What happened to Benjen Stark?

Рет қаралды 99,947

Күн бұрын

Explore the best of fantasy and sci-fi in depth, with analysis of the worlds of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Witcher and more.
For more A Song of Ice and Fire content: • Secrets of Winterfell ...
Join me on Patreon - / indeepgeek
My channel for live content, including interviews and weekly livestreams - / @idglive
Visit my main channel for more videos - / indeepgeek
My audiobook channel: The Well Told Tale - / thewelltoldtale
Follow me on:
Twitter - @indeepgeek
Instagram - indeepgeekofficial
Facebook - / indeepgeek
TikTok - @indeepgeek
For merch, audiobooks, and all things In Deep Geek, explore my website - www.indeepgeek.com
Thank you to the talented artists who allowed their work to be featured in this video.
This video was brought to you with support from my amazing Patreon community - special thanks to
Stephanie Frederick, Joshua Clark, Maura Lee, Rabbi Rob Thomas, Amelia Scales Brooke Geer Person, Josh Bielemeier, Jane, Vance, Amy Southerland, Ivie Hilburn, Jimmy, Vercingetorix, John-Paul DeLuca, Filbert, Frank Glad, lemmy101, The Lady Gordon, Edward Ryan, Stephanie B, Coleen, Ben Androvich, Nana L, Brennan Barnes, Ivanka Hainzl, Howland’s Little Sister, Charis Messalina de Valence, Donna Daley, Cade Norman, Murray D, NOscar, Rick Hoppe, Leathery Wings, James Pisano, Bridget Boyle, TheStarkInWinterfell, Ellemcee, Alannah Prestayn of Braavos, Raymond Joy, Jonathan Harrison, Petyr Pebble, Jason Mauleon Rosario, Milton Christopher Appling, Edward Ennett, Katy Smith, 26Artgirl, Karen Thomas, Rickon, Cathrine Furseth, James Fitzpatrick, Doug Hughes, lawnduck20, Perseffanie, Emily Mole, Lady Dane, The Late Escapist, Natalie Donald, J. Gregory Henderson, whalawitsa, Luna Cascade, Dan MacKay, Johnny Targs, Kevin Warner, Julie Bernard, Bear, Susan Lonergan, Bo Riley, Lyle Hammac, Alex Butter, Pam Peterson, Bettina Charlotte Nielsen, T boz, Angela Marie Young, Sarah Awesomesauce, Stephanie Erickson, KaliKo_Jack, SeaGreenMango, GeorgeRRTolkien, Antihero Association, Richard Woodard, Caiden Timmons, ThatVBGuy, Tyler Barnhart, John H. Austin, Jr, NikFromNJ, Ty Farnsworth, Beesman, EJ, Willow Button, Julia Kendall, Jonny Ceriani, Mary Frances Angelini, Emma Sheiman, Joseph Jones, Christine Denny, Julien Dubois, Leland, Max Kingdom, Tricia Brady, LiK, Simen Dalstein, Scott Maraldo, Shelley J, Karen Wennerlind, Nathan Drumm, Martin Sjöstrand, Kristen H, King of Imps, Minerva Gale, Eric Nelson, Michiel Venema, Kate, Brandie Roberts, Kendra Summers, reed m, Commander Ray, Mayra Lawson, Lola Roebuck, Mark P, Nicole Stewart, Norse Sultan, Rasler, Steven Spauldingt, Patrick Ward, Amy vh Hines, Slippery1989, Una Haller, Almo71, Ravi Kakarala, Jacob Culp, Janet Lyn, NikFromNJ, Magepie, Ms. Fox, Jon Greenwood, Jahan, Justice, Courtney, Biscuit Jones, Biscuit Jones, Cookie Tywyn, Ranabir Mitra, CRChesnutt, Kip Ingram, Savannah Smith, Tadeo D'Oria, Mario Murray, Leland, AaronM127, Denis Warner, Callie Summers, Gena Z, Joseph Barresi, Karen, KGO, Martin Maleček, Karamy CG, Alvino V and Steelheart
Affiliate Links - (buying books from our Bookshop.org shop supports this channel and local bookshops at no extra cost to you.)
Books for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire:
uk.bookshop.org/lists/a-song-...
Other books we love:
uk.bookshop.org/shop/indeepgeek
Thanks for watching!
(All pictures used are in the public domain, or used under fair use copyright laws, or with the express permission of the artist).

Пікірлер: 329

@InDeepGeek 14 күн бұрын

This is an updated version of a video first published in August 2021

@LLl-zi1ef 14 күн бұрын

Want a revised version of deleted videos Things that would be same in show as well as books

@stephaniespain9849 14 күн бұрын

Thank you for the update

@ThommyofThenn 14 күн бұрын

Thank you for the update.

@E_T_31 14 күн бұрын

Do you set the videos you're redoing to private or not-listed? It would be so cool if you'd provide a link to the old versions under the new ones :)

@ThommyofThenn 14 күн бұрын

@@E_T_31 see, i think that's a neat idea. Cheers

@striker8961 14 күн бұрын

Benjen epilogue in The Lands of Always Winter at the end of Winds of Winter would go so hard.

