The actress portraying Alys Rivers delivers an outstanding performance, skillfully embodying the character with depth and nuance. Her ability to match Matt Smith’s on-screen presence is particularly impressive, showcasing her talent and elevating their scenes together. Her portrayal of the mysterious, magical, and eerie witch is captivating, making her a breakout star and a standout in the series.
That almost certainly is Larys's bed Daemon is sleeping in. We know it's an old bed, as it's made of a weirwood and thus may even date back to the building of Harrenhal, which suggests it belongs to someone important. The room is also clearly that of a high-ranking person, based on its size and massive doors, but it's not the room of Lord Lyonel or his heir Harwin. Harwin's room (and bed) burned along with him, while Lyonel's bed had a distinctive arched headboard, so Daemon's is definitely not either of those. Given that Lyonel and Harwin seemed completely ordinary, perhaps they didn't like the creepy weirwood bed and let Larys take it instead. Presumably Simon gave the temperamental prince the best room they had on offer in this wretched damp castle, which one could assume is the bedroom of the absent lord they despise - it must be kept up in case Larys visits unexpectedly, so it's available on short notice when Daemon arrives in the middle of the night. Also, letting one of the main enemies of the Greens sleep in Lord Larys's bed would be quite the sign of disrespect toward Larys and emphasize to Daemon "you are our lord now". So Larys was likely raised in a weirwood bed in a weirwood-infused castle by a woods witch who hands out weirwood juice nightcaps like it's warm milk.
He seems to be totally aware of what's happening to Daemon, though. I think they might be in cahoots. I think Larys is loyal to *destruction* more than anything else. Plus, if she *were* his wetnurse, she eats weirwood paste all the time and that could possibly give them a telekinetic connection. SHE could be using Larys as a kind of Golem!
@@GeeNoniGee Maybe both Larys and Alys aren't loyal to destruction, but to the Old Gods and the children of the Forest. All part of the overarching plan to reclaim Westeros from humans, which ultimately will result in Bran seizing power as their vessel.
Could everything that Alys is doing be setting up a blood sacrifice to the old gods? That sacrifice being two Targaryen princes and two dragons. Over the god’s eye, the island of faces. All old gods links. She’s the one who’s steering these two to fight and die in this old gods place. Sounds like a sacrifice to me.
Considering that she supposedly sees the future, and let's Aemond come and fight regardless, yes, total set up. There is no greater power than a Valyrian blood sacrifice. If she's really 400 years old like the actress implied then this might be her way of harnessing the power of the old gods to get a living child and wake dragons of her own.
Я предполагаю, что ее цель передать свою магию роду Таргариенов для битвы с королем Ночи. И она сделает это. Выдаст своего сына от Эймонда за младшего сына Рейниры Визериса, которого все считали погибшим. Таким образом Джон и Дейенерис получили свою магию, побеждающую смерть в огне и от кинжала.
I agree, this is definitely her castle. The very first scene she just walks in, while everyone else is bending the knee to Daemon. My first thought was she is a ghost that only Daemon can see.
I think this point was brought up in today's after the episode live stream. It wasn6 am, so my memories are fuzzy, but I think the Magician said that there was somebody else who interacted with Alys, so Daemon isn’t the only one seeing her. Repeat, it was 6 am and can’t remember when that interaction was, but I trust that it's correct. Otherwise, half the time she does seem like an apparition, with people only looking in her direction if they notice Daemon gawking. It's definitely played like that intentionally by the showrunners, and I love it!
When Ser Simon Strong brings Daemon news of the Brackens, Alys fades into the background of Simon, even though it seems like Simon looks at her as he walks in. This has me definitely thinking she's a Ghost.
Yes, a ghost I think. Two people glanced in her direction but ALWAYS AFTER they noticed Deamon staring in that direction. It's a normar reaction...what's he looking at? Nothing..oh well...we won't interogate HIM on that. Let him stare at nothing :-) if he wishes.
I like the idea of Daemon being tortured by his past and ambitions. So that when Aemond says to him "its time you died nuncle". His "on that we both agree" hits a little harder.
That's exactly why they're doing it. The show needs to add details and character motivations to the story while also using the lore of the world to build more intrigue. You can tell the showrunners care for the source material. Look at Harenhaal in GoT, we had Arya, Gendry, Tywin, Roose, Jaime, Brienne, Jaqen, Robb, Catelyn appear their and not once did anything mystical happen despite being next to a place called the gods eye. The show has taken full advantage of it's characters, plot, location and lore which is all a fan of the books can ask for. The chefs kiss is that this is happening to Daemon of all people. They could have swapped things and had Rhaenyra or Jace go there and experience this supernatural stuff instead but to put this on Daemon who is so against visions and resents Viserys for it is perfect writing.
@alanpennie I don't think he wants the power of being king, but the validation of being "the better man" and admiration. I don't think he's thought it through to the point where he realizes the true responsibility of the throne.
@@Clint52279 like alot of younger brothers i think its not that he does or doesn't want it. Its simply a manifestation of the jealousy we hold for our older brothers often. If you look up to your brother at all you'll always kinda naturally want to be them in a certain way. Daemon is getting a taste of what his brother dealt with and realizes its not the crown he wanted. But the love and respect his brother seemed to so naturally get out of everyone around him.
I think that they're in on it together. Or, nursing him on milk full of weirwood paste, she could be using Larys as a Golem, controlling him to make him do her bidding.
hm i think it's more like larys helped start the ball rolling for the dance and alys is on the other end connecting the loose pieces where they ought to go
Helena drew an owl on her walls even Daenerys Targaryen being immune to fire with her arms raised. Dany's dragon dreams come true! She told the Spice king of Qarth. I'm no ordinary woman My dreams come true.
