Bloodraven - A character study | Livestream

[@deonjames1041]

These livestreams are gold

[@gleann_cuilinn]

I think Bloodraven as a character is an exploration of how seeing the future would affect someone's view of human life and politics. Bloodraven seems to have such a big-picture and abstract view of life that he doesn't mind doing some pretty cruel things to reach his ends. He's so focused on saving humanity that he's forgotten the value of individual human lives.

[@Levacque]

He's the epitome of Realpolitik. It's as if Henry Kissinger had premonitions on top of being an amoral political dynamo.

[@louiscassis3426]

I find it wild that so much emphasis is put on the prince that was promised but it seems that Bran ends up being more important/powerful. Maybe the game that Bloodraven ends up playing is to neutralize the forces of ice and fire (Daenerys/John vs white walkers) in favor of the forces of balance/nature being the weirwoods and Bran.

[@ThommyofThenn]

Harebrained but i like it

[@constantinetranos2225]

Reasonable thinking

[@HelvetesSkitApa]

*Jon

[@thelateescapist8266]

Blood Raven is by far the most interesting character in A Song of Ice and fire. If George RR Martin finishes the series, and I know this becomes a bigger if with each passing day, I'd love to get one more prequel novel from Blood Raven's perspective. And or a tv series.

[@AndrewK23777]

Great stream Robert / IDG. 3.5 hours of intense discussion and that only being part one is a testament to GRRM creating such an interesting and complex character in Bloodraven. Look forward to part two next week , deeper dive into more magical elements and Northern lore etc. Also , as to an issue brought up earlier in the stream about BR intimidating and sending warnings. Perhaps he did via dreams / visions etc but mostly due to the paranoia of the informing network around BR and how draconian and ruthless he dealt with any issue / conflict. That was often enough to dissuade similar attempts / challenging BR.

[@liverdave1977]

Been waiting for a Blood Raven deep dive for ages, well worth the wait, bring on part 2 👍🏻👍🏻

[@joseysomemore]

ty Robert ....we all love a bloodraven stream!

[@gun_hound]

Thank you Robert. This series has been awesome.

[@thelateescapist8266]

If Euron's boyhood dreams of flight are an indication of psychic contact with Blood Raven, the fact that he dreamed of flying and not falling further indicates that Blood Raven successfully opened his third eye (unlocked his magical potential). If so Euron will probably have experienced prophetic visions from this point on, similar to Bran. Visions that would have led him to question Ironborne religious beliefs. This gnosticism would have been the impetus for Eurons many crimes against his own family, which are all essentially challenges to the power of the Drowned God. Such visions would also explain Euron's tactical brilliance. For if Euron dreamed of battles before they happened, he could take advantage of his foreknowledge when formulating strategies. Without guidance from Blood Raven or one of his agents, Euron would have had to acquire his practical magical knowledge elsewhere. Which he clearly did on his voyages in the east.

[@Stormborn1991]

It seems to me that his mother, Melyssa, might be a formidable character. She arrived to the court and became the new mistress, right after what happed with the Brackens (the conspiracy to replace Queen Naerys with Barba). I think that Melyssa realised that having Aegon´ s affection only , wasn´t the best choice, because he was capricious and very promiscous, so probably one day he would just get bored of her and simply send her away.. So keeping that in mind, I think that she thought that the best for her, for her house and her future children, would be to gain Daeron´s trust and favor, and the easiest way to do it was by being friendly and kind to his mother. Proving that she wasn´t going to be a threat.

[@stephencampbell7603]

oh ive missed so much IDG lately. this explains why lol. Love your work Robert!

[@Smurffies]

Should have special guest on for the second half would be really awesome to get the different theories and opinions from different creators

[@EarnestTargenfyre]

Another Great Stream Robert Baratheon! 🔥

[@dylancanaday3807]

The idea that Dunk is pretty much a pillar of creation is so fucking cool.

[@trevorwilliams6362]

Time stuff is fun! Bran never changed the past because he likely already caught Ned's attention in the past. Affecting Neds seems, to me, to be a leading factor in Ned bringing Jon back home and raising him as a Stark

[@thunter558]

keep up the great work rob, awesome, from a northerner, ie- near Leeds, lol

[@prairieskye]

Dunk is a Catalyst. Thinking of The Farseer Trilogy

[@prairieskye]

A glamour is just that, a glamour. Davos & Jon both doubt what they see with Melisandre too.

[@LitcheTheArsm]

A Singer/Child of the Forrest told Bran that Coldhands died ”a long time ago”, seeing how long their lifespans are i seriously doubt Coldhands is from Bloodraven’s guards. BUT they are definitely allies.

