I laughed so hard watching the opening trying to concentrate on the cool visuals but all I could hear was Paddy Considine’s voice saying that line😂😂😂😂”would you like” **snort** “to see the tapestries?” **open mockery**
Just saying right now as an embroidery junkie (it's really relaxing - just ask Sansa!), I cannot wait to see the finished Targaryen tapestry so I can recreate it stitch by stitch! Still deciding what dye to use instead of blood, since real blood ages terribly.
@@glacialimpala Not a bad idea, I've used their acrylic inks before to dye small pieces of fabric, or to spot-dye areas, when I haven't had access to fabric-specific products. Right now I'm thinking that I'd order something specific from G&S, my favourite dye supplier, for this big a project.
Your theories about the ancient history of Planetos are my favorite. They really add to the thrill of forgotten secrets, half-remembered prophecies, and wonders and terrors that no man now living could hope to comprehend…
This is a true story. George has masterfully veiled it all in fantasy. But ask charles and he will proudly tell you he is a descendant of vlad of the house of the dragon
You may have said this in the video but when we were watching this on Sunday, my wife pointed out how cool it was and also made the point that needlework is traditionally women’s work, paralleling the overarching conflict between Alicent and Rhyneara
What a good idea! It’s a nice tie-back to “winners tell the story” too, and the original piece being commissioned by the winning side. The female line won, so we get needlepoint?
I think that woman near the beginning being Daenys makes a good bit of sense. The tapestry could be depicting what exactly she saw in her dream, which was all the Valyrians dying and stuff. Maybe she saw her family would die if they stayed and decided to prevent that? Idk it’s my best guess. It could also maybe be the in-world ballad of The Dance of The Dragons, since the war was named after a song of two lovers who died together in the doom
Agree with Lightbringer, I think that last theory about the song makes more sense by far than it being Daenys…but I go back & forth with the Daenys interpretation. The fact we go from that figure that might be Daenys directly to the doom, and the visual transition are the “magic” gold threads, makes me think it could be Daenys’ dream (the threads) carrying us to the doom…but then she’s not sleeping (so not dreaming), who’s the person in her lap, etc, & I’m less convinced.
Hey David, I've always thought Danaery's dragons are filled with the spirits of Khal Drogo, Rhaego and Mirri Maz Duur, that line about Rhaegal 'hulked in the gloom like a fat woman bedecked with glowing orange jewels' really drove it home for me.
If Danny's dragons are Dreamfyre's kids tgay don't need a spirits attached to them - they already 'belong' to Targariens by blood... But I always thought that thay have at least some essence of her brothers - Rhaegar and Viserys? And also Khal Drogo or, most probably, her son Rhaego?
For the two figures sleeping and sitting up at the beginning: I think both figures are Daneys. If you notice, the sleeping figure is in red and the figure sitting up is in gold. At the table where the current family is sitting together, Helaena is the only one on team green who's in gold. Gold = dreamer. I think the figures at the beginning represent Daenys astral projecting in the dream realm.
It's really cool to see LML still making content. Thanks about david , for making content all the years in-between the fall of game of thrones until now ! This dude got me into reading the books.
Great video, as always. At about 20:40, I think that just symbolizes the dying of the bloodline that takes place. Since blood that has been spilled turns brown-black when it dries. The spilling of blood here, both Valyrian & dragons, is what dooms the bloodline into the modern day. What's MOST interesting here is that the blood seems to already be red(healthy) on Rhaenyra's end. It's the blood that comes through Alicent which spreads that brown-black blood that rots both sides. Seems like the tapestry is reinforcing that it was procreating with Alicent that doomed Rhaenyra's (correct) line. The choice not to have the space blank between both sides, and then clashing colors turn the blood black suggests either A) the writers and/or the pov character who made this tapestry believes Alicent was the mistake, or B) a more omniscient view such as the targ/valyrian ancestors *themselves* viewing it as the mistake. Might be controversial, but I kind of like the idea that Rhaenyra's first bloodline was the (or at least, a) correct one. And the second one, from which the modern-day targs descend, is a compromise. Would explain the difficulties with magic, prophecy & at times, sanity, the bloodline experienced going forward. Also explains why there's been so much interference & meddling necessary into getting both Jon & Dany where they are, and adds more uncertainty into their stories. But we don't know how much George and/or his notes are involved with stuff like this, I suppose.
