Who is Coldhands?

[@alovelle]

Your ability to make me stop what I’m doing to hear yo discuss any topic never ceases to amaze me

[@arigreenberg442]

Sir David Attenborough vibes

[@communistcomrade6177]

💯 ! ive just paused my work on Nietzsche just to listen to it

[@phoenixmilburn6598]

Same tho.......

[@GRB-tj6uj]

I even do this when I already know the answer to the question in the video title

[@BeneathTheGold]

@@communistcomrade6177 😂

[@conors4430]

Cold hands is the friends we made along the way

[@bigwigcthulu6902]

This is the most solid theory I've heard on the identity of Coldhands. Except for the fact that he's clearly Daario Naharis.

[@ThommyofThenn]

You forget the best support for that theory. That being the idea of Euron also being Daario and therefore, also Uncle Benjen. It is heavily implied Daario is also the hooded man in Winterfell due to the subtle textual clue, where the HM puts a hand on a dagger. This is a direct mirror to Daarios introduction where he has two daggers upon which wanton women are carved, locked in an embrace of passion

[@edgeman1135]

Coldhands is Quathe

[@seanburgess7002]

What happened to rhaegar targaryen's body could the children of the forest snatched he body and took him to blood ravens cave and brought him back ish Maybe

[@ThommyofThenn]

@seanburgess7002 a ton of ppl saw him die. Either Targ loyalists were able to recover his body for proper burial, or Baratheons would have collected him. Bobby B would be very keen to prove beyond doubt Rhaegar was really dead to help cement his new regime. Each side had reasons for recovering his remains but it's odd I can't recall exactly what happened. Good question!

[@CoinSlotKitty]

Its clearly Tyrion.

[@saeyabor]

> rides in on an elk > saves Sam & Gilly > has cold hands > refuses to elaborate > leaves

[@matthewgiorgio4893]

> leaves with John's younger brother who also refuses to elaborate

[@eyeballpaul700]

I like the idea that Coldhands was Bloodraven's first ranger while he was lord commander at the wall, he might even have been one of the Raven's Teeth that voluntarily took the black with Bloodraven.

[@williamhermann6635]

Doesnt explain how hes undead as theres no link to BR having the ability to resurrect anyone.

[@Bam_Bam_Bam_Bam]

@@williamhermann6635 why not if he had help from Leaf and other generations.

[@williamhermann6635]

@@Bam_Bam_Bam_Bam Doesnt account for why he knows the old tongue, which hasnt been spoken in a really really long time or how he has a great elk even tho they were thought to be extinct for a really long time. Bloodraven is able to warg animals and exist in the weirwood net because of his Blackwood blood. If this guy is one the Raven's Teeth he must have also had magic blood. See how many off-page assumptions we have to make here? Dont get me wrong, its a pretty cool theory, I just dont see any evidence for it.

[@joshuadarrow]

I think there's a possibility that the "tomb of the unknown soldier" allegory is perhaps far more on the mark than it appears at first glance. a running theme with magic in ASOIAF, is that it comes with a cost, even if it's not always in blood. What if in this case, it's the sacrifice of all of the men whose watch has ended? Coldhands could be any member of the watch, and in a certain sense, he's *every* member of the watch. A magical byproduct of all those rangers who died cold, alone, and terrified. Their watch is over, but so long as the men still take the black, his will never end.

[@greekspeare9526]

I'm struggling to understand why there are so many statements about Coldhands being Bran's monster. To me, Bran is referring to the three-eyed Raven in the exchange between him, Meera, and Coldhands: --- Meera’s gloved hand tightened around the shaft of her frog spear. “Who sent you? Who is this three-eyed crow?” “A friend. Dreamer, wizard, call him what you will. The last green-seer.” The longhall’s wooden door banged open. Outside, the night wind howled, bleak and black. The trees were full of ravens, screaming. Cold-hands did not move. “A monster,” Bran said. The ranger looked at Bran as if the rest of them did not exist. “Your monster, Brandon Stark.” “Yours,” the raven echoed, from his shoulder. --- Meera was asking "Who is this three eyed crow?" Then Bran says "A monster." To which Coldhands replies "Your monster." Coldhands was never referred to as Bran's monster, but this gets repeated on so many channels and forums. Even some of the better, more knowledgeable ones like this channel.

[@Cashdummy]

I think we will meet coldhands's former self in the next dunk and egg stories. surely george must plan to cover the departure of bloodraven and his men to the wall.

