Prepping For Winter: Theon I Part 1

A new series analyzing the Winds of Winter sample chapters line-by-line. Here we look at Theon I, the Winds of Winter.
Theon I:
www.ign.com/boa...

[@Mcat_XX]

"we'll be reading them here, line by line, and analyzing them like some sort of insane person" My body is ready

[@akaraniq]

lol

[@TheHarlemGhost2]

he's going in DEEP no lube

[@Tauposaurus]

Never has this channel been so well described.

[@darylchurch2115]

My body isn't! But there's no stopping now! ÒWÓ

[@dominiqueodom3099]

@@TheHarlemGhost2 my old channel

[@lordbrain8867]

Legend has it he's still preparing for winter

[@ArjunaJoshua1]

It is almost like we live in Westeros and our autumn is never ending, almost up to 12 years now.

[@jswagaudio]

@@ArjunaJoshua1wow. Sad but true

[@estheralarcon9938]

Still prepping 🥹

[@ijmbvck]

He is making his own winter now.

[@ciamciaramcia99]

Stannis making signature with his own blood reminds me of Illyrio saying about Golden Company "some contracts are written in blood".

[@ktoth29]

When Tyrion was signing promissory notes for the second sons, didn't they make a mention of how blood makes poor ink and some sell swords sign their contracts in blood specifically to avoid honoring them?

[@Paul_Vidal]

Yes, because blood fades more quickly. It still works though.

[@davedark27]

it would be hilarious if Stannis's blood fades completely and the Iron bank won't lend money to the King

[@krishnasharda1652]

HOLY SHIT.

[@MrHotSalsa]

+Mikayel Dobrovolski I don't believe so because as much as Stannis hates doing this. It is not his character to not keep his duty or word.

[@Tauposaurus]

Stannis probably does it because there is power in King's blood. That would make the contract hyper legit...?

[@stannisthemannisbaratheon1039]

We will retake Winterfell or die in the attempt

[@mysouptoocold1656]

Stannis The Mannis Baratheon plz

[@WheresPoochie]

Emphasis on "die in the attempt"

[@laurentiu2704]

"Lord Seaworth is a man of humble birth, but he reminded me of my duty, when all I could think of was my rights. I had the cart before the horse, Davos said. I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the throne."

[@darylchurch2115]

We're cheering for you Mannis~!

[@patrickbateman783]

The one true Kang Westeros 🙏🙏🙏

[@yaketysaks]

I would argue that Theon being in chains is to placate the Northern Lords. Stannis wouldn't want it to seem like he was going easy on theon

[@amba74]

Stannis the Mannis wins confirmed

[@ComradeRumHam]

Stannis for the win !!!

[@monsouranda2822]

ONE GOD, ONE REALM, ONE KING

[@TheSoullessTrenchCoat]

Actually their is one true ruler of Westeros and that is The mother of Dragons Queen Daenerys.

[@jeck988]

+Bradley Roberts nah. Aegon all the way!

[@amba74]

Bunch of Danyfags and Jonfags, Targaryens lost the throne by right of conquest, the throne belongs to the Baratheons until another house can seize it

[@matthewcherrin4113]

Question for Preston: In ADWD, Tris Botley is telling a story to Asha about the Torgon the Latecomer, who was the heir to the Iron Islands but was not present for the Kingsmoot. When Torgon returned home, the Kingsmoot was named unlawful since he wasn't there, and Torgon ended up being King and ruling for 40 years. Since Theon was not present for the Kingsmoot between his sister and his uncles, does that make the Kingsmoot unlawful, thus giving Theon the opportunity to reclaim the Iron Islands for himself. Will this ultimately be Stannis's and Asha's plan to get the Iron Islands back from Euron? Great videos, thanks.

[@icemysta30]

Yes

[@masonrockwood7732]

​@@icemysta30I've always found this theory odd, why would the other claimants back down? Theon was a prisoner, he didn't choose not to attend like Torgon or other cases. It just seems very shaky logic to me. I realistically see it as an Asha/Theon/Harlaw coalition taking control without a kingsmoot while Euron is busy at war.