@PiscatorLager 14 күн бұрын

To see him die? Nooooooo

@d_randy 14 күн бұрын

OH YEA 🤞🏼

@striker8961 14 күн бұрын

@@PiscatorLager only thing yeah, would be an absolute tragedy.

@TravisMac42 14 күн бұрын

It could start with a Benjen flashback of what went down when he died. Then move to the current point in the story if the children bring him back in the books. I would enjoy that lol.

@archit3345 13 күн бұрын

But I'm not sure if WoW will even come 😢😅😂

@curtisboyter9350 14 күн бұрын

Another possibility is that Benjen split up his party and sent Othor and Jafer back to the wall while he continued on. This would explain why he hasn’t been sending any messages back, he is under the impression that he did send back a message.

@MariaVosa 13 күн бұрын

That's a solid theory.

@H41030v3rki110ny0u 13 күн бұрын

@@MariaVosasimple, but equally as realistic

@dfailsthemost 13 күн бұрын

Excellent point.

@artemesaulkov2010 Күн бұрын

❤❤

@artemesaulkov2010 Күн бұрын

❤

@gtr5973 13 күн бұрын

He’s alive in some form. George wouldn’t pass up the chance to describe the gruesome death of a named character.

@axelminus 14 күн бұрын

A crazy reveal would be if suddenly a chapter starts with benjen as a pov character, and that is how we go further north than ever before

@dereinepeterpan5637 13 күн бұрын

I suspect he will be the prologue pov in Winds

@HizzayLoves 13 күн бұрын

@@dereinepeterpan5637 i always liked the theories suggesting it will be the westerling’s maester, but this would be really interesting too

@axelminus 13 күн бұрын

@@dereinepeterpan5637 I would almost prefer if it is somewhere in the middle of the book where nobody is expecting it. You just turn the page, and suddenly it's Benjen

@dereinepeterpan5637 13 күн бұрын

@@axelminus Would definitely be a moment that would chain me to the book

@jessjess23brooks89 6 күн бұрын

He would have the most revealing thoughts if George just allows him to think them for us.

@stevendorries 14 күн бұрын

Benjen is in a secluded valley that has volcanic hot springs, he is building a hot-house based farm there

@michaelwilson5866 14 күн бұрын

A Song of Ice and Fire Stardew Valley play through, I bet.

@osterianio 13 күн бұрын

He's building a hot tub time machine, actually.

@intellectic9155 13 күн бұрын

Ghey.

@Levacque 13 күн бұрын

@@osterianiothe pools in Winterfell are already a hot tub time machine, didn't you know? Hodor uses them to go back and become the very tall man in Bran's weirwood vision, making himself his own grandpa just like Phillip J Fry. (Like Fry! Like Fry!)

@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886 13 күн бұрын

Probably with a beautiful Wildling woman at his side.

@pigreat6985 14 күн бұрын

I've always been of the opinion that the means through which we'll see "further north than ever before" is with Benjen as the Epilogue PoV in TWoW. Jon's parentage will probably be confirmed at that point so there's no reason to keep him off-page anymore, and he's most likely so far north that reconvening with any PoV character is out of the question. Giving him an epilogue to both meaningfully confirm his ultimate fate and push the story forward with regards to Jon and the Others seems like a pretty efficient way to handle that particular dangling thread.

@pokeman5000 14 күн бұрын

I'm gonna be real with you. GRRM absolutely HATES resolving things unless absolutely necessary. There's a reason Benjen and Howland Reed have been kept out of the story thus far. There's a reason Ned and Robert get got in book 1. Theres a reason Illyrio Mopatis is used sparingly. These characters know too much about plot specific characters and its far easier for GRRM to keep the "game" going. Benjen is gone and he ain't coming back sweetness. But hey here's another Areo Hotah chapter. Isn't Dorne RIVETING?

@thelasonj 14 күн бұрын

I always thought Benjen was so interesting and I hope we'll get his POV chapters in the next books. I'd like to hear about his journeys, his training, and his sister. I think he's "alive". 😊