Your explanation of the dragon-bonds just blew my mind. I got that it was a legacy of Valyrian blood magic. But your theory about the three heads, and how only human descendants with a particular ancestor can bond with specific lineages of dragons, that makes so much sense.
20:45 The color covering up the bloodline here is brown like Alicent's or Harwin Strong's hair perhaps showing how this war and the severing of the 'correct' line of succession is partially caused by the brown-haired non-Valyrians entering the royal family (Harwin's bloodline illegitimately). Then again this brown color is coming from Alicent, so maybe it is mostly about her.
Your breakdown just made me realize that the three houses that didn't take up arms during the conquest, are the three houses that rebel & lead to the fall of the house of the dragon!
You forget about Robert and the Baratheons… the whole thing is called Robert’s Rebellion afterwards! 😉 The Tully‘s joined afterwards after the marriages between Hoster Tullys‘ daughters and Ned and Jon Arryn were brokered… first to rebel were Arryn, Stark and Baratheon. Whereas first houses that knelt to Aegon were those of the Crownlands… Stokeworth, Rosby and so on And the Lannisters backstabbed them Targaryens too and even the father of Balon, Euron, Victarion and Aeron (Quellon, I believe) Greyjoy used the opportunity and raided the Reach/the Tyrell’s, the main allies of the Targaryens in that conflict
@@spicypineapple2778I mean he's not wrong, the three houses do rebel. He just forgot about, you know, the main house that led the rebellion (Baratheons)
@@michelmorio8026 The Baratheons didn't exist when Aegon invaded. The House was literally created BY Aegon's bastard brother after the Stormlands were taken. So yes, the 3 Houses on the tapestry are the 3 major Houses that existed long enough to have bent the knee during the Conquest but then Rebelled with Robert. Incidentally, the Baratheons were started by Aegon's brother, and by the time of the Rebellion were still the most closely related to the Targaryens through Robert's grandmother.
Ironically, I remember telling my friend during season 1 that they should have done something like a tapestry or family tree in a tapestry. This one is more of a Targaryen historical record and not necessarily a family tree. I think that it just makes sense to have something like this the other opening, although interesting, was very hard to "read".
What good has come to those who were bonded to magic/sorcery in this story? Childrens of the forest, the Targaryens/Valaryans, house of the undying, ashai by the shadows, none of them seems to be enjoying their forbidden fruits anyway.
@@sophiaeressea5687 lol yah. A death cult that also lets only the absurdly wealthy choose to have their enemies murdered while insisting its members abandon all sense of personal identity. A great barometer for a life well lived.
@@sophiaeressea5687 lol sure, if a death cult that doubles as an assassins guild, but only for those wealthy enough to have their enemies knocked off, & that requires its members to abandon their individuality, sure, if that’s a healthy life…
also one of the most remarkable aspects of both Got and HotD's costume design is Michele Carragher's amazing embroidery, and the new credits felt like a nod to her as well (at least to me)
David you really outdid yourself with this video ( except missing some details here and there, for example the old man at the Council of 101 is the High Septon not the Grand Maester). I think if someone gets this video in front of George or Condal they would be impressed.
5:46 I think like this season theme would be of ancestry and motherhood - as first season was about fatherhood and legacy (Strong bastards, Targarien kingship, first sons, history remembers names, not blood etc). We briefly see a dragon skull in Dragostone hall, and there's more scenes with it in trailer. Someone already theorised that is Meraxes - a literal Mother of dragons, from her lineage came almost all of dragons on show, except for Vaghar, her sister. Maybe, that's how a dragonbond ritual is possible - not through father's blood (a legacy), but through mother's bond to her children. No wonder that song to Vermithor was like a lullaby - a one that mother would sing to her *newborn* child. Maybe that's why a woman is sacrificed? It's all just theory, tho 🤔
At 21:04 - it looks like a scab, or oxidized / “dead” blood? It has that rusty colour to it! Also: “Three heads has the dragon” does sound like something you might say about an exasperating relative. “Ugh, she can’t make up her mind, it’s like she’s got three heads and they all disagree!” - Ancient Valyrians literally kvetching about Nana Vhagar
Wild speculation: what if Azor Ahai, used obsidian as pet of his corruption of the weirwoods. Like combining the soul jars/glass candles with the weirwoods to boost their power, in an attempt to create a super soul jar
Great breakdown, David. I really appreciate you doing this. I have a hard time following when it goes by quickly. Can't wait to see how the tapestry evolves with the story.