[@green_dragon_knight]

I think that’s very likely. I like the idea that Dunc shakes hands with the guy and thinks to himself how cold the man’s hands are 😊

[@Cashdummy]

@@green_dragon_knight gotta happen and soon. Dunk and Egg will head north as they are the only protagonists, this will be the chance to reveal. it is foreshadowed and even if coldhands is the unnamed soldier, we will meet him in there

[@yoohoosandman]

If it is a Raven's Tooth, I hope so. I hate this theory with what we know right now. The Night's King, or Last Hero, or Bran the Builder, or Brandon Stark, or a combination or all of the above is much more fun. And I think it's just the fresh garbs that are an argument against it. It's gotta be the dude sacrificed in front of the Heart Tree in Winterfell in Bran's acid trip

[@sudharmansitaraman8377]

Just goes on to show that we've lost hope about getting this all cleared up in the sequels (which aren't coming) and hoping we get some hints on one of GRRM's side projects.

[@facelessdirewlf]

naw he’s way too old to be from that time “they killed him long ago” come on yall

[@laurelinepierre7742]

I always thought that Sam was sent help from the Old Gods and the trees beacause he said his vows to them with Jon, rather then in the Sept with the others. He is "recognised" by the trees and when he asked for help, they sent help.

[@vilukisu]

Coldhands being "just one of the Crow's Teeth" feels anticlimactic but it does fit with the idea that we should not expect everyone to be secretly someone else or somebody we know. I do wish to know more about the Crow's Teeth and the hypothetical member that became Coldhands. Why was he (or any of them) so loyal as to take the black with Bloodraven? Why did he go along so far North of the Wall and die for him? Another question is for Bloodraven's relationship to the man Coldhands was: why did he (presumably it was him or the Children, but they would not do so alone, I recon) raise him? Surely they weren't the only two who went ranging when Bloodraven disappeared. Another thing: The Crow's Teeth were a force for then the hand of the king Bloodraven and thus based largely in King's Landing. What we know of the King's Guard, it doesn't seem that populated by people from the North. Would Bloodraven get someone from the North into his guard? I find it doubtful. Then how and why does Coldhands supposedly know the Old Tongue, language associated mostly with the faith of the Old Gods. The only family in the south still worshipping them are the Blackwoods, Bloodraven's other side of the family. Might Coldhands have been a Blackwood? It would explain partly why he would be so loyal to Bloodraven; he would nearly be kin.

[@sexykevytyler]

Raven's Teeth

[@MrNicoJac]

I'd imagine the reason why _only he_ got resurrected was simple practicality. Like, in order for that to work, someone would need to: 1. Die 2. In a way that was not so devastating that his corporeal form was too disabled to be of future service 3. While his team still won the battle definitively enough for them to take his body back, safely 4. Whatever ritual or magic was used would still have to work on his remains 5. He (probably) couldn't be dead for too long, and therefore not have died too far away from his rite of reliving place (since then the decay would've been more severe, no?) The combination of all those requirements together creates quite a selective process. Which makes it more likely that no others got the same treatment. Of course, only GRRM would know. But I doubt we'll ever get to read it....

[@williamhermann6635]

And who gave you that idea that a bunch of characters cant be pretending to be someone else? Certainly you didnt hear that from GRRM as he already has a number of characters who are confirmed to be in disguise under assumed identities. Its actually kind of a theme that all these important characters are mere shadows of themselves.

[@greatkhan7278]

​@@williamhermann6635 although you're not wrong, the idea that everyone you meet was someone else all along is a bit tiresome. Sometimes an important side character being simply who he said he was (okay in this case, who he portrays himself to be) is more of a surprise than a yet another betrayal. Since betrayal is a bit of a theme, perhaps an honest guy trying to help is a revelation. I may be wrong, and I'm not arguing, just offering a thought

[@greatkhan7278]

To your first question, the Kings Guard/Honour Guard of the Targaryans seemed to inspire alot more loyalty than those following after their dynasty ended. We can see this in the Tower Of Joy for example. Perhaps too they weren't just loyal because of an oath but because they were true believers in the threat the Others were to all life, or maybe the Azor Ahai prophecy or whatever it was exactly that BR believed. Your last question, CH definitely might be a Blackwood but him knowing the Old Tongue can be put down to him learning it later in life. If you went north of the wall, fought the living dead, met skinchangers, met the CoTF, met greenseers and saw your charge literally morph with a tree, you might start believing a bit more in the Old Gods and the customs of the area. As an aside, he may not actually "speak" the Old Tongue. He was only overheard saying a prayer right? Some people can recite a full prayer or sermon whatever in Latin without actually knowing the language. And I for example learnt the nursery rhyme Frere Jacques and yet I cannot speak French. It's possible that's all that he knows of the language, that he learnt for the same reason above.

[@lyarrastark6254]

Coldhands may have been one of the Raven's Teeth and might remain nameless. I like the idea that GRRM could have used Coldhands as a stand-in for the Unknown Soldier.