@@christophertracy7136 did anyone notice there was a barn owl drawn specifically next to the rat king picture in the after the episode blurb about helaena? I haven't watched the video yet, apologies if it was brought up
i think its interesting that damon doesnt confront alys. he is never like "WHAT WAS IN THAT POTION YOU WITCH! YOU POISONED ME!", when in that same episode he wont eat peas for fear of poison. he is just rolling with it. having casual conversations where he just accepts that she can know whats happening far away, not mentioning that she drugged him. i think he knows its real magic, and is curious and hoping he can use it to gain more power, but is probably in over his head and wont get exactly what he wanted.
I think he is not questioning the potions and spell craft because he can't. That is a part of the spell. He doesn't see it as potentially harmful rather basic food stuff. He is delusional and somewhat thirsty for the potion. It has an addictive quality to it.
It’s interesting that both old nan and alys were wet nurses. They say poison is a woman’s method..:that they have such intense control over what babies eat. Maybe that’s how bloodraven has managed to seed greenseers?
I did have a section on her being a wet nurse, I cut it for time but I did talk about how she's creating connections between herself and all the Strongs.
That is such an interesting theory because Jon Snow and the young Edric Danyne shared a wetnurse and both of those have important roles in the story (or at least I think Edric is going to become more important in the later books)
16:33 I think that she knows everything going on with Daemon because Larys is her SPY. I think she nursed him on weirwood-infused milk, and it gives them a telekinetic connection (ww juice being a kind of fungus, appearantly). She is effectively using him as a kind of puppet/Golem, either to destabilize the realm (for the Children Of the Forest), OR to do whatever is best for her *own* survival. I'm sure in that world, she'd prefer to be an Owl rather than single woman of no means, and would use whatever powers she did have to make her own life better. She's clever, that Alys!
I don't believe Larys is her spy. He wouldn't need to recruit the prisoners and cut out their tongues when he killed his father and brother. Larys is his own agent that has made himself indispensible to the greens by bloodying the hands of them with his actions but still getting results.
She's definitely a warg and a greenseer. To me that's way cooler than being a ghost or 400 year old witch. Whatever it turns out to be, fantastic character, creepy and seemingly omniscient... Very cool
Whoa. I watched this immediately after articulating a headcanon that Larys hates Harrenhal, as I hadn't known that Needham already confirmed it. Along with whatever supernatural stuff and human bigotry Larys might have experienced there, the cold, wet, humongous mess of towers, huge rooms, and labyrinthine passages must have been awful for him to grow up in as someone for whom walking has always been difficult and painful.
14:31 I don’t necessarily think the dreams are sent to show what Daemon is supposed to do, they’re manifestations of what he already wants taken to extremes, possibly to show how he’s going wrong. Showing him that killing your way to power is bad right before a meeting with someone who would be mortally offended by the concept might have been a warning that he just ignored because he believes he’s always right.
I don't know if anybody remembers a show called "Fringe", but they had this mysterious guy that would always show up in the background of important scenes to observe them. I've thought it would have been interesting if HotD always had a Bran hidden in the background of a single scene in each episode.
The more time goes on the more I hope for a remake of ASOIAF in animation to allow for the more mystical and fantastical elements of the books to be shown off. Things like Old Nan's stories and the visions of Jamie Bran and Dany would be amazing in a dark animation style and it would be incredible to see done book accurate while also fully adapting the books. HOTD makes me sad sometimes as it ventures too far from the books to my liking.
First of all, they won't do anything like that until the books are done. That is never going to happen. I don't want them to start again only to pass the books again. One of the things I love about the shows, at least at first, is that the fantasy elements are far in the background. I don't really care much for fantasy most of the time. These shows have a good balance for me. Also, I read Fire and Blood, and I honestly prefer the show. With how close Martin worked on it, I'm totally cool with the changes they've made. If he approves, so do I.
Wouldn't it be ironic if the "secret ingredient" in Daemons weirwood smoothie (not thick enough to call it a paste) came from Harwin Strong. Alys could have been there at the time of the fire, right?
In /The Witch/, Ronald Hutton devotes a pretty large section to the associations between witchcraft and owls in European and Mediterranean culture, going basically as far back as we have records. Even the scientific name for owls, even still, is the same word as as that of a malicious spirit or type of witch.
One idea you did not expand on is that Alys might be related to Danelle Lothston - I would like to hear your thoughts on in! :) The parallels are pretty obvious: Both resided in Harrenhal, both are said to bath in human blood to preserve their youth, and both are linked to skinchanging, with Danelle being implied to warg into giant bats. Knowing now that Alys is pretty old, could she have just disguised as Danelle?
You forgot 'a simple-minded slattern, according to Eustace' hahaha...I can't with these terms, they make me laugh. Simple-minded slattern...wtf lol! And hey..I LOVE how Alys walks like someone who doesn't know how to use their 'human body'. SO on point.
Alys seems to be aligned with the old gods and CotF so the question is what do they want out of this civil war? If it’s the prince that was promised then wouldn’t they know he or she would come from D and R line?
Alys reminds of both mellisandra and kinvara! The way she moves her head and the way she speaks (not her accent) reminds me how she spoke to varys! And the way melisandra told varys i have to die in this strange country... Just like you! It seems like almost all the different kind of magical things are basically the same, just with smaller differences here and there!