Your theory on the incest felt spot on because marriage under feudalism was an act of consolidating power and wealth. And in this case the power is dragon power.
Yah I see this as well, but I think it’s even deeper: I think we’re meant to see those two opposing blades with the queens as their hilts, but I also think we’re supposed to see the table of that last family dinner where conflict was *almost* avoided when Alicent & Rhaenyra had their moment. Thus I think what we see is one blade “sheathing” over the other, as if saying “daggers were drawn but then sheathed in peace,” which almost happened at that dinner.
19:33 Theory: The "interruption" caused by Alicent is about how Aegon's dream and the Song of Ice and Fire (how it passed down from Heir to heir) will be stopped by the events caused from this Civil War... The song of Ice and Fire will be forgotten after the Dance of Dragons and will not pass on, depriving future heirs about the "Prince that was Promised" secret
20:43 could it mean "bad blood"? like, in both literature sense and literal sense. The blood of alicent is corrupting the fresh red blood of targeryans
I think the scene with Alicent in green and Rhaenyra in black is supposed to be the last dinner with Viserys. The black covers the red/blood because Alicent immediately after disrupts the intended bloodline by placing Aegon on the throne.
Yeah, that was my thought as well, I think we’re definitely supposed to at least think of The New Gift when we see those fields, probably along with general abundance & prosperity during that period.
Did anyone notice Helena when she was fleeing and got to the bottom of the stairs she stopped and did a big gasp as if reality had just sunk in.... Or did she have a vision perhaps of something happening at the bottom of those stairs in the future? 🤔🤔
I'm LOVING that the newer info about the glass candles is confirming a lot of suspicions we had about spirit transfering (at least strengthening the hints anyways). I think George cut that info from the prologue not because he changed his mind about the soul jar thing but because it wasn't the right place to reveal that info. I wasn't totally sold on the Quaith is Shierra Seastar theory but I'm coming around to it now that we know this. Anyway thanks again for another fantastically thorough analysis!
@7:00 I wonder if Glass Candles are akin the Bran in the Trees looking back to memeories - could a glass candle user go back in time through the glass candle's memories and see these early, Valyria forming rituals performed? Valyrian steel creation ceremony too? Fascinating! Thanks for making my brain turn a new gear just now LML ♥
My big “complaint” (not really a complaint, more of a want) about the glass candles thing is, as far as I understand ASOIAF lore, they’re never really explained in-world why they should be able to do what they do. I could be wrong, but it seems to me we’re left to assume something like “oh, they’re obsidian thus volcanic, thus fiery, & Valyeria had volcanoes, & Valyeria was magic-heavy, so volcanoes & magic go together, & dragons are magic, & dragons seem to like volcanoes, so obsidian must also be magic, & also Sam finds obsidian shit at the Fist of the First Men & kills a Whitewalker with obsidian, so magic confirmed,” But like, there’s a lot of other (well-hidden) explanations for the “rules of magic” in the lore of ASOIAF, but the glass candles, & obsidian in general, not so much. That I can remember, anyway. Seems like we’re all just supposed to make assumptions based on related lore. Which I dunno. Seems…lacking?
At the end of section 1. The person holding someone who is dying could be either more people sacrificed to the dragon bond or, I think more likely, people who have been killed and conquered by the valyrians as the empire expanded (Ghiscari and pre- Dorne Rhoynar for example)
The part with team green and team black with the dark rectangular thing in between them seems to respect the last supper, not the wedding. It makes more sense since everyone would be there and they'd be the correct ages.
The theory of Azor Ahai actually being the first dragonspawn is the most probable theory about why Azor Ahai figure is so big a thing. But that begs the question of on what extend, that myth is related to Brandon Stark
In the first scene the guy wasn't sacrificing his wife/beloved/sister/etc, he was sacrificing himself for the dragon bond. That's why she is seem holding him next and that's why the tapestry "evolves" from them.