@dromankass8655 13 күн бұрын

I mean in a way on the channel Robert already tells us stories of Benjen's childhood - his close bond with his sister, their adventures and schemes together, complete with one of their greatest pranks when at the Tourney of Harenhal Benjen helped Lynna get a horse and armour and she played the roll of the Knight of the Laughing Tree. Robert even describes that he thinks Lyanna told Benjen that she didn't want to marry Robert Barathron, and was happy to go off with Rheyger instead, and that he should keep this a secret from their other brothers and father. And then, when Brandon got arrested by the Mad King, and their father had to go to the Red Keep, and both died, Benjen realised, too late, that he should have said something. But now he had news that Jon Arryn had raised his banners against the Mad King, the Stormlands and the Riverlands were bring brought into the civil war, and ravens arriving at Winterfell from his older brother Ned telling him that he must prepare their men for war, and that Ned would be arriving back in Winterfell soon to formally call their own banner men to war. Young Benjen must have felt terribly conflicted, guilty for what had happened to his father and brother, and worried for his sister, yet knowing all the time that she hadn't been abducted, and that this war engulfing the continent was build on a lie. And then Ned arrives back at Winterfel, has to call the banners, deal with the stroppy Northern Lords like the Great Jon and Roose Bolton, and organised their armies to march south to war and death, all the while trying to work out where Lyanna may be hidden and how to rescue her. And in the middle of all this, young Benjen has to go up to Ned in Winterfel, and say; 'Um . . . there's something important I need to tell you . . . ' And then everything changes. But it's too late to stop the war, and now they are committed, the two brothers agree that they must keep this a secret, fight the damn war regardless, as the Mad King will never backdown now, and that it's either him or them. But thanks to Benjen at last telling Ned the truth, they have a good idea where Lyanna may be found, and that there's a possible chance she may be pregnant or have given birth, so when Ned goes to get her, he had better take only his most loyal as most trusted companions with him, in case they need to cover up what has occurred. While Ned is doing that, Benjen will need to remain as the Stark in Winterfel, and command the North (sending re-enforcements and re-supplie where possible) but privetly the poor boy feels so guilty about what his silence has cost he vows that upon his brother and sister's return to Winterfel he will take the Black and serve on the Wall as penance.

@COMMANDandConquer199 13 күн бұрын

It's a crying shame we'll never have answers to all of the questions we have about this series.

@awesomehpt8938 14 күн бұрын

Instead of getting cold feet he got cold hands.

@HOTD108_ 14 күн бұрын

Isn't Cold Hands confirmed to be very old in Dance? Ben wasn't exactly a young man, but he definitely wasn't old, let alone very old. Cold Hands is clearly someone who died many years ago, before the story begins.

@paulsarnik8506 14 күн бұрын

In Show. Book might wind up differently. I hope most of it does. 🤓😎✌🏻

@mcoupe69 14 күн бұрын

Tbf he used a fire flail so his hands were probably less than cold :)

@nicovideotube 14 күн бұрын

I think Benjen is going to be a POV in TWoW.

@CSNA_Gaming 14 күн бұрын

For the show being so condensed I think it was easier to combine characters when it would still work for the plot. Especially when some of the characters are not too important.

@user-bh7ls9pp1h 14 күн бұрын

We will sadly never find out, I fear.

@habituallinestepper8839 14 күн бұрын

Yup

@nickhopkins4854 14 күн бұрын

Correct

@celiaruschinzik5270 14 күн бұрын

I Hope not .. put yeah

@Warmaker01 14 күн бұрын

This is what's going to happen. A Dance With Dragons was published in 2011. The Game of Thrones TV show started that same year and ended SIX YEARS AGO. We still don't have the follow up. The ASOIAF books are never going to be finished.

@duderino6171 14 күн бұрын

The books might already be done and he's not releasing them until he's dead just out of spite lol.

@Valkanna.Nublet 14 күн бұрын

I agree that even if he is still alive we won't see him for a long time because of what he knows. And not just the parentage of Jon. I think that Ned promised to protect Jon would mean not telling anyone, including his brother. But that didn't matter because Benjen already knew, or worked it out, because he knows a bigger secret. He know that the whole rebellion was built on a lie, Lyanna wasn't kidnapped, she ran off with Rhaegar voluntarily. He knows what really happened at the tourney of Harrenhall. This revelation would mean more than learning about Jon's parentage, or even that he's legitimate, it would mean uncovering the behind the scenes manipulation, Littlefinger, the Maesters, Rhaegar's plot, everything.

@carlrood4457 14 күн бұрын

That knowledge really would only be of use to Jon and the Starks. No one in the south would have any reason to care or believe. Certainly, the two Targaryean invaders won't give a crap without something more substantial than it coming from a Stark and a Crannegman. Those revelations need to come from Rhaegar's side of things for it to carry any weight. Jon's parentage may technically be meaningless to some, anyway, since Aerys had already removed Rhaegar's children from succession

@ryankline1164 14 күн бұрын

Why would Benjen know the taking of Lyanna was consensual? He might be aware of them up to and including hooking up, but he wasn't present at the taking .She could have just as easily said, "No Rhaegar" given her personality and any thought of what her brother Brandon (or indeed Robert) might do about it.

@tardcore4life 10 күн бұрын

@@ryankline1164 He would know because while Brandon and Ned were sent off to foster with other families, Benjen and Lyanna were at Winterfell. He was much closer to her than the other brothers and was far more likely to have known what her plans were.

@AndrewK23777 14 күн бұрын

Great vid as always Robert. Personally i do think Benjen died or more accurately nearly died pursuing the facts around Waymar's disappearance and seemingly came across the Others & their wights in the process. At some point likely at the same time his companions were killed , i suspect Benjen was mortally wounded and saved with CotF / green magic & wighted to their side. Potentially was a tug of war (if thats possible) between competing magics as to wighting to their side. Perhaps the CotF magically wrestled him away while in process of being wighted by the Others or the CotF simply came across him as he was dying. And realistically venturing that far North (if he did) learning more about the Others and how to defeat them. Even someone as resourceful as Benjen -on his own , in such a cold , harsh , barren area ; one would basically have to be a wight to survive. I ultimately think like Coldhands , seemingly what Jon will become , possibly the original Night's Watch might have been wights (some of the mythos' language could be interpreted that way) ; Benjen would be yet another example of a wight on the side opposing the Others. And that such wights are absolutely vital in that fight ; they don't have to eat , drink or sleep and could survive harsh elements / weather. Even more vital if venturing to the extreme far North is part of the killing / defeating formula.

