Preston Jacobs Again Explains the Difference Between a Good ASOIAF Theory Vs a Bad One Part 2

[@blegh336]

What you don't realise is that Preston was replaced years ago by a faceless man, which is naturally why he opposes the theory.

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

truuue

[@iron_captain]

Not a faceless man but the same faceless man

[@SuperWindsage]

but how do you prove that everyone when you are not looking at them ARNT faceless men? it make the teleportation make more sense.@@OfficialRedTeamReview

[@hi_austin]

I yearn for Bolton theories. Damn if the books don’t come out. Your video about Ramsay’s eyes was great. Who the fuck wouldn’t watch Preston Jacobs House Bolton videos??

[@Nyahuma-tv1cl]

A lot of fans forget that it's literature or don't understand how literature works. GRRM isn't defying the most basic concepts of literature. Even fantasy and magical realism is cogent expressing ideas. "Hey, what if . . .? Wouldn't that be awesome?" isn't the basis for a theory. It's just making noise.

[@ivanbluecool]

From what I've seen theories are affected more by the person's own personal experience with the story than the theory and clues itself. Some people write the ending first then need to string a way to get their and those are usually the weakest ones Some theory are just things George expects us to know as we've seen his slight annoyance at people asking like it's some revelation like rob loving Jon more than theon as a brother or Arya forgetting what joffeys sword's name is

[@cameronjadewallace]

I'm with Preston. Just because something is possible doesn't make it a good theory, or matter to a plot. However, I do enjoy fun thought processes!

[@Altrantis]

I think it's more than that. If a theory is plausible but has no evidence for or against, then there is no point in discussing it.

[@cameronjadewallace]

@@Altrantis maybe that works for your life. I'll talk to a toaster about anything for an hour, and quite honestly it makes me feel better, so... maybe being a conversation n*zi just doesn't fit in my life, ya know? I'm pretty sure we can all agree as long as there's a disclaimer of "hey, this is just for fun, don't take it seriously" we can talk about stuff that isn't hurting anyone.

[@emarti3853]

Prest-ON: apply directly to the forehead

[@jkelsey555]

I will die on the hill that is "Lem Lemoncloak = Richard Lonmouth"

[@timopraxis]

My hypothesis: I will continue going to George's Not a Blog every few weeks and watching ASOIAF videos until I find another story that I enjoy more. I've been doing it for at least 8 years now and there's no sign of it stopping. I'm filling the hole by catching up on old Star Trek series. Up to Voyager now!

[@daddyleon]

You at least watching the remastered versions??

[@timopraxis]

@@daddyleon Whatever is on Paramount +

[@GrandArchPriestOfTheAlgorithm]

I really do hate all the "Character x is secretly character y" theories. They actually lessen the work in my option.

[@rosstownsend7894]

we're all in a fandom for a series with an obese elderly author who hasn't released anything in over a decade. at this point i'm amazed we're still coming up with theories even if they are stupid, i'm a big fan of (f)aegon being a blackfyre but it not mattering at all because everyone who knows for certain is either dead, or will die before telling anyone. kinda like the Perkin Warbeck rebellion in Tudor England.

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

"we're all in a fandom for a series with an obese elderly author who hasn't released anything in over a decade. at this point i'm amazed we're still coming up with theories" truuuue

[@SvAwesomeness94]

I do think it's strange for Preston to claim we would never know the answer to any theory. Say George dies tomorrow, you bet that publisher of his would move mountains to ship the ～75% of winds there is in 15 minutes. That of course won't answer everything, but it will answer *something*. Always enjoyed the theory videos making educated guesses on motives and I'm sad we're never getting the Bolton/Tyrell videos from Preston and you.