Such a great breakdown!! I am in total agreement with you & have caught all of these clues. @ 23:00 (around about that timestamp) Remember how uncle Benjen gave Bran the rabbits blood before he came across the wall? Blood sacrifice??....
I’m convinced she’s a ghost. Not only is Daemon the only character who interacts with her, but he’s seemingly the only person who can see her. She was probably a Druid of the old gods who died a long time ago, whose soul got tied to the weirwood trees, and now haunts Harrenhal even before it was built.
Daemon isn't the only one that sees her, the old man told him that she went to go help with the Lord, and that is how the little boy became the leader that Daemon needed to bring everyone together.
@@JoeMagician They've name dropped you twice on their Dragon Talk episodes. They get so stoked for you when Old Gods magic, warging, etc is nodded to in HOTD!
I think the sleeping draft is a paste of ground Wheirwood leaves to promote Green Dreams, but he and everyone around him, aside from Ayls just think he's cracking up. Last eps he FINALLY asks for her counsel. I hope She will now begin her instruction. So he can prevent his self-destruction and death at Herronhal.
@@pyramidion5911 I could see where you’re coming from that they’re both magical women who influence men of power but for me personally Mel has the least comparisons Alys magic seems very old gods whereas Mel is rhallor and against the old gods - I’d actually compare her with the ghost of high hart before Melisandre.
I love Alys Rivers! More scenes between her and Daemon. Since her first appearance she's been a very interesting character ( I haven't read Fire and Blood yet ). He's also sleeping on a bed made from Heart Tree wood. Did she give him a Weirwood paste drink?
Whatever may be the case in the books, on the show, the only person who ever acknowledges her existence is Daemon. She never talks with, touches, or interacts with any other character. It's as if she only exists in Daemon's mind. Why might that be?
kinda strange how she shows basically no respect to daemon. he wouldnt let any1else talk 2 him like that and he seems to respect her consule. he knows she's dangerous
Has anyone other than Daemon interacted with her in the series? I think it would be a really cool development if we eventually find out she is a ghost.
Even when she walks past Simon, she kinda just disappears. We don't see her interact with anyone. Simon looks in her direction as she walks past him in the last episode but doesn't seem to look at her directly.
Are we sure that everyone can see her? I can't recall her actually interacting with anyone else, although I never thought to pay attention. I'm going to go back and watch her episodes.
Larys told Aegon last episode when he arrived into the world with his club foot, his father accused someone in their household of sorcery. Could that someone have been Alys or his mistress Alys’s mother?
I don't like that they just told us Alys is 400 years old. It's like they watched people make theories for over a decade about Melisandre and we're like, let's ruin that for Alys. It would be one thing if the show hinted at it or pointed to such an idea but no they just tell us outside of the story. My guess is the story doesn't go that deep into her story they know this and want people into the character anyways. They want the points for a cool character without writing an actually cool character. I shouldn't have to be told extra stuff she should just be interesting on her own.
@RussellB I'm open to that interpretation but it really feels like when Tom Holland 'slips up' and 'accidentally' says something he 'wasn't' supposed to.
Dudes freaking out over the show giving us a huge hint that book readers should be drooling over. You guys still don't realize by now that Nymeria is the main character!??? "There are other ways to fight a war"... connect the dots and read the lore people.
did they abandon the oddly youthful appearance for alys? [*spoilers ahead*: last episode she made a comment to daemon that it's a shame he never knew his mother, that could be interpreted as her having at one point met daemon's mother]
Im starting to believe, Daemon and Alys are in Harrenal alone... Everything he see, does is through visions, besides repairing the castle but I think he is physically doing that alone... She's manipulating him through sight, abusing him, if you will...
Blood magic being the most powerful, what sort of ritual does this Witch construct, to reap the bloody death of two dragons, and two princes af Valaryan descent?
I feel like Alys and Old Nan especially line up with the new gods archetypes, they are the embodiment of the Crone. Every character in ASOIAF lines up with one or more of those archetypes but usually it's just the one.
I like Jojen paste, but I have been rethinking it. I don't know how they would preserve it, but what if the blood is not Jojen's, but Blood Ravens? King's Blood. Drinking King's Blood.
Strange thing is, we never see anyone else interact with Alyce…my theory is that she’s just a figment of Daemon’s imagination & no one else can see her. That or she’s a ghost.
18:40 i believe that`s a Stag,i also thought at first glance twas a rat....but if you look closely you can see huge horns coming out its head. So maybe it hints at House Baratheon,but why ?
Alys is definitely the "proprietor" of Harrenhal. She's clearly using Weirwood/Old Gods style magick, not the fire magick of R'hollar, nor the Shadowbinding magicks of Asshai. Larys is 1000% aware of her presence, and seems deeply disturbed by his memories of growing up at Harrenhal. I think Alys is aware of Larys, and Larys stays away because Alys' magick is WAY stronger than whatever skin-changing, warging, or greenseeing Larys may be capable of. That's why he's so confident in telling Aegon that the castle is, "more crippled than himself", and even Aemond agrees it's a good mooring point, keeping Daemon and Caraxes in one place. Alys may be one of the most powerful individuals in the story, in regards to magick, and being able to directly influence events in the Riverlands.
18:20.. possibly skinchangers can change between animals and different humans too. Passing on knowledge and skills to fresh bodies. Indeed, perhaps another figure is warging alys and animals there. Buried in the weurwood roots of the castle.
She is specifically haunting Daemon, and not the other's although I'm sure Simon knows of her existence as you mention. She placed herself there waiting on Daemon and ran off the Maester. If there were a Maester she couldn't offer her potions and advice. Naturally Daemon would council with the Maester (I'd think). It's as if she is steering from her end, and Larys is steering from his end to ensure the outcome so that the prophecy will happen.