[@AWonkyCarrot]

Rewatching/listening to these vids lately. Is it not possible that Theon's memory is so messed up because he's spent the past 2 years being tortured? He's broken

[@hennyvanpatten6026]

5 years later and we are still waiting for Stannis the Mannis to battle... after 10 or so rewatches of this series I am at least well prepared for Winds

[@turtleanton6539]

Maybe in another ten years ?

[@theopenmouth9695]

@@turtleanton6539we don’t have another ten years, rather george doesn’t

[@Calebe_Sagaz]

GRRM will never finish the books, unfortunally... 😭

[@dazgodbold]

I dont believe theon is crazy enough to think he was 'flying' in the same way Sweetrobin does, he merely meant 'we flew' as in 'we fled'.

[@keelobrown4991]

Yea sometimes preston takes characters words a bit too literal lol.

[@leadfaun]

@@keelobrown4991 no, Stannis tooks Theon's words literally. It's so weird when people complain about Preston's analysis then miss obvious parts of the text.

[@Gman-109]

Preston, your voices always kill me - the most brilliant ASOIAF/GoT analysis channel, with likely to worst voice acting known to man. I love it, every time a new one comes, I laugh. A lot. That and the "Rogue Prince" music, always have to dance to that. Bow chick bow wow.

[@KageroAmmy]

I actually believe you were sort of right when you mentioned that signing in blood was reminiscent to making a contract with The Devil. The way I understood it, Stannis was, using his certainly unique and dry sense of humor, calling Tycho Nestoris The Devil. Apparently Tycho's mad bargaining skills made Stannis so miserable and angry, he signed the contract in blood to both end the negotiation right there and label Tycho a Devil.

[@smack80]

Neat video but I think you're a little too much inside your own head. Theon recognizes the king's voice because he's been hanging there, right above him, and he's heard the part of the conversation that we're only catching the tail end of. Heck, he heard the king's voice when he said "I'm Stannis, welcome to the camp" or "String him up in the tower." Or any number of conversations between that hour and this. He knows Tycho is a tough bargainer because he's just listened to the bargaining session between Stannis and Tycho. The author is having Theon briefly summarize a conversation that he heard but we didn't need to hear the details of. He has spotty memories because he's barely conscious and probably dehydrated and hungry, drifting in and out of consciousness. I know that you have a theory that Theon killed his own bastard, but you don't need to keep reminding us and injecting it everywhere it doesn't belong, that theory relies on a lot of IFs anyway. The miller's sons could just be... the miller's sons. Because the miller had sex with the miller's wife occasionally too. Anyways keep it up, neat video, but you look past the obvious answers sometimes.

[@feathersmith2514]

The chapter opens with Theon just waking up..so, no he didn't hear the negotiations between Tycho and Stannis.

[@gonfftheprince]

@@feathersmith2514 yes but later in the chapter he says that he remembers knights coming and going all night which implies that theon has been fading in and out of consciousness. But this is something Preston misses here becuase he is over focusing on theon's scatter shot memory. Dont get me wrong the memory thing is a interesting thing to pull out and look at, but I think the other commenter is right in terms of Preston bring too in his own head at points.

[@iloveyourunclebob]

@@feathersmith2514 that's just the opening of Theon's first chapter. The closing of a previous chapter could be Stannis going over all this stuff Theon remembers.

[@KonguZya]

Even if one of the miller's boys was actually Theon's, he's apparently not aware of it, and I don't think anyone in the Seven Kingdoms would possibly know about it.

[@PrestonJacobstheSweetrobin]

Theon screams in his sleep and he slept in the same room as his squire, Wex.

[@monsouranda2822]

But Wex is mute, but even if wex know how to write how can he confirm it to other people? And do they care?

[@johnnystevens1248]

wex confirmed to other people that rickon is hiding in skagos.

