They do look alike. I can’t unsee it now.

Could everything Alys is doing setting up a massive blood sacrifice to the old gods? The sacrifice being two Targaryen princes and Two Dragons. The island of faces in the gods eye. Old gods. The lake becomes blood. Looking like she’s the one who’s steering Aemond and Daemon to fight and die at this place. Sounds like a sacrificial moment.

Alys is also a bastard like Ramsey,and injects herself into situations like he does. He deceived Theon by being his savior,then his captor/torturer. Getting that vibe from Alys.

Holy hell those actors look like they're related. Like brother and sister

Ramsey and Alys look soo much alike, I cant believe nobody noticed before. Leave it to our Girl GreyArea to put it together. Now how long until we get the ramsey/alys skinchanger memes?

I think maybe it is the Ramsey’s actor wearing a long wig lol 😂

The tinfoil is tinfoiling 😂 love u

Every time you call us your sweet summer children, I get all emotional, I need therapy

I swear chic, u blow my mind! I fkn love listening to you.. u just get better and better 💯👌

Great video! Some further evidence to support this theory: I’ve always assumed that Alys Rivers is named after the character Gray Alys from GRRM’s 1982 fantasy story “In the Lost Lands.” Like Alys Rivers, Gray Alys is an enigmatic witch woman. GRRM is on record saying that he always liked the character and wanted to write more stories about her but never got round to it, which lends credence to the idea that he might have recycled some of her traits when he created Alys Rivers. But what’s really interesting about Gray Alys is that (SPOILER!) the climax of the story involves her staking a werewolf to the ground (in essentially the exact posture of the flayed man on the Bolton banner) and then flaying him alive to make a cloak from his hide that can be used to magically steal his shapeshifting powers. Gray Alys is a master of this kind of magic: before flaying him, she actually defeats the werewolf by donning a cloak of bird feathers that allows her to turn into some kind of giant eagle. So, “In the Lost lands” has a witch character called Gray Alys with mystical visionary powers, and “Fire and Blood” has a witch character called Alys Rivers with mystical visionary powers. And “In the Lost Lands” has someone who flays a wolfman, while the ancestral Boltons in the AsoIaF universe are also known for flaying Stark wolfmen. So, it does seem to me that GRRM definitely re-used aspects of Gray Alys when he created both Alys Rivers and House Bolton. Another GRRM story, “The Skin Trade,” also features a villain who flays werewolves, and the badguy in that story is pretty clearly a proto-Bolton. GRRM even uses similar language to describe him (e.g., he has “eyes like dirty ice”). So, I think you are definitely onto something with the Alys Rivers / Bolton connection. It all adds up pretty well.

Starks got a long history of blood. They also fought with the Barrow Kings for a long time Honestly, that'd be a dope prequel of the Stark Kings of the past waring with everyone. Just a continuous show of blood, sweat and ice... ... Get it cuz their sword's name is ice... I'll see myself out

i can't find that video here on yt but someone has this theory that alys rivers is the green queen in the stormlands. but alys being a bolton is also interesting. now i don't know what to believe anymore 🤔 lol edit: i just found the video and it's from this channel as well 😹😹😹😹

No one else is on their game when it comes to GOT like grey area is! Thanks for another fantastic video!

It's uncanny how much alike they look!!!

In my headcanon Alys Rivers's son with Aemond goes on to found House Whent, making her an ancestor of Catelyn Tully on her mother's side and making the legitimate Stark children part Targaryen and possibly even rescuing the show's stupid decision to have Arya kill the Night King.

I have missed regular ASOIAF theory videos so much. Used to watch your videos during a tough time at uni during the run of the original show and lived for your content. Good to see you back!

Lord Bolton dropping his skincare line ✨Bolton Beauty ✨AD 300 y'all 💅🏻

Damn she looks like Ramsay, same smile and everything

Let me try this again because my original comment seemed to confuse some people. The Night King theory is just obviously false because we see who it is in Game of Thrones when the children of the forest bound one of the first humans to the tree to create him. I was also saying that theory seemed to come from a bait engagement post that went viral. Apparently, that theory stemmed from another theory that seems more plausible is that Daemon is the Night Kings General.(My personal tin foil hat theory is that Daemon becomes a Greenseer or some sort of precursor to the Blood raven.) I like the stuff about Roose. He seems important but doubt he is that important. I also dont know as much about this character as I am still learning.

Nights Queen and Bolton theories, Alys Rivers doing her woods witch thing, still nice to be back "filler-episodes" and all🎉

I always find the wet nurse to the strongs concept interesting given rhaenyra and break bones relationship and subsequent offspring. She is providing quite a parallel to rhaenyra as a mother figure to strongs and woth the targaryen style connection to blood magic and alys pregnancy to aemond it could be that she was using the laws of nature to influence targaryen blood.