@ParanoidMarvinMk2 14 күн бұрын

It would be GRRM's style for Benjen to be a Chekhov's Gunman (to use the TV Tropes terminology), but not in the way we expect. My guess is that he will return, but instead of being the reveal for Jon's parentage, he will reveal... something else.

@troymcclure6629 14 күн бұрын

I always thought Howlin Reed would be the one to confirm Jon’s parentage, not Benjen. It would be crazy if he was a wight and the only time we see him is from Jon’s perspective when he realises the wight he’s fighting is Benjen

@ParanoidMarvinMk2 14 күн бұрын

@@troymcclure6629 I think so too re: parentage. Especially if H+A=M is also true. My guess is that Benjen will be a critical element of the plot re: defeating the Others. How exactly, I don't know, but I hope it will be a bit more than just showing up and info dumping.

@mylesrobinson6513 13 күн бұрын

Howlin' Reed was an underrated bluesman

@GarrettPetersen 11 күн бұрын

In real history you often have these kinds of unanswered questions. GRRM is so good at creating a world with the same texture as real life. That's part of what makes it so compelling.

@andrewbolton5492 13 күн бұрын

One note - I’m not sure how much it matters, but I do think Benjen visited Craster, and Craster lies to Lord Commander Mormont about having seen him. When asked about Waymar and his company, Craster replies in the affirmative: he did see them, he didn’t like Waymar, but Gared was alright (for a crow). He also notes that the heard Gared got his head lopped off - but how could he know this? News from the south isn’t likely to make it to Craster’s Keep, except by Nights Watchmen. As you mentioned, the three ranging parties sent to look for Benjen didn’t go to Craster’s, and we are given no information about any other rangings. So for Craster to know about Gared, it seems to me that he must have been told by Benjen and his party, since Benjen had just traveled south to Winterfell immediately after Gared’s death.

@toms169 11 күн бұрын

Interesting point you raise there, but I don‘t see why he would lie. There could easily have been other rangings that were simply not mentioned in the story. And there seems to be some limited exchange of news between Night‘s Watch and Wildlings through whatever means. So he may have found out.

@BLooDCoMPleX 14 күн бұрын

Benjen is certainly dead, but while the other companions of his were just wighted he was probably used for some other cause we do not know of by the Others because of his Stark blood. I think we will discover only when we discover what the relationship between the Starks and the Others. My guess is that he has become one of the Others and will give us a window into seeing what they are and what they want.

@mukke9728 14 күн бұрын

It was a Stark that build the wall after all. So maybe their blood is needed to tear it down (instead of with stupid dragon fire like in the show). Because that in general will certainly happen, but I would anticipate Bran to be involved. After Bran the Builder built the wall, Bran the Broken breaks it down. Kind of poetic, I guess.

@green_dragon_knight 14 күн бұрын

That would be fascinating

@PinkGrapefruit22 14 күн бұрын

I'm thinking that we'll see Benjen again once GRRM is ready to reveal why the Others seem to be searching for men with the Stark look. Great update to your previous video!

@ginamariep4948 14 күн бұрын

I wish we had more information on the Fist of the First Men site ☹️

@Levacque 13 күн бұрын

Open speculation time? Probably the first human stronghold to fall to the Others in the buildup to the first Long Night. I could definitely see the Fist being a sort of northern extent of humanity when they thought the Children were the biggest threat they would ever face, pushing into the cold north to root out the underground lairs of the Children. Then, like so many other military campaigns on a frontier, they stretched their supply chain too long and got overrun by the enemy, in this case the Others.

@julianponce1854 14 күн бұрын

What if he warged into an animal before his body died, but then warged back into his body after it was reanimated by the Others

@8440k 14 күн бұрын

It has been over 13 years since the last release of book 5, A Dance of Dragons, and over 5 years since season 8 ended. I don't think George R. R. Martin will finish the series. He is an intelligent man; he can make far more profit with the spin-off series than from his book sales. Winds of Winter may be released in a few years."May". I doubt if he will ever start a dream of spring. We will have to be content with the season 8 finale, despite its flaws, for closure on the series. Many of the mysteries in the series will remain mysteries, and the theories will remain theories.

@Laketwig 14 күн бұрын

lol he is set for multiple lives like he gives a shit about profit.

@OfficialChrissums 14 күн бұрын

@@Laketwig so are most rich authors, business people, actors, etc. and yet they continue to pursue it.