[@matth523]

I think also, if Theon were the father, the child's mother would likely know and if she knew, so would her family have known , or at least certain members - her mother, her father. And there may or may not be reason that some might know that and others might not. Theon was famously promiscuous and we might even call it a Chekoff's gun - the possibility of a theoretical little Theon running around. We don't have much to go on as to how the son/child of a ward such as Theon would have been treated if it were common knowledge. Ned may have known. being the warden of the north and someone loyal to him, almost by definition really, would have known. But certainly such a child would have been a valuable bargaining chip against Theon, if he were ever to assume any postion of power at any point in time, had Theon not killed him, that is.. And that knowledge - Theon being a kinslayer - would be valuable, as Preston is theorizing. In any case, it doesn't feel like we meet many characters that are completely passive in regard to the plot. At least, that's my feeling. Everyone has some role in driving the plot, even Moonboy for all we know.

[@kefkapalazzo1]

where at? not being a dick just used to seeing your stuff cited in video. its a great catch

[@lorenzoreyguitar]

Cmon man theon didnt recognize stannis voice from when he was little, he recognizes it because he probably heard ir between "The Sacrifice" and "Theon 1" chapters

[@melledevries4685]

As to how Mance and the washerwomen knew to jump off the exact place where forty feet of snow had piled up: Their plan wasn't originally to jump off. One of the women took a rope with her, but she stayed behind to fight off the guards. The remaining washerwoman with Theon and Jeyne remembered the rope only when they were already on the wall, and then promptly got shot twice. Theon then grabbed Jeyne and jumped off in a last-ditch effort to escape. It is very convenient that they just happened to end up on the side of the castle where Mors Umber was, though.

[@DollyEstrada]

I read the title "Theon I" as "First Theon" . The gospel of reek.

[@BasiliskEyes]

Or the Reeking Gospel

[@joshosborne683]

Theon I first letter to the Rob

[@tokevarvaspolvi8999]

The moment you realize we have been prepping for winter for four years....

[@user-td4do3op2d]

Some of us have been prepping for 11 years.

[@tokevarvaspolvi8999]

Did you know that it is impossible to @ you? KZbin thinks it's a phone number or something and instantly deletes the message.

[@highkingthorgrimgrudgebear7468]

Do you think that George has misdirected fans towards any theories? Like the battle for the dawn, possibly not even happening, in favor of a peaceful alternative? I quite like to think that jon snow will die at least 5 more times, a la beric, and lose more of himself each time. I call this the "OMG you just killed Jon Snow, you Bastards" theory.

[@SophisticatedBanjo]

The beginning of this series is officially closer to the release of Dance (6 years) than to the release of Winds (almost 7 years and counting, if it ever comes out)

[@originalhgc]

I have read this chapter about a dozen times. After retching through the awful TV show, it's an intense pleasure to read GRRM giving real life and depth to Theon and Stannis. Wouldn't make too much of Theon's memory losses. Of course he didn't recognize Asha upon return to the Iron Isles after all those years away during which time she had grown into adulthood, and her posing as someone else would have diverted him from making the connection. Obviously he remembers Stannis from the time immediately prior to when he had fallen asleep prior to this chapter, but is momentarily confused when groggily waking up.

[@kevinmoore4237]

Oh man! Thanks for this topic! And you're actually taking it line by line! This is too good to be true! One thing - at the very end you speculate how Team Mance would have known where to jump, but wasn't jumping Theon's improvised hail mary after the real escape strategy went bad, after Jeyne screamed at the death of a guard and revealed them? I took the even earlier passage, where Theon witnesses someone jumping off the wall and living (briefly) as foreshadowing for Theon coming up with the leap of faith desperation move.

[@robertmaybeth3434]

"In preparation for the release of Winds of Winter." Meanwhile, 5 years later.

[@scottrobson5]

Meanwhile 3 years even later

[@WorthlessWinner]

Couldn't Theon having trouble with names just be a way for GRRM to do exposition?

[@finlaymckeown2891]

It's way to consistent IMO, GRRM doesn't rely heavily on exposition and Theon's memory is noticeably bizarre. I don't think so but it may be possible :))

[@anasnejmi6961]

Finally some TWOW stuff. Can't wait for your thoughts on the "Forsaken" and Euron.

[@chocolategootheory]

My family and I share what was the best thing that happened to each of us each day during dinner. Everyone groans when I answer "Preston Jacobs had a new video!" Thank you for being so brilliant.