I can’t unsee this!

Ramsey was next skin for Roose Bolton. He wants children to have his eyes because it means he could take the body if he needs it. I suspect that not all the Boltons don't have the gene and the Roose's natural born son didn't have his eyes. Roose Bolton wasn't too upset about the death of his son by his bastard. If Ramsey didn't have his eyes and Roose Bolton would dispatch him over his son's murder. Alys Rivers, if she is 400 years old. I suspect it was she who inspired Harranhall to build this castle as fortress against armies or Targaryen dragons. Alys Rivers knew exactly what would happen if built a place out of Weirwood. Harranhall is a hinge of magic and Alys Rivers is the true Lord and not the Whents and Strongs.

Sometimes I forget how old this story is. I mean GRRM started in 1991, and first published in 1996... That is 28 years!!!!

The babies Craster donates to the Night King end up as White Walkers. They hold some sort of supernatural power and they are the ones that lead the wights (White Walkers usually have the white beards and longer white hair. They are tougher and more skilled in battle than wights.) Wights are the rotting zombie like undead that we see following the white walkers.

that's my first reaction when I saw the scene, I was like, wait, you got Ramsay here with long hair, lol

the boltons flaying people vs the faceless men flaying faces 👀🤔🤷🏾‍♂️

Isn't Alys Rivers actually the child of the forest that accompanies Jenny of Oldstones? I think I heard that theory somewhere.

It's true. Iwan Rheon looks exactly like book Ramsey Snow.

I kept thinking she looks like someone but now I agree with you, Bolton lol. Why does everyone want Harrenhal, burned out by dragons and fire. Jac had the meeting at the Twins, the asked for Harrenhal. Sorry if don’t make sense this high humidity give a banging headache.

Maybe in the story the pale woman who he gave his seed and soul to was a Bolton. And the knight king was a Stark, it was a way from them to war with the Starks in a way.

I've been watching over and over too. I don't think her intentions are malicious. She's a witch/sorceress for sure. She seems genuinely concerned about the people who will suffer because of the war & reminds Deamon of that..... In the same way the Brothel woman tells Aemond that when princes war with each other it's the small folk who suffer the most. Aemond is naked in the fetal position though... Daemon keeps being shown with "blood on his hands". Maybe there's something to that.. I think Alys may be looking to get pregnant. In episode 4 she puts her hand below her belly and asked Daemon if he plans to make his own claim. Once she realizes it's not him, she gives him the weirwood paste to help him "sleep" (open his third eye) to win harrenhal to his side.. to awaken his gifts and eventually wed him to the trees, like bloodraven told Bran... I'm sure she knows of the prophesy. Maybe she's trying to fulfill it in some way? Dragon blood and whatever blood she has...First men/ Children of the forest. The Dragon Dance being a massive blood sacrifice maybe for her to have a child.....Like Dany's human blood sacrifice to hatch the dragon eggs........ In the books she supposedly has Aemond's child. Not sure what became of him. Is there any mention of that in the books? I didn't find anything online about it.

This is wild theory. Thank u for exploring this. I always wondered what happened with 19 babies the Whitewalkers took? Alice definitely looks like Ramsey Bolton? 😮

Thank you, or the filling station at msd if it’s easier xx

I dont know but that Rivers girl is the most interesting part of the Harrinhall story the past few episodes. At least to me.

if the resemblance is a deliberate callback, its UNCANNY

Duuuuuude I wad just thinking about this,she fits the description to the T with those cold creepy gray eyes Reminded me so much of the book description of Roose and Ramsay I guess it makes sense somewhat as the Strong's are of first man origin and dark hair and gray eyes are prevalent traits among their descendants

GrayArea you are the best! You keep pumping out that sweet sweet hotd content for us!

