115 replies to this topic

[Palas]

Spearsister, on 27 September 2012 - 10:22 AM, said:

I agree, he was obsessed with power and ruled the Night's Watch for 13 years till he was finally cast out. I'm pretty sure he would resent them after that.

These are my theories:
1. He's Benjen Stark. I think this is the most likely theory -- his corpse never turned up, and GRRM never leaves an open mystery for no reason. That, and his face is covered with a scarf. Bran wouldn't recognize him; I'd imagine death would have altered his voice a little, too.
2. He's one of Craster's sons. We never see any baby wights crawling around; I think they become full-fledged Others.
3. He's the Night King's son.

I bet for 1 and 2. I think we're all hoping it's Benjen because it's a character that we all seem to like a lot, but knowing the twists that these book take... God knows. The Craster's son theory is very interesting and more factible that Benjen's, who could've just died like the rest.

[Titus Andronicus]

There's a reason Bran tells the tale of the Night's King at the Night Fort, I believe.

[King Doug]

Titus Andronicus, on 12 November 2012 - 01:41 PM, said:

There's a reason Bran tells the tale of the Night's King at the Night Fort, I believe.

More importantly, there is a reason we here Old Nan tell the story

[Unimportant]

King Doug, on 12 November 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

More importantly, there is a reason we here Old Nan tell the story

Conversely, could one not aruge by that same logic that there's a reason Benjen's unsolved disappearance keeps getting mentioned?

[King Doug]

Unimportant, on 26 November 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Conversely, could one not aruge by that same logic that there's a reason Benjen's unsolved disappearance keeps getting mentioned?

I absolutely agree. But I don't believe his mentioning to be foreshadowing him as Coldhands. I see it as his role being unfinished. Meaning, we will see him again.

[Palas]

King Doug, on 26 November 2012 - 12:59 PM, said:

I absolutely agree. But I don't believe his mentioning to be foreshadowing him as Coldhands. I see it as his role being unfinished. Meaning, we will see him again.

I certainly hope so...

[Quiet Isle]

Well he's not Benjen.  They just cast Coldhands, and it's an actor named Burn Gorman.

[Quiet Isle]

Palas, on 12 November 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

I bet for 1 and 2. I think we're all hoping it's Benjen because it's a character that we all seem to like a lot, but knowing the twists that these book take... God knows. The Craster's son theory is very interesting and more factible that Benjen's, who could've just died like the rest.

  He's not Benjen.  Coldhands has just been cast.

[OberynBlackfyre]

RAGNAROK, on 01 December 2012 - 01:15 PM, said:

Well he's not Benjen.  They just cast Coldhands, and it's an actor named Burn Gorman.

that's interesting that they cast him and then released it.  I think It's a tell that ColdHands is someone we have not met yet.

[bastardsofbaratheon]

I think cold hands is Robert Baratheon.

Thoros of Myr was known to be good friends with Robert.  they were drinking buddies and he was in or near kings landing at the time of Robert's death (he fought in melee during the tourney of the hand) he brought beric dondarrion back to life as well as cat, so why not Robert?  

but you ask: " why would Robert not reclaim his throne after his resurrection?"

well, I can only speculate about when he was brought back, but it could have been after Ned and stannis revealed the true father of the Baratheon children, and he was ashamed of what cersei had done to him.  or perhaps he was drawn north by the powers that live beyond the wall.  or maybe he was drawn back there because of his love of lyanna.

cold hands relationship of the animals is reflective of Roberts.  Robert beat joffrey once tormenting/killing an animal (I forgot what kind).  plus he rides an ELK.  Very similar to a stag.  plus grrm mentions that cold hands slays a boar (Robert was killed by a boar)  feed bran and his companions.  

and why would a wight need to cover his face unless he is the most famous man in westeros? 

now, that being said I cannot explain how he knows of the secret passages under and through the wall.  and I know they can only be open by men of the watch. but maybe one of the dead men of the watch told him where the doors were.  and maybe Sam's presence is what opened them.  

the last part is a little far fetched but I do believe my theory has some merit to it.  I would love to hear what you all think.

[Xtopher]

bastardsofbaratheon, on 01 December 2012 - 09:43 PM, said:

I think cold hands is Robert Baratheon.

