Maybe the real weirwood paste was the friends we ate along the way

I’m 99% sure he did eat Jojen. Let’s see in 5-10 years

This theory is a good one for going back over the....sauce material.

who has a better story than brannibal lecter?

I've always thought that Bran's fate is sealed in the tree. He is the new three eye crow, and he has been groomed and brought that far north to replace bloodraven. After he has that dream, at least two characters swear they hear their names in the rustling of the weirwood leaves. Which is also what Osha said is how they speak. He will be influencing things from afar, through mormonts old crow, visions and such. He will never have a POV chapter in my opinion. he is the new bloodraven, and we will have to sieve the pages to find his powerful influence.

Something the video doesn't address is the way Jojen changes his persona quite sharply. Before passing beneath the Wall, Jojen was always confident, and wise, keeping an eye on the big picture. It was for this Old Nan named Jojen "Little Grandfather". Once they pass the Wall, however, Jojen changes quite dramatically. He becomes sick, weakly, refusing to even eat at one point. He is clearly scared of his future. "Little Grandfather" is long gone.

Rest In Paste, Lil Jojens😭

I remember reading this and always finding it strange that both of them seem to just disappear, but I never considered this a possibility.

Jojen paste is also convincing when contrasted with the prologue of ADWD... Varamyr six skins established the practice of cannibalism and sexual exploitation via warging, and how his mentor warg dismissed that all as "abomination". The prologue obviously foreshadows how Jon Snow may cheat death via warging into Ghost, but it also has grim parallels to Bran given Jojen paste. Also, Bran subdues Varamyr's one-eyed wolf via Summer, which sort of signals he's inheriting his prior alpha-warg status.

Robert, yours is some of the best content on KZfaq. Never, not once, have I seen a video of yours in my feed that I wasn't excited to watch - even if I know the topic backwards. Thanks for what you do. 🙂

While there’s a lot of evidence for the Jojen theory, I personally see the weirwood paste as the counterpart to the shade of the evening drink that Dany had in Qarth and turned Euron’s lips blue. The respective trees are color inverted versions of the other, implying some kind of connection. So if shade of the evening trees have a blue sap that gives people visions when eaten, it makes sense that weirwood sap and seeds would have the same effect. Speaking of, I’d love to see a video talking about the connections between weirwood and shade of the evening trees and the different theories around it.

I always read Myra bolting from Bran as a result of him accidentally touching her mind, he's thinking about warging Hodor and about her at the same time, similar to the wilding woman that Six Skins tries to warg

The description of what Bran feels when he eats the substance is very similar to what Danny feels when she takes shade of the evening.

One of the things I appreciated about magic in ASOIAF is that it's not something that just happens on a whim, but rather it always comes with a terrible price that someone has to pay. This theory fits that motif.

The real kicker is, did Bloodraven get Jojen there through his powers, showing him dying and giving him that purpose or was it actually the predestination as he believes? Was Jojen's sacrifice truly needed? Time will tell.

I just love it when I almost scroll past an IDG video, and then look back at the title like "yeah, it really says that".

