During Robert’s Rebellion Stannis learned from the Faceless Men, and then when Arya kills the Night King in Winds of Winter, she’ll remove her face to reveal that it was Stannis the Mannis all along, and then everyone claps.
Let's not forget that the flames did show to Melisandre that Stannis will be crucial in saving the world. She believes that means he's Azor Ahai, but while he's not, that doesn't mean he's not gonna be important against the Others anyway. I think a fitting end for Stannis is to sacrifice himself in Winterfell to let run to the south once as much people as possible when the Others come. Stannis'character arc has been all about him struggling against "the end justifying the means", and specially the dilemma of sacrificing people for the greater good. In the end, once he finds out Shireen has been burned, I believe he will be a broken man that will only come back again to choose to actually sacrifice himself, and not other people, to buy time, to give his realm a chance to survive.
Stannis Baratheon is the most impressive battle commander alive in Westeros. His expertise will be invaluable for the wars to come. Jon, Aegon and Dany will be looking to him.
@@Jacaerys4life Yeah but they probably will look at him as an enemy. We all know Stannis. "Westeros only have one king". Both Dany and Aegon want the Iron Throne, so I can't see any sort of alliance with him, even with the Others coming. Neither Aegon nor Daenerys have any story/connection to the white walkers. I think only Jon (and possibly Bran) can help Stannis if he looks for a united Westeros against the Others.
@@mirayoquese8608 You're thinking of Stannis as he was before going to the North, he now knows where the real war is and that who sits upon the Iron Throne really doesn't matter. Stannis' current goal is to stabilize the North by ousting the treasonous Boltons, Freys and Ironborne, and returning Rickon and Shaggy to their home. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. Aegon uniting the south and Dany coming with dragons will only be seen as a blessing. Dany has had visions, Tyrion will vouch for Jon, and Stannis will bend the knee for the greater good if need be for Donal Noye had it wrong. Stannis is the true steel while Robert was iron. Stannis is willing to bend, he let the free folk through the wall after defeating them in battle.
@@edwinshaku47 “could be”. Pah. Everyone knows Ser Pounce is obviously Azor Ahai. In the show, he clearly skinchanged into Arya so he could use his cat reflexes to kill the Night King. Have you been paying attention?!?!?!?!
I just think based on Martin's writing style the charachter actively marketing himself as the chosen one is probably not going to be the actual chosen one. That's my bet.
@@QuinnTheGM This is exactly why prophecies are so dangerous. Once they're out there, anyone with a bit of imagination can put a completely different spin on it. Beware the march of ideas. Or something.
@@nodiggity9472 Avoid any interpretation that seems to disproportionately benefit one person, especially if that person is the on that made the interpretation.
But in a twist Stannis doesn’t actually believe himself Azor Ahai or anything special. He just lets the red priest preach her sermon because she is a valuable ally
Stannis seems almost like John the Baptist in the Bible. He's intrinsically linked to the Messiah figure and important in preparing the world for their coming, powerful in his own right, and mistaken by many to *be* the Messiah. Ultimately, he isn't, but his role in the story is still very important. Stannis isn't Azor Ahai. Making him Azor Ahai would be like making Jon's parents *actually* Ned and Wylla. It would be funny to see the chaos in the fandom and a good subversion of what everyone *thinks* will happen, but ultimately very narratively dissatisfying. The guy who's claimed to be Azor Ahai for 5 books is Azor Ahai? oh... ok... But, I strongly believe that he is an important part of the true Azor Ahai's story. He will put a lot of the work in place for them to step up and take the mantle, intentionally or otherwise.
I believe Stannis will play an integral role in mankind's success in the Long Night pt2; but I think Lightbringer was unwittingly forged when Dany drew her sword from the flames by waking dragons from stone in the funeral pyre. George having Xaro Xhoan Daxos declare the dragons were "flaming swords" was too deliberate to be an accident. That sealed the deal for me. Daenerys is Lightbringer. I think Maester Aemon, in a roundabout way, was trying to communicate this when he said "the Sphinx is the riddle, not the riddler", then cursed his body for preventing him from getting to Dany. Btw- Dany and Maester Aemon never getting to meet is one of the greatest tragedies in ASOIAF. They would've had the sweetest little relationship I think.
After book 5 and the reader learning that Mel is genuine in her belief that Stannis is the prophecied one, I had to rethink things. Such as why the flames would at some point show her Stannis. Well, had the flames shown her Jon she would've gone straight to the Wall and the Watch wouldve chased her off. Sending her to Stannis first embedded her in his court and thus allowed her to linger at the Wall. And by book 5 she's now frustrated since the flames are showing her Jon now and not Stannis. But no way Stannis is AA.
Its all bc she had to be involved with Stannis to go North and get to Jon, theres lots of circumstances around both of them and around her and jon. They are all parts of the prophecy. Rhaegar is failed AA 1, Stannis is failed AA 2, and Jon is the real AA but Melisandre has to give him her fire (her life) to bring him back. Perfectly lines up with the prophecy and that Mel is actually Nissa Nissa but instead of him killer her she sacrifices herself to bring him back and stop the Others.
It could also be the Fire is leading her along, like the bullet points on a GPS map. Fire shows her Stannis, which gets her in a position of power to stick around, Stannish heads up North, where she stays, and now the Fire is showing Snow. Its giving her advice in stages, not immediately giving her the answers. What comes next? Maybe if the book ever comes out we'll know.
Tinfoil - Lightbringer is Arya Stark - Syrio tells her she is a sword - Her forging process goes through water (the water dancing style) and lions (persecution by Lannister men) - She will reach the third forging when hired to kill someone's true love (Jaime assassinating Cersei? Jon or Faegon assassinating Dany?) - After this, she will kill the Night's King as spoiled by the show And at the end of it all, she will ride into King's Landing on Tyrek Lannister
He may not he Azor Ahai, but he's definitely gonna be important in the fight. I hope we may even see him come back as a fire wight and go deep into the lands of always winter to fight some Others
It would be cool if Rheagar actually was the one who was supposed to save the world but because of Robert's Rebellion the entire world is doomed and the series ends with the White Walkers freezing King's Landing.