@rustygray5058 14 күн бұрын

Don't worry, Brandon Sanderson has our backs

@Laketwig 13 күн бұрын

@@OfficialChrissums so are most rich authors, business people, actors, etc. and yet they continue to work

@kyos8462 10 күн бұрын

"flaws" season 8 is nothing but 1 giant flaw. Acting, Cinematography, writing, = massive Flaw. Literally did a Lost style last season. Made watching it all over again pointless as you know how awfull season 8 is.

@Chuulip 12 күн бұрын

I like to believe that he survived and made it his mission to find out what exactly is going on there. He is probably already deep inside the secrets of beyond the wall and either can't or doesn't want to head back yet because he is still trying to get more information. I'd love to see him again in later chapters!

@WBSlashH 14 күн бұрын

I’ve felt for a long time that Benjen will show up during a battle with the others as a wight and Jon has to kill his uncle

@AskMia411 14 күн бұрын

I’ve always been fascinated by the Shade of the Evening trees and their similarities to weirwood, I think it’d make for a cool video!!

@Levacque 13 күн бұрын

I think he's got a video cooking for sure. He mentions his fascination with the analogues fairly often, whenever Shade of the Evening, warlocks, or Euron come up.

@Despondencymusic 14 күн бұрын

He headed to the Southlands and became Adar.

@BlondeBarbarian 14 күн бұрын

Just imagine: It's 2046 and you have Winds of Winter in your hands. You turn the page, and you just see "BENJEN" at the top of the page... I would lose my shit.

@thomaslance5428 14 күн бұрын

LOL.

@mori1bund 14 күн бұрын

At that time I'm so old that I'll probably lose my shit regularly anyway. ^^

@InvisibleJiuJitsu 14 күн бұрын

optimistically quick

@thecocktailian2091 14 күн бұрын

2046?!?! Be surprised if GRRM makes it to 2026. The publisher is going to publish the current iteration of a Dream of Spring to whichever it is he is working toot sweet. They have a gold mine on their hands that they can only access when GRRM buggers off.

@AesirUnlimited 14 күн бұрын

@@thecocktailian2091he hasn’t even started a dream of spring yet.

@johntorres2565 13 күн бұрын

He went so far north and west that he ended up in furtherest east of Essos. You can’t go back to Westeros because only a shadow binder is able to open the way when you are let into Essos. Either Benjen has been slowly but surely crossing Essos to get back to Westeros or he is trying to gain a shadow binder’s trust to either open the way or to teach him to be one so he can open the way. The shadow binders are hesitant to help because the great other comes from there so they don’t want the door opened for any reason.

@TinfoilMaester 13 күн бұрын

I think he's in Bloodraven's cave. Basically, Benjen was Bloodraven before Bloodraven was Bloodraven. The Great Bastards didn't exist until after ACOK was published. But Bran was already getting magic messages from a "crow." I basically think the CotF/Weirwood hive are using Benjen as a way to connect to Bran. Benjen disappears on his ranging, gets picked up by the CotF who open his third eye. Bran's first visit from the Crow comes *right* at the same time Benjen goes missing. When Jon gets word that Bran woke up, he at first thinks the news is going to be about Benjen's disappearance. But then in 1999 George decided he wanted to have Bran train with the tree-puppet. So Bran coming face to face with his captive uncle and realizing the CotF are kinda horrifying had to wait. To forestall that reveal, he creates a new tree-puppet character to be Bran's teacher. To ease this retcon, Brynden copy-pastes a lot of Benjen traits. A (former) First Ranger. From a magic Old Gods bloodline. Leads his Crows on an ill-fated ranging, which crosses paths with old magic beings. Even his name makes Bran think "Like my uncle!"

@Laketwig 14 күн бұрын

I always had the idea since someone pointed out the theory that The others are looking for a Stark based on the prologue, that they got Benjen and killed the others.

@Levacque 13 күн бұрын

Ehh. To be honest, whenever I watch that guy's videos, I find myself frustrated by his willingness to mix empirical observations directly from the books with openly speculative theories and then present them as equally valid sources when building his own theories. He has a lot of good stuff, but it's overshadowed by his (in my opinion) inconsistent filter. He follows ideas based on whether he thinks they are interesting and then finds evidence that MIGHT support it, instead of gathering evidence and using it to build the idea. The "looking for Stark" theory is incredibly thin, as a perfect example. I'm embarrassed to say that I'm completely blanking on his name.

@mankytoes 13 күн бұрын

My personal theory is that he's a prisoner of the Others. They know who he is and have a wider use for him, mainly related to the special qualities in Stark blood. I think it would be very cool to see the Others from a prisoner's perspective.

@The_DarthWonka 14 күн бұрын

This channel continues to be the greatest. Thanks for this. I always wondered what Benjens journey was.

@jde-jj1lu 14 күн бұрын

Great stuff Robert

@drewvandemark7500 12 күн бұрын

Benjen is one of my favorite characters. I hope we get more out of him in the books

@ForeverWog 14 күн бұрын

I really enjoy your readings from the book. You’d be a really good audiobook reader.

