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Just who is the High Sparrow? [spoilers]


Fragile Bird

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Now that we've seen him in action in a number of episodes, exactly who do you think this High Sparrow is? There was a lot of speculation in the book threads that he was Howland Reed in disguise. What do you think? He's obviously an educated man, someone who seems far more sophisticated than a frog man. Can he be a simple peasant who taught himself over the years to become an eloquent and crafty spiritual leader? Or could he be a 3rd or 4th or 5th son of some smaller house who got sent to the sept as a career?



Does he have a deep game plan, or is he really just a devout believer carrying out the will of the seven?


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I think the point of his character is that he is the real deal and doesn't have any ulterior motives. Everyone keeps talking to him and expecting him to go along with the whole "tit for tat" subtext which is how they all deal with each other, and then everyone is all shocked when he sticks to his guns. It makes him more formidable because he can't be bought or threatened the way they're used to doing.

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I think the point of his character is that he is the real deal and doesn't have any ulterior motives. Everyone keeps talking to him and expecting him to go along with the whole "tit for tat" subtext which is how they all deal with each other, and then everyone is all shocked when he sticks to his guns. It makes him more formidable because he can't be bought or threatened the way they're used to doing.

This. Weatherby Swann gives no fucks about "the game." He's exactly who he says he is.

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I think the point of his character is that he is the real deal and doesn't have any ulterior motives. Everyone keeps talking to him and expecting him to go along with the whole "tit for tat" subtext which is how they all deal with each other, and then everyone is all shocked when he sticks to his guns. It makes him more formidable because he can't be bought or threatened the way they're used to doing.

You make a very good point, but since we don't know his actual name, everyone imagines it is being withheld for a big reveal.

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Now that we've seen him in action in a number of episodes, exactly who do you think this High Sparrow is? There was a lot of speculation in the book threads that he was Howland Reed in disguise. What do you think? He's obviously an educated man, someone who seems far more sophisticated than a frog man. Can he be a simple peasant who taught himself over the years to become an eloquent and crafty spiritual leader? Or could he be a 3rd or 4th or 5th son of some smaller house who got sent to the sept as a career?

Does he have a deep game plan, or is he really just a devout believer carrying out the will of the seven?

i can see this being true...both in the books, and perhaps on the show...my reason someone has to reveal johns parents...and unless it is benjen stark reborn then sparrow could actually be it...

You make a very good point, but since we don't know his actual name, everyone imagines it is being withheld for a big reveal.

and him turning out to settle the age old question...who's your daddy...would be the reveal of the season...hell to some on this board it would be the reveal of the series...

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You make a very good point, but since we don't know his actual name, everyone imagines it is being withheld for a big reveal.

Why does he need a name?

Part of the role of the High Septon is to be the representative of the Gods in the physical realm, as a carnal representation of both the will of the Seven and of the smallfolk, he doesn't need a name.

His identity lies in what he does, not who he was before. (Who he was before is probably incredibly banal anyways)

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Why does he need a name?

Part of the role of the High Septon is to be the representative of the Gods in the physical realm, as a carnal representation of both the will of the Seven and of the smallfolk, he doesn't need a name.

His identity lies in what he does, not who he was before. (Who he was before is probably incredibly banal anyways)

I agree. But the simple fact of leaving the character unnamed leads a lot of people to think there's a reason for it, beyond banality. He could be no one, certainly. But he could also be a certain lord from the marshes or something. I'd prefer if he wasn't, but the possibility still exists.

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He believes in what he does. He's a poor man originally. If he wasn't too over crazy, he actually might have done some good. Alas.



*Edit: Howland Reed? From the look of his children, he'd never be such a religious fanatic. Especially of the Seven, he's of the North for the old gods' sake!


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He believes in what he does. He's a poor man originally. If he wasn't too over crazy, he actually might have done some good. Alas.

He's done some good so far... he has fed, protected, and rearmed the faithful, who were voiceless, defenseless, and miserable until recently.

Howland Reed? From the look of his children, he'd never be such a religious fanatic. Especially of the Seven, he's of the North for the old gods' sake!

The theory implies Howland Reed is simply faking piety and zealotry, removing all the weight and signification of the Faith Uprising for the sake of an absurd plot twist.

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I think he is who he says he is. That doesn't mean that we might not see him handle a portion of what another character might have done (or potentially even will do) but he just is the guy he is. No more fakes or switches for this one.


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HS = Howland Reed was actually a theory?

Yep, first popped up in the 'general' section in February of 2014. Pretty sure the guy copied it from reddit iirc.

The tl;dr version is that the high sparrow matches the description of a sparrow that Brienne/Pod run into near the beginning of AFFC, therefore saying that he came from North of Kings Landing, as well as sharing several similarities with the descriptions of the Reed children. Namely being short, tying their hair in a knot, and having brown hair and brown eyes.

Then the High Sparrow reminds Cersei that she had Ned Stark executed on the steps of the sept, therefore proving that he is indeed a Stark loyalist, and who's the only Stark loyalist unaccounted for? Howland Reed. Obvious connection there.

Here's the thread if you're interested. http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/104527-howland-reed-high-septon/

At least Darrio=Euron hasn't shown up yet in this show.

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Now that we've seen him in action in a number of episodes, exactly who do you think this High Sparrow is? There was a lot of speculation in the book threads that he was Howland Reed in disguise. What do you think? He's obviously an educated man, someone who seems far more sophisticated than a frog man. Can he be a simple peasant who taught himself over the years to become an eloquent and crafty spiritual leader? Or could he be a 3rd or 4th or 5th son of some smaller house who got sent to the sept as a career?

Does he have a deep game plan, or is he really just a devout believer carrying out the will of the seven?

Howland Reed serves the old gods.

Impossible.

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