Dany fills the prophecies. She was born of the right line and she also woke dragons out of stone, sacrificing her love in the fire in the process. You can also consider the sword Lightbringer being a dragon.
I always felt Noye's reference to Stannis breaking was related to Gendry talking about how Thoros lighting his sword with wildfire damaged it. To me, it felt like this could be foreshadowing Stannis' actual death. Because he's lit his sword on fire so many times that his sword is damaged. When he is in some battle, his sword breaks and he is slain.
Stannis's Lightbringer isn't actually on fire though, the book makes it very clear that it just radiates light but no real heat. Pretty sure the only time "Lightbringer" is actually lit on fire is the first ritual where Mel proclaims Stannis to be Azor Ahai and he draws the sword from the statue.
I do like the analogy of iron being broken down and purified to make steel. Stannis is the only character compared to iron. The story and the Azor Ahai propechy is simply the act of Stannis being broken and reforged into something harder and stronger.
I’ve always thought the concept of a double bluff would be awesome. Mel believes he is Azor Ahai, nobody else does including the readers. Yet, if he believes saving the world is his destiny, maybe he will fight ‘to the bitter end and then some’ to do so. He could be instrumental in defeating the Others, not because he is some prophesied hero, but because of his sheer will and belief that he is the one.
Nobody in the story “is” Azor Ahai or Nissa Nissa, but several characters match the archetypes and are playing out their symbolic story. All the in-world mythologies are reflected in the characters and plot of ASOIAF. Lucifer Means Lightbringer (David Lightbringer) has done extensive analysis on the symbolic level of the saga.
I’m convinced that Azor Ahai is an archetype, not a singular character. In some sense Jon, Dany, Stannis, Tyrion and possibly others are all Azor Ahai.
10:19 another instance of metal breaking is when the Others shatter Royce’s sword in the prologue of AGOT. maybe foreshadowing Stannis being killed by them
@@QuinnTheGM I know, just adding some evidence that george commonly compares men to swords. The making of light bringer personified as people is my new conclusion thanks to you. I previously only looked at it based on events, not people.
I really liked the idea of shireen being a dragon dreamer, sort of strengthening Stannis having more targ blood than his two brothers and thus making him rightful king and azor ahai
Maybe the "three forgings" are the three people who think they're Azor Ahai - Rhaegar (dies in the Trident) "quenched in water", Stannis (beaten by Lannisters) "Quenched in the lion" and the true AA is Jon (who's already been responsible for killing his first love and maybe it doesn't bode well for Danny). Or maybe it means whatever you want it to mean! That would also fit with GRRM's writing.
A note on the Donal Noye quote, there's been a lot of argument that he got it wrong. The argument goes that Robert was the Copper in the story, putting on a good face but ultimately powerless by the end, Rely is the Iron, because he fields the largest force in westeros until he gets shadow baby'd, which means he's strong, but broke before he bent, while Stannis is the Steel, being strong and already showing he'll bend without giving up.
I feel like people give too much importance to noye's quote, a quote, might I add, that has been proven untrue even before we heard it. Do I need to remind everyone that there are very few people more broken than Robert Baratheon in the entire series?
If we go with the version of the prophecy which states Azor Ahai created light-bringer by sacrificing "his one true love" and not his wife, then Stannis still has potential to be azor ahai - only the glamoured blade he wields is definitely not light-bringer because "the mother" of the seven gods (from who's heart stannis drew the blade when he burnt her statue on dragonstone) was definitely not his one true love. I personally think that in his life, the only people stannis ever truly loved were his parents, cressen and renly back when he was still his little brother and not the entitled spoiled brat he grew to be at the start of the story. But all those people are currently dead, and the only person that stannis loves who is still alive - aside from maybe davos - is without a dpubt and a second guess, shireen. Should shireen be sacrificed, either by stannis or by mel to resurrect jon snow - a different jon snow than before, one who will be reanimated by r'Lohr's rite of the last kiss, and fuelled by the flame of the lord of light burning inside him then Stannis would serve as azor Ahai, sacrificing shireen, his truest love, to give life and creation to light-bringer, the sword of flame that would be jon snow
As Tywin Lannister once said - Any man who must say "I am the king" is no true king. That and Donal Noye's line about iron pretty much confirm that Stannis's cause is lost case and that he won't be around for much longer. At this point, I only hope that he will beat Boltons before he kicks the bucket.
@@Orignal_Français And Robert wasn't exactly a good king and he was ultimately betrayed and killed by a pig. Dany also struggles a lot in Mereen as she seems to be incapable of maintaining peaceful rule (despite her best intentions). We'll see what George has planned for her in the next book(s), but I doubt that her end will be a triumphant one.
Stannis being compared to Irom breaking before he bends is taken a bit out of context if you ask me. I think Noye just meant to say Stannis won't give up. Stannis bends constantly, in forgiving Davos, convertong religion, employing sellswords and working with the Watch. Stannis bends all the time, and hasn't quite broken (yet)
Anyone else have the theory that the original Azor Ahai, or great hero, may actually be the founder of House Dayne? Hear me out, What is Lightbringer, what brings the light after a long night? The dawn. As in the sword Dawn perhaps? Making the one worthy enough to wield Dawn become the Sword of the Morning perhaps this goes back all the way to the days of the Long Night.
I think Azor Ahai's legend is a metaphor - he didn't really think of sticking his sword on the heart of a lion, but I do think his loved one died as a result of the games they were playing to try and save the world. Also, I do believe that Azor Ahai is three people, but it won't be a single magical sword that brings back the dawn - rather, it will be what those three people bring to the table: armies, dragons, dragonglass.
Honestly his death scene might be my least favorite cinematography in the entire show. It’s such a weird shot and I hate that they completely cut away from the actual death, even further robbing it of what little impact it might’ve had.
As to what happens when struck with light bringer Stannis quite literally tells us the sword is nothing but regular steel as he comments on how he used it on the blackwater Which btw implies Stannis Directly participated in the fighting
the last time Stannis didn't have Mel to kill his enemies to avoid a battle, he lost the Blackwater and most of his army the next time I believe his mistake will be more personally fatal.
