So with the new season quickly approaching I was wondering a couple of things...how will
the show proceed without base material to work off of.
Something I've noticed a lot in the comments of my own videos is that...people who never
read the books can clearly see a difference between George's work and original content
created just for the show.
Keep in mind that many book readers have been blind sided by decisions the show took to
introduce characters and go off course with many plot lines.
Some of them have gone over well like extending the Arya Hound journey and others have failed
completely like the sand snakes or even trying to make Gilly an entertaining character.
COUGH FAIL COUGH In a recent interview, George Martin has said that he has decided to write
in a nice little twist involving a certain character that is no longer alive in the show.
A very big twist that could shake up the story a bit
Now I've been wondering at what this could be and I would love for the viewers right
now to get in on this after the video in the comments below.
First let's look at the characters who're dead in the show right now.
The ones I can think of are three people who could have "twist" potential.
You got Barristan, Mance Rayder and Stannis who, for all we know, is dead.
There are many rumors swirling around a lot of these characters in the books and I want
to try and take a guess at what this new upcoming twist can be.
By the way I will be putting the video of the interview in the description below so
check it out if you want to.
Also before I go any further, this video will contain minor spoilers for Mance Rayder and
MAJOR spoilers Barristan Selmy.
Keep that in mind
First let's start with Mance Rayder.
The craziest theory out there and possible twist that George could be planning to dish
out is that Mance is secretly, or was, Rhaegar Targaryen.
After the battle at the Trident when he lost to Robert Baratheon his men took his body,
nursed him back to health and hid him somewhere nobody would ever think to look for him: Beyond
the wall.
While there he adopted a new persona as Mance and used his charisma to unite the Waring
tribes of wildlings under one banner.
Originally Rhaegar wanted to return to the realm after the unification of the clans was
complete but he realized there was another threat even greater to the realm then Robert.
The White Walkers.
Eventually Rhaegar would abandon his quest to reclaim the Iron Throne and convince the
widlings to join his cause and invade the seven kingdoms.
Mance would then reveal his true identity and try to unite those still loyal to the
Targaryen dynasty to join him.
Some of them include House Martell of Dorne and House Arryn of the Vale under an agreement
with Petyr Baelish.
The theory goes on to say that He will work with Baelish to quickly take the Throne with
his 100,00 wildling army from a weakened kingdom, rally his men and defend against the White
Walker invasion.
That's the theory anyway and before you try to poke holes in it?
keep in mind I didn't make this but I do understand why people would think it.
In the television show, Mance was killed by Jon Snow after he refused to lead the wildlings
against the Boltons for Stannis' cause.
They attempt to kill him off by burning him but Jon gives him a quick mercy killing.
In the novels, a similar fate awaits but instead of Mance being burned, another character disguised
to look like Mance so the real one can go and carry out a secret mission for Jon Snow.
The real Mance is sent to retrieve Arya Stark from the Boltons at Winterfell....however,
little do they know, Arya is not at Winterfell but it is in fact Sansa's best friend Jeyne
pretending to be Arya.
Mance is captured by the Boltons and left out in the cold to die with only the flayed
skins of his wives to keep him warm.
As of the last book, Mance is still alive and he could be Jon's father, should the other
theory also prove true.
Mance being Rhaegar makes sense once you learn that he and Maester Aemon kept in contact
during Rhaegar's time in King's Landing.
It also makes sense how Mance knows the layout of Winterfell considering he went there years
earlier to kidnap Lyanna Stark.
The second potential twist could be that Barristan Selmy is not loyal to Daenerys but actually
serves another person.
Many fans have speculated that Barristan has been under the command of another Targaryen
who survived the sacking of King's Landing in the last days of Robert's Rebellion.
In the series Barristan's story picks up after a brief absence when he is dismissed by Cersei
and Joffrey from the Kingsguard, he proceeds to travel across the sea to Essos and this
is where it seperates.
In the show he tracks down Dany and pledges his service to her.
Eventually he becomes one of her most trusted adviser and a member of her Queensguard.
In season 5 he is killed by the Sons of the Harpy.
In the books, however, Barristan is still very much alive.
The potential twist and theory here is that when Barristan travels to Essos
he encounters Illyrio Mopatis and learns of the two Targaryens currently in hiding.
Daenerys and her nephew, Aegon.
Barristan begins plotting with Illyrio and Varys for a Targaryen restoration and is sent
to Daenerys because, unlike her nephew, she has less retainers to guard and advise her.
Barristan is charged with making sure Daenerys and her dragons return to Westeros to assist
her nephew in retaking the Iron Throne.
Once again, it's a stretch but I can see it being possible.
Now the last and the third possible theory and potential twist is that Stannis really
is, as Melisandre says, Azor Ahai.
The legendary figure in the Red God religion who is kind of like....Jesus but with a flaming
sword.
Stannis is Azor Ahai and the only one who can prevent the White Walker invasion but
he dies...during the Siege of Winterfell against the Boltons.
Roose and Ramsay will trigger their own demise by killing Stannis who is somehow the key
to stopping all of this.
But Like I said once again, these are all speculations on what the twist could be, based
on theories floating out there but there are many characters the show has killed off that
are still alive in the books so...
As always let me know what you guys think about these, share the video around so we
can get the conversation going.
Make sure to hit that like button and subscribe and I will cya guys next time.
Have a good one.