I have a chimney in my house which has a metal sheet blocking the hole then an electric fire in front and last week a barn owl found it’s way down my chimney (like other birds have). So I move the fire, unscrew the metal cover and open my windows and French doors and unlike the other birds (crows, magpies, pigeons and doves) I’ve had before the owl didn’t want to come out, so I waited until dusk and it flew out then. I’ve gone up on my roof and covered the top so air can come/go but birds can’t get in anymore
I have an insane theory on why she is doing what she is doing and why and need someone to talk to about it. I think Alys Rivers with what we are getting from HotD and assuming the claims of her being in some degree magic are true. I believe she might be either Alys Harrowway or one of her sisters. Alys was considered to be a witch during Maegors rule and so where her sisters (three sisters witch trope). She was falsely accused of Sleeping with 20 men and 18 of those men confessed under duress. 2 died in torture. After which it is stated that she and her sisters were killed by Maegor. But Maegors reign is probably the most easily contestable part of fire and blood. Especially in the details of events. Mainly because of the main conflict being between Maegor and the exact people who are writing the histories, maesters, septons, and possibly house Hightower. Alys rivers was known to be a wet nurse to House Strong and is rumored to have been around since Lyonel Strong was a baby and was known to be around since Larys Strong was a baby. Considering Alys’ possible age of being over 100 years old I have a theory that would befit someone of that status and stature. Maegor and Tyanna had cursed Alys Harrowway by using her two sisters as a blood sacrifice. This curse was that she would bear a child once for every period. This period is defined by her marriage with Maegor (which was probably a little less than or at 5 years) There will be 18 stillborn births (or 17) depending how the timeline works out. This would give us a period of about 85-90 years. Of her bearing stillborn children. From 44AC which would end between 129-134 AC. Which is when the Dance of the Dragons happens and she bears a child with Aemond Targaryen. The blank period of 28 years was her enacting her vengeance on House Targaryen. Likely using her powers to Cause the Dance in the first place.
I believe that the Harrowways are actually the descendants of one of the saltwives of Harren Hroare that saltwife being one of the daughters of Agnes Blackwood.
The actress who portrays her is just so good isn’t she?!
I agree.
The actress portraying Alys Rivers delivers an outstanding performance, skillfully embodying the character with depth and nuance. Her ability to match Matt Smith’s on-screen presence is particularly impressive, showcasing her talent and elevating their scenes together. Her portrayal of the mysterious, magical, and eerie witch is captivating, making her a breakout star and a standout in the series.
That almost certainly is Larys's bed Daemon is sleeping in. We know it's an old bed, as it's made of a weirwood and thus may even date back to the building of Harrenhal, which suggests it belongs to someone important. The room is also clearly that of a high-ranking person, based on its size and massive doors, but it's not the room of Lord Lyonel or his heir Harwin. Harwin's room (and bed) burned along with him, while Lyonel's bed had a distinctive arched headboard, so Daemon's is definitely not either of those. Given that Lyonel and Harwin seemed completely ordinary, perhaps they didn't like the creepy weirwood bed and let Larys take it instead.
Presumably Simon gave the temperamental prince the best room they had on offer in this wretched damp castle, which one could assume is the bedroom of the absent lord they despise - it must be kept up in case Larys visits unexpectedly, so it's available on short notice when Daemon arrives in the middle of the night. Also, letting one of the main enemies of the Greens sleep in Lord Larys's bed would be quite the sign of disrespect toward Larys and emphasize to Daemon "you are our lord now".
So Larys was likely raised in a weirwood bed in a weirwood-infused castle by a woods witch who hands out weirwood juice nightcaps like it's warm milk.
Owls eat rats, which makes me think that Larys is afraid of Alys, and he works against her
He seems to be totally aware of what's happening to Daemon, though. I think they might be in cahoots. I think Larys is loyal to *destruction* more than anything else.
Plus, if she *were* his wetnurse, she eats weirwood paste all the time and that could possibly give them a telekinetic connection.
SHE could be using Larys as a kind of Golem!
❤❤l❤l0❤❤@@GeeNoniGee
nice
@@GeeNoniGee Maybe both Larys and Alys aren't loyal to destruction, but to the Old Gods and the children of the Forest. All part of the overarching plan to reclaim Westeros from humans, which ultimately will result in Bran seizing power as their vessel.
I was just thinking the same thing.
Could everything that Alys is doing be setting up a blood sacrifice to the old gods?
That sacrifice being two Targaryen princes and two dragons.
Over the god’s eye, the island of faces.
All old gods links.
She’s the one who’s steering these two to fight and die in this old gods place.
Sounds like a sacrifice to me.
This makes the most sense to me.
Considering that she supposedly sees the future, and let's Aemond come and fight regardless, yes, total set up. There is no greater power than a Valyrian blood sacrifice. If she's really 400 years old like the actress implied then this might be her way of harnessing the power of the old gods to get a living child and wake dragons of her own.
@@TheaTheGenius 🤔 I like it
Я предполагаю, что ее цель передать свою магию роду Таргариенов для битвы с королем Ночи. И она сделает это. Выдаст своего сына от Эймонда за младшего сына Рейниры Визериса, которого все считали погибшим. Таким образом Джон и Дейенерис получили свою магию, побеждающую смерть в огне и от кинжала.
@@МашаКошелева-ь7оI like this theory!
I agree, this is definitely her castle. The very first scene she just walks in, while everyone else is bending the knee to Daemon. My first thought was she is a ghost that only Daemon can see.
