Roose Bolton's masterplan

[@parkersenders4446]

I get this sense that Roose is almost collecting curses/ personally breaching sacred/ magical laws - he takes and holds Harrenhal, he personally kills his king, he plans and takes part in the greatest breaching of guestright the world has possibly ever seen, he lies in front of the heart tree, hes eaten the Freys, and now he holds a Stark-less Winterfell, when there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I imagine that, as Ramsay is his greatest liability, kinslaying will be an important part of the end of his story.

[@Kriskazam]

He also drinks Weirwood sap which i feel like is heretical. I like this idea that he’s like Euron and wants to be a complete heretic

[@ShadeoftheEvening]

​@@Kriskazamdude. I SOOO don't remember that. And I've read the books more times than I can count. I guess I'll just HAVE to read again😁 great catch and theory

[@barneyboyle6933]

Interesting point, but wasn’t it a Frey that actually killed Robb?

[@parkersenders4446]

@@barneyboyle6933 'A man in dark armor and a pale pink cloak spotted with blood stepped up to Robb. "Jaime Lannister sends his regards." He thrust his longsword through her son's heart, and twisted.' -ASOS, Catelyn VII Unless a Frey decided he wanted to wear pink and throw in a Jaime quote they never heard, this is Roose Bolton

[@YamatoTre]

@@Kriskazam He does not. He drinks hippocras

[@DarkVeghetta]

Surprisingly, it turns out that being a Bolton bannerman is among the safest professions in North, thanks to Roose Bolton himself.

[@arvintyree1109]

Until he dies and Ramsey takes over😂

[@jmace2424]

House Bolton is proof that sometimes you just need to do a Castamere.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

The biggest immersion breaking fact in the entire story is that house Stark didn't exterminate the Boltons long ago. I mean they skinned your family and wore them as cloaks. Bruh I'd fucking destroy them asap

[@zacp2770]

​@@Captain_Insano_nomercy yeah its strange. I thought it was because the Boltons were somewhat powerful in their own right and wiping them out would cause problems with the Bolton bannermen. But then again the starks havent been afraid of crushing thr enemy 😂😂

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

@zacp2770 yeah I don't think there is a great in-world explanation. George just wanted them to be a sneaky enemy for the Starks

[@nathanhursey6779]

@@Captain_Insano_nomercythere the second most powerful house in the north, also not every Bolton is bad. The Boltons helped the starks beat the anndals.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

@nathanhursey6779 bruh they skinned people

[@frankvandorp2059]

Roose's strategy worked very well as long as everyone around him acted somewhat logically. He could even adapt to Robb's rash choice to spurn the Freys. But his undoing will be two things that are so crazy he couldn't possibly have predicted it: Stannis going to the Wall and being a threat all of a sudden, and Cersei destroying House Lannister so Roose is left on his own suddenly. Of course, being a shapeshifting vampire, he probably will try to take over Ramsay's body and make it look like "Roose" is dead. But neither Roose nor Ramsay will have a way out at this point.

[@evanhayes5891]

This is wild.

[@pokeman5000]

"Bolt-on apply directly to the forehead." Honestly it would be more interesting if the Bolton's did figure out face changing by trial and error through flaying lmao. It also would add clout to Qyburn's experiments.

[@ghnanrohit3029]

Cercsi didn't destroy house lanister tyrion did

[@pabloreed7717]

@@ghnanrohit3029in what way?????

[@weshouser821]

@@pabloreed7717 He killed Tywin

[@eric2500]

One of the creepiest characters in all of literature! And I don't even think he's a bolt-on shapeshifting vampire! *The creepiest part is that he just does not seem to care.* Win, lose, mass murder, be king, lose all his children, ho hum.

[@melodyogonna]

He has no feeling. Roose is a cold cold man, there is no passion to him, everything is just a game he indulges in to amuse himself

[@rumorcontrol7873]

He acts as though he has more than one life to live but values this one most highly, I think the Bolt-on theory is spot on but if this skin-changer has been leading the Boltons for centuries against the Starks I wonder why? What if Roose is actually the spirit of a long-dead Stark Lord who was driven from the castle and vowed eternal revenge to reclaim his throne?

[@marcuskif]

​@@rumorcontrol7873😮....

[@aprilmae274]

I don't think Roose was simply ready and willing to turn on Robb... I believe that he felt Robb was going to lose, and at THAT point, he chose to save his line and turned on Robb- albiet on th DL. I really appreciate how he follows Manderly's lead in eating etc. It says A LOT.

[@JohnTorres1987]

Robb Stark actually picked Greatjon Umber to lead the foot soldier part of the army but Catelyn tells him to pick again. It is actually her fault that Roose ever had the power to get so many soldiers killed and to be answering and receiving ravens at Harrenhal.

[@JimRFF]

To be fair though, Bolton *was* a better pick for command than Umber from a strategic perspective... it is more likely that Umber would have played into Tywin Lannister's strategy and gotten beaten far worse at the Battle of the Green Fork, which would also have resulted in a Stark defeat, just in a different way

[@kingtreck7117]

Too be fair though the Greatjon was a great warrior but most likely would have been a terrible commander Roose was able to engage the Lannisters and retreat without great casualties. The Greatjon most likely would have kept attacking and probably lost the battle entirely or suffered even more. My pick would have been Robert Glover but then again retreating from a battle while not being over run is very difficult if Roose was loyal he would have been the best call also he was making smart moves through out the war before team killing

[@kingtreck7117]

@@JimRFF brother?

[@JohnTorres1987]

@@kingtreck7117 you never trust a house that has been royalty in their own right or descended from royalty but now find themselves in a subservient position. Yronwoods. Florents. Boltons.

[@Raycloud]

@@JohnTorres1987 Umbers, Dustins, Ryswells, Karstarks, or a few dozen other noble houses. ;p

[@GijsTheDog]

Brynden Tully: Didn't you marry one of these Frey girls? Roose Bolton: Aye. Lord Walder let me choose any of his granddaughters and promised me the girl's weight in silver as a dowry. So I have a fat young bride. Catelyn Stark: I hope she makes you very happy. Roose Bolton: Well, she's made me very rich.