Thoros of Myr was known to be good friends with Robert.  they were drinking buddies and he was in or near kings landing at the time of Robert's death (he fought in melee during the tourney of the hand) he brought beric dondarrion back to life as well as cat, so why not Robert?  

but you ask: " why would Robert not reclaim his throne after his resurrection?"

well, I can only speculate about when he was brought back, but it could have been after Ned and stannis revealed the true father of the Baratheon children, and he was ashamed of what cersei had done to him.  or perhaps he was drawn north by the powers that live beyond the wall.  or maybe he was drawn back there because of his love of lyanna.

cold hands relationship of the animals is reflective of Roberts.  Robert beat joffrey once tormenting/killing an animal (I forgot what kind).  plus he rides an ELK.  Very similar to a stag.  plus grrm mentions that cold hands slays a boar (Robert was killed by a boar)  feed bran and his companions.  

and why would a wight need to cover his face unless he is the most famous man in westeros?

now, that being said I cannot explain how he knows of the secret passages under and through the wall.  and I know they can only be open by men of the watch. but maybe one of the dead men of the watch told him where the doors were.  and maybe Sam's presence is what opened them.  

the last part is a little far fetched but I do believe my theory has some merit to it.  I would love to hear what you all think.

Im sorry man but that seems like the longest reach ever to me. Coldhands as Robert Baratheon? It's more likely that he is just an anonymous wight.

Edited by Xtopher, 02 December 2012 - 05:07 AM.

[Horza]

Grade A crackpottery. Timeline doesn't work, as Thoros goes Glegane-hunting in the Riverlands per Ned's orders, where he stays with Beric all through AGoT-ASoS. Also, he performs his first resurrection by accident, possibly as a result of the comet - prior to that he's just a boozy priest with wildfire and swords to spare.

Edited by Horza, 07 December 2012 - 07:51 PM.

[Feather Crystal]

I think Coldhands is Brandon Stark, aka Brandon the Builder.

Bran is still trying to figure out who Coldhands is while Meera is asking him if he's the Three Eyed Crow. First Bran says, "he's dead", then next, "a monster". Then Coldhands says, "your monster, Brandon Stark". I think this is a teaser, since it sounds like he's saying he's Bran's monster, but I have a suspicion that he's the old Brandon Stark from generations ago. There's another scene where Bran is looking through the weirwood and he sees a woman cut the neck of a man and the text states, "and Brandon Stark tasted the blood". If the man that was killed was the old Brandon Stark, well then he would probably taste his own blood when his neck was slit. Just putting these two scenes together suggests, at least to me, that both men are/were Brandon Stark. Bran isn't commonly called Brandon...perhaps when his mother is angry with him, but it would be interesting to count how many times anyone calls him Brandon.

[River Song]

I totally thought it was Benjen Stark since he's a brother of the Night's Watch and his hands were the only thing that got back to Castle Black in aGoT. The name Coldhands really emphasises on the 'hands' part so I really hope it's him ><

[Xray the Enforcer]

[mod] Please do not post spoilers in the Still Reading section. [/mod]

[lozeldatkm]

I didn't think what i said WAS a spoiler, but ok...

[LadyLinden]

WinterfellWoman, on 21 March 2012 - 01:35 PM, said:

It wouldn't be the first time GRRM made reference after reference to a character only to have them die suddenly or just never resurface. Anyone remember Rickon?

With that said, I'm with you on this one. It really seems like GRRM must have SOME plan for Benjen to resurface. It seems a tragic waste of ink if not.

Rickon is too important to just never resurface, he's a toddler how important can his POV be at this point?

[Unimportant]

RAGNAROK, on 01 December 2012 - 01:17 PM, said:

He's not Benjen.  Coldhands has just been cast.

The casting of a new actor doesn't dismiss Benjen being Coldhands. It may simply be Joseph Mawle had other commitments and couldn't resume the role (as was the case with Conan Stevens and the Gregor Clegane character). Given the likely makeup alterations that will go with the Coldhands character it wouldn't be a big deal having a new actor play a 'Coldhands Benjen'.

[James Arryn]

If it's one of Craster's sons put there as a baby, how did he learn 'English/Westerosi'? Do the Others speak it?

[Unimportant]

Titus Andronicus, on 12 November 2012 - 01:41 PM, said:

There's a reason Bran tells the tale of the Night's King at the Night Fort, I believe.

Perhaps The Night's King will prove to be a main antagonist leading the wights, leaving Benjen to be Coldhands. To me this seems more plausible seeing as Benjen is clearly entrenched as a 'good' character while there's nothing in the Night's King tale to lead us to believe that he'll make any kind of "turn for redemption", he's clearly a villian in the tale with no hint that he regretted anything he did.