[@Lexxir]

I think GRRM has it in his will to not publish anything in the event of his death. Could be wrong but I read that somewhere. Doesn’t mean publishers won’t throw his will in the trash when they see dollar signs but still

[@b1bbscraz3y]

I believe George is purposely taking a long time because he's writing both Winds of Winter and Dream of Spring. he is writing everything left to the complete end in case he does pass, and he doesn't want to release just one until he is completely finished and he will release Winds and Dream will be scheduled soon after

[@b1bbscraz3y]

@@kingslayer2999 because it would be the ultimate move and near saving grace to have such immense collective negativity, then to shock everyone by doing the unexpected and releasing the series final 2 books to completion in a short amount of time of one another. everyone would flip, everyone would love him again, it would be his own heroes tale - like Sam Tarly being a disappointment only to save everyone. mark my words publishers only pressure you to write and release, they don't necessarily have access to EVERYTHING a writer has completed or is working on at the moment. the ultimate chess move by George

[@calebduarte5255]

@@LexxirRandom House tearing up George's will: "A paper shield..."

[@MugenHeadNinja]

@@Lexxir I've heard this mentioned several times, and no offence meant, but I've seen the internet parrot *so* much shit that's literally made up (or even just slightly incorrect or out of context), as if it were fact that I refuse to believe anything such as this unless a credible source can be provided.

[@KomodoDojo]

i just finished a dance’s prologue today and that chapter sets the stage for what is warging. Why are some more powerful than others, whats the connection with the weirwoods, and what is causing people to have this ability north of the wall.

[@NukeMarine]

Sometimes you get stupid theories meant as a joke (Bolt-On where Roose is a faceless man that wears the skins of next generation) that somebody looks at seriously and comes up with an amazing theory that makes sense in universe (Roose is an ancient skinchanger that for generations keeps having then taking over his sons but only those that show skinchanging ability which explains his concern for a lord's right to First Night so he never lacks for potential takeover targets). Really though, a good theory should pass the "Do you really think GRRM wants this to be the case?" common sense test. Preston wins on this a lot of the times as he's read most of GRRMs works and blog posts. He's not perfect given Preston's seeming hatred of magic in story that even GRRM states will become more magical (though still reserved compared to the average fantasy novel).

[@wanggaard]

Interesting discussion considering that when the Pink Letter and Dornish Master Plan series were put out Preston seemed to be a pretty polarizing figure at the time. Personally I thought Pink Letter was positively revelatory, and DMP was utter bunk. Beautifully constructed bunk though, got me way deeper in the rabbit hole of ASOIAF theories and speculation.

[@Rakonax]

Man i wish preason would do that bolton theory, and also the Tyrell plan that was teased eons ago, but lost the vote to jon's election.

[@danielvezina5521]

The best faceless man theory is that Syrio Forel and Jaqen H'gharare the same person.

[@alfiehaigh8412]

Good theory: I agree with it Bad theory: you're wrong Simple

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

just like all the crazy drivers on the road

[@somegenerichandle]

I think a lot of it is just chance. Sometimes there are very well thought out theories on the subreddit that just don't get any traction. Either they posted it at a bad time or not a catchy title. Didn't PJ even say his ones posted there wasn't much traction? I think PJ's theories are very good, but i think it helps his calming voice and how much work he puts into editing and graphics for the video help a lot. Those are definitely hard work, but that doesn't technically make a theory more valid, just more digestible, watchable, and popular.

[@BeteBlanc]

I don't hate bad theories. To be fair, there are a fair number of popular "bad" theories. Most of them tend to be gottcha ideas. Bad theory imho is putting the cart before the horse. They're built on assumption(s). Even basic one like X person is a hero so they have to do Y thing. So much is written in GRRM pentameter. It's constantly rhyming with itself. I don't think he's setting it all up just to rip it out and subvert it. Perhaps it would be better to say bad theories are built the way an Architect would build and not a Gardener. They go where someone thinks the story will go. Example. Jon and Dany have been shadowing eachother since the first book. They make similar moves and have similar problems around them. So, we have Dany escaping North to return to Vaes Dothrak. The point of the rhyme is for them to rhyme, not for the writer to laugh when it doesn't when you expect it to. What would be the rhyme for Jon? What would need to happen for them to shadow eachother? Too many theories are built on swerves and expectations. Back filled and ignoring what the person would naturally do.