I think this point was brought up in today's after the episode live stream. It wasn6 am, so my memories are fuzzy, but I think the Magician said that there was somebody else who interacted with Alys, so Daemon isn’t the only one seeing her. Repeat, it was 6 am and can’t remember when that interaction was, but I trust that it's correct. Otherwise, half the time she does seem like an apparition, with people only looking in her direction if they notice Daemon gawking. It's definitely played like that intentionally by the showrunners, and I love it!
When Ser Simon Strong brings Daemon news of the Brackens, Alys fades into the background of Simon, even though it seems like Simon looks at her as he walks in. This has me definitely thinking she's a Ghost.
She is veiling herself from time to time?
NICE TOUCH, THAT!
Yes, a ghost I think. Two people glanced in her direction but ALWAYS AFTER they noticed Deamon staring in that direction. It's a normar reaction...what's he looking at? Nothing..oh well...we won't interogate HIM on that. Let him stare at nothing :-) if he wishes.
I like the idea of Daemon being tortured by his past and ambitions. So that when Aemond says to him "its time you died nuncle". His "on that we both agree" hits a little harder.
That's exactly why they're doing it. The show needs to add details and character motivations to the story while also using the lore of the world to build more intrigue. You can tell the showrunners care for the source material. Look at Harenhaal in GoT, we had Arya, Gendry, Tywin, Roose, Jaime, Brienne, Jaqen, Robb, Catelyn appear their and not once did anything mystical happen despite being next to a place called the gods eye. The show has taken full advantage of it's characters, plot, location and lore which is all a fan of the books can ask for. The chefs kiss is that this is happening to Daemon of all people. They could have swapped things and had Rhaenyra or Jace go there and experience this supernatural stuff instead but to put this on Daemon who is so against visions and resents Viserys for it is perfect writing.
Poor Daemon!
Does he really want to be king?
I doubt.
Kinging isn't really in his skill set.
@alanpennie I don't think he wants the power of being king, but the validation of being "the better man" and admiration.
I don't think he's thought it through to the point where he realizes the true responsibility of the throne.
@@Clint52279 like alot of younger brothers i think its not that he does or doesn't want it. Its simply a manifestation of the jealousy we hold for our older brothers often. If you look up to your brother at all you'll always kinda naturally want to be them in a certain way. Daemon is getting a taste of what his brother dealt with and realizes its not the crown he wanted. But the love and respect his brother seemed to so naturally get out of everyone around him.
Just can't wait to see Aemond trip balls in the spooky castle next
Unlike Daemon, I think he's gonna love it 😂
Me too. Season 3 is too far away
Maybe the mystery is not why Larys became so weird, it's why the other Strongs are still so normal.
She's got a serious Jaw. She's handsome. If She and Daemon kiss, it'll set off a sonic depth charge that'll shake the mooooorings of old Harrenhall.
It seems like Larys' role is to destabilize the greens, while Alys' seems to be to destabilize the blacks
I think that they're in on it together. Or, nursing him on milk full of weirwood paste, she could be using Larys as a Golem, controlling him to make him do her bidding.
hm i think it's more like larys helped start the ball rolling for the dance and alys is on the other end connecting the loose pieces where they ought to go
But by showing Daemon the vision she has helped stabilise the blacks so far by sticking Daemon back on the blacks track and off the Daemon train.
Just a barn owl, hoot hoot
Helena drew an owl on her walls even Daenerys Targaryen being immune to fire with her arms raised. Dany's dragon dreams come true! She told the Spice king of Qarth. I'm no ordinary woman My dreams come true.
@@christophertracy7136 did anyone notice there was a barn owl drawn specifically next to the rat king picture in the after the episode blurb about helaena? I haven't watched the video yet, apologies if it was brought up
“Touch of the Old Gods wherever she goes” love it!
Alys Rivers has become one of my favorite characters, she's so subtly arrogant and mysterious. She acts like she owns Harrenhal Castle.
i think its interesting that damon doesnt confront alys. he is never like "WHAT WAS IN THAT POTION YOU WITCH! YOU POISONED ME!", when in that same episode he wont eat peas for fear of poison. he is just rolling with it. having casual conversations where he just accepts that she can know whats happening far away, not mentioning that she drugged him. i think he knows its real magic, and is curious and hoping he can use it to gain more power, but is probably in over his head and wont get exactly what he wanted.
I think he is not questioning the potions and spell craft because he can't. That is a part of the spell. He doesn't see it as potentially harmful rather basic food stuff. He is delusional and somewhat thirsty for the potion. It has an addictive quality to it.
Would love to see an interaction between Alys Rivers and Larys Strong.
Me too that would be super interesting ❤❤
It’s interesting that both old nan and alys were wet nurses. They say poison is a woman’s method..:that they have such intense control over what babies eat. Maybe that’s how bloodraven has managed to seed greenseers?
"Never believe anything you hear at a womans tit" -Prologue game of thrones. Grrm has been telling us since day one.
I did have a section on her being a wet nurse, I cut it for time but I did talk about how she's creating connections between herself and all the Strongs.
That is such an interesting theory because Jon Snow and the young Edric Danyne shared a wetnurse and both of those have important roles in the story (or at least I think Edric is going to become more important in the later books)
“Himself in an Aemond spirit Halloween costume”😂
16:33 I think that she knows everything going on with Daemon because Larys is her SPY.
I think she nursed him on weirwood-infused milk, and it gives them a telekinetic connection (ww juice being a kind of fungus, appearantly).
