just that. They took out Balon Greyjoy for an expensive egg. Maybe they wanted Arya to hatch it and Warg a dragon. Maybe it's just worth a lot of money. I think Bloodraven would have been worth Bittersteel's gold. The contract maybe 100 years old. It could have been dismissed as void once B.R. disappeared North of the Wall. And it could have been reopened once it was known that B.R. is still alive. But who in the story knows that? And who could spread the rumor, or report back to the House of B/W? ...magic! If Jaqen/Alcamist/Pate was in Old Town, and now the Citadel, because he wanted the Dragon book, he'd have taken it and dipped out. Or he'd have read what he needed, and left it there. But he stuck around for something more. The only thing worth anything in Maester Marwin's company is his Glass Candle. What's a Faceless Man's use for a G.C.? Finding people who are hard, or impossible, to find. People who can't be found any other way. Or maybe he just wants to check his email.

[@georgea.567]

But how would they know who blood raven was

[@HelyneMay]

I've seen this theory, too. Just to add GC's are used for finding people, or communicating with them across impossible distances, including getting inside their dreams, like Quaithe does with Daenerys. BR seems like the most obvious choice for the FM to find under contract, but there could be others, if they are working for Euron. I wonder: Not just anyone can light a glass candle, but can anyone use it, once it is burning?

[@NanoScream]

+George A. Yeah I was gonna say. That theory made no sense in that regard but The Alchemist more than likely wouldn't be after the Glass Candles as they are just obsidian with little magic. I believe he is there for Sam Tarly. In this great conspiracy of ASoIaF perhaps the Faceless Men are nudging events in someone's favor. I believe the F.M. are able to view the future cause the original Pate was bought with a gold coin, and just before he died, if I remember correctly, he bit into the coin to make sure it was real. Doesn't this sound like what Arya did in ADWD when she got her first target? So Pate didn't die by magic but by the poison coating the coin and I believe that The Alchemist was able to see that Arya did it in the near future.

[@Panyc333]

Preston is entertains but can go too far down the rabbit hole sometimes.

[@georgea.567]

Matt Something Yeah I watch Preston because his videos are entertaining. Sometimes his videos make sense sometimes like his Faceless men killing Blood Raven theories don't.

[@rudytheskull]

5:30 jaken didn't came to king's landing to recruit arya, he came to take a contract on danerys's head "During a small council meeting discussing King Robert I Baratheon's demand that Daenerys Targaryen die, Grand Maester Pycelle suggests hiring the Faceless Men to assassinate the exiled princess. The master of coin, Lord Petyr Baelish, says that doing so would be too expensive; the price to hire the Faceless Men to kill a merchant is twice that of hiring an army of sellswords, and the price to kill a princess would be even higher. Varys, the master of whisperers, will instead offer a lordship to a successful assassin."

[@pyrox2518]

Ever considered Syrio and Jaqen being the same person? Also I don't think Jaqen manipulated Arya to join the faceless men. She owed him that because she asked more of him than was offered to her.

[@pumblechook1505]

Why did Danaerys never buy more Dragon Eggs. There's plenty around (if expensive) and she knows how to hatch them.

[@spinch7518]

Pumblechook 1 correct me if I’m wrong but I always got the impression they were like incredibly rare and hard to come by

[@flaffy6181]

She was gifted them at her wedding thing. I think those were the only 3 they found in a cave.

[@jakoblynas8016]

There’s this whole plotline in Fire and Blood about how someone steals three dragon eggs and sells them to the sealord in bravos. Supposedly these are the same eggs which daenerys gets, which would explain why there aren’t anymore around. It’s also a bad idea from a narrative viewpoint

[@Hurmeri]

She doesn't know how to hatch them. Martin has flat-out said during some bygone interview that those three dragons' birth is a miracle, instead of something that can be replicated. After all, such nice people as the Mad King and several generations prior had been trying to bring dragons back. Including those Targaryen kings hiring mages from the eastern lands. If someone like Mirri maz dhuur, a midwife in a village of shepherds knows "hey, killing people to power magic can work", you can be fairly sure a royal family that rules a continent had been told the same... and several of them were more than desperate or cruel enough to try.

[@hiddendagger7291]

its not like u can put egg in fire and they will hatch there was some magic and luck

[@brosephyolonarovichstalin2915]

Title ‘what is up with Jaqen H’ghar’. A man says: Quite a lot to be honest.

[@moff181]

The biggest enemy of the Faceless Men are the White Walkers, who are reanimating the dead and hence robbing the many faced God

[@FrenchSensei]

Something interesting to note at around 2:40 - he used the Red God maybe because they were almost burned to death and that is kind of the calling card of the Red God. Not only would the Faceless referring to their god as all of the different aspects be good for throwing people of their trail, but perhaps they actually *do* know about all the many different incarnations of Death and respect the individual aspects to some degree.

[@nobodyspecial115]

That's why I always assumed he said that the red god was owed.

[@BackWhereYouStarted]

6:30 "why would the faceless men bother with Arya?" Season 8, Battle for Winterfell: "Oh, that might be why"

[@SardaukarNo1]

Arya could simply have named the Night King to Jaqen H'ghar

[@pumblechook1505]

Considering ONE obsidian arrow could kill the Night King...

[@torainobeckford8136]

She may actually be Azor Ahai and sexism has blinded us to it.

[@lsdeann_3293]

Azor Ahai prophecies were never even a part of the show, though, were they??

[@pesco7]

@@pumblechook1505 Not confirmed on that. After all, the Night King could suppress fire.

[@thisguy5017]

Syrio wasn't specifically looking for Arya, it's more likely that the identity was ideal for recruiting potential pupils to become faceless men.

[@isaacmessinger3228]

This channel makes me want to read the books and dive deep into the lore. Is it worth?

[@AltShiftX]

Yes.

[@isaacmessinger3228]

Alt Shift X From the man himself! I suppose I couldn't ask for a more appropriate person to respond. Just put a hold on the first book, wish me luck.

[@etaybourlakoff1182]

you would have a hard time reading the books after seeing the show, as you will confuse details from the show with the books

[@franciscozattoni]

Wait till the books are finished. Otherwise you're gonna have to wait years until you can know how it ends

[@reezySZN]

Francisco Zattoni the showrunners already know how the story ends. We don’t have to wait for years.

[@pvksmaheeth8816]

here is the answer for ur question at 5:56 . He already thought of recruiting Arya, so its the first test for her will she help the 3 people inside the wagon or leave them for death and she passed the test

[@NYSports14]

Agreed. In this series, if a character doesn’t die ON SCREEN you can’t assume they are actually dead

[@user-in9lb6hd7c]

I’m always confused how a faceless man ends up caught in a cage being sent to the wall

[@maxwellkouvaras3166]

Bran sent him a message from the future as the three eyed Raven setting him on a series of events that leads him to meeting Arya and categorically killing the Mr. Daddy White Walker.