Didn't George already say that the titular "Ice and Fire" are the Walkers and Daenerys? Not saying she is Azor Ahai, but "being the song of ice and fire" really helps to say Jon is.
I feel like the NW's vow is something that'll matter. "I am the sword in the darkness... I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn" is something that always struck me as fitting the prophecy that I feel goes unnoticed, as it refers to a person as both a sword and "the light that brings the dawn". Assuming Shireen burns, I could see it as means of ressurection for Jon that'll be the Nissa Nissa (he hates his wife lol), and Jon is Lightbringer. On another note, what are your thoughts on the theory that Nissa Nissa was Azor Ahai's dragon, and Lightbringer was just a normal VS Sword? By extension this is a theory on how VS is made. My hope is that Stannis just makes the Whitewalkers go back to bed and the books just focus on the political and southern aspects. I don't particularly care for the White Walkers.
I understand not caring for them, but that doesn’t seem like the story GRRM is going for. The White Walkers are supposed to be an existential threat, something humanity has to deal with by putting aside the political squabbling in order for their to be any future at all. They aren’t a problem that’ll just go away due to one person, it’s something everyone has to contribute to, otherwise there won’t be anyone left.
@@nicodemusedwards6931 I get what he’s going for, I just don’t care. I don’t care about them or the Freefolk, I’m mostly interested in the political drama and magic stuff.
@@niofalpha but the Others are magic and are deeply connected to the magic of the world. How can you say you care about the magic but disregard an inherently magical force?
I feel as though rhaegar was the Prince that was promised. The sword story is a metaphor He stuck his metaphorical sword in lyanna she gives birth to Jon and dies (Jon is light bringer in human form)
Great video, could the being born from a certain bloodline mean that the actions of someone of a certain bloodline result in the birth of lightbringer. Not of their blood but by that bloodline's actions. Or something like that
Since you're going to be doing more Stannis material (and there's never enough discussion about him), there's a couple of things that I'd like to know your thoughts on. In the books, he is usually associated with iron and steel. But his name is likely derived from stannum, the ore from which tin is obtained. Is George trying to tell us something about him by choosing that name? Stannis seems to be a man of moral absolutes. If something is wrong, it is wrong regardless of circumstances. Yet he appears to change his attitude toward starving men eating their dead. Stannis haters seize on this as hypocrisy. Why do you think his view on the matter changed?
What always interested me about Donal Noyes metaphor about the baratheons is that roberts hubris was worse than stannis. True steel never seemed to fit him he was too unwilling to govern or hear anyone out
I wonder if somehow Jon Snow will be “born amid salt and smoke” when he gets wighted and reborn. But then again Jon could have been born in a place that already fits the prophecy since we don’t know where he was born.
Davos is azor ahai, he almost dies in the battle of black water but he re awakens amongst salt from the sea and smoke from the burning ships, he will forge light bringer by stabbing stannis through his heart
Not sure why it would happen but if Stannis sacrifices Shireen to bring Jon back to life that would be waking a dragon from stone. This would make Stannis Azor Ahai & Jon Lightbringer.
@@QuinnTheGM That's fine. Please excuse my rude comment earlier. It was just that I wrote a rather lengthy comment that involved my previous comment on a poll you made involving the 5-year gap. You told me to DM you over on Twitter to discuss the subject matter even further. I sadly do not have a Twitter account, so was unable to leave a message on your Twitter homepage. I did, however, respond to that original comment you made. I suggest you revisit that old text to review my response. that is, if your still interested in making the Vaegon Theory. If not, that's fine. I was just waiting for a response, but none came. In that same comment thread, I offered my services as a freelance artist to offer you some custom ASOIAF art that can only be found on your channel. If you wish to look into this further, I recommend you revisit the old text messages over on the 5-year gap poll you made. Sidenote: Great job on the video! Love me some Stannis content!
stannis burning shireen would definitely be a azor ahai killing nissa nissa parallel. But yeah i dont think he is the prince that was promised, whatever that means
The way I see it, it does not add up to the fact that Rlhor turns his back on Stannis Baratheon, who has been his champion and the most prolific leader of his cult in Westeros, to support the political claim of two people (Jon and Daenerys) who hasn't done anything for him in exchange, and who won't probably pledge to his cult. Jon Snow will never leave behind his belief in the Old Gods! Despite any prophecy, everyone must recognize that Azor Ahai was just a man (without any Valyrian connection) with a high sense of duty and a deep engagement to protect the world; the only one who fits this prophecy is Stannis the Mannis.
I kind of like the idea of subverting expectations by not subverting them at all. Like everyone thinks it's so obvious that the Stannimal isn't Azor Ahai that the greatest twist is that he actually is. Well that or no one is AA and Stannis is by default of having done the most to stop the Others.
I haven't watched the video yet, but I have a general problem with this question in general. So many people treat this like it's a standard fantasy story where prophecies are always real and always come true, if not necessarily in the way people expect them to. I don't think that's how Martin sees things. He's essentially writing a fantasy story with real world rules. It's things like how you can interpret passages the Bible in a thousand different ways or how some of the Gospels tell the same stories with different emphasis and POV. ASOIAF has no omniscient narrator it's all prejudiced by each POV character. Prophecies can be BS or events can be squeezed to fit them, even if language has to be mangled or ignored to suit the interpretation (see Nostradamus). People even make up new ones and attribute them to a long dead "prophet". I don't think Azor Ahai will definitively be any one character in the end because the vagueness will always be open to interpretation. Just look at the legend in the story. Did he plunge an actual sword into his wife or did he impregnate her? Then there's the fact that in the real world Lucifer means Lightbringer.