[@SechsVerehrer3-qd9fu]

Savage.

[@krisjohnston5569]

@@SechsVerehrer3-qd9fu Catelyns line was more savage, but you need to be an adult to understand why.

[@Lach1234]

That smile after he said "Aye" was menacing. 😂

[@movieloverfan18]

He did not expect for her to make him happy, but in the books she did, they had a very happy marriage. He made her happy as well, treating her with respect and she wanted for nothing. She was very happy being married to Roose Bolton and being lady of Winterfell. She was always insecure about her weight, until the day it was the reason he chooses her. Unmarried Frey women were gathered in a room and Roose saw her immediately, weighing twice as much as the others. Roose did fear that any children they had would not be old enough by the time Roose died . He worried that Ramsay would kill a young heir, which he was right about, though he hadn't foreseen Ramsay killing himself.

[@adamstewart5188]

@@movieloverfan18 It's a small thing, but Walda isn't Lady of Winterfell; she is Lady of the Dreadfort. Roose is Warden of the North, but Ramsay was awarded Winterfell after the Red Wedding.

[@arcadedomination8006]

Roose being a wary man really fits into his general undead vibe. The leechings and things he does for his health, his coldness and extreme wariness all seem like ploys to never die.

[@larryf4180]

Roose was one of those characters that they really couldn't properly portray in the show, he had such an air of terror around him. I think that's one of the reasons that they switched Roose for Tywin in Arya's story in Harrenhal. It would have made much less sense for Arya to fear and distrust show Roose.

[@hi-ls6lt]

I thought the actor was excellent though

[@londonarbuckle8601]

That amazing voice!

[@Vahapetautus]

@@hi-ls6ltincredible actor. Also I think the Tywin and Arya relationship was a fantastic bit of film

[@thecocktailian2091]

The actor, whilst able at his craft, was one the most brutal of miscastings fro myself. He needed to be super thin, with a sunken face and poor pale skin. The skin could have been treated. but the other features are just too important. The Roose we got was far more remarkable. Really misleads the viewer.

[@renferal5290]

I'm actually reading the books now. I am on the second one. So many differences from the show. I'm really enjoying them.

[@MasterMote]

Wow enjoy! Btw books 4 and 5 basically didn't even happen in the shows at all.

[@perrysmajestic988]

Same the books are page turners

[@BehuraStudio]

I’m such a slow reader because i reread every page like 3 times, it’s just that good!!

[@MasterMote]

@@BehuraStudio take ur time, and when u finally finish adwd maybe twow will be ready finally 😅🤷‍♂️

[@billdenny9599]

Wish I could read them for the 1st time again. It's literally ALL I did besides work and college when I started reading them in 2010ish. I've lost count how many times I've physically read every book available on the subject and listened to the audio books read by Roy Dotrice while driving over the years. Enjoy the REAL World of Ice and Fire.

[@Smurffies]

Content idea: beastiary for Witcher content. Going around talking about all the different crazy creatures or even a traveler's guide for that universe

[@ejsmith7626]

Never seen the Witcher but every monster profile from the game looks insane.

[@Smurffies]

@@ejsmith7626 The game's really deep dive into the monsters with a page on each of them with lore which make an even more crazy. It's really pretty cool

[@zacyule4674]

​@ejsmith7626 definitely worth the read 📚 👌

[@Smurffies]

@@zacyule4674 I did enjoy the books, I felt it was harder to keep my attention the last two books It took me a bit to get through all of it. I really like the first two short stories / prologue books

[@borisdorofeev5602]

Actually a very cool idea.

[@DexterTheDuck]

I love these in-depth videos. Please keep them coming

[@johnniiee146]

Never will accept that evil Frodo got the best of the Lord of the Dreadfordt

[@MasterMote]

Lol! No ofcourse not..patently absurd. Thats something d&d totally made up in their minds, definitely not from grrm

[@benderthepirate]

Show Ramsay became a Gary Stu near the end. The show kept giving him more screen time and more stuff to do. In the books, even Theon finds Roose more frightening than Ramsay. Ramsay is a mad dog. Roose is an evil genius.

[@danielriley7380]

😂 Evil Frodo. I like that.

[@wayne47able]

Not only that but in she show they gave him decent fighting skills when you watch the mele he had with the Iron Born when they came to rescue Theon. While in the books Roose basically tells Theon that Ramsay cant fight for shit and that he swings sword more like a butcher cutting meat.@@benderthepirate

[@salvadorgutierrez8291]

@@benderthepirate yeah, i dont know why they decided to give more screentime to Ramsay instead of Roose, like it is clear that Roose is the real threat in the books while Ramsay is more of a wild dog without the ability to see consequences for his rash and idiotic actions.

[@DivingDog0]

I think Roose has blundered by sending out the Freys and Manderlys instead of mainly Boltons. Being done in by his own trick is just the kind of poetic irony that keeps happening in these books. Here are the reasons: - As Theon claims, Hosteen and Wyman won't combine their forces. And Ramsey likely won't either. So we have a three-piece assault. It's the equivalent of a martial arts movie where all your enemies attack you one at a time instead of together. - Ramsey likely wants to strike last when Stannis is most tired. But if the entire assaulting force is HALF of Roose's army. Then Ramsey's force is a third of that half. Or less (Freys have over 1000 by themselves and seem to be the biggest contingent). I was under the impression Stannis' army started off as roughly equal to Roose's. That's a large size disadvantage. - Wyman is likely to use this opportunity to turn. Inside Winterfell (assuming none of the Northern houses join him) he's far outnumbered. Outside - he can join Stannis as soon as the Freys get stuck in. - Why would Wyman join Stannis now? We've seen he's reticent to declare for him, even after his son's safe. This is a sign of him hedging his bets. If he joins the Freys and kills Stannis, he's got one less bet to hedge. He'd never join Roose permanently. He's rat-cook levels of hate for Bolton and Frey. So his last option would be the northern conspiracy. A conspiracy that hinges on finding one of the lost Stark boys. Far from certain. He needs to keep Stannis as a fall-back if the worst happens. - But let's say during the one or two months this march on Winterfell has played out, Davos found Rickon and sent a raven to declare it. Now Wyman's condition for joining Stannis is complete. And he would DEFINITELY help Stannis. The alternative would be to betray him cus "there is only king of the north now, lol". And you don't make that betrayal when your more hated and more powerful enemy remains alive and at your back. - Stannis is the mannis. And being the mannis - an expert at war - he is also under the opinion Roose has blundered - Of all the forces inside Winterfell with the Boltons, the Freys were the most loyal. Without them, the remaining Boltons look more coupable. I don't see how the Freys get out of this alive. Everyone else is up in the air. But either way, the Boltons aren't winning this fight. They still might win the war (Roose just sitting inside Winterfell with the remainder of his army, now with less mouths to feed, will finish Stannis off). But with Manderly showing his true colours, he knows Oldcastle and Widow's Watch will follow his lead. Two forces still inside Winterfell.