She is effectively using him as a kind of puppet/Golem, either to destabilize the realm (for the Children Of the Forest), OR to do whatever is best for her *own* survival.
I'm sure in that world, she'd prefer to be an Owl rather than single woman of no means, and would use whatever powers she did have to make her own life better.
She's clever, that Alys!
I don't believe Larys is her spy. He wouldn't need to recruit the prisoners and cut out their tongues when he killed his father and brother. Larys is his own agent that has made himself indispensible to the greens by bloodying the hands of them with his actions but still getting results.
i love that we are getting some more lore and more joe :}
"Who was this woman?"
Incorrect from the first phrase, it should be "Who was this barn owl?"
The Green Queen pf House Mertyn(?) Sigil an owl. From a Magical House the was in the Mistwood.
She's definitely a warg and a greenseer. To me that's way cooler than being a ghost or 400 year old witch. Whatever it turns out to be, fantastic character, creepy and seemingly omniscient... Very cool
🎵Stop draggin’ my, stop draggin’ my, stop dragon my heart around🎵
18:43 "a giant beast with a crown on its head" .......does no one else see......the crowned stag......
Yup, I agree
She is an endlessly fascinating character, I love her!
Where’s my Secret of Nimh meme? There’s a wise magical owl and wise magical rats. There’s even a crow and a character named Dragon.
Nicodemus would be a great Dragon name
Nykkodaemes in grrm-spelling probably
Omg I've found my people 😂 I've always absolutely loved that story
Great commentary. She is my favorite character and I hope we get more insight into what she's doing this season.
FANTASTIC THUMBNAIL!!! Love it, Joe!!
I loved this Matt ❤ Just watched it twice to soak it all in! Right up your street and so interesting. An absolute treat!
Whoa. I watched this immediately after articulating a headcanon that Larys hates Harrenhal, as I hadn't known that Needham already confirmed it. Along with whatever supernatural stuff and human bigotry Larys might have experienced there, the cold, wet, humongous mess of towers, huge rooms, and labyrinthine passages must have been awful for him to grow up in as someone for whom walking has always been difficult and painful.
Get out as early as you can...
She looks more like Ramsey Bolton than Larys Strong to me😅
They both do have crazy eyes indeed
Yes definitely Bolton eyes
Boltonesque crazy eye, skin tone and hair color.
14:31 I don’t necessarily think the dreams are sent to show what Daemon is supposed to do, they’re manifestations of what he already wants taken to extremes, possibly to show how he’s going wrong. Showing him that killing your way to power is bad right before a meeting with someone who would be mortally offended by the concept might have been a warning that he just ignored because he believes he’s always right.
I don't know if anybody remembers a show called "Fringe", but they had this mysterious guy that would always show up in the background of important scenes to observe them. I've thought it would have been interesting if HotD always had a Bran hidden in the background of a single scene in each episode.
Yes, she’s definitely messing with his mind because she knows what team she’s riding and dying for.
Your best video by far, love the analysis. But I really hope we’re wrapping this up next episode
Alys be pulling a 180 when Daemon starts throwing shade at Aemond 👌
The more time goes on the more I hope for a remake of ASOIAF in animation to allow for the more mystical and fantastical elements of the books to be shown off. Things like Old Nan's stories and the visions of Jamie Bran and Dany would be amazing in a dark animation style and it would be incredible to see done book accurate while also fully adapting the books. HOTD makes me sad sometimes as it ventures too far from the books to my liking.
First of all, they won't do anything like that until the books are done. That is never going to happen. I don't want them to start again only to pass the books again. One of the things I love about the shows, at least at first, is that the fantasy elements are far in the background. I don't really care much for fantasy most of the time. These shows have a good balance for me. Also, I read Fire and Blood, and I honestly prefer the show. With how close Martin worked on it, I'm totally cool with the changes they've made. If he approves, so do I.
A cartoon like that old Hobbit movie from the 80s would be perfect 👌
Wouldn't it be ironic if the "secret ingredient" in Daemons weirwood smoothie (not thick enough to call it a paste) came from Harwin Strong. Alys could have been there at the time of the fire, right?
He keeps seeing a certain dead wife but not his first dead wife 🤔. I wonder if maybe a piece of her is in the drink.
@@pyramidion5911That was simple suggestion...on rewatch I noticed that Daemon first sees Laena just after Will Blackwood mentions her brother's name
I loved this video so much! Thanks for the breakdown 🖤
Ive been a fan of your content for a while now but this is my favorite video yet! Keep up the good work Joe :D
Thanks!
This is what I was trying to figure out when I made that comment here the other day. Perfect video answer! Ty!
When watching HOTD, I had missed the shot of Ser Simon Strong facepalming at Daemon's replies to Oscar Tully. 😂
Beautifully written. 🦉
In /The Witch/, Ronald Hutton devotes a pretty large section to the associations between witchcraft and owls in European and Mediterranean culture, going basically as far back as we have records. Even the scientific name for owls, even still, is the same word as as that of a malicious spirit or type of witch.
If multiple layers of second-life occur between skin changers, someone could be a barn owl trapped in human form.
Awesome video Joe! ❤
Best Alys video I've seen.
Phenomenal thumbnail choice! 👌🏼
One idea you did not expand on is that Alys might be related to Danelle Lothston - I would like to hear your thoughts on in! :) The parallels are pretty obvious: Both resided in Harrenhal, both are said to bath in human blood to preserve their youth, and both are linked to skinchanging, with Danelle being implied to warg into giant bats. Knowing now that Alys is pretty old, could she have just disguised as Danelle?