What if John js light brighter and “Stannis” revise John through his prophesied stone dragon princesses, so Stannis wields John and sacrifices himself or somfing close to him, part way through the vid he pry said this
I always thought Martin made his opinion about Prophecies known in the Quote of Arcmaester Marwyn, that being: „Gorghan of Old Ghis once wrote that a prophecy is like a treacherous woman. She takes your member in her mouth, and you moan with the pleasure of it and think, how sweet, how fine, how good this is . . . and then her teeth snap shut and your moans turn to screams. That is the nature of prophecy, said Gorghan. Prophecy will bite your prick off every time.“ Given the fact that both Rhaegar and Aemon thought that there must be three Heads, so there must be three People who are the Song of Ice and Fire to bring the Prophecy into reality, I and some other People think that could relate to something different, maybe these three Heads are not only the saviours from the Others, but also the Problems that are currently the main Problems in Westeros. That being: 1. The Food Problem, there isn't enough or at least not equally shared Food something Littlefinger plans to take advantage of in "The Winds of Winter"-Sample Chapter from Alayne. 2. The forgotten Knowledge and the lack of preservation of Knowledge, more than once we see People read or talk about Knowledge, not to forget the "North Remembers" which they don't do or at least only Partially 3. The Leadership Problem (a.k.a. Monarchy and inheriting the seat of Power, which is a problem in itself) which is the thing the whole War of the Five Kings is about. And if you think of it we get more than once 3 things or three Things in One that is mentioned, for example: 1. In the Legend of Azor Ahai there are 3 Main Components that end the first Long Night that being, Azor Ahai who forges Lightbringer with the sacrifice of Nissa Nissa, we have 1. The Smith, second the Weapon and 3. the Sacrifice of a Wive. 3 Things for or against one Long Night. 2. Three Heads in one Dragon ... on one Dragon? Which is said to represent Aegon and his Sister Wives, so we have 1. the King, 2. A Warrior and 3. A Wive who dies during the War with Dorne. 3 Things to unite the Seven Kingdoms under one Throne. Important to note the Death of Rhaenys is a main Component of why the War against Dorne ended at that point in History. When Aemon mentioned a Sphinx that is the Riddle and not the Riddler, a Creature that is 3 in one, why not translate that on the other Occassions of three in One? Especially when the only Non-Targaryen-Character that mentions the Phrase the Dragon has 3 Heads, is called Sphinx, but has only 2 Cultures in himself combined? Furthermore, why should Aemon who doesn't know Alleras refer to him as a Riddle? If the Sphinx is a Riddle, a Creature that is three Creatures in one Combined, maybe it refers to 3 Heads on one Dragon so may three People against the Others, which Aemon and Rhaegar believed to be the Case. If that is the case maybe the Sphinx and its mentioned Components are a Hint of who the three People are, that will be Azor Ahai in modern days. Especially when Martin had to mention and describe the Sphinx because most modern Readers think of the Sphinx in Egypt, which very Prominently has no Wings, therefore would be a better hint to the Riddle that Alleras is actually Sarella, a Person with 2 Cultures in her Heritage. That is very roughly my Theory about Azor ahai and who Azor Ahai could be. I also like the Theory you mentioned here that Rhaegar and Stannis just the first attempts of forging Lightbringer and therefore bringing Azor Ahai back into this World. It also seems something that GRRM would do.
Daenerys is clearly Azor Ahai. She drew a burning sword, Dragons. Her "Nyssa Nyssa" was Drogo, she killed him tobyet her dragons. I don't think that Azor Ahai and The Prince that was promised are the same people.
During Robert’s Rebellion Stannis learned from the Faceless Men, and then when Arya kills the Night King in Winds of Winter, she’ll remove her face to reveal that it was Stannis the Mannis all along, and then everyone claps.
This comment gave me life lol
Omg. That would have ALMOST redeemed season 8. Lol
This is my new favorite Theory
"Born among salt and smoke.. what is he, a ham?" - Renly Pillow-Biter Baratheon
One of my favorite show-only quotes in GoT.
Let's not forget that the flames did show to Melisandre that Stannis will be crucial in saving the world. She believes that means he's Azor Ahai, but while he's not, that doesn't mean he's not gonna be important against the Others anyway.
I think a fitting end for Stannis is to sacrifice himself in Winterfell to let run to the south once as much people as possible when the Others come. Stannis'character arc has been all about him struggling against "the end justifying the means", and specially the dilemma of sacrificing people for the greater good. In the end, once he finds out Shireen has been burned, I believe he will be a broken man that will only come back again to choose to actually sacrifice himself, and not other people, to buy time, to give his realm a chance to survive.
Stannis Baratheon is the most impressive battle commander alive in Westeros. His expertise will be invaluable for the wars to come. Jon, Aegon and Dany will be looking to him.
@@Jacaerys4life Yeah but they probably will look at him as an enemy. We all know Stannis. "Westeros only have one king". Both Dany and Aegon want the Iron Throne, so I can't see any sort of alliance with him, even with the Others coming. Neither Aegon nor Daenerys have any story/connection to the white walkers. I think only Jon (and possibly Bran) can help Stannis if he looks for a united Westeros against the Others.
@@mirayoquese8608 You're thinking of Stannis as he was before going to the North, he now knows where the real war is and that who sits upon the Iron Throne really doesn't matter. Stannis' current goal is to stabilize the North by ousting the treasonous Boltons, Freys and Ironborne, and returning Rickon and Shaggy to their home. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. Aegon uniting the south and Dany coming with dragons will only be seen as a blessing. Dany has had visions, Tyrion will vouch for Jon, and Stannis will bend the knee for the greater good if need be for Donal Noye had it wrong. Stannis is the true steel while Robert was iron.
Stannis is willing to bend, he let the free folk through the wall after defeating them in battle.
I really hope that's how it is
Stannis is just another cheap tragic character
Doesn’t matter if he’s Azor Ahai. He’s the one true king and he is actually making an effort to save the realm
Even if Stannis, our one true king is not Azor Ahai, he is still the one true king in Westeros.
That's a big big "if"
And in our hearts
the brother of a usurper. jon snow is the true king, the prince that was promised
An oathbreaker. That is who Jon Snow is.
@@Lonely_tylenol
Right of conquest. The dragon kings bled fire and it flared until they undid themselves.
At this stage of the game, Azor Ahai could be anyone from Mormont's Raven to Ser Robert Strong.
Lmao
Even Ser Pounce could be a candidate lol
@@edwinshaku47 “could be”. Pah. Everyone knows Ser Pounce is obviously Azor Ahai. In the show, he clearly skinchanged into Arya so he could use his cat reflexes to kill the Night King. Have you been paying attention?!?!?!?!