[@DivingDog0]

@@Darius-_ I've stated the Frey numbers. There are under 2000 Freys. And they're going outside... You can't stop a coup inside Winterfell if you are stood outside Winterfell. That should be obvious. Theon specifically says Ramsey's coming outside. What's he coming outside WITH if not some of the Bolton forces? 'More' coupable. 'More'. More being used in the sense of 'increasingly possible'. 4k Bolton soldiers. Less the soldiers Ramsey takes outside (1k? 2?). And what's the entirety of the remaining Northmen got inside Winterfell? We don't have numbers. But could the Dustins, Ryswells, Slates, Stouts, Lockes, Flints, Cerwyns, Tallharts, Hornwoods, Umbers, etc have 2k together? 3k? 4?! It's not inconceivable. I'll await to hear any of the important details I omitted.

[@BODYBAGxPAT]

I think Ramsay is going skip out of the battle and go back to the Dreadfort

[@blue_diamond_gem]

Rat cook, nice job there lol

[@IDieHardForever]

Is Stannis still alive in the books? I might just have to read those but... I'm worried about them not being done. However I was so dissatisfied with how the show ended ("Because she's our Queen" oh get a fuckin life Snow)

[@arcanics1971]

Roose Bolton, the diet Lannister of ASoIaF. A very interesting character- the sections with Arya are among my favourite in the books. It made perfect sense to swap Roose for Tywin in the show, but I think the book version is much better for it fills out Bolton's character, making him that grey that we love in Martin's "evil" characters.

[@jcwilder86]

roose put the houses that would stand against him in the future in the vanguard, brilliant

[@danieldirocco8282]

Ramsey is still such an odd variable. For such a risk averse man, having an unstable psychotic son like him running around has some benefits, sure, but also a lot of risk. It's odd that he doesn't care a bit that his heir was killed by Ramsey or that he will likely do so again. Maybe he is just completely nihilistic and doesn't care what happens to him after he dies, but that is kind of an incongruous personality trait for someone with so much political ambition. While it's certainly tinfoil, the theory that he plans on taking Ramsey's skin to live a second life does help explain this. He mentions taking Ramsey in from his mother after seeing his eyes are just like his. Why would such a cold, uncaring, and risk averse man take in a bastard child when far better men than him keep their bastards at arms length? Maybe he saw something in Ramsey's eyes, that he had the "gift" or curse of the Boltons, a dark counterpart to the Stark gift of skinchanging. Maybe Ramsey has the perfect skin for Roose to flay and wear?

[@whittenaw]

Very interesting!

[@cheraxe4ever12345678]

He didn't take in Ramsay though, he made him live with his mother away from the Dreadfort - Ramsay comes to it much later, after his brother wants him there

[@MRJTD99]

I don't think Roose is actually politically ambitious. I think him choosing to take power is purely from the perspective of, "I have the most control over my situation if I'm in power." Think about it, he never voices wanting power and his actions and monologues don't really show it either. He doesn't care that Ramsay has or will kill his heirs, nor does he care about Ramsay as an heir (besides from the danger he poses to himself). He has no love for the north, for his wife, or for any other families. He has no greater goal or ambition, or a strive for legacy. All Roose really seems to care about is his own safety. He's so hyper paranoid calculated, its almost like a self-fulfilling prophesy. He does everything to secure him coming out on top, but by doing so, he creates new problems and enemies.

[@frankvandorp2059]

That's the great thing about the Bolt-On theory, it actually explains a lot of these oddities. Ramsay's character is irrelevant if 'Roose' plans to kill him and wear his skin anyway, so he can afford having his crazed baseborn son as an heir. It also explains why Roose fathered Ramsay in the first place. Killing a peasant to r*** his wife seems to go entirely against Roose's rule of "a peaceful land, a quiet people", but if the 'Roose' we know is an immortal being and not the original Roose, the original Roose might have been an irresponsible hothead. A character trait he might have passed on to Ramsay.

[@marcinnadolny6296]

Is it Roose Bolton or a Ruse of Bolton ?:) His decision to spare Ramsay just cuz he had blue eyes kinda fits with the idea that he wants to take his place, pardon me, his skin. Also his paranoid stance towards traitors, poisons, his heavy armor on Red Wedding, using body doubles could be a way of not surviving but preventing anyone from discovering that he isn't human and can't be killed with standard methods. Peaceful land, silent people also comes in handy when You are hiding dark secrets. Maybe he is indeed undying man but capable of siring children. Somewhat like the Night's King, hell Old Nan tells Bran that he could have been Bolton. She mentions that :When he gave seed to his white lady he also gave his soul. Also Nightfort as his domain had been full of sorcery and dark rituals for 13 years of his rule.

[@Calebe_Sagaz]

After reading all five books twice, I think Roose Bolton and Euron Greyjoy will be the real threat. Not just enemies, but the real enemies who were always around and no one thought (including us) how big their plan was. And let's remember that GRRM is great at not pointing out the obvious. Many believe the story could end with Jon or Daenerys on the Iron Throne, but I don't think that will happen.