[@FrankM812]

Cannot see a video from you and not watch! Awesome ability to narrate and tell a story. Thank you sir!

[@HOTD108_]

Coldhands may not be Benjen, but that's only because he's really Benjen's twin brother Benten.

[@garmisra7841]

His cousin Benson!

[@mr.p215]

@@garmisra7841 Brand: "Hodor, Benson's gonna be pissed when he finds out I warged in you." Hodor: "Hodor?"

[@pyramidion5911]

He is benjens brother

[@ScottLaBlanc]

Love your conclusion. Thank you for the videos

[@user-ln7jw2qn6h]

I always wondered if Coldhands was the man in Bran's vision whose throat was slashed and his feet drummed against the earth.

[@anthonyclarke3678]

I wondered if that was the case too, to be honest I think it's the most likely explanation. We were shown it for a reason and Bran's reaction to it makes it seem very significant. Although it does imply that Coldhands might be older than the wall itself, since he would not have been able to cross it. But maybe his body was transported across the wall before he was revived? Idk. It's also quite interesting in the context of the genesis of the Others shown in the TV show. Obviously he was not killed by the CotF but he was sacrificed to a Weirwood tree, and since D&D cut his character they would have to find some other way to explain how the Others were created. So I wonder if the woman who killed him is the "corpse queen" of the Night's King, or at least a real person who inspired her legend, and if Coldhands has some connection to the creation of the Others.

[@user-ln7jw2qn6h]

@@anthonyclarke3678 The slashed throat is one of my main points of emphasis. Along with Bran tasting the blood through the tree and thus making Coldhands Bran's monster? Essentially being sacrificed to Bran. That line also of, "They killed him long ago," always stuck out to me. In a way, I hope it's not true and some things remain a mystery because when you start explaining everything and everyone is connected somehow, it tends to make the world a bit smaller and more convoluted.

[@facelessdirewlf]

see now he might be old enough to

[@pyramidion5911]

​@@user-ln7jw2qn6hI've spent years thinking about this mystery and yes most things do connect eventually

[@pyramidion5911]

Yes that's him

[@prairieskye]

What a fantastic video! Thank you Robert. Long live the North of the Wall & it’s mysteries

[@IntermissionForBunny]

I still like the Night's King theory. For one, the limited decomposition could be attributed either towards the White Walker magic he dabbled in, or spending a lot of time in a very, very deep freeze - the sort that allows us to find very well preserved mammoths or even humans in the real world. And there's another element as well. He uses the term "brother" for both Sam and Bran, but the former could be George cleverly obfuscating the latter. If Old Nan's stories are right, then the Night's King was also a Stark named Brandon - two "brothers" of the same name a millenium apart.

[@TonttuTorvinen]

He sounds educated, the way he describes the blood ending up in hands and feet seems almost clinical. Reminds me how doctors talk. Or modern officers turning killing into clinical phrases.

[@greatkhan7278]

Good catch. I doubt GRRM would make the mistake of having a peasent use words like congealed and extremities. Helps the theory he could be one of the Ravens Teeth since they're Knights who got a real education, and not a random bread stealer from a jail cell as alot of Nights Watch tended to be by this stage. That said, any confidante of BR who spent time around him and Aemon (if he was there at the time? I think so) two educated Targaryans, some of that might rub off on even a lowborn nobody. Especially in a climate where cold extremities and congealing blood is a day to day concern 🤷‍♂️

[@TonttuTorvinen]

@@greatkhan7278 I agree. It could be somebody educated or it could be experienced lowborn but highly intelligent Ravens Teeth officer that has worked closely with nobles for years. if you give and receive intelligent briefings regularly you get a lot of experience with words. Maybe even somebody like BR editing the language before it is presented to king or small council. Either educated or highly intelligent and with a lot of experience hanging around educated people. Or maybe pretending to be a noble or a merchant while infiltrating. Spy training would plausibly explain why a talented peasant would get actual language lessons.

[@greatkhan7278]

@@TonttuTorvinen oooooh I never even considered that. Though we're not given much reason to believe anyone would be spying on Blood Raven are we? He may of made an enemy or 2 at the Wall in his time there but as Robert said, if he'd choose anyone at the Wall to accompany him on his mission north, it would most likely be his Ravens Teeth which he's known most of his life.

[@TonttuTorvinen]

@@greatkhan7278 I didnt mean that he was spying on Blood Raven. But that maybe he spied for Blood Raven while working as Ravens Teeth before joining the watch and got the relevant training years ago. Spying on disloyal nobles or golden company etc.