I just think based on Martin's writing style the charachter actively marketing himself as the chosen one is probably not going to be the actual chosen one. That's my bet.
Ditto, but I think the commonalities of both Rhaegar and Stannis doing that could hold meaning!
@@QuinnTheGM This is exactly why prophecies are so dangerous. Once they're out there, anyone with a bit of imagination can put a completely different spin on it. Beware the march of ideas. Or something.
@@nodiggity9472 Avoid any interpretation that seems to disproportionately benefit one person, especially if that person is the on that made the interpretation.
But in a twist Stannis doesn’t actually believe himself Azor Ahai or anything special. He just lets the red priest preach her sermon because she is a valuable ally
Stannis seems almost like John the Baptist in the Bible. He's intrinsically linked to the Messiah figure and important in preparing the world for their coming, powerful in his own right, and mistaken by many to *be* the Messiah. Ultimately, he isn't, but his role in the story is still very important.
Stannis isn't Azor Ahai. Making him Azor Ahai would be like making Jon's parents *actually* Ned and Wylla. It would be funny to see the chaos in the fandom and a good subversion of what everyone *thinks* will happen, but ultimately very narratively dissatisfying. The guy who's claimed to be Azor Ahai for 5 books is Azor Ahai? oh... ok...
But, I strongly believe that he is an important part of the true Azor Ahai's story. He will put a lot of the work in place for them to step up and take the mantle, intentionally or otherwise.
I believe Stannis will play an integral role in mankind's success in the Long Night pt2; but I think Lightbringer was unwittingly forged when Dany drew her sword from the flames by waking dragons from stone in the funeral pyre. George having Xaro Xhoan Daxos declare the dragons were "flaming swords" was too deliberate to be an accident. That sealed the deal for me. Daenerys is Lightbringer. I think Maester Aemon, in a roundabout way, was trying to communicate this when he said "the Sphinx is the riddle, not the riddler", then cursed his body for preventing him from getting to Dany.
Btw- Dany and Maester Aemon never getting to meet is one of the greatest tragedies in ASOIAF. They would've had the sweetest little relationship I think.
Aemons story in general is a tragic one, and its sad he never got to meet his (known) last living relative.
After book 5 and the reader learning that Mel is genuine in her belief that Stannis is the prophecied one, I had to rethink things. Such as why the flames would at some point show her Stannis. Well, had the flames shown her Jon she would've gone straight to the Wall and the Watch wouldve chased her off. Sending her to Stannis first embedded her in his court and thus allowed her to linger at the Wall. And by book 5 she's now frustrated since the flames are showing her Jon now and not Stannis. But no way Stannis is AA.
Melisandre sees true visions, but she's shit at interpretation. And mad as a carrot.
Its all bc she had to be involved with Stannis to go North and get to Jon, theres lots of circumstances around both of them and around her and jon. They are all parts of the prophecy. Rhaegar is failed AA 1, Stannis is failed AA 2, and Jon is the real AA but Melisandre has to give him her fire (her life) to bring him back. Perfectly lines up with the prophecy and that Mel is actually Nissa Nissa but instead of him killer her she sacrifices herself to bring him back and stop the Others.
It could also be the Fire is leading her along, like the bullet points on a GPS map.
Fire shows her Stannis, which gets her in a position of power to stick around, Stannish heads up North, where she stays, and now the Fire is showing Snow. Its giving her advice in stages, not immediately giving her the answers.
What comes next? Maybe if the book ever comes out we'll know.
Tinfoil - Lightbringer is Arya Stark
- Syrio tells her she is a sword
- Her forging process goes through water (the water dancing style) and lions (persecution by Lannister men)
- She will reach the third forging when hired to kill someone's true love (Jaime assassinating Cersei? Jon or Faegon assassinating Dany?)
- After this, she will kill the Night's King as spoiled by the show
And at the end of it all, she will ride into King's Landing on Tyrek Lannister
THAT’S who that white horse was in the Bells! 🤯
Stannis may not be Azor Ahai. But he is something better. The Mannis
He may not he Azor Ahai, but he's definitely gonna be important in the fight. I hope we may even see him come back as a fire wight and go deep into the lands of always winter to fight some Others
It would be cool if Rheagar actually was the one who was supposed to save the world but because of Robert's Rebellion the entire world is doomed and the series ends with the White Walkers freezing King's Landing.
I’m so happy I found your channel! Incredible content, please keep it up so I can keep coping with the fact that Winds is never coming
Dany fills the prophecies. She was born of the right line and she also woke dragons out of stone, sacrificing her love in the fire in the process. You can also consider the sword Lightbringer being a dragon.
Was going to say the same, she fits the prophecy almost perfectly.
Yeah but Azor Ahai sound like a villian
@Fika_Break A bit too perfectly for a GRRM story...
I always felt Noye's reference to Stannis breaking was related to Gendry talking about how Thoros lighting his sword with wildfire damaged it. To me, it felt like this could be foreshadowing Stannis' actual death. Because he's lit his sword on fire so many times that his sword is damaged. When he is in some battle, his sword breaks and he is slain.
Stannis's Lightbringer isn't actually on fire though, the book makes it very clear that it just radiates light but no real heat. Pretty sure the only time "Lightbringer" is actually lit on fire is the first ritual where Mel proclaims Stannis to be Azor Ahai and he draws the sword from the statue.
Azor Ahai is obviously Sir Pounce
Agreed, but I didn’t have the necessary 14 hours to break that particular theory down in a video.
Love the content man, been looking forward to this vid!
I do like the analogy of iron being broken down and purified to make steel. Stannis is the only character compared to iron. The story and the Azor Ahai propechy is simply the act of Stannis being broken and reforged into something harder and stronger.
I honestly kinda wish Stannis did turned out to be Azor Ahai, since he is the one person we are all sure that its not
I’ve always thought the concept of a double bluff would be awesome. Mel believes he is Azor Ahai, nobody else does including the readers. Yet, if he believes saving the world is his destiny, maybe he will fight ‘to the bitter end and then some’ to do so. He could be instrumental in defeating the Others, not because he is some prophesied hero, but because of his sheer will and belief that he is the one.