[@Levacque]

It's still about 70 years, that's going to be about a third or a quarter of a Child's lifespan. If somebody asked me about somebody who died 25 years ago, I'd probably describe it as "a long time." Who else is Coldhands, reasonably? It's the best possible guess we can make with provided information.

[@firstsecond9569]

Just because Ned responded in the past to Bran calling out to him in the future doesn't mean Bran changed the past. That could have already been part of his past. That would be consistent with Blood raven saying you can't change the past. So interaction with the past would be futile as it would turn out to to lead to the present.

[@baruchgoldberg6280]

Re: Craster offering children: The books Old Nan says “& they fed babies to their undead etc” (the 1st story when Bran wakes up in A GOT)

[@SapphireSolstice67]

12:00-15:00 Aerys I not Aenys I. Ignore this if Robert later realised his mistake and I just haven’t seen it yet.

[@IDGlive]

Yep, a slip of the tongue multiplied out .... these things happen live ... I know my Aerys from my Aenys

[@parascopicvision]

@@IDGliveThis slip of the tongue really points out, to me at least, that Aenys I should’ve been called Aerys instead, which would make the Mad King Aerys III of course. I’ve never liked the name Aenys, and it never really appears in the Targaryen family tree, before or after, King Aenys-excluding the Blackfyres. Even the name “Maegor” appears, even if it was meant to be provocative, more than once in the Targaryen line. If “Aerys” is supposed to be a name associated with prophecy, that could be why King Aenys wasn’t named “Aerys” by Martin. But still, I think it would make sense as to whom Aerys I (son of Daeron the Good) was named for (if he was instead “Aerys II” in this hypothetical scenario). As it stands in the lore, Aerys I was named for a far older Lord of Dragonstone before the conquest…which makes less sense imo.

[@Smurffies]

The Skarsgard that played pennywise that creepy guy lol. he would be a good blood-Raven

[@davidryan7386]

Hiddleston could handle it.nbut not the filming schedule prob.

[@KCPelletier]

If Jefferson Hall can be both Ser Hugh of the Vale in Game of Thrones and Jason & Tyland Lannister in House of the Dragon, could Harry Lloyd be Bloodraven?

[@Levacque]

As much as I want Harry Lloyd to have all the work in the world, I think Ewan Mitchell has more of that austere energy that Bloodraven has.

[@Caramelo23606]

I think he's an absolute creep. Messing with kids dreams, messing with kids pets, all for surveillance, control and "the greater good". I can' t begin to describe the horror I would feel if I found out that my beloved pets are controled by a wizard so he can have an eye on me. The direwolves are one of the most magical and wholesome things in the series and to think it was all this creep... I used to think Mormont's raven was also a cute and magical thing until I considered it might be under BR influence aswell. I think this is what his character is about: real magic turned ugly under a powerful individual. Things can't be truly magical, innocent and whimsical because he's always watching. I don't believe prophecy excuses this, and all his horrid actions. Prophecy has only yielded positive results once so far in the story: the dream of Daenys. That is, if you consider positive saving a lizard family of destruction so they can subjugate a continent afterwards. It's either that, or he's a nice guy wich mistrust because he's a red eyed albino.

[@LitcheTheArsm]

Reminds me abit of how calculating and manipulative dumbledore was

[@Levacque]

I think this speaks more broadly to the unnerving influence that governments have on everyday lives. Bloodraven is the Kissinger of Westeros, doing horrible things to some people while believing that the ends justify the means. It touches on surveillance states and reducing individual autonomy for the "greater good." Some of that is necessary for any functioning society, but people like Kissinger, Varys, and Bloodraven will always act in their own self-interest as well as whatever "good" they believe they are making.

[@phillipmitchell2254]

Damn I thought this was about the rogue from Diablo

[@AnthonyDGreen]

Did you stay awhile and listen?

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

Bloodraven may have been fighting for the greater good but who decides what that is and what should be sacrificed. He had so many dishonorable actions while fighting The Blackfyres like Killing unarmed King Haegon after he surrendered when Prince Aenys Blackfyre tried to peaceful push the claim of his House Bloodraven lied killed him and his head was Paraded around to scare people into submission.Then of course what happened to King Daemon Blackfyre and his oldest sons but that was a battle and Bloodraven could never be as honorable as King Daemon and who knows what else he did other people maybe even to the Red Dragons.

[@davidryan7386]

Who decides? Brendyn Martin!!!!

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

@@davidryan7386 😆😆😆

[@Slechy_Lesh]

2:01:07

[@jenny_of_oldstones3523]

33:43 lol Old Men or First men??

[@TrevvorStewart]

@davidlightbringer

[@Lotschi]

2:57:02