[@rai2423]

Everyone knows Euron is a threat. That is literally how he has been introduced to us. Roose is child’s play compared to Euron.

[@nathanhursey6779]

@@rai2423how so?

[@Cesare-Borgia]

@@rai2423 We don't really know anything about him, neither his plans nor his ambitions, so how is he "child's play" compared to Euron ? As far as we've seen, they're pretty on par In term of ruthlesness.

[@rai2423]

@@Cesare-Borgia We know he isn’t planning on bringing about magical apocalypse. You’re crazy as hell for even thinking Little Finger is planning anything as apocalyptic as Euron. And on the same playing field? Really? When has Little Finger ever kidnapped a bunch of clergymen strapped them to a ship and performed a ritual where he killed them all at the same time while torturing his brother? Be so f@coming for real right now 😂

[@Cesare-Borgia]

@@rai2423 Dude reread your first post lmao, we’re talking about Roose Bolton not Littlefinger.

[@JohnTorres1987]

Tommen legitimized Ramsay. Not Roose. Roose doesn’t think that Bran and Rickon are dead. He knows better when he is talking to Ramsay about them.

[@LusiaEyre]

Technicality. Roose still had to ask for Ramsey to be legitimised. The king signs the paper, but the father makes the decision.

[@eric2500]

He knows Jeyne is not really Arya, too. Do you think he told his hideous rapist son?

[@JohnTorres1987]

@@eric2500 who said anything about Jeyne Pool and Arya?

[@GhostEmblem]

@@JohnTorres1987 If memory serves Ramsey told Reek to lie about Jayne being Arya so its pretty unlikely Roose doesn't know. Man, I read those book so long ago.

[@JohnTorres1987]

@@GhostEmblem Roose knows. He just doesn’t care as long as she is a convincing enough fake Arya. Besides, Arya is supposed to be 11. Jeyne Poole is 13-14. Barbrey Dustin seems to know. She says something to Theon about how dressing her in grey and white won’t matter if “the girl” is left to weep. She had custody of her from the time they arrived in Barrowton until the day of the wedding in Winterfell. I’m sure she talked to her and figured it out if she didn’t outright say it. She also says “the bride weeps.” Wyman Manderly most likely knows because Arya has been to White Harbor twice. Her eyes are the biggest giveaway. Arya has the classic Stark look. Brown hair and grey eyes. Jeyne has brown eyes. Jeyne thinks Ramsay knows because she says to Theon that she thinks he knows who she really is because of the way he looks at looks at her. He looks “so angry” when he looks at her.

[@gamebawesome]

I think Roose Bolton is an underrated character. He's like Tywin-lite.

[@Mathemagical55]

Both were killed by their bastard/dwarf sons.

[@indianasquatchunters]

He’s the Tywin of the North. Also much more poor

[@williamcordier1201]

@@indianasquatchunters It would be funny if his house phrase was "A Bolton never pays his debts"

[@arcadedomination8006]

I prefer Roose's characterization. Tywin is far more straightforward, whereas Roose is always characterized as enigmatic and even magically unnerving. Roose feels like Tywin with horror flavouring and more subtlety.

[@ethanstaaf404]

Hes tywin dark

[@jaysheth1541]

This was Great One! Very few readers and Ice and Fire Fandom pay attention to Roose Bolton. I remember being taken aback when I first read these books at the sheer callousness of Roose while speaking about his future children being end up getting killed by Ramsay. It will be an interesting video to make about the relationship between Roose and Ramsay. Also, I was filled with fascination about the idea that for Roose this world is just a Game and a Playhouse and people are his playthings. Very much like Baelish. It feels that like Euron, even Roose is sensing the present times being like the End Days of some cycle from which a new Power Pieces of the Game will emerge. Kind of like a reset button in the Story. I think he might have such an idea which Euron clearly has and alludes to his brother Damphair.

[@IDPhotoMan]

I loved reading the books, but have pretty much given up on Winds of Winter.

[@cpolt1192]

Don't give up hope! I'm sure someone will put out his notes when George passes..

[@Avatar_of_Chairness]

The ASOIAF forums group, Brotherhood Without Banners, is aware of that happening. The trusted moderators that have been around since its inception have been told how Martin wants it to end in case of his passing before it's finished.

[@cpolt1192]

@@abby5533 it is known.

[@nicoleackerman205]

Littlefinger in the show giving Sana to the Bolton's was so dumb. He put his obsession with Cat on to her.

[@benderthepirate]

More Roose Bolton content on KZbin. I love it!

[@MarkoFTW]

Roose Bolton betrayed Rob on the night that Theon took Winterfell. It is then that he realised where the winds blow.

[@KerenSolnishko]

I remember from the books that John and Robb had recalled their's father advice about the good leader in battle "he has to have a strong voice to be able to give commands during the battle", and Roose as we know had a soft voice so he loosed his battles

[@loganpeters7543]

YES! This is the best channel on the tube. I love the Boltons.

[@jcwilder86]

roose was a genius especially in books he almost defeats tywin with a small garrison in the field

[@amanimckenzie32]

He never almost defeated Tywin. During the Battle of the Green Fork he gains a nights march on Tywin’s force, but that is about the only success Roose achieves. Tywin assembles his force in an hour and his vanguard led by Ser Gregor and made of his weakest units smash through the exhausted Stark force. Ser Kevan advances his centre and Ser Adam Marbrand smashes the Stark left with his Westerland knights. Eventually Roose retreats with majority of his forces intact. At no point in that Battle was Tywin losing.

[@Vinny__212]

That map visual alongside your explanation ~13:45 is amazing.

[@AndrewK23777]

Great vid IDG & HoW. Roose is a great villain from GRRM and will acknowledge how well he does adapting to ever changing landscape & events , being prepared for all contingencies it seems ; albeit he is influencing such as well. That being said certainly a back-stabbing opportunistic betrayer in my eyes and as huge fan of the Starks and Northern lore ; this decade plus since the last book quite upsetting the state of Wf & the North in all that real elapsed time. Hopefully TWoW will deliver the remedy of such , to see Starks resurface on the main stage and Stannis & Stark allies rise up to put things right ; clearly in the North there is a a lot of discontent and discomfort with the Boltons and the manner of their ascent. For myself and i would assume a great many others will be quite satisfying when evil sadistic Roose finally gets what's coming to him.