I've argued Alys' son with Aemond (or Daemon, if he is the father instead in the show) is none other than Daario Naharis. This is because I have previously argued if you take Daario's "boasts" literally, he kills someone every day and bathes in their blood (probably to stay young), and he's slept with thousands of women (who are probably his preferred victims; handsome fighting men being runner's up). Part of that theory is arguing that Daario is the Essos mirror to Roose Bolton, only Bolton is quiet and icy whereas Daario is hotblooded and emotional, and Bolton kills his son every 50 years to steal their identity while Daario kills a woman every night (or a man if there is no woman) and bathes in their blood to keep his body youthful. I also argued that Daario shows signs of being a dragonseed--and will potentially steal a dragon like Quentyn failed to do--though I wasn't sure how. But Alys & Aemond's son who purportedly also bathes in blood would be a powerful dragonseed waiting for 170 years to get a dragon to ride. Never forget that Daario is literally Blue Beard. George has taken him with his (probably) pale white Targaryen hair dyed blue right out of the European legend of Blue Beard who marries women and then secretly kills his wives as soon as possible. Daario just seems to do this every night until he meets Dany and smells the chance to get a dragon for himself or marry a dragon queen. (From my perspective, the biggest hole in this theory is only the over preponderance of dragon stealers because Euron is the owner of Dragonbinder and wants one himself, Victarion of course wants this one instead, and I think Tyrion is Aerys' son and one of the blows of the horn will accidentally bind a dragon to Tyrion. So there is definitely stronger evidence of Tyrion and Euron being dragon riders than Daario. But I also am a big proponent of the theory that dragons having successive riders in the story is going to come into play in The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. So Daario might steal a dragon, for example, but maybe he is enchanted by Euron through a glass candle and will bring the dragon across the sea to Euron to be killed by Euron there. Or maybe Daario fights Tyrion or Dany on dragonback but dies, only for the dragon to fly off to find the owner of Dragonbinder and become Euron's dragon. Of course there is Young Griff as well, but I think his Blackfyre blood is too attenuated to be a dragon rider. I also argue Jaqen H'ghar is the real Aegon VI rather than Young Griff and will eventually replace Young Griff and then probably become a dragon rider as Aegon VI even though Tyrion and Dany have concluded correctly that Young Griff isn't Aegon VI. Now this sounds like ravings; but you appreciate these secret identy theories and there is A LOT of evidence that Tyrion is a Targaryen (Aerys II's bastard) and that Jaqen is a Targeryen (Rheagar's oldest son) running through all the books. Longtime member of David Lighbringer's community but he just wont f#ck with the theories that Tyrion, Daario, or Jaqen have secret identities/backgrounds whenever I bring these up to him. I run the Quora Space 'A Theory of Ice & Fire' that I founded last year where we have 260 contributors of answers/theories and 1,300 additional followers. Let me know if you want to discuss these theories further here or by some chat! I have all of them written up in much greater depth.

Off topic, but I'd be extremely interested in your take on a compare/contrast Rhaenyra vs Daenerys compare contrast. A Targ Child of Peace vs aTarg child of War.

Just one thing going all the way back to how this whole conflict started: Where the hell was the moon tea when Rhaenyra was getting knocked up by Harwin Strong? Everyone just conveniently forgot that was an option?

My partner said this when he first saw Alys. I am excited to hear your thoughts, my Gray Queen 👸 I wasn't sure if it was a coincidence re: the looks of the 2 actors or on purpose. Thank you so much!!! ~Tammy

Bolt -on

They are having the Bran/BloodRaven relationship... Some teachers like to tease their pupils...

Oh my God why can't I unsee this. 😂

Alys definitely has first men blood, not just the strongs, but on her mother's side...likely a blackwood, but perhaps even a Bolton or a Stark. As for the nights king, old nan ends her list of possible candidates with "He never was. He was a Stark, the brother of the man who brought him down" This is more likely, imo as it follows the fractured family theme George seems to love so much (the dance. The baratheons, even Dany letting Viserys get killed then getting killed by Jon)

She the curse of harrenhal

I think the castle is cursed and makes people waste there time building the castle bigger while breaking their minds. I think alys is actually trying to help daemon get out of the castle. Everything thats happened so far has been a dream pointing out hes unfit to govern.

Sorry - this is so funny. Thank you, Grey.

"Alys" ---> "Slay" --> "Flay"; Bolt-On: Confirmed?!?!?!?! (I always knew it was true!)

I dont think I've ever seen a show cast characters who are explicitly siblings, with actors who look that uncannily similar. Like holy crap do they look alike, but I feel like that wouldve been unbelievably difficult to pull off on purpose, so without any book descriptions that link them, I cant help but think its a coincidence

Also I honestly thought old Nan said the night king was a Stark of Winterfell? Maybe I am remembering it incorrectly. Crazy mind blowing 🤯 theory!

Things are about to very interesting... the possibilities are endless

Someone suggested that Alys Rivers is not real. She's a Ghost of Hannenhall. Thats why so only speaks to Daemon

I mean Fire IS the biggest threat to Ice, and with the prophecy being so front in center it would be thematically appropriate for ice to be a part of the plot. She wants the dragons to kill each other so that the prince that was promissed can't defeat the walkers.