@janingvetjaland3451 14 күн бұрын

The anticlimatic respons is : he stalked Jon Snow in the caves, lost his way and cant get out. He knows everything but got no way to tell us

@simbol5638 14 күн бұрын

Great video as always

@colbyr.3221 12 күн бұрын

One possibility is a mix between the second and third theories, where maybe during the initial attack he is wounded and saved by the children of the forest, like Coldhands, and then is brought into the service of Bloodraven. Then after that, he might be tasked with going north and finding out more information about the Others or helping him some other way. That would then explain why he never contacted the Night’s Watch and keep him relevant in the story, as he might reconnect with Bran in tWoW.

@thedonkeypuncher2395 14 күн бұрын

Who left the dragon glass and horn wrapped in the Night's Watch cloak at the Fist of the First Men?

@thebabylonian109 14 күн бұрын

Him just being turned into an ice white seems too simplistic for Martin's style, does not seem like this much effort would have been spent on it unless there is a lot more to it. But that is just my feeling, no evidence sadly.

@richardtabor8686 12 күн бұрын

Nice. I'm interested to hear what you have to say here. Ty so much for the great and thought-provoking content.

@whiteforestfox 14 күн бұрын

Excited to watch the video! I was looking for your Robert’s Rebellion videos the other day and couldn’t find them, are these being updated as well?

@richardtabor8686 12 күн бұрын

The way you pitched him being alive, I think he's going to be the ending POV to Winds...The cliffhanger that shows us a bunch of information, then he dies, then we wait for Dream...

@Skimbleshanks73 14 күн бұрын

Im expecting a pov chapter from benjen near the end of winds, as he's finding out something important way up north and decides to get back to the wall

@dellavonta187 14 күн бұрын

Been waiting for this

@ThePatrickakes 10 күн бұрын

Whenever I listen to your videos, I think you'd do a wonderful voice reading of the books. Roy Dotrice is the goat of course, but I feel you'd bring a special something given your in-depth knowledge of the history and theories

@ryanjohnson3615 14 күн бұрын

Hoping George is watching these for some inspiration and motivation lol.

@heathenwizard 14 күн бұрын

If I got to the end of TWoW and saw the epilogue titled “BENJEN” I would absolutely shit. Fucking. Bricks.

@dfailsthemost 13 күн бұрын

I always figured the raven was warning them about the dead approaching.

@alesanchez87 14 күн бұрын

Yes! This! If ever we get to read the resting books, I want desperately to know what happened to him.

@whitewolfofthewhills 14 күн бұрын

I have a theory, one that I do think is very unlikely, but it's a fun possibility. Much like your theory, I like to think that Benjen chose to head North, into the Lands of Always Winter and likely learned something of great importance for the cominv conflict. But I also think it's possible that since then he's been heading back south to share this information, and ended up in Hardhome as the only safeish place North of the Wall he could reach (likely not openly as Benjen, because everyone would there hate him as a Crow) From here, it's possible he could reenter the story through Davos' POV who may go to Hardhome after Skagos in his story. Alternatively (and here's the more outlandish but fun theory), what if Benjen was among the people that were taken by slavers from Hardhome? This could open up the possibility of Benjen reentering the story through Arya's POV, as one of the slaver ships was captured by Braavos.

@Levacque 13 күн бұрын

The only flaw I can find in your final idea is that the slavers were only taking women and children. Or am I mis-remembering? Were there slavers AND Braavosi ships present?

@whitewolfofthewhills 13 күн бұрын

@@Levacque no, you're right. The slavers pretended to be just helpful sailors and took women and children "to safety". There were no Braavosi ships at Hardhome. The slaver ship was intercepted later by Braavosi ships. Though there were other ships who presumably weren't captured by Braavos. In any case, maybe that does rule out the Benjen to Braavos possibility. But there's always the slim possibility of something happening that we weren't aware of (Benjen bribing his way as a passenger to leave Hardhome or something. But that goes waaay too far into speculation territory, I think). I still think Benjen being at Hardhome and reentering the story through Davos' POV could happen though.

@Levacque 13 күн бұрын

@@whitewolfofthewhills ahh, ok, that sounds familiar. One way or another, the fate of the passengers on the Braavosi galleys will surely be interesting. I forgot about the details that they had been rescued. We'll have to see how that all falls out in Arya chapters, considering that there is a large King's Landing delegation there as well. I just think it's very interesting that we've reached a point in the story where there are many ways for many different factions to start crossing paths. Benjen could very well be at Hardhome and Davos could go there, Arya could see him in Braavos (and the Iron Bank might take interest in an adult Stark)... The list of possibilities is long, but the way that the story is contracting makes the possibilities all the more likely.

@ashmeadowphoenix 12 күн бұрын

I think the incident with Waymar Royce, where the White Walker tests him for...something...and then and only then kills him suggest to me that the White Walkers are looking for someone specific, and personally I think that specific person is a fated Stark descendant. Personally I think that they are looking for Jon, and finding Benjen may have been closer to their goal than ever before. I think if we see Benjen again, he won't be a wight...he'll be a white walker.

@Milton2k 13 күн бұрын

4:20 Quite a fan of your videos, and I mostly agree. Yet not with this one. Leave a trail on the snow? That trail would have been erased in less than a day for sure with that weather.