[@barneyboyle6933]

It’s interesting how “the guy who waits as long as possible while weighing all his options” describes both Walder Frey *and* Roose Bolton and they even conspire together, yet it’s only Walder who holds this reputation. Roose dances much closer to the line while Walder observes it from afar. The caution that Roose practices is what allows him to get so close to the line that no one notices he hasn’t actually crossed it

[@dabestestgoblin8495]

Love all that Roose content coming up from different ASoIaF channels lately

[@papaburlap3385]

Roose Marrying Fat Walda was a pretty smart plan altogether. Not only does he secure an alliance with the Freys, he also gets more fodder for his army in the form of The Crakehall Freys. And his cover story was brilliant. Marrying Fat Walda meant a dowry in Fat Walda's weight in Silver. Which would be enough to avoid suspicion on the surface.

[@Zwijger]

Having people check for poison is not unheard levels of carefulness for powerful medieval figures actually. Being in full heavy armor at a surprise attack during a wedding definitely is though.

[@JesusChristMarie]

I’d argue that Roose is a more effective schemer than Petyr, partially due to difference in ambition. Roose lets things play out and chooses an option that best benefits him, whereas Petyr sticks out a lot more, and more directly tries to influence things. Roose has found a way to manipulate things to get the most power for himself in a way that seems natural, while we clearly see that many people have doubts about Petyr, even if they don’t piece together what he’s doing.

[@ahmed_3956]

Hi Robert 😁 Thanks for all your great content!

[@franlpk9587]

The Starks are so naive that they trust people who flay other people for fun

[@Gendotherendo]

Said "other people" who are literally mostly their ancestors as the Boltons love bullying the starks. Not gonna lie, sometimes I feel like the starks high key deserve their fate just because of insultingly naive they are and their holier than thou attitudes, especially their obsession on honor.

[@Prodigi50]

The Starks of the past weren’t naive as they were almost as bad as the Boltons.

[@Gendotherendo]

Exactly, I blame the stark wank because they are the "main character" family lol

[@bradwolf07]

Book Roose is a lot more clever and dangerous than Show Ramsay. Edit: A very clever opportunist. He's always scouting out the possibilities and picking the ones that best suits him while harming everyone else. I respect Book Roose for that

[@BehuraStudio]

Roose is such an excellent villain, but honestly i have this very nervous feeling that he will somehow survive the books (or House Bolton overall cuz of Walda and her kids maybe)

[@benderthepirate]

He’s one of my favorites too, tied with Littlefinger as my favorite in the series. Great villain, but I don’t think he’ll last much longer. Ramsay will die first, but I think Roose’ days are numbered.

[@Raycloud]

Roose Bolton surviving the books is an interesting prospect. He is my favorite character, but I think that is unlikely. If it were to happen, I can only imagine it going down like this: the Bolton forces are defeated in the field but Roose retreats to the Dredfort and locks it down with his remaining men. It is a strong castle able to hold out against the Starks of old for more than two years under siege, so Jon or whomever else doesn't have the time or men to burn him out. Instead he forced to make peace with Roose, perhaps offering him mercy on the condition he live out the rest of his days within his castle walls. The Boltons have survived numerous wars with the Starks and two rebellions, so maybe they will survive this one too.

[@BehuraStudio]

@@Raycloud yeah the fact House Bolton has survived so many times is insane. It has to be some kind of foreshadowing. I would def be happy with Roose dead and his surviving heirs being wards or something lmao But George is a tough guy to predict so either way is fine with me!

[@FilmCram]

Recently been binging this channels videos, and then the older livestreams - random and ultimately unimportant to say, but I was pleased to discover you look exactly how I imagined after listening along so much (in the most positive way!)

[@kanereid4989]

Thanks!

[@Levacque]

4:07 clearly not cautious enough, Roose! He hasn't noticed that Manderly has only been eating his own food, thereby not accepting guest right within the castle!

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Roose's strategy of sending out his enemies will come back to bite him as Stannis is aware of the Karstark betrayal and has already neutralized it while Roose knows nothing of that. Add to that the Freys are unfamiliar with the terrain, led by an angry reckless commander with the Manderlys coming up behind and you have the recipe for a catastrophic loss of the allied Frey forces with Ramsay and Roose none the wiser. Leaches don't like fire and I foresee a very warm end for the Leach Lord at Stannis's hands.

[@alexmartin3143]

I still hope it’s still Ramsey that kills him…

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

@@Darius-_ a castle that was already running low on provisions, is filled with Stark Bannermen that LOATHE the Boltons and if Stannis takes out the Freys with the ice trap he's clearly working on, combined with his already neutralizing the Karstarks and his control of the Ravens from said Karstarks, he can use the Frey's uniforms, banners and the Karstarks to get his own men inside Winterfell. Once any sign of the tide turning against Roose or Ramsay shows, they're done, as the only hold they have on the North is fear. Damage that fear, show them to be vulnerable and they're dead men.

[@movieloverfan18]

Excellent analysis. I hadn't realized that Roose set up Ramsay taking the Hornwood lands. And all off Roose's maneuvers to kill Stark loyalists. No wonder the Manderlys hate him so much.

[@SMOTI-Jan]

It always sends a pang to my heart to hear about the Northern losses during the war of the five kings. But I comfort myself with history, in that people have suffered just as much.

[@jzerm]

Thank you, Robert! You rock!

[@samclontsii3548]

You were in your bag on this one, Robert…his role often gets overshadowed by other events and characters…

[@Kaknamenuss]

I love Roose and I hope he has some kind of 'hidden' motivation. Gurm writes a lot about Stark-Bolton rivalry throughout the history of westeros, my headcanon is that Roose internalized his family history and is playing the long game of eradicating everything Stark. Although he (cautiously) put his eggs in with Robb at the beginning does contradict this.