[@greatkhan7278]

@TonttuTorvinen oooh shit my bad 🤣🤣 yeah that makes more sense. That's certainly a theory to be entertained

[@RollMeAFat1]

I LOVE that out of every single theory ever, cold hands being benjen, is the theory we know to be false without doubt Like there are others that we can say fairly certainly, but we can’t ever be 100% actually fully certain until winds releases

[@joshcoughx]

I think he says "Your monster" because Bran created him.

[@MariaVosa]

Or Bloodraven created him because his premonitions told him he would need him to guide his successor to him, and Bran is in many ways simply a continuation of Bloodraven.

[@dzzope]

"Your" can be referring to so many things. Maybe it means familial ties? Maybe a much older member of the Starks which took the black? Or it could simply mean "in your service". Be that for the Stark ties or Bloodraven or someone or something else entirely? Or it could be as you say, I'm not discounting it by any means, it would make as much sense as other viable options.

[@poopbone666]

Nahhh cold hands name is Brandon stark

[@williamhermann6635]

When he says "your monster, Brandon Stark" I dont think hes addressing Bran by his name. I think hes introducing himself. He is Brandon Stark, the Night's King.

[@MariaVosa]

@@williamhermann6635 I doubt that. As Robert points out there is little to support the idea that this is the Night's King who actually joined The Others, and should be working against Bloodraven if he's still around.

[@dorston.graves]

If only George cared as much about this story as you do, we’d have it in its entirety by now

[@bradwolf07]

Before watching the video: The theory I personally like best for ColdHands is that he was one of Bloodraven's loyal people who followed him to the Wall. He likely died defending Bloodraven, so when Bloodraven became what he is, brought him back to serve him again. Loyalty repaid, but at a terrible cost

[@williamst.romain7393]

Cold Hands must have been Bloodraven's second. I've written about this before. Martin has refused to publish the second volume of Fire and Blood until after he is done ASOIAF. The only reason why is because it would give away something. And the only thing I can think of, aside from the true fate of Siera Seastar, is the identity of Cold Hands.

[@metsgiantsfan333]

Brilliant as usual, Robert. Thank you.

[@heath_deadgerpvp1161]

Nice puns. Love to see you having fun with it. Keep em coming!

[@DD-qo1tw]

I have to think coldhands is a preview of what Jon Snow will be. I believe his dialogue shows he is independent and individual, if he's forced to follow orders it's more likely to be in a more broad way like by a general magic rule, oath, or loyalty. His being a member of the nights watch doesn't mean death doesn't free you from vows. He could've retaken his vows out of s sense of duty or necessity. He is likely to be as old or older than Bloodraven due to his connection with him. The lack of rot means little to a body in the cold and dry climate. I'd say same for clothes but also it'd be very easy to replace them with all the missing or killed crows over time. We presume he's equal or later to Bloodraven because he says he sent him which I agree is more likely but I'd also say it's not impossible he predates him and is an ancient ranger with his own mission such as stopping the others or creating a new pact that serving Bloodraven and Bran brings him closer to. He may also be Brans monster because he serves the Starks. I do not think he's recent simply because that's not nearly as interesting and his connection to Bloodraven, plus the "long ago" line which IMO implies older than Bloodraven because it's a very old being saying that.

[@TimTimTomTom]

He certainly does imply who he is, he even directly says his name. I am your monster, Brandon Stark. George loves exactly this kind of word play, used in places where the real meaning is easily misunderstood. He's one of the Brandon Starks.... deleted my guess as to which Brandon Stark. No idea there.

[@pimpchez]

Great comment

[@bennett420316]

How many Brandon Stark's are sworn Brothers of the Nights Watch? It couldn't be many with the name. Unless he's a bastard, but like Jon a hidden legit noble person who is thought of being someone who is not actually a bastard.

[@jenniferpearce1052]

What if he is Brandon Stark, brother of Ned and Benjen? I've forgotten how he was hung. Wasn't it by the hands? But in such a way that struggling tightened the rope around his neck? For him to be undead like Catlyn, to have gone north to be with his brothers would make sense.

[@pyramidion5911]

​​@@jenniferpearce1052Yes! Few people connect the dots, but Brandon Stark lives! There's mountains of foreshadowing and set up for Brandon Stark to return as the true big bad of the story. I'll share a theory of my own: Brandon has been warging into people at night, people like Robert Baratheon! He is truly the Nights King as he body hops around westeros to indulge his wild delights. Early in the story Ned literally sniffs it out! Look and see!

[@Ash.Crow.Goddess]

A nick name is as good a name as any. So we know his name. It's Cold Hands.

[@elSethro]

I wonder if the line "your monster" addressed to Bran could be a hint that he was actually created (revived) by Bran somehow. There would be some time travel involved, no doubt, but conceivable, I'd say.