Great vid as always IDG. Personally i have just about zero doubts the Weirwood paste is Jojen. For one Bran has already eaten human flesh , warged into Summer and also likely served such from Coldhands. That pork stew is quite curious as there is no pig or game of that sort in the area (very likely human flesh) ; that and the daily blood stew in the cave with curious meat (also likely human meat) all seems a precursor of what is to come with more cannibalism on the way. Jojen also quite confident in his safety / that he wasn't dying earlier in their journey until he got considerably more sullen in BR's cave / knowing what was coming , his death. Jojen and Meera disappear in the lead up to this feeding also telling. I believe we are also not really told of Weirwood seeds much , coming across them or them being around so i don't think they are a much of thing or at least not prevalent ; ntm the red veiny look and consistency of the paste. There is also a lot of macabre (subtle and not so subtle) word play and foreshadowing in that chapter. Also , in those visions after Bran's eating the paste he sees a Weirwood sacrifice and tastes the blood, literally what Jojen becomes - a Weriwood sacrifice whose blood Bran tastes. There's also earlier incidents of the direwolves growling / potentially trying to eat Jojen , a wolf / Bran eating Jojen imagery. Also , Bran eating actual frogs from Meera quite symbolic , the Crannogmen mocked as "frog eaters" and are somewhat frog-like. Bran even recalls back at WF being told eating frogs will turn you green (teeth and hair) , in this case eating a frog (Jojen) enhances his "green"-sight / makes him more green. Theres also an exchange and word-play from Bran in the cave where he ends his line with the word "meat" and the first word of the next sentence is "Jojen" / Jojen meat. To me its just overwhelming and near irrefutable at this point that the Weirwood paste was indeed Jojen. Dark concept ? extremely but fitting with GRRM who also provides ample clues and foreshadowing for it. And the blood sacrifice we know is a current component with the Weirwoods.

Been a fan for years but had never heard this theory before. Very compelling for sure.

Thank you Robert for explaining this so delicately.

not even the darkest fan theory for what bran does to a Reed

This video just showed me how much depth those books really have and how much i have overlooked in my first reading. I really wanna reread it once george announces the release date for winds. Gosh i love those books so much

This theory makes sense. Not at all Tokienesque if you ask me. Time Magazine dubbing Martin the American Tolkien is like dubbing Clive Barker the English Mark Twain.

I can hear Robert's voice for days! Love your content! Thank you very much

Probably the best explanation of this theory I’ve watched! Thank you!

Wow, I was just today thinking about this theory and how awesome it would be if you made a video about it. Thank you!

Love it Robert. Thanks for keeping GoT alive.

Appreciate the video! I'll be honest, as much as I hear this theory talked about as essentially a given I don't find the evidence particularly strong. It wouldn't shock me if this ends up being the case and it certainly would fit with GRMM's dark tone but I'm not confident that's the case. As much as Jojen talks about knowing when he'll die I just would have thought we'd get some kind of dialogue or warning from Jojen when that day came but if Jojen paste is accurate he just quietly goes to his death and doesn't even warn his sister. As friendly as Howland Reed is with the children of the forest would he knowingly allow them to sacrifice his only son? I'd also expect Bran to get some kind of instant flash of Jojen's life/thoughts like Varamyr got from Thistle but we don't see that in this chapter. I definitely think Jojen's death is imminent but don't know that it's already occured. We've got the 'hold the door' moment coming shortly and Jojen may be fated for an important role.