Random aside you talking about glass candles and sorcerers be able to like project their spirit inside of them. That really reminds me of Robin Hobbes farsier books where they go through the like black obelisks
I've been waiting for this! Thank you SO much for this video! It satisfies the history (real life *and* ASoIaF lore) and nerd parts of my brain....yet also compels me to continue on by purposefully falling down several internet rabbit holes at once. I'm also considering trying embroidery now. I'm a meticulous perfectionist who happily gets lost in the details.. 😶🌫️❤
20:46 I took it to be the divide between Rhaenyra and Alicent, which was solidified by the green dress entrance, overshadowing the flow of Targaryen blood. The stable flow of the Targaryen bloodline is now followed and eclipsed by the shadow of the wedding and alicent’s green dress. It’s the mothers’ rift colouring the children’s future bloodlines. Another thing I love about the Queen Rhaenyra’s Black and Aegon The Usurper Green hands reaching out is obviously history will say it’s the war of the siblings, and even the Realm might see it that way and it’s sold as that to the Houses they wish to win to their side, but back to the darkening of the Targaryen bloodline is the true beginning of the end…with Alicent and Rhaenyra’s relationship permanently souring. Aegon being the face of the Green’s faction but Rhaenyra’s fight truly starting with his mother…but Alicent is not a blood Targaryen and this is the officially recorded history of the Targaryen so that is omitted. Aegon is, at this point, propaganda…it’s such a clever way of showing that we never truly know all the players and true reasons or feelings of fights in history from a HUMAN standpoint, we only know what is chosen to be painted or written or woven. What looks epic.
This gets me thinking about The Cannibal. If your theory correct the the 3headed dragon and how the dragon bond with one family then The Cannibal could very well be from another line of dragons could have been on Dragon-stone before the Targaryens. He could be from a line that was owned by a rival house in Ancient Valyria which is why he/she keeps eating other dragons… and that may also be why none of the Targaryen bastards could claim him.
@@DavidLightbringer I am not sure if you talked about this already but what are your thoughts on the fertility/SUCCESSFUL birth of the Targaryens mirroring the fertility/Successful birth of the Dragons? I feel like there were a lot of miscarriages and infertile eggs or and deformed babies and hatchlings. I think the Dragons suffered due to the poor breading pool just like the Targaryens did.
@@SpintoTenor25 @DavidLightbringer, also interested in this, and was there also some lore about dragon-riding females always needing to be fertile to keep the dragons reproducing…?
Hey there Lightbringer: have you any content on that mysterious message from that early princess of Dorne to Aegon the Conquerer that’s mentioned in “Fire & Blood?” I looked through your catalogue but I may have missed it.
I think the glass candles 🕯 playing a role in the ritural makes so much sense. You can invade dreams of people why not a dragon. But that doesnt account for the genetics of Targaryen and other Valeryian Lizard People. Maybe you answer it in the video i am this far in 7:36 so far.
I will do that. It's awesome just how much info they put out in an opening scene. Compared to the rest of the show. I am far me intrigued with this review of that banner then the episode. I didn't catch this opening. My sister paused the episode after that ended waiting for me to come over to watch it. I love having a show that allows the viewer to watch and try and figure things out. Most modern shows now seem to just want to hit you in the face with everything, and remove any subtly.
God I just realized how nuts your videos sound out of context. Like if I'm watching it and soneone walks by and just hears "they're lizard people", or just anything where you really get into proving that people have lizard DNA.
The three dragons from Rhaenyra are Vermax, Arrax, and Caraxes. Remember Daemon is going to the Tulleys. I think your theory about the dragon bonding is really good. This is now my head canon.
What if Lightbringer actually represents a dragon. A weapon of flames. And Nisa Nisa was a warg who warged a dragon and was sacrificed so that her consciousness would be trapped in the dragon and she could then control it. Hmmm? Maybe?
Wargs are those who bond with wolves, but yeah that makes a lot of sense that they skinchanged into a dragon. I also like the theory that the dragons are skinchanging into the people that establish the dragon bond
Interesting decision to change the whole opening sequence, but i guess the positive is that this one actually tells us a story. I know it might be random, but i was the most excited to see Rhaenyra sitting on the Dragonstone throne, which Daenerys sat on. I really hope to see that throne room again!
Regarding the 2nd couple in scene 1 (that some folks have suggested is Daenys the Dreamer): I agree, quite vague, & the Daenys interpretation seems like quite a stretch. I think it’s meant to be much simpler & less specific. I think it’s either an “after” to the “before” of the earlier couple about to commit magical sacrifice, as in the dead person in the 2nd couple is the about-to-be-dead person in the 1st couple (they all seem rather androgynous to me, genders seem rather indeterminate), or it’s all part of a scene describing *multiple* magical sacrifices installing *multiple* human souls into *multiple* dragons, thus describing a general practice rather than a specific occurrence, a specific sacrifice. It makes much more sense to me, particularly as the first scene, thus an “introduction” type scene, rather than specific, named historical characters. To me, it’s the inclusion of the 2nd couple that suggests it’s *not* Nissa Nissa & Azor Ahai, because without that 2nd couple, the Nissa Nissa interpretation is the strongest. That 2nd couple doesn’t fit a specific piece of lore (to my knowledge), so the producers including it leads me to think this scene is meant to be generalized history rather than a specific historical event.
