Buckyball

Check out this response to that topic:

Am I wrong in thinking that Jon's claim to the iron throne has nothing to do with being male? Any surviving offspring of Rhaegar (or Viserys), male or female, would have a stronger claim to the throne than Daenerys. I thought her "last male heir" line was a little odd.

That's very interesting. Thanks!

Brynden Rivers must be pretty embarrassed that he got so distracted that he let this totally irrelevant tree completely envelop his body.

I think in book canon his powers wouldn't give him access to that moment because there weren't any nearby weirwood trees. Hard to say in the show, though. If he is the world's memory then I guess he has access to every moment everywhere.

Howland Reed was an important part of Bran's flashback in Season 6 episode 3. He also has a living daughter who has been part of the show. Daenerys was dubious when John's only supporting evidence were his best friend's research and his brother/cousin's psychic visions. I imagine a living corroborating witness who can make a convincing personal testimony might help sway her, if it ever turns out that she needs swaying. Given how few episodes are left, I suspect we'll find out that the Howland Reed setup from season 6 wound up being abandoned here at the end.

Assumptions might be irrelevant, but inferences aren't. Unless you prefer stories with zero subtext. I don't entirely disagree with your viewpoint that Bran (and many other characters) have become underdeveloped and underused. But you seem to favor an extreme position ("completely pointless", "irrelevant") that makes me bristle. Ned Stark was careful to keep Jon's true parentage a secret, at the expense of his own honor, but he would have been careless enough to leave a diary behind? I do think it's odd that Howland Reed hasn't been mentioned yet, since he is a still-living character who was a witness to what transpired at the Tower of Joy. In fact, as a Stark bannerman, he should already be at Winterfell along with everyone else.

We've seen Bran spending time near the weirwood tree since his arrival at Winterfell. I think it's safe to infer that he's been learning things off-screen.