This would fit nicely with the evil children of the forest theories

I feel like this is basically the same for Dany when she drinks the Shade of the Evening. I always got the feeling that Jojen was being strapped into the root system, like those sad tomatoes in the cave root cellar room. It means a distance between him and actual cannibalism. I also get the feeling that Blood Raven is not long for that world-when Bran finds out and feels Hodor flipping out for Meera and Jojen as well himself-I think Bran will kill Blood Raven. Remember the Oath the Reeds swore to Bran and the Oath he swore to the Reeds-and consider that they said those words in front of a Heart Tree. Bran isn't going to allow any harm to the Reeds if he can prevent it. Bran has a pretty strong sense of what feels right-he is NOT going to be well-pleased when Jojen is permantly strapped down or even sacrificed full-on to the root system. I feel like Bran, as written, would try to save Jojen. And if he can't...damn. Bye-Bye, Bryden Rivers and CotF. Bran is experiencing having a crush on Meera through Hodor while developing his own feelings-and Meera is NOT going to take Jojen's expiration calmly. Summer is going to be almost impossible to restrain when you consider how Summer responded to Tyrion. Bran, Hodor and Summer will want to help, comfort, and protect Meera. Jojen too, if possible. Jojen might not die. Not if Bran steps in to fight his "greendream fate" for him. Bran isn't just going to accept that shite or let something bad happen to Jojen if he can prevent it. I feel like Hodor will likely be really OK with this, and this will be when Hodor gets on board with Bran warging him during fight times. I kinda feel like most, if not all, of the CotF in that cave are going to be killed by Bran/Hodor/Summer. Or maybe even just Bran. UNLESS the CotF HELP Bran after Blood Raven dies-something about how Leaf talks...The Children are either going to be glad BR is dead or they are going to try and kill Bran. Something really insane is about to happen in that cave, though. And I also felt like Meera was saying what she wanted when watching Jojen-I got the feeling that Jojen himself was just trying to see and feel the sun and air as much as he could before being being locked into the roots or sacrificed. These adults in ASOIAF that manipulate children to further their own agendas don't seem to end well when those same children figure out they are being tricked in some way. Just look at the guys who f00ked with Dany...The Undying and Mirri.The House of Black and White is on the same path, too. I pity them when Arya finds out they were responsible for Yoren and were prolly hired to kill her father before Joff beat them to it. Makes ya kinda wonder who really gave Joff the idea to snip off Ned's head. I won't get into Rorge and Biter except to say that they seem to be a couple of more agents of the HoBaW, manipulating Arya. They are at least associated with faceless men, if not part of some faction within. I think we KNOW how Arya is going to respond to THAT shite. Even Sansa-Starks in general are about to lay serious waste in many key places. How far is Bran from Hardhome? I kinda feel like Bran and Meera and Summer make it all the way back south of The Wall. Hodor might make most of the same trip. Uncle Benjen is still out there somewhere, too. And Coldhands. I am wondering if they use caves until they hit the wall...and try to maybe use the tree mouth wall door...or if they try for Grendal's cave system? Do they end up winding into the winterfell Crypts? Do The Others follow them? I wonder if Bran can somehow save the Hardhome folk-because there is no way the watch is sending anyone else, now that Jon is dead. The Watch is just as likely to try and force the wildlings back North-which means the Night's watch is about to be decimated, if not annihilated. Whatever is going to happen to move Bran out of that cave though kinda has to happen nowish. I'm guessing we'll learn where Jojen and Meera are as soon as Bran's storyline opens again. Thanks for this video-I have never thought Bran was actually eating Jojen. A closer bet is that Jojen was "given" to the tree/root-cave system. The "cannibalism" would happen through the weirwoods-not directly. Think about what Aeron is going through in the bowels of his brother's ship-and about Dany's experience with SotE. To me, Weirwood paste is more akin to Shade of the Evening. Which also has dead-looking people being "enthroned" in dark, scarey places involved somehow in it's production.

Okay, this is my favorite video title ever.

You help me through this long night. Thank you. I think he does

Another point not addressed is the fact that in the show, Jojen was killed off. Just the fact he was killed off is telling, but when is even more so. He was killed at the entrance of the cave before the group entered, and this was at the end of Season 4, one of the show’s best and when the writers still had book material. And we all know Martin’s already fully covered this in the books. So I ask a question: Why then? Why did they kill Jojen off then, and not in Season 6 when the Walkers attacked the cave? Following logic, that would have to mean Jojen would already be dead at that point in the books. And considering Jojen Paste would probably have been too graphic for television, killing him off solves that problem. And as an extra layer, how does he die on the show? His throat is slit, just like the sacrifice Bran saw in his visions.

Your voice relieves my stress!!!

bro i love your videos and your narration

Solent Green is people!

I think it's clear George at least wants readers to THINK that.

What really wonder in all of this, is what is Bloodravens motivation. And what is the children of the forests agenda? Do they want the best for the seven Kingdom, for themselves, for Bran?

I noticed if you look at the asoiaf wiki for Jojen Paste, the red ribbons of blood matches the flowing blood in the HotD intro perfectly.

personally i don’t want to believe this because it is so dark, too dark for even this story. which is definitely saying something. what happens to bran is so torturous and horrible that jojen paste feels like an unnecessary cherry on top of a misery pie. If Meera and Jojen are dead, then there’s no hope for Bran without a crazy dues ex machina. And i would like to think that Bran’s story is going somewhere besides turning into a tree after enduring the worst stuff any 10 year old could possibly experience.