[@andrewporter2105]

Your conclusion was very touching. I was actually moved to an emotional response. I mean this as a compliment- that was good t.v..

[@AngelosLoukatos]

When magic is involved, in this case the raising of the dead, decomposition can't be considered as a problem. Coldhands probably stopped decomposing the moment he was raised from the dead.

[@Tungdil_01]

- Is this Benjen? - NO, [after someone dies they lose part of their humanity, so it is not Benjen ... anymore]

[@Ben-zr4ho]

Yeah Im not saying it's Benjen but that "no" means less than nothing. Martin could be obsfucating for whatever reason. He could be saying he's not human and anymore and changed so "not Benjen." He could have changed his mind.

[@alexmars1511]

When coldhands said "your monster ", i automatically thought it was Bran himself who made him

[@joshuadarrow]

That was out of context. Bran refers to the *three-eyed raven* as "a monster", to which coldhands replies: "your monster, Brandon Stark".

[@alexmars1511]

You are right. Now it's seems Bran was unaware that he was describing himself

[@emmettplasa]

i like the fan theory that hes not a he but is a she,brave Danny flint. there a song about her she pretends to be a man and joins the nights watch but is discovered and they kill her. it would make sense why she wears a black cloak and calls sam brother but cant pass though the door at the nights fort. shes only mentioned in storm and dance, i think, which are the two books coldhands appears in. also her being in song means coldhands can be old but not so old that she would have decayed

[@highlandoutsider]

While I'm not convinced this is the answer, I still really like it, would be pretty cool

[@jsprodonoff]

I like the Raven's Teeth theory, but the Brave Danny Flint one has my heart

[@KetilK]

I think coldhand's spirit might be older than coldhands body. So when the children say they killed him long time ago, that could be as far back as when the watch was founded, or maybe even he was already dead by the time he joined. I mean, if he was killed during the long night, and he got the opportunity to use dead bodies to fight them, he might have been interested in joining the watch as a dead person to prevent the same to happen to other people.

[@alchemistxp2]

The theory I have always loved is that he is Brandon Snow, Torrhen Stark's bastard brother. Brandon Snow had wanted to infiltrate Aegon's camp and assassinate the three dragons but never had a chance to because Torrhen surrendered. I also think we see him through Bran's visions in the Winterfell weirwood tree in ADWD. In the vision he took three weirwood branches to make into arrows to slay Aegon's dragons.

[@pechugaslarou3433]

"We don't need a name to remember the deeds that ColdHans had done or to honor the accompanyng sacrifice' That's perfect.

[@fleachamberlain1905]

1:03 So George lied to his editor. And... It's not like that is unusual for him. He is trying to protect the mystery; what he thought shouldn't have been so obvious.

[@daniell1483]

I always figured that since Coldhands works for Bloodraven, he is probably one of the Raven's Teeth, those men who were personally loyal to Bloodraven and followed his master to the Wall. BR may well have brought him back to life after his death, whoever he was.

[@tylerchapman9234]

I truly think he's also one of the Ravens teeth

[@BlackQback]

+1. And there's a nice parallel with a Greek myth of Dragon's teeth, too. Bloodraven, Bryndon Rivers, was/is (kind of) a dragon - or, at the very least "blood of the dragon", as well. In a (tiny) nutshell, when the Dragon was slain (or, in case of BR, plugged into a tree), his teeth scattered on the battlefield rose as warriors in his name, continuing to fight.

[@daniell1483]

@@BlackQback That sounds pretty cool. I haven't heard that myth before.

[@BlackQback]

@@daniell1483 It's a sub-story from the Jason's and the Argonauts' quest for Golden Fleece.

[@daniell1483]

@@BlackQback Cool, I'll look into that, thanks for the reference.

[@matthewmcpherson2260]

I love all you stuff man. Keep up the great work.

[@williamhermann6635]

The quote "Your monster, Brandon Stark" is usually interpreted almost as like a threat to Bran, but I dont think hes even addressing Bran by name. I think hes introducing himself. He is Brandon Stark, the Night's King.

[@mcdermin]

I remember from a different video, it was mentioned that it’s possible for Coldhands to be Dunk after Egg dies at Summerhall. Instead of continuing on as Lord commander of the kingsguard he simply went to the wall and went on to become Coldhands

[@samuelhiatt9338]

I think when he says he's Bran's monster, that implies that Bran created him. From that, I think that he was created by Bran possibly in a similar manner to how Hodor was influenced by Bran in the past in the "Hold the Door" sequence. Bran would've created or sacrificed Coldhands long ago when viewing key events in the distant past. Perhaps Bran could even be going back through the weirwoods to view the first Long Night. This would place Coldhands as one of the very first Night's Watchmen, or perhaps even Bran the Builder himself. As far as the decomposition goes, that can easily be explained away by him being magically preserved all this time. Being Bran the Builder would have a lot of significance as well, since obviously Bran is himself named after Bran the Builder and Bran the Builder was the first Stark. This could also show us a lot about the creation of the Wall, the nature of the Others, and what the Long Night will look like when it comes again.