THAT'S BRILLIANT!!
You forgot 'a simple-minded slattern, according to Eustace' hahaha...I can't with these terms, they make me laugh. Simple-minded slattern...wtf lol! And hey..I LOVE how Alys walks like someone who doesn't know how to use their 'human body'. SO on point.
Alys seems to be aligned with the old gods and CotF so the question is what do they want out of this civil war? If it’s the prince that was promised then wouldn’t they know he or she would come from D and R line?
Thank you, it’s like a pregame before the new episode release 😊
fingers crossed they don't make her a figment of daemon's imagination
Alys reminds of both mellisandra and kinvara! The way she moves her head and the way she speaks (not her accent) reminds me how she spoke to varys! And the way melisandra told varys i have to die in this strange country... Just like you! It seems like almost all the different kind of magical things are basically the same, just with smaller differences here and there!
Long-lived old people are weird….especially if they have magic powers
2:28 speaking of 😂 Matt Smith saying that Daemon is fireproof is the most Daemon thing ever hahahaah
Such a great breakdown!! I am in total agreement with you & have caught all of these clues.
@ 23:00 (around about that timestamp)
Remember how uncle Benjen gave Bran the rabbits blood before he came across the wall? Blood sacrifice??....
I’m convinced she’s a ghost. Not only is Daemon the only character who interacts with her, but he’s seemingly the only person who can see her. She was probably a Druid of the old gods who died a long time ago, whose soul got tied to the weirwood trees, and now haunts Harrenhal even before it was built.
Daemon isn't the only one that sees her, the old man told him that she went to go help with the Lord, and that is how the little boy became the leader that Daemon needed to bring everyone together.
Wait until the Shepherd shows up. Pretty sure he’s an other.
what
Glidus and Schwifty sent me. I love your work!
Thank you! Where did they shout me out?
@@JoeMagician They've name dropped you twice on their Dragon Talk episodes. They get so stoked for you when Old Gods magic, warging, etc is nodded to in HOTD!
The red paste / weirwood paste resembles and correlates with ayahuasca as well, in terms of (literal) root origin and effects upon the drinker.
We need a sequel to this video with the info from the finale🙏
I have a new theory to pitch: Time Traveling Jojen-Paste
I don't know if it has been said, but this 'Alys All Along' is the BEST lol
I think the sleeping draft is a paste of ground Wheirwood leaves to promote Green Dreams, but he and everyone around him, aside from Ayls just think he's cracking up.
Last eps he FINALLY asks for her counsel. I hope She will now begin her instruction. So he can prevent his self-destruction and death at Herronhal.
I think she was a woods witch that lived in the forst, but her woods were cut down to make a monstrosity of a castle.
Love it!
I agree her character makes me think of old nan but also shierra sea star parallels there
And melisandre, the most obvious one
@@pyramidion5911 I could see where you’re coming from that they’re both magical women who influence men of power but for me personally Mel has the least comparisons
Alys magic seems very old gods whereas Mel is rhallor and against the old gods - I’d actually compare her with the ghost of high hart before Melisandre.
I don’t know about everyone else but I lusted after the red woman AFTER her real age was revealed
That's very non-ageist of you!
Same
@@GeeNoniGee #GILFSQUAD
I love Alys Rivers! More scenes between her and Daemon. Since her first appearance she's been a very interesting character ( I haven't read Fire and Blood yet ). He's also sleeping on a bed made from Heart Tree wood. Did she give him a Weirwood paste drink?
Whatever may be the case in the books, on the show, the only person who ever acknowledges her existence is Daemon. She never talks with, touches, or interacts with any other character. It's as if she only exists in Daemon's mind. Why might that be?
??
Are we going to get a new Larys Strong video on the last episode ? :)
Yup!
@@JoeMagician Can not wait.
kinda strange how she shows basically no respect to daemon. he wouldnt let any1else talk 2 him like that and he seems to respect her consule. he knows she's dangerous
There is an Owl hooting in my yard right now, seriously 😅
I like how fun and loopy Alice is, easily one of my favorite characters of the season.
Has anyone other than Daemon interacted with her in the series? I think it would be a really cool development if we eventually find out she is a ghost.
Even when she walks past Simon, she kinda just disappears. We don't see her interact with anyone. Simon looks in her direction as she walks past him in the last episode but doesn't seem to look at her directly.
Are we sure that everyone can see her? I can't recall her actually interacting with anyone else, although I never thought to pay attention. I'm going to go back and watch her episodes.
i like the theory she is one of the hidden children of the forest.
Her physique is not that of the Children Of The Forest.
Larys told Aegon last episode when he arrived into the world with his club foot, his father accused someone in their household of sorcery. Could that someone have been Alys or his mistress Alys’s mother?
I don't like that they just told us Alys is 400 years old. It's like they watched people make theories for over a decade about Melisandre and we're like, let's ruin that for Alys. It would be one thing if the show hinted at it or pointed to such an idea but no they just tell us outside of the story. My guess is the story doesn't go that deep into her story they know this and want people into the character anyways. They want the points for a cool character without writing an actually cool character. I shouldn't have to be told extra stuff she should just be interesting on her own.
they didn't officially tell us. it was the actress making an offhand comment, probably not realizing the lore fandom is so nerdy about it
@RussellB I'm open to that interpretation but it really feels like when Tom Holland 'slips up' and 'accidentally' says something he 'wasn't' supposed to.
She said *possibly* 400 years old.
Dudes freaking out over the show giving us a huge hint that book readers should be drooling over. You guys still don't realize by now that Nymeria is the main character!???