I was wondering - if Jamie would Drown Cersei, would this count as fulfilling all 3 prophecys at once to speedrun the prophecy?
....holy shit
Hot damn...all in one. Water, lion and lover. Deserved more attention to this comment.
@markhenzel4637 thank you, finally someone
Nobody in the story “is” Azor Ahai or Nissa Nissa, but several characters match the archetypes and are playing out their symbolic story. All the in-world mythologies are reflected in the characters and plot of ASOIAF. Lucifer Means Lightbringer (David Lightbringer) has done extensive analysis on the symbolic level of the saga.
What could be big mistake in interpreting these prophecies is assuming that Azor Ahai and the prince that was promised are the same person
The only character in the entire series that actually sent them self to the wall
I’m convinced that Azor Ahai is an archetype, not a singular character. In some sense Jon, Dany, Stannis, Tyrion and possibly others are all Azor Ahai.
He is the Azor Ahai of my heart, the one true king.
This was a great video!! Thanks so much!
10:19 another instance of metal breaking is when the Others shatter Royce’s sword in the prologue of AGOT. maybe foreshadowing Stannis being killed by them
no stannis must not be azor ahai but he will be crucial i think to unite the kingdoms against a greater threat from the walkers
"Back in those days, men as well as swords were made of finer steel" - The thoughts of Jaime Lannister
Men are compared to swords more than once
But not compared to swords breaking, the key element of the Lightbriger legend. I do love that quote though!
@@QuinnTheGM I know, just adding some evidence that george commonly compares men to swords. The making of light bringer personified as people is my new conclusion thanks to you. I previously only looked at it based on events, not people.
I really liked the idea of shireen being a dragon dreamer, sort of strengthening Stannis having more targ blood than his two brothers and thus making him rightful king and azor ahai
I'm convinced that there will be more than one "Azor Ahai"... its going to be moreso that "Azor Ahai" is a specific event or action or moment in time
Maybe the "three forgings" are the three people who think they're Azor Ahai - Rhaegar (dies in the Trident) "quenched in water", Stannis (beaten by Lannisters) "Quenched in the lion" and the true AA is Jon (who's already been responsible for killing his first love and maybe it doesn't bode well for Danny). Or maybe it means whatever you want it to mean! That would also fit with GRRM's writing.
A note on the Donal Noye quote, there's been a lot of argument that he got it wrong. The argument goes that Robert was the Copper in the story, putting on a good face but ultimately powerless by the end, Rely is the Iron, because he fields the largest force in westeros until he gets shadow baby'd, which means he's strong, but broke before he bent, while Stannis is the Steel, being strong and already showing he'll bend without giving up.
I feel like people give too much importance to noye's quote, a quote, might I add, that has been proven untrue even before we heard it. Do I need to remind everyone that there are very few people more broken than Robert Baratheon in the entire series?
Stannis is not Azor Ahai. Stannis is the Mannis.
If we go with the version of the prophecy which states Azor Ahai created light-bringer by sacrificing "his one true love" and not his wife, then Stannis still has potential to be azor ahai - only the glamoured blade he wields is definitely not light-bringer because "the mother" of the seven gods (from who's heart stannis drew the blade when he burnt her statue on dragonstone) was definitely not his one true love.
I personally think that in his life, the only people stannis ever truly loved were his parents, cressen and renly back when he was still his little brother and not the entitled spoiled brat he grew to be at the start of the story. But all those people are currently dead, and the only person that stannis loves who is still alive - aside from maybe davos - is without a dpubt and a second guess, shireen.
Should shireen be sacrificed, either by stannis or by mel to resurrect jon snow - a different jon snow than before, one who will be reanimated by r'Lohr's rite of the last kiss, and fuelled by the flame of the lord of light burning inside him then Stannis would serve as azor Ahai, sacrificing shireen, his truest love, to give life and creation to light-bringer, the sword of flame that would be jon snow
That’s a very cool take I never thought of
Love it man, keep it up
As Tywin Lannister once said - Any man who must say "I am the king" is no true king. That and Donal Noye's line about iron pretty much confirm that Stannis's cause is lost case and that he won't be around for much longer. At this point, I only hope that he will beat Boltons before he kicks the bucket.
Robert says a lot that he is the king in book one. Daenerys also with all her title and stuffs.
@@Orignal_Français And Robert wasn't exactly a good king and he was ultimately betrayed and killed by a pig.
Dany also struggles a lot in Mereen as she seems to be incapable of maintaining peaceful rule (despite her best intentions). We'll see what George has planned for her in the next book(s), but I doubt that her end will be a triumphant one.
Stannis being compared to Irom breaking before he bends is taken a bit out of context if you ask me. I think Noye just meant to say Stannis won't give up. Stannis bends constantly, in forgiving Davos, convertong religion, employing sellswords and working with the Watch. Stannis bends all the time, and hasn't quite broken (yet)
Stannis will always be Azor Ahai in our hearts
I honestly have been bamboozled so many times with these books so the hero that was promised might as well be sir pounce
Anyone else have the theory that the original Azor Ahai, or great hero, may actually be the founder of House Dayne? Hear me out, What is Lightbringer, what brings the light after a long night? The dawn. As in the sword Dawn perhaps? Making the one worthy enough to wield Dawn become the Sword of the Morning perhaps this goes back all the way to the days of the Long Night.
After all, House Dayne is ancient, with roots purported to go back to the First Men…
I think Azor Ahai's legend is a metaphor - he didn't really think of sticking his sword on the heart of a lion, but I do think his loved one died as a result of the games they were playing to try and save the world. Also, I do believe that Azor Ahai is three people, but it won't be a single magical sword that brings back the dawn - rather, it will be what those three people bring to the table: armies, dragons, dragonglass.
I think it's clear that the night king is a reference to the night man cometh, making stannis the dayman
And yet we’ve never seen him do karate, nor encourage friendship for everyone
I don’t know. GRRM is going to have a hard time topping the story of Stannis from what Dumb and Dumber presented on the show.
Now that’s sarcasm!