[@MartiniBlankontherest]

I think he might be The Nights King. (13th lord commander) When his wife (corpse queen) died, his heart 'in his view' ceased to beat.

[@InAverySilentWay]

This was such a great video!

[@Lorenc7]

Excellent closing to the video. I almost wish you had saved this one for Memorial Day.

[@lokigm1202]

That's the most solid theory i ever heard. Because, unlike many, it makes sense.

[@Grimodes]

Coldhands is, in my opinion, either the Last Hero (who was also Bran the Builder) or one of the Last Hero’s 12 companions.

[@sarcasmatwork]

This is one of my favorite ASOIAF mysteries.

[@neverstopschweiking]

He is Daemon Targaryen.

[@GreyWasteTim]

If Coldhands is a Raven's Teeth member, perhaps he is a character we will meet in a Dunk and Egg novella, the next time Bloodraven pops up to check in with his kin and bail them out of something.

[@Bzuhl]

Oh I forgot about this character, I only remembered him as some kind of free-willed white walker.

[@peterusmc20]

This is the answer that best fits the information we currently have but imo an unnamed raven's teeth is boring as an answer so I hope it's not the case.

[@TheLiquidPepper]

I remember getting engrossed in a theory that Qhorin Halfhand was Arthur Dayne. There was a post on reddit that explained it. GRRM had some heavy handed references to "Dawn" and Dayne house sigils. And Qhorin asked for Jon specifically at the Fist, which would make sense if R+L=J. Qhorin's companions were also not unlike other missing members of Rhaegar's Kingsguard. Ned being a Stark also fits with them being there. Ned would promise to keep Jon safe, with them nearby. With Ned dead, they took over the job. They also sacrificed themselves for Jon, down to the last man. Food for thought. But only time will tell, I guess. 🙂 More on topic, Coldhands is a Chekhov's gun. He must be someone significant. Or else Bloodraven would have more of him.

[@starbelly2000]

Bran has helped to create Coldhands in a time-travel/vision. He saves the man's life and keeps him alive to his own life in the future.

[@AprilTindall-t6m]

"Brother!"- Jon is greeted by a wildling warg with a boar at the Wall. It doesn't feel like coincidence, it feels like a pattern. Brothers of the Watch apparently have Other Brothers. And Cold hands... either Harren Hoares brother, who was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch when Harren dies at Harrenhall OR the Envoy sent to Storms End and gets his hands cut off. So many hands throughout the entire world story.

[@pbfamous07]

such quality. thankyou

[@JosephAnglesey-yj4yp]

Well done

[@storyfirstgamingyt]

Coldhands is the Night King, to me, for several reasons. He spoke an ancient tongue, like how the Night King would learn his lover's language. He knows about the door in the Night Fort, and based on that chapter in ASOS I believe the Night King was also a Stark, and A+B=C. I think Coldhands was cursed to serve the Children and/or Bloodraven as penance for his crimes as the Night King.

[@GilderoyLockhard]

You have a beautiful voice and style of story telling :)

[@desert-storm-borncharlie11]

Ok your last 2m or so was a nice exercise in thought. As to the question, I agree, I don't think it matters who Coldhands necessarily is, it's more about him "living" up to the tenets and spirit of the "Oath". I also agree, he's likely a member of the Raven's Teeth or some unnamed confidant/right-hand of Brynden's while he was Lord Commander. I think what would be really interesting to know is what type of 'magic' was used to raise him and who performed that particular action and when? Now we might not get those answers either, but that would really fill in a lot of gaps. As the "Long Ago" implies, it doesn't seem as likely that Coldhands 'died' during this most recent stirring of the White Walkers. That suggests that either the Walkers have been stirring for a lot longer than characters in the story necessarily realize, or that he could be a remnant from the last "Long Night", which would be absolutely wild if true. Of course, there is the possibility that he died by "other" means, as in, not by WW hands and was raised similarly to how Beric and Catelyn are raised. If his throat was cut, he'd have died relatively quickly from the blood loss, but may have been raised nearly as quickly, explaining the lack of decay of his flesh. The rattling of his voice is reminiscent to the language George uses when describing Catelyn's speech, so I think that's a clue for us. The clothing issue is not really an issue to me. If his clothing was old and tattered/falling off DUE TO DECAY, we'd know that the being within has no care or thought to their dress otherwise. That doesn't seem to be the case. Now, it could be argued that Coldhands hasn't been dead long enough for his clothing to "rot away', but what actually does the rotting? Time and exposure to the elements, and/or wear and tear. So, the point being, his clothing could be more or less worse for wear depending on what he's doing, been doing, hasn't been doing or how long he's been dead or hasn't been, so that point is kind of moot. What should be of note is that he seems to consciously change his clothing so as not to appear too tattered. That itself is interesting and suggests he's not just some absent minded lackey like a wight might or seems to be. He's exhibiting behavior somewhat like Beric, but before Beric is in his current diminished condition regarding his memories.