I thought they looked alike too

I can’t wait for your video with daemon to drop. That one will be very interesting cause I really don’t know if the people at harrenhal is real or what same with alys it is all confusing.

because the actors look similar, we’re implying shes a Bolton🤔…

This is what happens when GRRM takes 13 years in between novels... the fans just start making shit up😅

I think this is the most interesting and most wild theory going I do think she is a skin changer and also if you look at the Bolton banner, it’s a person being skinned upside down X 😮👏👏👏

Omg they really do look like brother and sister 😂. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alys doesn’t have some connection to the White Walkers, I know we are supposed to get something with the undead this season but I think it’s going to be a vision and not what’s actually happening. Thanks for the juice love!!!

I loved this theory and it's crazy how much those actors look alike 🤦🏽‍♀️.

Alys said TWINNEM!

Okay that’s terrifying. Their smiles are so similar

I hadn't heard about the theory involving Daemon as The Night King. That's an interesting theory since his body was never found after the battle in the God's Eye

You are my Absolute Favorite Story Teller and Analyst. Thank You.

Need more spinoff shows for ice so we get some answers love dragons but need some ice zombie and direwolf action

i tottaly agree

Things that make you go Hmmm.....

Alice Rivers has TP Face to me

She doesn't seem like just a maester replacement at all using the magic of the old gods. She's obviously a bastard with the name rivers. But id be more inclined to believe she's of the riverlands than of house Bolton or shed have the surname snow. But being 400 years old it's hard to know anything

How wild would it be if she took off her mask and it was ramsey this whole time….

The white walkers Night king and the “Knights king” are 2 different characters.

Early for this juice!

I can't believe I've gone so long without watching your videos! You always have the best theories

Some of these theories are getting too far into the weeds. The show is not going into depth on any of these. Pacing and storytelling will keep these character arcs pretty simple and straight forward for the average audience. The same reason Lady Stoneheart never happened.

Roose is def not human!

The theory has legs🦵🦵

Content Queen ✨♥️

Love your vids and Phil the issues guy lol but love yours here’s a questing for you the king when he was bed ridden he knew Otto’ was to be watched at the least he should have had R take over during that time and give her a chance to get ppl used to to her so when he died maybe - simply putting ppl in that would make sure things went down right , I know it I was king and about to die and my hier is a female first one ? Yeah I would take shout every step I could I even believe he could have made alicents kids happy so sad cause had this war not happened or happens at a smaller stage maybe a few houses hold our and they go handle that but he put her in bad spot I mean if she Damon was right they should have attacked vargar with 3/4 of them have the smaller ones runnning confusion at most fly by fire while Damon and queen who never was add in R and bam old girl would been dead - but how close was it to a another age of dragons instead of their complete downfall for over 100 years then Danny lost least one that she shoulda known getting hit by what’s his name flying that low on a curve haha 😊

I need to get back to reading these books

Could Alys be the original three eyed raven, or in this case, three-eyed owl?

Love your videos they're always so good!

Makes sense on why her powers work w the Wierwood trees too

Just because the actors have a similar look doesn't justify this absurd theory.

Wow very interesting

Roose Bolton, the bastard of Alys Rivers and Daemon Targaryen. I think theories are about Daemon are built around his name having demon in it.

Can you do a video on why aemond wanted to kill aegon?

Honey!!!! You are a boss!

Thats a hellva reach

It’s Ramsey with a wig 😂

The world will be a better place, if people dare to called out others, whose being rude, regardless what teams they are, especially when somebody just making fun theories

Damn they look a like, it was bothering me

well in the tv series targarians have normal eyes , but in the books they are purple reddish, so the boltens could have very blue eyes just like the night king

But Gray, what about the Stormlands? Owl? Black hair of Durrandons? I love your videos, but this is a teensy bit off. Like she can't be both, right? Owl and White Walker?

We going tinfoil on HoTD..? I'm here for it.

So I'm going to just comment here based on the thumbnail (which is something I don't do usually) before watching the video & really, really hope that there's more to this theory than the actress playing Alys having slight facial similarities to Iwan Rheon (Aka Lord Ramsey Bolton). Yes they both have dark hair, but the actress is blonde in real life and Iwan Rheon is not. I'll come back and edit this if it is based on more than that. I'm hoping this isn't a repeat of jon snow and meera reed must be twins because they both have curly black hair. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Generally, I’m not into tinfoil, but for GrayArea I’ll make an exception ❤😊

I'm here for all the theories! Interesting parallels, indeed. So fun to speculate! Thanks for the juicey juice!

Alys Rivers looks like a Children of the Forest