"There are other ways to fight a war"... connect the dots and read the lore people.
did they abandon the oddly youthful appearance for alys? [*spoilers ahead*: last episode she made a comment to daemon that it's a shame he never knew his mother, that could be interpreted as her having at one point met daemon's mother]
Im starting to believe, Daemon and Alys are in Harrenal alone... Everything he see, does is through visions, besides repairing the castle but I think he is physically doing that alone... She's manipulating him through sight, abusing him, if you will...
Blood magic being the most powerful, what sort of ritual does this Witch construct, to reap the bloody death of two dragons, and two princes af Valaryan descent?
Not just them, the rest of her house when Aemond arrives. It's a great question.
I feel like Alys and Old Nan especially line up with the new gods archetypes, they are the embodiment of the Crone. Every character in ASOIAF lines up with one or more of those archetypes but usually it's just the one.
What a treat I didn't see coming 😍😍😍 and on dragon day🐉🐉
Also, I hope we see more trippy stuff from this barn owl 🦉
I didn't like her at first, but now I think she's fantastic! She's controlling Daemon like a puppet, lol!
Fantastic video!
I like Jojen paste, but I have been rethinking it. I don't know how they would preserve it, but what if the blood is not Jojen's, but Blood Ravens? King's Blood. Drinking King's Blood.
Strange thing is, we never see anyone else interact with Alyce…my theory is that she’s just a figment of Daemon’s imagination & no one else can see her. That or she’s a ghost.
18:40 i believe that`s a Stag,i also thought at first glance twas a rat....but if you look closely you can see huge horns coming out its head.
So maybe it hints at House Baratheon,but why ?
Alys is definitely the "proprietor" of Harrenhal. She's clearly using Weirwood/Old Gods style magick, not the fire magick of R'hollar, nor the Shadowbinding magicks of Asshai. Larys is 1000% aware of her presence, and seems deeply disturbed by his memories of growing up at Harrenhal. I think Alys is aware of Larys, and Larys stays away because Alys' magick is WAY stronger than whatever skin-changing, warging, or greenseeing Larys may be capable of.
That's why he's so confident in telling Aegon that the castle is, "more crippled than himself", and even Aemond agrees it's a good mooring point, keeping Daemon and Caraxes in one place.
Alys may be one of the most powerful individuals in the story, in regards to magick, and being able to directly influence events in the Riverlands.
Woohooo! Algorithm bump!
Heleana's beast drawing with a crown is a stag. She prophesied the coming of the greatest king in Westerosi history - Bobby B
Mayhaps she's a barn owl..
Who? Who?
I'm not sure that Alys and Larys are Blackwoods. Greenseers are stated to be slight and weak physically. That should apply to every family.
18:20.. possibly skinchangers can change between animals and different humans too. Passing on knowledge and skills to fresh bodies. Indeed, perhaps another figure is warging alys and animals there. Buried in the weurwood roots of the castle.
She is specifically haunting Daemon, and not the other's although I'm sure Simon knows of her existence as you mention. She placed herself there waiting on Daemon and ran off the Maester. If there were a Maester she couldn't offer her potions and advice. Naturally Daemon would council with the Maester (I'd think). It's as if she is steering from her end, and Larys is steering from his end to ensure the outcome so that the prophecy will happen.
The prince ‘who’ was promised, not ‘that’ was promised. - Stannis Baratheon.
I have a chimney in my house which has a metal sheet blocking the hole then an electric fire in front and last week a barn owl found it’s way down my chimney (like other birds have). So I move the fire, unscrew the metal cover and open my windows and French doors and unlike the other birds (crows, magpies, pigeons and doves) I’ve had before the owl didn’t want to come out, so I waited until dusk and it flew out then. I’ve gone up on my roof and covered the top so air can come/go but birds can’t get in anymore
I have an insane theory on why she is doing what she is doing and why and need someone to talk to about it.
I think Alys Rivers with what we are getting from HotD and assuming the claims of her being in some degree magic are true.
I believe she might be either Alys Harrowway or one of her sisters. Alys was considered to be a witch during Maegors rule and so where her sisters (three sisters witch trope).
She was falsely accused of
Sleeping with 20 men and 18 of those men confessed under duress. 2 died in torture.
After which it is stated that she and her sisters were killed by Maegor.
But Maegors reign is probably the most easily contestable part of fire and blood. Especially in the details of events. Mainly because of the main conflict being between Maegor and the exact people who are writing the histories, maesters, septons, and possibly house Hightower.
Alys rivers was known to be a wet nurse to House Strong and is rumored to have been around since Lyonel Strong was a baby and was known to be around since Larys Strong was a baby.
Considering Alys’ possible age of being over 100 years old I have a theory that would befit someone of that status and stature.
Maegor and Tyanna had cursed Alys Harrowway by using her two sisters as a blood sacrifice. This curse was that she would bear a child once for every period. This period is defined by her marriage with Maegor (which was probably a little less than or at 5 years)
There will be 18 stillborn births (or 17) depending how the timeline works out.
This would give us a period of about 85-90 years. Of her bearing stillborn children. From 44AC which would end between 129-134 AC.
Which is when the Dance of the Dragons happens and she bears a child with Aemond Targaryen. The blank period of 28 years was her enacting her vengeance on House Targaryen.
Likely using her powers to Cause the Dance in the first place.
I believe that the Harrowways are actually the descendants of one of the saltwives of Harren Hroare that saltwife being one of the daughters of Agnes Blackwood.
Don’t forget to leave your sacrifices for the algorithm friends. Like share subscribe!