[@DarkSister535]

Thank You

[@g_rec_attempt6782]

I think Germ's ego got in the way here. He intended it to be Benjen, when it was too obvious, he bailed on the idea but didn't want to rewrite everything.

[@LaLayla99]

You can certainly draw people in when you tell a story. 🙂

[@matt961234567]

Given GRRM has repeatedly admitted that he changes the writing plan if someone figures it out, i think Coldhands was supposed to be Benjen, right up until the editor asked the question, and GRRM changed his plan, and is probably just as clueless as rest of us as to who Coldhands was before the frostbite

[@williamhermann6635]

Thats not true. Ive seen an interview where he says the exact opposite. If people guess it, they guess it. Hes not gonna change the ending just to subvert expectations.

[@matt961234567]

@williamhermann6635 funnily enough, I've seen an interview where he says he does.

[@williamhermann6635]

@@matt961234567 Then hes talking out of both sides of his mouth

[@joshrathbun1616]

The one thing that still makes me wonder is how his hands are congealed and black while his face is white. If he just had his throat slashed he would've bled out. But George specifically showing us the black hands along with the covering of his throat tells me that this man was likely hanged

[@stickyfoot84]

15:05 Benjen's nephew, that just stabbed Lord Commander John Snow." This doesn't make sense to me

[@alanywalany6460]

THE just stabbed... cmon

[@clobbopus_used_beat]

​@@alanywalany6460you cmon that was not clearly delivered I was on google trying to figure out what he was talking about til I saw this comment

[@alanywalany6460]

@@clobbopus_used_beat I can understand why one would not get it based on audio alone, but in the context and given that "the" and "that" are not very much dissimilar, it shouldn't be too hard to deduce?

[@clobbopus_used_beat]

@alanywalany6460 You'd have to know all of Benjen's nephews and/or all the nights watchmen in the conspiracy so no not necessarily easy to deduce

[@alanywalany6460]

@clobbopus_used_beat If you watch this channel and know about the character of Coldhands you'd know that Benjen's nephews are the Stark kids

[@pyramidion5911]

He literally tells you who he is. I think the show has placed a mental wall in most peoples minds that they just refuse to connect the dots.

[@PacificEgg]

Its Uncle Benjins twin brother that was exiled to the Wall at birth because of a dragon dream.

[@Lucifer_Abysseum]

i like the theory of the raven's teeth, itll probably settle as the truth in my head now X)

[@danielsilva-duarte571]

Hi Robert. I have a question. If the magic of the wall prevents new living beings from entering, how was Othor's body able to be transported?

[@xortel4725]

Oh boy fresh content for my lil teef to sink into mmmnomnomnomnommmmmm :3 ;3

[@jackcullen435]

Another great video, but I think we have to take into account when Leaf said "they killed him long ago" is that long ago by Leaf's definition is far greater than ours. She walked the world of men for 200 years to watch and listen, so when Coldhands was killed would that mean we would have to go back further than that? That would rule out any of the Raven's Teeth, and I would rule out anyone we know of since Aegon's conquest.

[@NameOptional-p9u]

great video

[@BarryESchwartz]

Coldhands is Ser Duncan the Tall.

[@otterofdespair3387]

If it was Benjen that would have been a nice closed story line. As it is George will keep spinning his fantastical yarns and getting absolutely no closer to a conclusion.

[@richardtabor8686]

Very interested to hear your opinion here. Ty for the content.

[@magalengo]

‘They left their posts in life, so in death their watch goes on forever.’ I like to think he was one of the 79 Sentinels, finding redemption in death.

[@SouthJerseyGhost77]

Not only is being a trained professional archer hard as is, they have to endure the unpredictable winds, blizzards and etc & arrows . In a battle beyond the Wall having the high ground is obviously more militarily advantageous

[@neverstopschweiking]

Years ago I posted a theory on reddit and I stand by it: Coldhands is Daemon Targaryen. After the battle over God's Eye, all the bodies and the even the sword were recovered, except for his corpse. There are children of the forest on the Isle of Faces, who could resurrect him as semi-conscious wight. He is an ancestor of Bloodraven, with the ability of forming a bond with an animal, speaks an unknown language and "they killed him long ago". He is Martin's favorite character described as a man and a monster, of light and darkness and just vanishes in the story. Coldhands is a very interesting character that doesn't fit into the story and just appears out of nowhere. He is both a man and a monster, describing his physical appearance as "white and black".