[@d.m.collins1501]

One question about Roose's "keeping his options open" thing: if that's true, why did he have Ramsay sack Winterfell and blame it on the Iron Born, so early in the war? It seems like a step you would only take after you KNEW you would plan to betray Robb, meaning that Roose DID plan the betrayal from the beginning. What if Winterfell's destruction caused Robb to pull back from the fight to return to the North to shore up its defenses? If Roose at this time still wanted to stick with Robb in order to be on the winning side, this might ruin Roose's chances of being part of a winning army! And also it might cause other Stark loyalists to peel off to go back and defend their own northern holdings. Plus it might simply demoralize the North, perhaps even delegitimizing Robb's worthiness of being King in the North. It just seems too risky of a move to do if you thought you might STAY with the Starks as their bannerman in the long run.

[@scottfitzpatrick1939]

I didnt ever think about how Rob breaking the marrige pact impacted the Boltons.

[@D2attemp]

Roose Bolton was also squiring Elmar Frey who was originally betrothed to Arya Stark. You'll notice that Elmar stayed with Roose even though all the Frey's that were at the Crag left after Robb married Jeyne

[@andrewmarino5441]

I think he initially suported Rob but a series of thing happened which made him switch sides. One of them being Rob didn't follow through with his plan to marry one of the Freys daughter which he knew would most likely result in the Freys turning in them. Another is he killed Lord Karstark who he was close to and he knew that it would lose a lot of the North's houses loyalty. Number 3 he knew that Ramsey sacked Winterfell and he had to lie to Rob and say Theon did. He knew if they found out about the truth that it was Ramsey he would get in a lot of trouble since he sent him to Winterfell. So he found himself in a rock and a hard place and turned his alliance to the Lannisters who promised him control of the North.

[@MoriaGecko1]

Little finger and tywin are cold operators. They are intelligent and ruthless men willing to sacrifice anything for what they want. EXCEPT the people they love ( I'm aware that tywins love for cersi and Jamie is Unhealthy and little fingers love for cat and sansa is twisted) but roose loves no one except maybe his first born that ramsy killed but that's a big maybe. Roose is arguably the most ruthless Lord in westros. He'd kill ramsy if it ment becoming king in the north. Apart of me thinks tywin and little finger may have feared him.

[@movieloverfan18]

Vargo Hoat didn’t just randomly choose to cut off Jaimie's hand. Vargo Hoat and the Bloody Mummers were sell swords from Essos hired by Tywin Lannister. They were captured at Harrenhall and had the choice to switch sides or die. Vargo began fighting for Roose Bolton. Vargo knew that having Jaime Lannister gave Roose power to negotiate with Tywin, but what Vargo also knew is that Tywin wanted him and his mercenaries dead. Vargo didn't want Roose to negotiate with Tywin. What Vargo wanted was to take Jaime North and claim the hand of Alyce Karstark and lordship of the Karstark lands. Her father made this pledge before being executed by Robb. Vargo would take the lands and give money and fealty to the Boltons. In the North Vargo might be safe from Tywin who would want revenge for him being a turncoat. So he cut off Jaime's sword hand, but it didn't work. Jaime promised to tell his father that Roose had nothing to do with his hand.

[@Lotschi]

this series is simply amazing

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

Roose Bolton is so unsettling I kinda want House Bolton to survive through his and Walda's child.

[@junior4900]

I hate to say it but the northmen aren’t likely to let that baby survive

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

​@@junior4900Yea that baby has a lot stacked against it especially Ramsey.

[@Raycloud]

In the show I think Sansa should have been pregnant with Ramsay's child and after being tainted by his abuse, demonstrated when she cruelly executed him, she would birth the child and then tell Jon she is a Bolton now, not a Stark, and give up Winterfell for the Dreadfort.

[@miksobrado]

@@Raycloudwhy? do you hate sansa so much? did you know theres a theory that says that the flayed skin is supposed to be starks kings? why would she go there?

[@Raycloud]

@@miksobrado I don't hate Sansa but I like good story telling and I think D&D really dropped the ball starting with Season 5. If you have to ask why Sansa would go there then you didn't understand what I wrote. She's been forever changed by her abuse, becoming one herself, potentially. Had I been in charge of the show I wouldn't have had be Ramsay's victim, but rather his accomplice. In the books Ramsay corrupts Theon and is very much the "Devil on this shoulder". I'd have him play this same role with Sansa when they marry. He would entice her to participate in his games and she would indulge him to win his trust, all the while escalating his paranoia about his father. Then when the time is right she escapes. The Boltons are cast down and Sansa brutally feeds him to his own dogs. However she is now to a large degree just as ruthless as he was, and she does have his son. You know, abuse and cruelty and trauma can carry on through the generations.

[@3rdandzen97]

Great video!!! Nice to see an in-depth video on one of the supporting characters who doesn’t get a ton of deep-dive discussion. Great stuff, thank you!!

[@awesomehpt8938]

Too bad he was poisoned by his enemies. Definitely not stabbed by his son right?

[@KenTheSith]

Disgusting lies.

[@jessjess23brooks89]

​@@joelthedreamer4271lol 😂 banish those plotlines! Dumb and Dumber aren't welcome in this here parts.

[@tjhodge201]

He isnt dead in books and Grrm already said books will be totally different than the show.

[@richspeck8932]

​@@tjhodge201I don't think it's going to be totally different. Plus, it's most likely never going to be finished so we're all here just wasting our time unfortunately

[@lane1776]

Great character. One of my favorites

[@hanshawks5088]

Catherine warned Rob about the Bolton. Fry and Greyjoy 😭😭😭

[@scaldon2]

Robb should of knew something was up with roose. Everytime bolton commanded the northern army , boktons men were untouched.

[@TotalWarGamer-hb4kd]

in Robb defense the boltons have been loyal for a thousand years despite (their historic ancient hate and rivalry ) , he knew something was wrong but didn't expect betrayal. He simply didn't realised that Bolton rivalry and hate had survived this long.( 1000 years)

[@Sinewmire]

Could just of been Roose favouring his own men. It's not very honourable, but I'm sure it happens.