[@georgeianta2088]

Ahh, back to the good stuff... Where there are hidden meanings in every sentence, everything makes sense and the plot is thick and strong like good ale.

[@macu679]

Stannis has the same voice as Brandon the Nightsking from the season 6 review series. Stannis = Night's King theory confirmed.

[@mankytoes]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that Tyrion recently signed a contract in blood as well, with the Second Sons. Not that I can think of any reason for the link. Maybe the outcome of the two contracts will be similar.

[@vincur5361]

PREEEEESTOOON much love from mongolia

[@PrestonJacobstheSweetrobin]

Believe it or not, I once spent two weeks in Mongolia back in 2002. I had a great time.

[@pookachu64]

+Preston Jacobs it's an awesome country

[@croatiawarior]

i hate mongols in medieval 2 total war.

[@iwan2die897]

from germany too

[@SuperWindsage]

dude. my man. the mongols are so freaking annoying in that game, and it doesn't feel deserve you know? and in the campaign usually my army is so scattered across the world once they show up that it feels.... bah.

[@tynoguchi7450]

Well it's a rainy day at the airport, my flight is cancelled, and I have a fever. At least there is a new Preston Jacobs video. Anyways, I have a question for you Preston, wat up wit dat black oily stone?

[@generalgrievous5483]

YESSS, every strange thing is made of that thing, most of the objects are in essos, walls of asshai, in sothoryos but the seastone chair in westeros, what about that, did it come from essos, what Is West of westeros

[@generalgrievous5483]

No its not, obsidian is just another name for dragonglass, the oily black stone is something different,

[@tynoguchi7450]

Well, we have the Seastone chair, walls of Volantis, the base of the Hightower, and the Five Forts all made of the substance. It could be the remnants of a Lovecraftian-like species

[@tynoguchi7450]

Shit...

[@generalgrievous5483]

+Vercingetorix one thing is certain, the people of asshai did and still can reach westeros from the west coast, even the Lord of lonely light (westernmost iron island) says there are lands West of westeros, some even speculate the area beyond the giant 5 forts and mountains called the Grey waste is directly connected to the land of always winter, that would explain how the long night also came to essos

[@SplitJaw]

New Preston series... what a time to be alive folks....

[@parasuramvenkatesh4401]

Well, Stannis being Stannis could be imprisoning Theon for his crimes at Winterfell. Stannis has already demonstrated his firm belief in "laws must be made of iron". He may use Theon's intel even while bringing him to justice.

[@TheDeetster]

"Like a crazy person." Preston anticipated and leaned the fuck in. I love it. Loved the video and congrats on 125k subs.

[@bryansmith7148]

Can we please skip to the Aeron chapter? I want an entire series of explanations as to Euron's Valaryian Steel Armour.

[@TheCbot88]

That’s hilarious. Tycho asks Stannis for heat. Stannis draws his dagger. He doesn’t draw his sword because his sword is Cold! Does Tycho know Lightbringer is a fake!!!? 😂😂😂

[@arbiterskiss6692]

I am most disappointed you did not mention how the Second Sons merc company signs their papers in red ink. They tried using blood only to find it wore away much faster than ink, I wonder if Stannis knows this and is sending a massage such as he intends to do as little business with the Iron Bank as possible, or maybe he sees them as opportunists too.

[@GarrisonHat]

Stannis's voice is pretty hard to forget, be it Stephen Dillane's Stannis or Roy Dottrice's Stannis. :)

[@thomascaiazza2400]

Stannis's passiveness makes me suspicious, every day me spends in that town, more of his men starve, freeze or lose faith, so some huge plot twist must be coming

[@ryanedwards5390]

I would pay good money for an audio book totally read by you 😂

[@QueensBeryRules]

you're doing Rhllors work Preston

[@mancerayder5751]

R'hllor's

[@QueensBeryRules]

+Mance Rayder nerd

[@SockPuppet80]

Red Rahloo's.

[@ffejpsycho]

fight behind the bike-racks at recess everyone!

[@joshmo141x]

Preston I think I found another example of visions being used to get men/brothers to kill each other: in CoK the reason stannis attacks Renly instead of KL is cause Mel saw Renly riding down in green armor to defeat his army at the walls of KL...which happened anyway with Garland Tyrell playing the role of Renly...