A couple of thoughts: The scene on the tapestry of Rhaenyra and Alicent was representing the Last Supper, not Rhaenyra's wedding, hence her wearing the black dress (I know Corlys wasn't there, but whatever). Additionally, the scenes with the Field of Fire and Maegor's death have those two dragonheads (why not three IDK) supersized in the scene - I think that fits your theory about human souls being stuffed into the heads of the dragons. I also think that soul doesn't necessarily depart from the dragon's head when it dies, so while the Targs can harvest the dragonbones for weapons and the like (the material being probably the most valuable traded commodity in the Known World after Valyrian steel, weirwood, shade of the evening wood, and gold itself), but the skulls they keep around. Through the skulls, the soul can still observe and manipulate events to a degree. For example, in Game of Thrones, the dragonskulls are in the throne room when Jamie Lannister kills the Mad King, are in the cellars of the Red Keep for a number of important scenes, including when Arya overhears the plotting of Varys and Illyrio Mopatis, Jamie and Tyrion meeting to discuss a truce, Cersei firing a scorpion bolt into Balerion's skull, when Jamie and Cersei are killed, and of course are there when Tyrion finds their bodies.
I really like the visaryon/victarion idea particularly because the book has maqorro mending his flesh with sorcery and the resulting transformation is essentially “fire made flesh”
Came across a couple who do react videos, and the husband had the 👏au👏da👏ci👏ty👏 to call the tapestry a tampon. Wife looked so annoyed and uncomfortable. In a show about the sacrifices women make to build a kingdom (autonomy, wants, happiness, bodies, and their lives) he couldn't even comprehend the significance of blood spreading across the woven history, but haha tampon joke because menstruation. 🙄 So glad for the appreciative deep dives on the tapestry. History buffs and textile artists are being spoiled!
19:15 I thought this was the dinner scene (Episode 8/S1) & that black thing being embroidered is the TABLE. But it could also represent them "mending their rift", as they technically did at the dinner scene. However, it's showing the fact that their families are CLEARLY DIVIDED, even if they (Rhaenyra/Alicent) renewed their connection, their family's haven't. 21:53 Is it lava? I thought it was dragon 🔥, symbolizing that the realm will burn bc of them each being crowned... Or, IMO, it also looks like a TREE...maybe the "family tree" burning 🔥🤔
I'd say it's all of the above, on both. I should have mentioned that it was also the last dinner with Viserys, yeah. these sorts of tapestries are capturing multiple events in a time period So they're going to do kind of like history collages
BARS!!!
❤️❤️❤️
“Do you wanna see the tapestries Daemon?” I miss King Viserys 😂
🤣🤣
I laughed so hard watching the opening trying to concentrate on the cool visuals but all I could hear was Paddy Considine’s voice saying that line😂😂😂😂”would you like” **snort** “to see the tapestries?” **open mockery**
Yea that was so comically condescending and kind of demeaning.lmao rip Viserys
Oh I missed Paddy a lot!
Underrated comment 😂
Just saying right now as an embroidery junkie (it's really relaxing - just ask Sansa!), I cannot wait to see the finished Targaryen tapestry so I can recreate it stitch by stitch! Still deciding what dye to use instead of blood, since real blood ages terribly.
Amazing, you should record your process on TH-cam
I would pay you a lot of money for that !
I would use Windsor and Newton acrylic dye watered down, or a similar durable color fast product...
I love embroidery fr the details are always pretty to look at
@@glacialimpala Not a bad idea, I've used their acrylic inks before to dye small pieces of fabric, or to spot-dye areas, when I haven't had access to fabric-specific products. Right now I'm thinking that I'd order something specific from G&S, my favourite dye supplier, for this big a project.
Lots of popular youtubers being very obtuse with what's in this tapestry - super happy to hear your thoughtful approach!
yeah, I had been hoping someone would go over the new intro in detail soon, and I'm glad it was david!! great video.