Honestly his death scene might be my least favorite cinematography in the entire show. It’s such a weird shot and I hate that they completely cut away from the actual death, even further robbing it of what little impact it might’ve had.
Absolutely beautiful transposition of myth and real time
He might not be the books azor ahai, but hes my prince that was promised
As to what happens when struck with light bringer Stannis quite literally tells us the sword is nothing but regular steel as he comments on how he used it on the blackwater
Which btw implies Stannis Directly participated in the fighting
the last time Stannis didn't have Mel to kill his enemies to avoid a battle, he lost the Blackwater and most of his army the next time I believe his mistake will be more personally fatal.
Didn't George already say that the titular "Ice and Fire" are the Walkers and Daenerys? Not saying she is Azor Ahai, but "being the song of ice and fire" really helps to say Jon is.
what is he, a ham?
I feel like the NW's vow is something that'll matter. "I am the sword in the darkness... I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn" is something that always struck me as fitting the prophecy that I feel goes unnoticed, as it refers to a person as both a sword and "the light that brings the dawn".
Assuming Shireen burns, I could see it as means of ressurection for Jon that'll be the Nissa Nissa (he hates his wife lol), and Jon is Lightbringer.
On another note, what are your thoughts on the theory that Nissa Nissa was Azor Ahai's dragon, and Lightbringer was just a normal VS Sword? By extension this is a theory on how VS is made.
My hope is that Stannis just makes the Whitewalkers go back to bed and the books just focus on the political and southern aspects. I don't particularly care for the White Walkers.
100%
I understand not caring for them, but that doesn’t seem like the story GRRM is going for.
The White Walkers are supposed to be an existential threat, something humanity has to deal with by putting aside the political squabbling in order for their to be any future at all. They aren’t a problem that’ll just go away due to one person, it’s something everyone has to contribute to, otherwise there won’t be anyone left.
@@nicodemusedwards6931 I get what he’s going for, I just don’t care. I don’t care about them or the Freefolk, I’m mostly interested in the political drama and magic stuff.
@@niofalpha but the Others are magic and are deeply connected to the magic of the world. How can you say you care about the magic but disregard an inherently magical force?
@@niofalpha then read different books
Is Stannis focusing on freeing the north and stopping the threat of white walkers??
I feel as though rhaegar was the Prince that was promised.
The sword story is a metaphor
He stuck his metaphorical sword in lyanna she gives birth to Jon and dies (Jon is light bringer in human form)
I think the real Azor Ahai was the friends we made along the way.
Great video, could the being born from a certain bloodline mean that the actions of someone of a certain bloodline result in the birth of lightbringer. Not of their blood but by that bloodline's actions. Or something like that
Since you're going to be doing more Stannis material (and there's never enough discussion about him), there's a couple of things that I'd like to know your thoughts on.
In the books, he is usually associated with iron and steel. But his name is likely derived from stannum, the ore from which tin is obtained. Is George trying to tell us something about him by choosing that name?
Stannis seems to be a man of moral absolutes. If something is wrong, it is wrong regardless of circumstances. Yet he appears to change his attitude toward starving men eating their dead. Stannis haters seize on this as hypocrisy. Why do you think his view on the matter changed?
I wish Battletech was written this well.
What always interested me about Donal Noyes metaphor about the baratheons is that roberts hubris was worse than stannis. True steel never seemed to fit him he was too unwilling to govern or hear anyone out
Stannis could totally actually be Azor Ahai if he sacrifices Shireen, which in some way brings Jon Snow back, him being Lightbringer.
Jon is the light that brings the dawn.
I wonder if somehow Jon Snow will be “born amid salt and smoke” when he gets wighted and reborn. But then again Jon could have been born in a place that already fits the prophecy since we don’t know where he was born.
When he’s killed at the end of Dance, his wounds smoke and several of his sworn brothers are crying salty tears.
Davos is azor ahai, he almost dies in the battle of black water but he re awakens amongst salt from the sea and smoke from the burning ships, he will forge light bringer by stabbing stannis through his heart
Not sure why it would happen but if Stannis sacrifices Shireen to bring Jon back to life that would be waking a dragon from stone. This would make Stannis Azor Ahai & Jon Lightbringer.
I keep thinking that the burning sword isn't a literal sword. It's a weapon! That weapon I believe was the dragons.
Moonboy is Azor Ahai
wait, what happened to my original comment? Where did it go?
I left a comment here not too long ago, and it got deleted. I didn't even say anything mean about the video. Why was it deleted?
I have never deleted a comment, I have no idea. I’ve had comments get weird because of my internet connection, could be that? Idk though
@@QuinnTheGM That's fine. Please excuse my rude comment earlier. It was just that I wrote a rather lengthy comment that involved my previous comment on a poll you made involving the 5-year gap. You told me to DM you over on Twitter to discuss the subject matter even further. I sadly do not have a Twitter account, so was unable to leave a message on your Twitter homepage. I did, however, respond to that original comment you made. I suggest you revisit that old text to review my response. that is, if your still interested in making the Vaegon Theory. If not, that's fine. I was just waiting for a response, but none came. In that same comment thread, I offered my services as a freelance artist to offer you some custom ASOIAF art that can only be found on your channel. If you wish to look into this further, I recommend you revisit the old text messages over on the 5-year gap poll you made.
Sidenote: Great job on the video! Love me some Stannis content!
Most Stannis could ride a dragon
Too many stannis simps, Jon con is gonna have to deal with all of you, and restore the one true king
stannis burning shireen would definitely be a azor ahai killing nissa nissa parallel. But yeah i dont think he is the prince that was promised, whatever that means
Azor Ahai is behind me, isn’t he?
The dragon has 3 heads. Dany, Jon, Aegon. Links to the azor ahai prophecy
what if jon could really be azor ahai and in the winds of winter he has to plunge his sword into daenerys? i'd be fine with that
Yes he is (i am exteremly biased).
The way I see it, it does not add up to the fact that Rlhor turns his back on Stannis Baratheon, who has been his champion and the most prolific leader of his cult in Westeros, to support the political claim of two people (Jon and Daenerys) who hasn't done anything for him in exchange, and who won't probably pledge to his cult. Jon Snow will never leave behind his belief in the Old Gods! Despite any prophecy, everyone must recognize that Azor Ahai was just a man (without any Valyrian connection) with a high sense of duty and a deep engagement to protect the world; the only one who fits this prophecy is Stannis the Mannis.