[@Gongall]

Daemon was never a brother of the nights watch

[@neverstopschweiking]

@@Gongall Reincarnated one could have been, probably to get beyond the wall. Also Coldhands doesn't even say he is a member, he just calls Sam "brother", it's a term we use for monks, even when we ourselves are not monks. Also he could simply be recycling old robes available beyond the wall.

[@SodapopSunrise]

No

[@neverstopschweiking]

@@SodapopSunrise Yes.

[@SodapopSunrise]

@@neverstopschweiking no. And you not knowing that’s a dumbass theory is a problem.

[@darthkielbasa]

Brandon stark I've never been more convinced of a mans name than when Robert identifies himself in his intro.

[@Joerg31415]

The ultimate gaslighting of GRRM to his editor would be a "no" in the kind of Ben Kenobis "Darth Vader killed your father" , i.e. Coldhands was Benjen but he is no longer there as a person

[@impalamama7302]

Since Sam is certainly the very type to write down his story for posterity, he is also the very type to go full on down the rabbit hole doing a deep dive to research who Coldhands might have been---if he ever gets a chance to compare notes with Bran.

[@lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615]

I think he is one of Blood Ravens men(Ravens Teeth) that followed him north of the wall. He is good, and has a key role to play

[@drivingonice]

I think cold hands is older than that. Blood raven didn't join the nights watch till after the night fort was abandoned. Yet Cold Hands knew the secret passage in the night fort.

[@jaysheth1541]

The respect for the character in your words, voice, and narration was connecting us deeper with the goodness you were illuminating for us. This brings better qualities even in audiences. ❤ Love 🌹🌅✨

[@isaacthecook5236]

Given the scarf over his face, and the sound of his voice when he talks, what’s the possibility he’s covering that he doesn’t have a mouth and there isn’t a raven under there talking for him?

[@Anubiszz512zz]

I wonder if we might actually learn who he is through Dunk and egg. We learn of a specific member of the ravens teeth that Bloodraven relief on especially.

[@CSK1550]

Very deep

[@benjamingrunbaum3601]

You've convinced me. Coldhands is a warg, and his name is- STARK

[@HiFiAwardTour]

Good vid, I think you’re right.

[@kiwwat4139]

Wights did pass the Wall: To attack LC Mormont. They could pass, or at least be passively brought through. Coldhands could not pass the Black Gate, because only a brother of the Night’s Watch could pass. That means that we can narrow Coldhands down to: -Time travelling Dickon Tarly (most likely) -Brave Danny Flint.

[@mhw4658]

what if Cold Hands took his vow after he was brought back? maybe a second taking of the black, and that's why he still honors the vow?

[@simonmohamadi5260]

Isn't it a plot hole in game of thrones that dany managed to get her dragons across the wall to save Jon and the others when it has been noted before that dragons refuse to cross the wall.

[@danielfox9461]

It may be that your brothers must say the magic words 'and now his watch is ended.' if coldhands died beyond the wall he probably got no burial ceremony and therefore hasn't been ceremonially released whereas Jon dying at castle black likely will have the words said over his body before his resurrection allowing him to leave the watch without betraying his vows

[@gentlesavage2068]

David lightbringer recently made an iceberg video where he suggested that coldhands could be some kind of purified white walker.

[@Bukejuice22]

I have watched all your videos and even this video multiple times and just now caught the point about Coldhands is being warged by The Three Eyed Raven. This is now what i believe. Thats why he looks at his hands like its the first time he noticed them.

[@moldyketchuphead]

This one is 🔥.

[@willbrown8289]

I think we will have to wait for the next Dunc and Egg book, the she wolves of winterfell, to find a good candidate for cold hands.

[@planyourlifetoday1269]

I wonder if there is a small force of dead men of the nights watch that have been saved by the children and Bloodraven which both Benjin and cold hands belong. They could make new vows in death and continue the fight to give them purpose

[@Truffle_Pup]

My immediate guess is Ser Arthur Dayne. Edit: I stand corrected Robert, I went too far down the rabbithole. I think this is the best theory on Coldhands I've ever heard.

[@Leader1934]

I still strongly believe its Benjen as noone else makes sense to be kept secret. George saying no could just be because he is not Benjen anymore as he was brought back half way or simply George screwing with the editor.