@Ralph_Roberts 12 күн бұрын

I think it's sometimes better to leave things unanswered. In The Walking Dead for example, both Morgan and Merle find the others again. In these types of dangerous worlds people would just disappear and you'd never find out.

@sgauden02 14 күн бұрын

I think it's entirely possible that Benjen will return similarly to how he did in the show, reappearing to help Bran get back to Winterfell, but it WON'T be as Coldhands. I think Benjen has been in the Lands Of Always Winter, learning more about the Others. G.R.R. Martin did say that we'd go farther north than ever before, and Benjen could be the key to that.

@dalestaley5637 5 күн бұрын

He became a white walker that helped the men on the Wall. He carried Sam and Gilli and her son back to the Wall.

@carlschultz1538 11 күн бұрын

I think Benjen was saved by Coldhands, brought to Bloodraven's cave, and sent on an assignment up north with Dark Sister to protect him from the Others on his journey--which may explain why it hasn't been seen or referred to in the cave. We may even get a POV chapter from him--despite GRRM saying otherwise. At this point, who knows what he may be writing?

@Mn-yh2bp 14 күн бұрын

I was always under the impression that cold hands was dead Benjamin Stark

@magalengo 10 күн бұрын

Maybe meet up with Stonesnake. Last seen ranging north of the wall.

@KicktheSky34 12 күн бұрын

You are taking for granted the idea that just because they reappeared at the same time that Othor and Jafer died at the same time too. It's possible that Othor was killed in that previous hypothetical attack and didn't reanimate until after everyone went their separate ways. Knowing Jeor well enough to safely assume he would send search parties after them, I don't think Benjen would continue north without trying to get word to Castle Black, even if the message was just "Don't follow me." I think a plausible scenario is that Benjen sent Jafer back to the wall with their findings, only for Jafer to be ambushed by Othor on his way south.

@HextimusDuex 8 күн бұрын

If no one's told you, of all the Tolien channels your voice is the easiest to listen to at length. Nerd of Rings and Men of the West are both solid too

@TengelSauce 14 күн бұрын

Great Video

@BlacksmithFilter1 14 күн бұрын

Back in 2011 or 2012 I stumbled across an interesting theory saying that basically the White Walkers were the "good guys" but we don't realise it because we see the story from another perspective (the POV characters'). I don't remember any details or how this was justified, and I never found that theory again (or never really bothered tbh), but nevertheless it was interesting. So, what if Benjen reached the Lands of Always Winter, figured out that the Others are on the right and decided to join them? Or the Others' Big Boss (the Night King or whatever) being impressed that someone ventured so far north, decided to spare him and sat him down and explained their side and Benjen joined? Sort of "Jon Snow joining the wildlings" parallel. I know that it's quite far fetched and it's probably not true, but at this point anything's a possibility. Also, the moment we see a White Walker conversing with a POV character, I'll start running naked in the streets...

@dblackesquire 11 күн бұрын

The better question is whether the Others had anything to do with Jaffer and Othor. The injuries that killed them don't appear to be from the weapons of Others.

@pax6833 10 күн бұрын

If Benjen went to the Heart of Winter, there's no way he could get there still alive. Not only is it too cold, he wouldn't have enough food. GRRM has always tried to keep his books grounded, I don't think he'd uncharacteristically just handwave the difficulties of arctic exploration away (seriously, read some history books on it, those trips could be nasty and perilous as all hell). It seems likely Benjen is like Cold Hands, not alive and not dead, so probably also working for Bloodraven, able to make the journey and come back with knowledge even Bloodraven might not be able to get.

@anthroposmetron4475 13 күн бұрын

If one day George walked out into the wilds of northern Canada, disapeared for years, then re-emerged in like 2030 with Winds and A Dream of Spring completed, that would be pretty badass and I think we'd all forgive him.

@ccreel64 12 күн бұрын

There’s nothing to forgive in my opinion. GRRM gave us one of the most fascinating and complicated fantasy worlds since Tolkien. For that, I’m grateful, even though I’d love to see the series completed.

@gregnelson9532 13 күн бұрын

Do we ever get an explanation for how othor and jaefer were able to exist as ice wights past the walls magical barrier?

@guibox3 11 күн бұрын

All I hope is that GRRM didn't have a full say in what happened in the show beyond his books and that the books will be considerably different for many of the characters, and if he did have a hand in it, that he will see the backlash the final season faced and cause him to redirect the trajectory of his books if they were leaning in the direction of the show.

@anthonylaviale3021 12 күн бұрын

There is a connection between the Starks and the Others (night's king, winter is coming, winterfell, ice...) and the others appear quite interested in Starks: they tested waymar royce and killed him when they realised his sword was normal, Craster was very interested in Jon looking Stark... My opinion is the others are looking for somebody with very specific blood, Jon, either as a lagic battery, magic key or, my favorite, a host to control/possess. An undead Ben possessed by the leader or progenitor of the Others would make for a formidable antagonist. If he's alive, like when Bran is skinchanging Hodor, it would have even more impact.

@ColinLack 13 күн бұрын

I think he's still alive, and I think possibly will be a POV character in Winds and maybe even A Dream of Spring?