[@TunezCottage]

After watching this, I can honestly say that if you did this for every chapter in all the books.. I'd watch all of it. Amazing work Preston.

[@Azor19]

He finally started doing that lol

[@TunezCottage]

@@Azor19 It only took 6 years for my dream to come true

[@Azor19]

💙

[@sneakykangarooman442]

What a great idea for a series. So much is going on in this chapter! I really doubt Theon is remembering Stannis's voice from when he was 10 (if he heard it all). More likely he was introduced to the Mannis after he was arrested however many days ago. Good catch on the implication Theon witnessed the banker's bargaining skills on the three day journey. He's definitely plotting something. This series is either a convoluted mess that we're way over-analyzing, or a pedantically intricate web of plot threads. The time it's taking to write suggests it could be either.

[@geoffbeidler]

"Prepping for Winter" in 2016. Ha ha ha ha ha ha hah. Keep prepping bro. You got a long wait.

[@brent4138]

One last question Preston: Mellisandre is telling Jon how she disguised Mance and how using items from the person she is making them looking like are really important, like the Lord of Bones armor. She tells Jon a list of things that can be used and mentions "a bag of finger bones." Does this mean that she has made someone look like Davos since Davos lost his bag of finger bones? Or was Davos someone in disguise? I know he lost the bones and Stannis still recognized him, but that was after Davos has been put in the dungeon and Stannis didn't even seem to realize he had been down there. Did mellisandre have someone else acting as Davos before he was released because she somehow got the finger bones? It's been bugging me since I read that part and it feels important. But I guess she could have just been thinking about the bag of bones because it's a memorable thing that is specific only to Davos. But the author mentions the bag of bones so much and takes away his "luck," so I have to think it plays an important role in the story. Have you given this any thought? Thanks!

[@ohrmazd7885]

Watched this 8 years ago... Missed stannis a bit, here I am 8 years later.

[@NUFCMVFC]

Nice discussion. Needless to say can't wait for the Euron chapter to get discussed. What intrigues me about this is the notion of Manderly working with Stannis, while at the same time using his Hand Davos to go fetch Rickon.

[@paulkuch420]

Holy S&=T! 6 YEARS since this wonderful series started?!

[@NateStewie]

Damn this was really six years ago. I just wanna know who wins the battle on the ice 😢

[@TheTonyEntertainment]

This series will be amazing! Thank you Preston:)

[@thkingslayer]

Hey Preston I know its been a while since you made this video but I hadn't yet read this chapter so took a while to get here. I don't think memory problems are evident due to him not remembering his sister and wearing mainlander clothes/jewelry. Remember just how long it has been since he has been to isles, seen his sister and even thought about his family tradition. Small point but it was something that bugged me at the start of this vid. I love you!

[@Bakasama04]

Stannis will bait and switch Theon and Arnolf for execution.

[@nickkoch3467]

Preston, what storyline are you most interested in for WoW?

[@amba74]

The one true storyline ofc

[@TheHarlemGhost2]

+Preston Jacobs mine has to be the resolution of the Meereese plot,and the Battle for winterfell

[@matthewcooper735]

+TheHarlemGhost2 we all know how that will turn out more or less

[@christinatuttle8442]

+Preston Jacobs I am so excited for Sam well but my curiosity for what will happen with Lady Stoneheart almost outweighs that

[@TheThoerlChannel]

YES. This is EXACTLY the right thing to get our minds of that TV that happened there. Perfect.

[@supahwafflz]

Get fucking hype my dude! I love your channel so much!

[@JayMorayEel]

Tycho is certainly hiding a mind warping device under his hat.

