The Enigmatic Three-Eyed Raven: Demystifying the Targaryen Theory in GoT

Summary

The identity of the Three-Eyed Raven remains a mystery, but the books suggest that he may be Brynden Rivers, a Targaryen Bastard.

House of the Dragon presents evidence of the Targaryens' awareness of the White Walker danger and their decision to send Brynden to the Wall as a defensive measure. If the Three-Eyed Raven does, in fact, turn out to be Brynden Rivers, it would intensify the Night King's animosity and further connect House Targaryen to the White Walkers. Nonetheless, in the grand scheme of Game of Thrones, the character's true identity holds little significance.

Game of Thrones left many mysteries unanswered, including the enigma of the Three-Eyed Raven's true identity. Bran's predecessor in this role was the last greenseer human living beyond the Wall with the Children of the Forest. Played by Max von Sydow in season 6, the Three-Eyed Raven leads Bran Stark to the cave where his physical body resides and imparts the wisdom that accompanies their supernatural gift. Despite living for over a millennium, the Three-Eyed Raven does not disclose the original identity of his predecessor.

While the television show does not delve into this matter, the books, which refer to the greenseer as the Three-Eyed Crow, suggest that he is actually Brynden Rivers, a notable Targaryen Bastard. The crow mentions being a former lord named Brynden and, based on the timeline and details provided, the most likely individual matching this description would be Aegon IV Targaryen's illegitimate son, Brynden Rivers. The Three-Eyed Crow also speaks of a woman he desired, a beloved brother, and a hated brother, all of which align with Brynden Rivers' personal history. It is worth noting that these events occurred long before the timeline of Game of Thrones. In fact, Brynden Rivers' ancestors include Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, who will be featured in House of the Dragon.

The Three-Eyed Raven Was A Targaryen Bastard

Although the identity of the Three-Eyed Raven remains unconfirmed, Brynden Rivers emerges as a compelling candidate. Born as a bastard son to Rhaenyra and grandson of Daemon, King Aegon IV, Brynden gained prestige as one of Aegon IV's Great Bastards. Legitimized in 184 AC, along with other half-siblings such as Aegor Rivers, who later established the Golden Company. Throughout his life, Brynden held numerous esteemed titles, including Hand of the King to Aerys I and Maekar I, but was eventually exiled to the Night's Watch under Aegon V's decree.

Aegon Rivers, whom he despised, Sheira, his half-sister whom he admired, and King Daeron II, his beloved brother, were significant figures in his life. Around 50 years beyond the House of the Dragon era, Brynden acquired the nickname "Lord Bloodraven" as a result of a raven-shaped birthmark on his cheek. His personal guard, known as Raven's Teeth, often chose to join him in taking the black.

While holding his position as Hand of the King, he also served as the master of whisperers, known for his "little crows" and extensive surveillance abilities. However, it was his greensight that truly attributed to his role. Brynden eventually became the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in 239 AC, but disappeared 13 years later during a dangerous expedition beyond the Wall. It is believed that he chose to remain there and become the Three-Eyed Raven.

The explanation of the Three-Eyed Raven's history in Game of Thrones does not perfectly align with the House Targaryen's backstory in the novels. In the novels, the Three-Eyed Raven has lived for a thousand years, while Brynden was only born in 175 AC, which is 125 years before the events of "A Dance With Dragons." However, it is possible that the title has existed for over a thousand years and has been passed down through generations, which aligns with how the title affected Bran's perspective. Regardless, the connections between Brynden Rivers and the Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones are likely more than mere coincidences.

HotD's White Walker Prophecy Could Explain The Three-Eyed Raven's Targaryen Link

House of the Dragon may have provided more evidence regarding the identity of the Three-Eyed Raven. It was revealed that the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy was actually Aegon's dream, which has been passed down from one Targaryen to another. This suggests that the Targaryen family was aware of the impending threat from the White Walkers and explains their determination to keep their lineage on the throne, as the dragons were their primary defense against them. However, the Targaryens were a shrewd house and would have known that relying solely on dragons would not be sufficient to counter the Night King.

Sending Brynden to the Wall would have served two purposes for the dragons. Firstly, it would have positioned a defensive force at the northernmost point of Westeros. Having the Three-Eyed Raven there would have enabled them to foresee any future attacks and make adequate preparations. Secondly, it would have eliminated a bastard from the Targaryen family. The treatment of bastards in House of the Dragon is harsh, and recent prophecies from the show further support the theory regarding Brynden in Game of Thrones.

A HotD Link Would Make The Night King's Hatred Deeper

The Three-Eyed Raven, hailing from the House of the Dragon's Targaryens, highlights the mutual animosity between him and the Night King. This animosity stems from their long and tumultuous history of not only knowing each other but also engaging in battles. As the keeper of Westeros' collective memory, the Three-Eyed Raven possesses invaluable knowledge about the Night King and how to defeat him, serving as the only person capable of warning the continent about the impending threat of the White Walkers.

Establishing a connection between the two shows through the Three-Eyed Raven deepens the Night King's determination to eliminate him, as well as Bran Stark. When revisiting Game of Thrones, this connection becomes even more compelling. Similar to the House of the Dragon's catspaw dagger, which Arya employed to kill the Night King and harbored Aegon's prophecy secretly, the revelation of the Three-Eyed Raven's true identity as Brynden Rivers further strengthens the bond between House Targaryen and the White Walkers.

Does The Identity Of The Three-Eyed Raven Even Really Matter?

The question of who the Three-Eyed Raven was may be intriguing, but it ultimately holds no significance in Game of Thrones since the character itself does not matter. Despite being a powerful being with immense knowledge and the potential to reveal all the secrets of Westeros, the Three-Eyed Raven ends up being just another concept from George R.R. Martin's books that the showrunners did not know how to fully utilize. Although a backstory could have added depth and made him more memorable, in the end, everything introduced by the Three-Eyed Raven in the show turned out to be meaningless.

The Three-Eyed Raven, though the most powerful being in Westeros, remained unknown to all. Intent on silencing his knowledge of Westeros' history, the Night King's efforts were in vain, as there was no one to share it with. Even the Three-Eyed Raven's abilities proved inconsequential, except for unveiling the secrets behind the Night King's origins and Jon Snow's parentage, which ultimately had no bearing on the narrative. It appeared that the purpose of the Three-Eyed Raven was to pass on his powers to Bran, although this had minimal impact overall, apart from aiding in Littlefinger's downfall. Notably, Bran's abilities did not play a role in his ascension to the throne. The absence of the Three-Eyed Raven would seemingly have little impact on the story's outcome.