@TonyBlacksmith0001 10 күн бұрын

Also possible that some weird magicry happens when a stark becomes a wight

@MrMike0817 12 күн бұрын

He was taken alive by the others. The same 1v1 trial was given to him as was waymar Royce. Benjen having stark blood was taken captive

@iulpo 11 күн бұрын

Benjen is definitely alive. He will be the one who will tell Jon the truth, not only of his parentage, but also the "promise me, promise me" - conqueror's dream part. There's no other character that can do that and have Jon believe the story.

@ThatElfTorunn 14 күн бұрын

I cannot even explain how fast I put this on the telly.

@Luinedhel 14 күн бұрын

My pet theory is that he suscribed to In Deep Geek, and simply became too busy binging videos to fulfill his Night's watch duties.

@Raye938 13 күн бұрын

Like Syrio Forel, the biggest proof that Benjen is still alive is that we want it to be true.

@jarredwilkinson4666 10 күн бұрын

I doubt we will ever know as Dream of Spring is just that…a dream. While we might…just might get Winds of Winter any dream if the final book has long since left me. Sad but a very strong belief given the time it has been taking for Winds to get completed. By this time I had hoped the saga complete as well as a Dink and Egg trilogy as well as perhaps a Blackfyre Saga or Tales if the Bloodraven series not to mention perhaps a Conquest book.

@perfumedmanatee6235 14 күн бұрын

Benjen is a swaggering third son kept in black by Ned. He's gone to Essos to live life having discovered what he gave up.

@resathe6760 13 күн бұрын

Hi Robert, is the tourney at Harrenhal, Tower of Joy and all of that playlist still available somewhere? I was looking for it the other day because of the Ashara and Howland video and couldn't find it anymore.

@ksawerystankiewicz5562 13 күн бұрын

He will be narrator to epilogue of dream of spring

@Jagunco 14 күн бұрын

Jesus, its been that long since I read the books I'll have to reread if the next book comes out

@jackcoogan310 14 күн бұрын

Call me crazy, but George’s note about Benjen seems unbelievable. Coldhands’ identity comes up too much for him to be anyone but Benjen. We take the notation from George as gospel, but the rest of his hints contradict that one note.

@xenosaga8436 12 күн бұрын

Maybe Benjen was injured by a wight and warged into it before dying, becoming Coldhands. The wight corpse could still be dead for a very long time with just the consciousness being new.

@LegitimateEU 13 күн бұрын

I think it's possible that Benjen was captured alive by the Others. There are a lot of connections between the Starks and the Others, fun old fan theories that open up the possibility that the Others have a sentimental or cultural reason to care about Benjen. Others could be to Starks what Dragons are to Targaryens after all. Song of ice and fire and all that.

@arcanics1971 14 күн бұрын

He's a Stark. Perhaps he's warged into something and is trapped- or needs a reminder of who he really is.

@PatrickLongblkwhtrbbt 14 күн бұрын

0 views? Lets fix that

@PatrickLongblkwhtrbbt 14 күн бұрын

15 views by the time I'd finished typing lmao

@saraa.4295 14 күн бұрын

In the show we had the bone headed quest to catch a wight, in order to prove the threat real. Benjen knew how ppl mocked everything magic. If he saw the others and wights with his own eyes, he might have decided that he needed to gather prove of it...maybe he returns with a bundled up ice wight ;)

@mashokaise6881 13 күн бұрын

He was killed by the Lannisters of the North--The White Walkers--GRRM has a wonderful balance in his books. 😌

@TheCbot88 14 күн бұрын

I think it's Waymar Royce's jeweled sword hilt that makes an appearance in Dance when the wildlings give up their wealth to pay for food/passage through the wall

@anitareasontobelieve378 14 күн бұрын

Lands of Always Winter have the coldest milk and most menthol cigs. He went there.

@Queen-fn4ly 13 күн бұрын

He's also the same actor of Adar in Rings of Power Season 1

@TH3DUDE0075 14 күн бұрын

Wouldn’t those trails be covered up by any snows that happened in between?

@therealottawasteph 14 күн бұрын

Benjen could be growing roots in a cave somewhere, warguing on the Weirwood network, perhaps driving Brandon's visions.

@darnellbush2408 3 күн бұрын

Unless the writers want to keep him alive as part of some twist, Benjen Stark gave Jon Snow his horse to escape the onslaught of Wights.

@gavomorg762 14 күн бұрын

I dnt think Coldgands is Benjen He s described a lot older So my guess is maybe paet kf BR "Ravens Teeth"" or and older Member of the first men..Hopefully hell be our POV In TWOW amd is POW

@miguelitomarques8 14 күн бұрын

He's my favorite character. I miss him.

@Chewbacca55 12 күн бұрын

If Benjin says he cannot pass the wall because of magic, how was Othor able to be brought over the wall into Castle Black in the undead state? At least in the series Sam says that there is no smell of the dead so something already had to happen by the time they were brought beyond the wall, right? If that is possible Benjin could have just waited in front of the gate for his brothers and have him carried beyond the wall?