[@maggiemcgille4008]

Cannot wait for the Aeron chapter review, Falia Flowers broke my heart :'(

[@brent4138]

I honestly cannot wait for all of your theories to be proven correct and for all of the channels giving Dan and Dave too much credit and basing theories on anything they see in the shower and thinking that it will be similar in the books (e.g. Shireen being burned, Stannis and Barristan and Mance dying soon). I enjoy the show, but it is now so watered down that only a teenager with no tolerance could get drunk off of it. You make the books even more enjoyable and even made me go back and re-read, which was awesome. 1 thing I noticed the 2nd time is how new valyrian steel (widow's wail and oath breaker) is described as having veins of blood. And the cyvasse piece in the WoW Tyrion 1 is a white dragon described as having veins of blood after jorah kills the messenger. And weirwoods are described as white and veined with blood and bloody tears. Is this eluding to "fire and blood?" Does it have to do with the Blood Sacrifice that most of the extremist religions (drowned god, Lord of light, old gods, Pentoshi gods, etc.) seem to require? Is this all anger by the "gods" that Westeros has embraced the less bloody "Seven?" I know you don't really believe there are gods in this world, but powerful people using their gifts to move the players around the board and the players see this as being guided by their god. Or is it eluding to the white dragon being extra important? Will the white dragon and black dragon be on different sides like a game of cyvasse? Could Dan and Dave have gotten that part correct at least? One last thing, you refer to the planet of the books as Planetos, because of the weird seasons and othet reasons, but in ADWD Jon actually calls it "earth." Although it is written with a lowercase "e," but Jon is still referring to the world. Thanks Preston!

[@Bodharas]

It's been 7 years since this video posted and still no Winds.

[@joearchuleta8073]

Instead of Theon having a screwed up memory, he might have been in a trance-like state like when you sleep in late but you're kind of awake. so he would be aware of the knights coming and going, and maybe for getting that he was chained up in the tower and not in the Dreadfort was could be just like waking up in a hotel room and not remembering where you were. also it takes me half a semester to learn the names of any new people in my classes, could the situation with Tycho Nestoris

[@Hasharin14]

The show will end before we get our winds of winter. SMH

[@michaelalan6459]

Hell yeah Preston! I was hoping you would talk about these.

[@CYRON92]

Wow, this was out five years ago now. I wonder how much George has changed. Will be fun to find out. Keep up the good work.

[@abrarhasan3592]

Stannis was told to win over the hill tribes by Jon before he left Castle black for south. Maybe while his encounter with the hill tribes, Liddles confided in them about the visit of Stark and Reeds to the Liddles on their way North.

[@alexhelsel756]

Theon Q&A: Question: With the general themes you've discussed through your videos about plots in the books being about the history of Westeros repeating itself (ie the Rebirth of Dragons, Re-emergence of the Others, Rhoynish Restoration, Revenge of the Blackfyres, ect), where (if anywhere) do you see the Stannis story fitting in within the general theme of re-occurrence in the story? I struggle to see where Stannis' story fits within that theme. Maybe as some weird continuation of the Re-independence of the North from Robb until Sansa, Jon, or Rickon are able to take that story over? Or maybe we're headed toward some kind of rematch on the Trident if Stannis wins in the North and (f)Aegon takes control over the South? The former seems like a convoluted stretch though and I'm not sure there's enough space for the later with all the other re-occurrence plots still yet to be resolved.

[@thecommoncliche5444]

Id guess that like Mel, you can see simaler visions again and again to reflect on them. So the battle in the snow vision from around Storm of Swords (?) has been reexamined by Stannis to be this battle coming up. Hence hes constantly looking into the flames to see if he can learn more

[@migarsormrapophis2755]

"But we'll also be reading them here, line by line, and analyzing them like some sort of insane person." - Eh, sane people are boring.

[@migarsormrapophis2755]

I want Preston to read the entire series to us and interrupt every other line with his thoughts as he goes, just like this. It'd go on for hours, days, and I'd sit there listening to it, enraptured.

[@lucasnaylor7268]

what an amazing little new show

[@Cyprienroche]

Lost my shit when you did that first Theon voice Keep up the good work

[@chadsummerchild7625]

Given the choice between watchin this video 16 times and getting Laid....

[@undarkwin]

I would watch it just 5 without getting laid, lol XD

[@PastaFaz00L]

aim high. watch 16 while getting laid. godspeed sir

[@Borat69able]

Well the sex won't be anywhere near as long as this video, so just watch this video.

[@badjokemaker3051]

Getting laid while this video is playing in the background.