[@kristijan8518]

The argument about the dragon bond made me think, how would dogs react to a faceless man? Does he also copy the scent of the person they're disgusting as? It's not impossible but at the same time we have no reason to believe they do.

[@YarPirates-vy7iv]

Does changing the face change the body or do they just change into the faces of people who wore lots of baggy clothes? Would they look the same as the face holder in ultraviolet? Insects may react differently! Good point, got me thinking. UV was me being silly, but why would having a person's face change the whole body? They either have to wear their entire skin or I don't buy it.

[@GoldenSharpee]

Definitely know what Carmine means here. It’s a weird, conflicted sort of frustration. For example… My partner is an artist, but I playfully criticize them for doing everything EXCEPT doing art - they’ve taken courses on facial anatomy, they’ve studied art history and the physics of how light plays on an object, they put a huge amount of thought and effort into everything they do. A good friend of mine is also a painter. He throws paint at a canvas, takes a step back when it feels done, and starts a new project. Three guesses who has more success. And there’s no resentment there, its good to have people engaging with art and great that my friend is seeing success. But it IS a little curious (for lack of a better word) that party A can put in a huge amount of effort while party B just puts something out stream-of-consciousness style to as much or more success. Guess that’s just the nature of being a creator/creative.

[@connerair3520]

Any form of art at its core is an attempt to convey emotion and meaning thru a medium. Emotions don't arise thru careful planning and effort, they just happen. You contemplate them, then you move on. In some ways it is meant to be intrinsically impermanent

[@noodless8105]

It would be funny AF if Aegon was actually who he say's he is, BUT nobody fucking believes him lol

[@luisinallcaps5100]

Are you telling me that REED IS NOT THE HIGH SPARROW

[@Teratoma..]

I still wouldn't mind that bolton video

[@MrNobody47710]

The main issue with the example theory, to me, is that it closely resembles a random "what-if" scenario. It has no explanatory value, and it doesn't enrich interpretations for the story. It's something that people would use for writing a piece of fanfiction.

[@andrescalderonsanchez6515]

An extraterestrial being caril that can shape shift

[@SixStringHarmonies]

Preston would know about bad theories.

[@AminTheClub]

Does ur patreon have Asoiaf content videos with Preston that are not on either of urs KZbin channels?

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

Well, yes. I always have Patreon exclusives on there and it goes back many years.

[@mihaicretu2477]

Does Preston have an opinion on the Exodus Theory, or The Coconut God's connected theories in general?

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

the hell are those?

[@mihaicretu2477]