[@JABN97]

Can be defended as ‘keeping a reserve in case of emergency’ Of course, that reserve is one who’s loyalty and trust matters even more, and of which the commander must understand the capabilities and limitations even more then the regular troops. So, keeping your personal household troops as the reserve is at least on the surface understandable

[@benderthepirate]

To be fair, despite being creepy, his track record is (on the surface) clean. The fact he never caused Ned Stark any problems also might have contributed to it. Basically they viewed him as weird and creepy, but competent and competent.

[@michaelbayer5094]

"Robb should have known" is correct English. That "of" has replaced "have" in writing is the result of lazy speech where the "v" has become an "f" sound and people are too ignorant to know how to write and speak their native language. God help us!!!

[@barneyboyle6933]

“Robb was wise enough to see that Roose was the right man to face Tywin”. Sorry to nitpick, but it was Catelyn who saw this. Robb wanted to send Umber until Cat coached him

[@erlkoenig505]

I think there is one problem not fully addressed in that video: Yes, Sansa is now a Lannister by marriage, but that doesn't mean that she loses her claim to Winterfell and the North. In Fact, Tywin specifically forces her and Tyrion to marry so that House Lannister can claim Winterfell, and Roose couldn't feel save about his new position as long as his ambitions were in conflict with those of his most powerful allies. Of course, Tyrion solved that problem for him, at least in part, by killing Tywin and disappearing to Essos, but Sansa is still out there and Roose can't be sure whether Tyrion or anyone else might press a claim via Sansa. Maybe that's the reason why he's going for King of the North now: He knows that Hause Lannister is too weakened to either support or challenge him, so he's trying to strengthen his own position in the North in case the Lannisters or anyone else tries to use Sansa's claim against him. Anyway, I think there would have been a major conflict of interest between the Lannisters and the Boltons if Tyrion hadn't killed Tywin. And how would Roose as the "arch pragmatist" have acted if his nost powerful allies also were his most dangerous competitors for the North? I seriously don't know.

[@roebuddy01]

Splendid analysis and video

[@Brackloon]

Another brilliant video Robert. Thank you!

[@jmace2424]

I really want to see how adorably awkward Stannis is when he is declared King In The North. 🤗

[@nathanhursey6779]

The north would never allow a southerner to be king in the north.

[@judithbradford9130]

Roose would have "punished" Ramsay himself to "prove" Ramsay hadn't acted on his orders, and expected to annex the Hornwood lands as his reward for "proving" his loyalty even at the cost of a son. He's a breathtaking sociopath, less bloody than Ramsay only because the perception of justice is useful. His bastard son's lack of Machiavellianism must have been a sore disappointment to the Dark Triad father-- he even tries to impart the principle of hiding your nature to Ramsay, who isn't receptive to the lesson :)

[@thalmoragent9344]

With his aura and demeanor, Roose Bolton having a master plan to become a true vampire Lord of the North would be quite something 😅

[@daniell1483]

I like the comparison with winter the Boltons make: they are a cruel kind of ice, sharp and merciless. This contrasts with the Stark's good ice, cold and cruel to outsiders, but filled with life, loyalty, and nobility. In a way, "Winter is coming" is almost like saying the "Boltons are coming".

[@Rahim.ali80]

Rob & Ned truly are father & son cut from the same cloth. Just like how Ned confronted Queen Cersei about knowing her kids is Jaime’s not Robert, like hey Ned you do understand that is Tywin daughter right the same man who order the killing of two infants & she’s the sister of the man who although for good humane reasons killed the King he sworn to protect even with his life. So Ned with that being said you really think Cersei was gonna just run off scared like she’s not a Queen who grew up wealthy with an army behind her. Now her comes Rob he breaks the betrothal with the House who aided them in war because you want to marry a woman who doesn’t make your position stronger brings nothing to the table but because you took her maiden hand & it was consensual. The honorable thing wasn’t to marry that woman Rob the honorable thing would have been not to sleep with her in the first place Rob. Ned & Rob had a poor understanding when & when not to be honorable. Just my opinion from the way I see things

[@shawn6669]

I love the way GRRMM set it up...ANY other commander would have backed off and waited for another time or another way to deal with Roose in Winterfell....but Stannis...he is, as they say, made of sterner stuff. Implacable...just like in the siege of Storm's End. He WILL NOT STOP!!!

[@AdaptiveApeHybrid]

Great subject Robert. I love this one

[@panic_2001]

I find both the Bolton Banner and Roose much better in the TV series.

[@Karlonstark]

Really? I feel the opposite. I think Roose seems much more creepy and interesting in the books and the banner is perfect. But to each their own, of course.

[@aprilmae274]

I should have said this in my previous comment-Roose's MASTER plan, currently in text, is to try and survive. Right now, Roose is being blackmailed by Barbrey Dustin and Manderly. Ramsey IS going to die at Winterfell-Roose is going to allow it. I am not sure there will even be a real battle once the Freys are dead/captured. Barbrey has Winterfell in check-it is already hers. Rickon and Davos are back, likely at Barrowton. Barbrey was at White Harbor when Davos was there. It is Barbrey who saved Davos and it was her idea to send him for Rickon. Barrowton was used to torture and question those Freys before they were killed and made into pies. VERY soon, only Barbrey and Manderly and Roose will be the only peeps in the North who know that Roose stabbed Robb. Manderly DOES know, he pretty much says so, but for now he keeping it silent. Barbrey knows, she says so as well. I am almost sure that Barbrey is working with Stannis as well. I honestly do not think Roose is going to be held accountable for stabbing Robb until Lady Stoneheart and Arya get to Winterfell. It is interesting, how Stannis questions the Dreadfort maester, isn't it, when you consider what Barbrey says about the grey rats? Roose won't be King...but Barbrey might just end up as Queen.

[@madalynnmccarron4590]

Roose is an Icarus who was too scared to actually fly his wings and just tried to hop on upcurrent to upcurrent.

[@XJ0461C]

Show Roose was wannabe Tywin. Book Roose is Tywin with nothing to lose and that is terrifying.