[@chadsummerchild7625]

Lmao Chad will get laid. To rest.

[@ReegSkywalker]

Bless you Preston, bless you.

[@DreamVikings]

So many assumptions. Stannis sleeping on the floor or the chair? Maybe he has his own tent, or one of the houses of the village, and the tower is just for theon.

[@DBeiki]

Omg the series I never knew i wanted, thank you so much Preston!

[@dicknijmegen]

Theon just woke up again. They already showed him who was Stannis BEFORE. Just now that he slowly wakes up at the start of the chapter, he first recognises the voice before he realised were he was again. Nothing to do with sudden perfect memory. We just don't know how much time exactly passed since the asha chapter.

[@viancio]

Preston, do you think that Tycho has a mind-reading cat in his very tall hat?

[@allyriastark3508]

Definitely a call back to Syrio and the cat of Sealord

[@JizzMasterTheZeroth]

Nice series. Mercy chapter is highly anticipated ;)

[@dfailsthemost]

I think he was just waking confused and momentarily forgot he was with Stannis and chained to the wall

[@psevdhome]

Isn't Stannis's signing of the contract with his blood reminicent of Illyrio's phrase "some contracts are written in ink and some in blood". Isn't it also a sort of literary metaphor that Stannis takes on the debt with his blood, if he refuses to pay another faction will be funded and the realm will bleed. Also there is a Jesus metaphor here somewhere with Theon hanging around. Jesus pays for sins with blood and one passage describes how he removes the accusation written against us by dying. This accusation is an official document of enslavement and debt. I don't know maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[@nonstopper1410]

good video... alliance of the Iron part 10, I think theon has too much information about the Boltons for Stannis to kill him in the Godswoods.

[@transformersrevenge9]

Hey preston, I think i stumbled upon something big. So lets look at the lord of light a.k.a R'hllor from another point of view. Instead of being the only god that works in westeros (old gods work, but its not the doing of the gods), what is R'hllor is actually some guy hiding somewhere in essos and using a powerful glass candle to send the followers of R'hllor visions and sometimes powers under the pretense of being their god. Think about the influence this man has over the events of the world. He has Stannis, the brotherhood, illyiro, Victarion and others under his paw and he can use them as the chess pieces to move towards his end goal. What is his end goal? I dont know. But the only way to find out is to analyze all of the actions taken by the followers of R'hllor. If those actions form some kind of a plan, then there might be a chance that there is a puppetmaster behind all of this. If my theory is true, then he could be the fiery opposite to the three eyed crow, who is also a old man who uses religion, to further his own plan. So, am i on to something, or am i reading too deep into this?

[@PrestonJacobstheSweetrobin]

I too think there is a R'hollor puppet master, but we aren't quite sure who he or she is. People definitely have been receiving messages through flames (not just Mel). Balon Greyjoy was another and possibly Littlefinger. Something is up.

[@IBRA760]

+Preston Jacobs what about the great other? Feel like George needs to explain the magic and the gods more in the next books

[@transformersrevenge9]

Preston Jacobs Maybe the R'hollor puppet master wants chaos in westeros? Balon, Stannis and Littlefinger have made westeros really weak and defenseless. Westeros can no longer stand as a united force, so it is easy for an outside force to take over westeros.

[@ognjengaric2687]

+salmon inlake If such a puppet master truly exists, his goal is most likely world domination, followers of R'hllor have been strongly rising in lots of places for a while- Braavosi followers are growing more numerous, temples to R'hllor have been recently built in Oldtown and Sunspear and their followers are growing in number, Thoros was sent to convert Aerys and Robert, Quarth may be experiencing a rise of R'hllor ("flaming sword above the world", popular pyromancy), Volantis is an obvious example and their R'hllor leaders are calling for world domination, Melisandre has converted a claimnant to the Iron Throne to R'hllor and is currently aiding in his war campaign while converting new people from Westeros and the Wildlings, Moqorro converted Victarion, a potential king of the Iron Isles to R'hllor...