@@OfficialRedTeamReview The Exodus is the paradigm-shifting theory that after his resurrection Jon will come to the realization that he cannot stop the Others and he will instead use the Manderly Fleet and the Braavosi Navy hired via Tycho Nestoris & the Sealord to lead the surviving Northmen and the wildlings across the Narrow Sea, via White Harbor, the Three Sisters and Braavos. He will be Nymeria 2.0, and the "corpse at the prow of a ship" part of the HotU vision is referring to him. Instead of Dany coming to Westeros, Jon will converge with her in Essos, as he seeks protection and a place to settle for his refugees. Dany's endgame arc will be the conquest of Essos with the Dothraki, as would have been expected if we weren't all tricked to believe she had to come to Westeros. But a tragic and misguided act of revenge enacted in Norvos by Merllario Martell - and brilliantly set up via all the Dornish chapters in Feast & Dance (this requires too much explanation to elaborate on here, but there is a reddit theory for it) - will lead to the city being burned to the ground, and a dark pall falling over Dany's conquest. Braavos will decide that she is dangerous and resolutely stand against her as her greatest rival (with Arya included on the side of the FM), and she will feel forced to deal with them even if she doesn't want to, as maintaining the image of the Stallion Who Mounts the World precludes leaving openly declared foes unanswered, and everything she is trying to build could come undone if she is murdered by their assassins. In the South, Aegon vs Cersei will be the main conflict, with Sansa & the Vale and Euron & the Ironborn eventually joining each respective side. Aegon is real, by the way, and the purpose of all the Blackfyre set-up is for Cersei to have a convincing lie to tell about him to weaken him and shore up support for her own side. The second Dance will be between him and Euron, on the two dragons stolen from Meereen (Tyrion's arc might yet surprise us - him and the Secon Sons might succeed where Quentyn and the Windblow failed, and he might be off to Westeros before Dany even returns to Slaver's Bay). If any of Jon's warnings reach them, they will not heed them, and their war will bring Westeros truly to its knees before the Others cross the Triden. Which is exactly Euron's aim. His goal is to fuel war in Westeros in preparation for the Others (if Dany won't invade, balancing the scales between Cersei and Aegon would serve just as well), and then blockade the Narrow Sea with the Iron Fleet and his dragon to make sure nobody is able to escape - if they should try to cross on ragtag fleets of cogs, river barges and fishing vessels, he will spill their blood himself. By being the hand that snuffs out all human life from an entire continent, the greatest sacrifice since the Blood Emperor, or possibly ever, he aims to rise as a new god as the world is broken and remade. George did not show us Hardhome, but before the end, all of Westeros from the Fingers to the Stepstones will be Hardhome. To save their kin - Sansa & Aegon - and all the desperate survivors of the Seven Kingdoms, Jon and Dany will have to break away from their pursuits in Essos to try and deal with his blockade. Meanwhile, forgotten by everyone, Brienne will be our Azor Ahai, or rather the Last Hero 2.0. At the end of Winds, after she stabs Lady Stoneheart through the heart and Oathkeeper catches fire, causing her to be seen as the true chosen of R'hllor by all those present, she will lead the BwB North to find and rescue Brandon Stark (whom they would know to be alive because he talks to Jaime in his dreams, as he's fixating on the BwB's weirwood caves, trying in vain to reach out to his mother). Once there, with Bran's guidance, she will be the one to perform whatever task is needed to stop the Others from spreading beyond the Stepstones into Essos, but Westeros will remain free of humans, covered by a thick layer of snow to protect the Children of the Forest through the centuries as they grow back into their strength.

[@trenchardjj]

There's that really weird theory about Sir Robert Strong being The Mountain, but he's dead.

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

no no it cant be

[@Kimi42336]

For these types of theories i like to use a quote said by Preston "Am i 100% sure that George Clooney is in my kitchen? No I'm not." That's what it boils down to we can't prove or disprove it. Those types of theories are always lazy.

[@Lexxir]

Carmine poorly explained his point

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

Probably. How would you explain it better?

[@MoonManTheories]

I'm trying to measure up.

[@autje1970]

The only theory worth its salt is the one that helps the story either narratively (including character development) or thematically. In other words, most theories are not worth their salt and are rubbish.

[@billgardner376]

❤❤

[@DonnieRay9]

Not first

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

In my heart you were :D

[@RavenFilms]

7:04 *If* is the key word there. I suspect we’ll never see the last 2 books, at least not written by GRRM. It’s clear he’s completely lost interest in them. I have a theory on that (yes, here’s a theory lol) He strikes me as a contrarian. If he is, he’s unlikely to what to write what people said will happen. The problem is, at least half of us probably have a good chunk of it figured out because of how we have all bounced ideas and theories off eachother over the years. So now, he doesn’t want to write that anymore. He could change it, but basically every option possible with the information put forth has been theorized, so he can’t really write anything new or surprising. So he probably feels like he’s just writing a story everyone already knows and it’s no fun to him and he definitely doesn’t want anyone to be right.