Was always disappointed the whole weirdwood network wasnt explored in the tv series. Btw thanx 4 that, Robert.

I've always assumed Bran did consume Jojen, as it fits thematically and narratively, even if not explicitly stated. GRRM's world of magic always requires some kind of sacrifice, whether it is the three leeches Stannis throws in the fire for the three kings, Azor Ahai sacrificing his wife to temper his sword, or Dany sacrificing her unborn child for Drogo and then Drogo for the dragons. Power requires sacrifice, and Jojen was Bran's, even if Bran didn't know it at the time.

Such a good video!

Next up: Is Roose Bolton actually an ancient skinchanger that's been making his son heir to the Dreadfort then taking over son (who genetically can also skin change) and has been repeating this for centuries or longer. Effectively making Bolton a vampire house with an ancient rivalry against the Stark's werewolf house. It could also explain why Bolton's house traditionally practiced the lord's right to Prima Nocta.

I’ve been waiting so long to hear “Jojen paste” in Robert’s voice

Great video. I found you via The Witcher, been getting on with the LOTR content and enjoying it, and this is my first ASOIAF video watch from you! If you run out of content, maybe you'll even consider Wheel of Time as a series to tackle. That might last a few decades. Thanks for the very entertaining and smart content.

This has been one of the most truly devasting most-likely-the-case theories for me. When writing this, I was crying so hard, the tears were pooling up in the rims of my glasses. Poor Meera... I feel such strong empathy for her and it hurts so bad. Her little brother and most likely her best friend had to die in such a horrible, long-dreaded way as part of arcane black magic. ritual. I had flatmates a few years ago who were twins and so much alike, I was one of the five or so people who could tell them apart instantly. The thought of my mate's beloved brother possibly dying adds some personal context

Thank you for saying "an horrific" instead of "a horrific". A small point, but noted!

Isn't weirwood sap blood red, so it make sense to me that there is sap mixed in.

Great video

I have a rule- when there is nothing testifying against the theory and its really cool and makes the story better- its my head cannon

It would be nice if any of these theories had a chance of being validated or resolved in any way.

Also Lord commandeer Mormont´s raven eating his face. Probably in the magic it has the function of absorbing the eaten´s person memory, hence the trees have red leafs and remember.

I sure hope so!

"There is something inside you... It's hard to explain...", Said Leaf to Bran, about the paste he ate...

I always thought he was headed to being the new Night King. Not a wise old lonely man hiding in the woods. He’s a Stark.

Given Martins reluctance to finish TWoW and eagerness to work on other things, it feels unlikely we will ever get an end to this story

I've been thinking about reading A Song of Ice and Fire. Partially because I figure it'll have a better ending than Game of Thrones.

Blood magic is a very real thing in GoT. But it depends if Bran is going to go the same way in the books as he does in the show. With all emotion gone and he doesn't care about anything. As the shock he just had some Jojen for dinner won't hit home.

Isn't his full name Bran the Fiberous?

the moon was as sharp as a knife

It’s the Manwhich of the Forest!

I think it would be hilarious for jojen to appear in dream, unharmed. It really was weirwood seeds, jojen won’t die for a little while, he’s just bummed out because they’re at the place where he dies and now all he can do is wait

Sliver of the moon and three stars means it's the sabbath day,the four phases of the moon signal the sabbath.

I feel like I’m the only person who doesn’t believe in Jojen Paste. No, I don’t think Jojen was necessarily in the paste. *However* I do believe that weirwood paste contains the blood of *countless* sacrificial offerings - humans, singers, everything - so, Bran did still consume human remains, just not necessarily Jojen’s specifically. That said, I always thought Jojen would sacrifice himself before the Great Weirwood tree a la like in the vision that Bran has at the end of his last chapter in ADwD. Of the three, he’s the only one who follows and absolutely trusts the old ways, while Bran and Meera have always been sceptical. So way, whether he’s the paste (or just one of millions in that paste) I think Jojen’s death will be the catalyst for Bran to think, “I need to dismantle this whole system.”