[@memerick420]

I personally think Bloodraven and the children of the forest are the puppet masters you described

[@celineshanmugam5158]

"...like some kind of an insane person" I laughed at this. I love your videos and look forward to them more than the WoW release 😁

[@motorcitymangababe]

A note about theon- I think the fact that he didn't rnjoy his time while also wanting to be a Stark IS his torment. I mean think about it, he comes from a fractured home, his family was devestated in war, he was given to the people responsible as a hostage.... You would, as a child, expect them to be monsters. It would be a simple thing to endure them until you escape. But the Starks arent monsters. In many ways they're far better than his family ever was. They are admirable. Imagine admiring the people responsible for the death of your family? How much more difficult would it be to not hate those people, but to want to be like them? Theon has probably struggled with feeling like an imposter and a traitor his entire life, leading him to follow his insecurites to the worst possible conclusions.

[@corytrevor5649]

7 fucking years lol

[@checkthapain]

After watching this multiple times, pretty sure Im gonna read it in Preston's voice when TWOW is eventually released.

[@andybaxter4442]

"... like some kind of insane person." Right here with you Preston, right here with you.

[@simeonmonev9982]

Do you like Stannis' character, Preston? And what do you think of his endgame?

[@210SAi]

4 years later I’m back to episode 1 of Prepping for Winter. Thank you Preston for these breakdowns.

[@psammiad]

Oh come on. Stannis was famous in the war and as a grown man is probably still easily recognisable. Asha was still a little girl when Theon saw her last and she's a grown woman when he encounters her again, kids change a LOT in that time.

[@TheSoullessTrenchCoat]

The on got Skywalkered! If you know what I mean.

[@Tauposaurus]

Robert wasnt the greatest politician. It is quite likely that it was Stannis who proposed that Theon becomes a ward for Stark, or at least was there and validated the deal. If a dude crushes your family and sentences you to be exiled, you'd probably remember what his voice and words were forever, ten years old or not.

[@TheEternalVanguard]

Book Theon sounds so innocent and cute omg

[@therandytomato5679]

I read that chapter without the assumption that Theon was new to the tower - I think the text supports that far more than it does your view (knowing Stannis' voice, recognising Horpe, Stannis knowing about the maester - he's already got information out of Theon). When we wakes up, he isn't discovering new surroundings and a new predicament - he's remembering and re-familiarizing after the dream of the Dreadfort. The Wull might have wanted something completely different (and if so, that could be an interesting question) - but he might also have known more about others RE what's going on around camp, given that his men are far more suited to the conditions. I forget - is he the de facto clan leader? As for the "I know what you did" line, it seems like he's simply referring to Kinslaying (in the sense that Bran & Rickon were his foster-brothers) - letting Theon know that his life is forfeit.

[@shaybert100]

im pumped for this new series

[@shaft9000]

ok, hear this looney one out: Sweetrobin is frail, and thus will perish on the coming of winter. However, his corpse will re-animate into a wight, and doff a suit of mail; wreaking havoc upon the Knights of the Vale, the like never known before. And so the Sweetrobin shall become "The Strongrobin"...yes...there shall be TWO Robert Muthafukkin' Strongs!! muhahahahaaaah

[@hollowaysmith4270]

Preston - a few thoughts Other characters are described as 'bloodless' in the series - Baelor the Blessed (by Oberyn), Jaime, and even Jeyne during her Winterfell wedding. Baelor's 'bloodlessness' is associated with his immunity to the vipers that bit him in the pit, and so I would be tempted to throw Darkstar into this category - "I was weaned on venom. Any viper takes a bite of me will rue it." Tom Codd is also known as Bloodless Tom. But fuck the Codds.

[@frdveloz]

OMG I think I'm going to love this series!

[@joshmo141x]

"but we'll also be reading them here, line by line, and analyzing them, like some sort of insane person." You're the best Preston

[@evancappello9288]

It truly is crazy just how many times I re-listen to this playlist...and when it loses my spot, I just start from the beginning!

[@IsamotKol]

great video! id love to see your analysis of all the WoW chapters!

[@Mutherkuneker]

Hooooly fuuuuucking pooooop, Batman! I needed this more than I needed my next breath (which might explain my discombobulat-ed and shitty life... but still)!!!! Thank you so god-fucking-damn much, man. Sonvabitch!