I kind of like the idea of subverting expectations by not subverting them at all. Like everyone thinks it's so obvious that the Stannimal isn't Azor Ahai that the greatest twist is that he actually is.
Well that or no one is AA and Stannis is by default of having done the most to stop the Others.
I haven't watched the video yet, but I have a general problem with this question in general. So many people treat this like it's a standard fantasy story where prophecies are always real and always come true, if not necessarily in the way people expect them to.
I don't think that's how Martin sees things. He's essentially writing a fantasy story with real world rules. It's things like how you can interpret passages the Bible in a thousand different ways or how some of the Gospels tell the same stories with different emphasis and POV. ASOIAF has no omniscient narrator it's all prejudiced by each POV character. Prophecies can be BS or events can be squeezed to fit them, even if language has to be mangled or ignored to suit the interpretation (see Nostradamus). People even make up new ones and attribute them to a long dead "prophet".
I don't think Azor Ahai will definitively be any one character in the end because the vagueness will always be open to interpretation. Just look at the legend in the story. Did he plunge an actual sword into his wife or did he impregnate her? Then there's the fact that in the real world Lucifer means Lightbringer.
I dont think the last hero and azor ahai are the same people.
Jamie Lannister is Azor Ahai
What if John js light brighter and “Stannis” revise John through his prophesied stone dragon princesses, so Stannis wields John and sacrifices himself or somfing close to him, part way through the vid he pry said this
If Lord Roose Bolton is a skinchanging chameleon, I believe he will skin Walda and take her place when King Stannis takes Winterfell.
Hope Jon is azor and George didn't change his story just becuase it's Been analysed and broken down and predicted for 10 years
So when Jon kills Dany (Nissa Nissa), he will be Lightbringer?
That’s my thought. Though perhaps he won’t spontaneously combust.
What if Jon Snow Shadowbabies Stannis. I can see this happening if Stannis refuses to give up Winterfell.
Stannis is already death he just doesn't know it.
Jon, Stannis and Dany are all Azor Ahai. The Dragon has 3 heads guys.
He is not Azor Ahai, he is the true king of Westeros, it is his... by right!
Born amidst smoke and salt? Is he a ham?
I always thought Martin made his opinion about Prophecies known in the Quote of Arcmaester Marwyn, that being:
„Gorghan of Old Ghis once wrote that a prophecy is like a treacherous woman. She takes your member in her mouth, and you moan with the pleasure of it and think, how sweet, how fine, how good this is . . . and then her teeth snap shut and your moans turn to screams. That is the nature of prophecy, said Gorghan. Prophecy will bite your prick off every time.“
Given the fact that both Rhaegar and Aemon thought that there must be three Heads, so there must be three People who are the Song of Ice and Fire to bring the Prophecy into reality, I and some other People think that could relate to something different, maybe these three Heads are not only the saviours from the Others, but also the Problems that are currently the main Problems in Westeros. That being:
1. The Food Problem, there isn't enough or at least not equally shared Food something Littlefinger plans to take advantage of in "The Winds of Winter"-Sample Chapter from Alayne.
2. The forgotten Knowledge and the lack of preservation of Knowledge, more than once we see People read or talk about Knowledge, not to forget the "North Remembers" which they don't do or at least only Partially
3. The Leadership Problem (a.k.a. Monarchy and inheriting the seat of Power, which is a problem in itself) which is the thing the whole War of the Five Kings is about.
And if you think of it we get more than once 3 things or three Things in One that is mentioned, for example:
1. In the Legend of Azor Ahai there are 3 Main Components that end the first Long Night that being, Azor Ahai who forges Lightbringer with the sacrifice of Nissa Nissa, we have 1. The Smith, second the Weapon and 3. the Sacrifice of a Wive. 3 Things for or against one Long Night.
2. Three Heads in one Dragon ... on one Dragon? Which is said to represent Aegon and his Sister Wives, so we have 1. the King, 2. A Warrior and 3. A Wive who dies during the War with Dorne. 3 Things to unite the Seven Kingdoms under one Throne. Important to note the Death of Rhaenys is a main Component of why the War against Dorne ended at that point in History.
When Aemon mentioned a Sphinx that is the Riddle and not the Riddler, a Creature that is 3 in one, why not translate that on the other Occassions of three in One? Especially when the only Non-Targaryen-Character that mentions the Phrase the Dragon has 3 Heads, is called Sphinx, but has only 2 Cultures in himself combined? Furthermore, why should Aemon who doesn't know Alleras refer to him as a Riddle? If the Sphinx is a Riddle, a Creature that is three Creatures in one Combined, maybe it refers to 3 Heads on one Dragon so may three People against the Others, which Aemon and Rhaegar believed to be the Case.
If that is the case maybe the Sphinx and its mentioned Components are a Hint of who the three People are, that will be Azor Ahai in modern days. Especially when Martin had to mention and describe the Sphinx because most modern Readers think of the Sphinx in Egypt, which very Prominently has no Wings, therefore would be a better hint to the Riddle that Alleras is actually Sarella, a Person with 2 Cultures in her Heritage.
That is very roughly my Theory about Azor ahai and who Azor Ahai could be.
I also like the Theory you mentioned here that Rhaegar and Stannis just the first attempts of forging Lightbringer and therefore bringing Azor Ahai back into this World. It also seems something that GRRM would do.
No, but I sure hope GRRM doesn't do him dirty, like they did in the TV show.
what if Jon is Nissa Nissa
Stannis is the best
Rhaegar died at the Trident ( water tha
Azor aByeeee
"ASOIAF" is Jon Snow no doubt
And another tragic story
Tbf maestor Aemon isn't perfect to recognize who is azor Ahai
Daenerys is clearly Azor Ahai. She drew a burning sword, Dragons.
Her "Nyssa Nyssa" was Drogo, she killed him tobyet her dragons.
I don't think that Azor Ahai and The Prince that was promised are the same people.
Nah I see bran