[@lilitharam44]

I wish they had cast Roose the way he was described in the books. I think his son would have been much more loyal to Rob. It was a shame that his son was killed by Ramsey.

[@sschacknies]

Don't forget Lady Stoneheart. She is Venegence!

[@saraa.4295]

If only the Manderlys had trained a bit more, and ate a bit less ... They are clever, loyal and high enough in honors that they could take command of oart of an army without anyone opposing it...

[@12345.......]

I wonder how the Martin estate will end the winds of winter in the 2030s.

[@jgr7487]

When push comes to shove, Roose might send Ramsey to fight outside Winterfell's walls, so he can at least seccure his succession. After which, he'll ba able to blame all on Ramsey. I can see Big Walda's child inheriting Dreadfort in the end if show & books have different endings.

[@cameronjadewallace]

Tbh, the Dreadfort is a better inheritance, what with the North being largely wiped out and depleted. What kind of incomes could Winterfell hope to gain? But the Dreadfort has men. They have soldiers. Also... quite possibly... a great deal of either magic, or a secret room with a great amount of treasure... Honestly, Winterfell isn't a great prize after Robb lost the war. Might be a bigger castle, but if the Dreadfort became the new seat of power... it would make more sense than relocating to Winterfell

[@jgr7487]

@@cameronjadewallace I didn't mean the Dreadfort as the seat of the King in the North, but the continuation of the Bolton dynasty in their lands.

[@cameronjadewallace]

@@jgr7487 ah, fair. Edit: but considering the true born son would be inheriting the Dreadfort, and Ramsey would probably be given Winterfell... it is a thought process

[@jgr7487]

@@cameronjadewallace please read my original comment again. My guess is that, even if everything goes bad to the Boltons, Roose can still put the blame on Ramsey & make his half-Fray baby the lord of the Dreadfort.

[@jgr7487]

@@cameronjadewallace if the Boltons keep ruling the North, Winterfel is in a strategic position right in the middle of the North, by the White Knife, & on the Kingsroad. It's strategically positioned.

[@zaepham357]

Hey, I love In Deep Greek

[@jackbelmont4389]

I find it super ironic that roose had a legit level headed and chill kid before ramsay but just for being petty he got ramsay which became a thorn by his side

[@spaceyote7174]

It's very telling that roose is fully aware that ramsay will be king of the north after him - possibly even by murdering roose - and will absolutely be deposed just like Aerys was. He doesn't even get to the Tywin level of caring about his house's legacy, as long as he dies a king that's good enough.

[@chicotheworld9763]

youd think if some of these houses truly lasted for thousands of years theyd have more than a handful of heirs at any one time.

[@jerbear7952]

Roose's casting was hilarious based on his voice.

[@TheKpa11]

He kind of looks like Charles dance. I wonder if he was considered for Tywin.

[@sblinder1978]

Nice analysis. I hadn't considered Bolton changing his allegiance because of the marriage prospects angle. I thought only of the strategic decision that Robb had definitely lost the war, in Roose's reckoning, with the twin mistakes of impetuously marrying Jeyne (losing the Freys) and losing the Karstarks (by Cat sending the Kingslayer south).

[@whittenaw]

Fantastic video. Top tier.

[@jaymenza5196]

I like how our host largely ignores the HBO adaptation and sticks to the novels.. very smart

[@M9AX]

Roose really is the northern equivalent of Euron Greyjoy. A person who violates all rules of honor and hospitality out of spite. In ironborn society, killing your own family is the greatest crime, and Euron does it several times - daring both gods and society to strike him down. But the more power he gets from committing atrocities the more depraved and ambitious he gets. Roose breaks the rule of guest right, stabs his king in the heart, and sacks winterfell - later taking it as his own seat. And he's named warden of the north with the backing of the crown and several powerful northern houses. Breaking all forms of decency has only made him stronger, so he'll break more until he's king of a smoking ruin. Though, I mean, no-one should've really trusted a person with a flayed man as their banner who holds a castle called 'The Dreadfort'. Literally a red flag, Robb...

[@nathanhursey6779]

I know roose will die, but I do wish that he makes it somehow! The Boltons have always been my favorite horror house.

[@thunderchild1083]

I think the murders you talk about 14:41 is one of the things that show actually kinda got right. I think it's Arya doing them (it's been a while since I read the books) from what I remember she's still in Bravos but she's part of the faceless men so maybe it isn't her

[@greatkhan7278]

Amazing video sir! Happy to subscribe for this tier content. These are the lore videos i thoroughly enjoy. Often with crazy crucial events alot can pass one by. If i may make a humble content suggestion, more videos expanding upon/visualising the aftermath of these major events in finer detail. Ie, perhaps when the 2 Baratheons declared themselves King which houses swore to whom? Did any Stormlanders stay loyal to the Reach after Renly was killed? How many houses remain after the Battle of the Blackwater? And of course all the scheming and tactics that go into these plots sprinkled in. 😄

[@hungryest8643]

wow it was amazing thanks !

[@jonathansebag8768]

The biggest irony of course of never letting your troops fight is that though they may outnumber other houses, but how will they fare against Stannis’ veteran force?

[@FlorentPlacide]

He is an amazing antagonist in the novels ! Let us not forget that House Bolton and House Stark battled for hundreds of years for supremacy over the North in the olden times. The Staks won, submitted the Boltons and had them renounce their ways. Surely this bitter history played a part in Roose's ambitions and must feel like he finally got revenge. He is clever, cunning, cautious but remains a flawed man si I'm guessing one of this flaw will be the end of him (his lack of rigour of eliminating all the Starks, the elevation of Ramsay or a comeuppance for the many sacred laws he violated) We'll see.

[@pavelslama5543]

Considering the relationships in the lore, I find it quite unbelievable that they havent exterminated each other ages ago.

[@SmokinBlunts781]

I like the roose is a vampire theory and he’s going to kill Ramsey and take his identity 😂

[@cmd31220]

Roose Bolton is the perfect example of "no strategy survives contact with the enemy"