Oh, thank God!… I was terrified there was gonna be some original content

I had a Jojen sandwich and stew, it was lovely

I interpreted the dish to be seeds mixed with blood, Jojen's blood. I don't like the idea GRRM would actually have Bran eating human flesh. There's been no hint of cannibalism in the stories

I always assumed this is what happened, never crossed my mind that it isn't

Yes.

Jojen is definitely dead, whether eaten by Bran or sacrificed for some kind of ritual that gives Bran his powers. The real question is - what happened to Meera? Maybe she ran out of the cave to save her brother, tried to stop the ritual/sacrifice, and was killed?

Jojen Paste... it is known

I will be honestly SHOCKED if Jojen Paste doesn't turn out to be true. The cannibalism themes in ADWD were SO STRONG

Yes, sounds like it.

King Bran the Cannibal and New Tool of the Supposed Creators of the Others, the perfect choice for a peaceful, pleasant Westeros.

Clicking on this just as I'm eating.........O.o

What do you think of the theory that Bran will be the last villain? (Or what’s left of Bran and not Bloodraven) And that while he’ll be the last king, he will be defeated? Perhaps he will be the one that Jon or Daenerys have to kill near the end of it all.

I feel like the books are going to be unrecognizable from the later seasons of the show

JOJEN PASTE! 👍

"The Moon was a crescent, thin and sharp as the blade of a knife." KZfaq: *interrupts the video with a commercial for Gillette razors*

I D G !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Always as subtle as a brick.

I sometimes wonder if Bloodraven manipulated Jojen so he'd let this happen. Jojen believes the future he foresees couldn't be changed but what if this was wrong? Could Bloodraven have used his own powers and influence to make it seem this way? (I don't know how plausible this would be and I admit I'm greatly influenced by my distrust of Bloodraven and my dislike for infallible prophecies.)

Bran had been set up to break all the taboos of Warging...he just hasn't done the last yet (though that is assuming Jojen paste is true)

Hm I can't even remember this section. But then again ADWD was sluggish reading and I had to struggle through it.

Haha I thought about this often when Bran was handed the bowl of paste! It reminds me of the scene in “Green Inferno” where one of the imprisoned girls realizes she’s eating out of a bowl made of skin bearing one of her friends tattoos who was taken the previous day… 😂🤮😵‍💫

0:11 *oh my god*

Well green mge of course would use bood magic, but it sounds so counterproductive to sacrifice a greenseer to awaken another, no wonders they are almsot extinct

Maybe because whats the point of Varymirs Abomination story then

Just wait till Meera gets revenge by eating a Bran muffin

The secret is in the sauce.

“It’s one of the oldest asoiaf theories out there” It’s about the last book that came out please George I’m begging.

Imagine believing in something so much you let yourself be eaten...

Jojen is gonna be on the first page of winds who wants this bet

Hey, can I have another bowl of Jojen? I'm still not trippin very hard.

I actually think this may be true but that jojen isn't dead yet, i think he has been harvested for blood for the first bowl and has resigned himself to continue to be harvested until he dies, only by denying that and disproving the green dream will bran show how truly important he is. ending jojens story with "he had a vision and it came true exactly" doesn't seem to be asoiaf style. it more about fighting the inevitable than submitting to it.

BRO YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE TITLE LIKE THAT 😂😂😂😂

Bran is the Kwisatz Haderach who becomes the God Emperor.

Meera Reed runs away, because Bran was about to warg her.

poor Bran. He did not want to marry a tree, but who else would have him, a cripple.

It fits in the rules of a Song of Ice and Fire as well regarding magic. Magic is never free and requires sacrifice, this be the memories/past life of the fire wights or the birthing of dragons. Why should the magic of the Children of the Forest have different rules to the Fire magic of Rhilor.