Alt shift X talked about it ......
I.m glad , too. I love a lot of his deep explanations
I think Michael Talks about stuff did a good job with it too.
You know LmL is going to go DEEP 😂
Your theories about the ancient history of Planetos are my favorite. They really add to the thrill of forgotten secrets, half-remembered prophecies, and wonders and terrors that no man now living could hope to comprehend…
This is a true story. George has masterfully veiled it all in fantasy. But ask charles and he will proudly tell you he is a descendant of vlad of the house of the dragon
I love that you clarified that the Bayeux Tapestry isn't actually a tapestry👌🏻
You may have said this in the video but when we were watching this on Sunday, my wife pointed out how cool it was and also made the point that needlework is traditionally women’s work, paralleling the overarching conflict between Alicent and Rhyneara
What a good idea! It’s a nice tie-back to “winners tell the story” too, and the original piece being commissioned by the winning side. The female line won, so we get needlepoint?
Ooooh! This is an excellent point
See my comment on why I think Halelaena’s visions should have been expressed via fiber arts :-) We’re on the same wavelength you and me :-)
I think that woman near the beginning being Daenys makes a good bit of sense. The tapestry could be depicting what exactly she saw in her dream, which was all the Valyrians dying and stuff. Maybe she saw her family would die if they stayed and decided to prevent that? Idk it’s my best guess. It could also maybe be the in-world ballad of The Dance of The Dragons, since the war was named after a song of two lovers who died together in the doom
ooh great call on that last
Agree with Lightbringer, I think that last theory about the song makes more sense by far than it being Daenys…but I go back & forth with the Daenys interpretation. The fact we go from that figure that might be Daenys directly to the doom, and the visual transition are the “magic” gold threads, makes me think it could be Daenys’ dream (the threads) carrying us to the doom…but then she’s not sleeping (so not dreaming), who’s the person in her lap, etc, & I’m less convinced.
It's
Hey David, I've always thought Danaery's dragons are filled with the spirits of Khal Drogo, Rhaego and Mirri Maz Duur, that line about Rhaegal 'hulked in the gloom like a fat woman bedecked with glowing orange jewels' really drove it home for me.
If Danny's dragons are Dreamfyre's kids tgay don't need a spirits attached to them - they already 'belong' to Targariens by blood...
But I always thought that thay have at least some essence of her brothers - Rhaegar and Viserys? And also Khal Drogo or, most probably, her son Rhaego?
Ooooooh, I never thought of that. You’re probably right!
@@cardboard2nightI don't think they're tgay dragons but I don't wanna assume 😉
@@cardboard2nightI think after the dragons went extinct, the bond was broken and the ritual performed by Daenerys was necessary to reestablish it.
When that stark tune kicked in at the start of episode 1 Had some northern chills 🐺❄️
For the two figures sleeping and sitting up at the beginning: I think both figures are Daneys. If you notice, the sleeping figure is in red and the figure sitting up is in gold. At the table where the current family is sitting together, Helaena is the only one on team green who's in gold. Gold = dreamer. I think the figures at the beginning represent Daenys astral projecting in the dream realm.
ooooh that's interesting...
I came here to say this
It's really cool to see LML still making content. Thanks about david , for making content all the years in-between the fall of game of thrones until now ! This dude got me into reading the books.
Great video, as always. At about 20:40, I think that just symbolizes the dying of the bloodline that takes place. Since blood that has been spilled turns brown-black when it dries. The spilling of blood here, both Valyrian & dragons, is what dooms the bloodline into the modern day.
What's MOST interesting here is that the blood seems to already be red(healthy) on Rhaenyra's end. It's the blood that comes through Alicent which spreads that brown-black blood that rots both sides. Seems like the tapestry is reinforcing that it was procreating with Alicent that doomed Rhaenyra's (correct) line.
The choice not to have the space blank between both sides, and then clashing colors turn the blood black suggests either A) the writers and/or the pov character who made this tapestry believes Alicent was the mistake, or B) a more omniscient view such as the targ/valyrian ancestors *themselves* viewing it as the mistake. Might be controversial, but I kind of like the idea that Rhaenyra's first bloodline was the (or at least, a) correct one. And the second one, from which the modern-day targs descend, is a compromise. Would explain the difficulties with magic, prophecy & at times, sanity, the bloodline experienced going forward. Also explains why there's been so much interference & meddling necessary into getting both Jon & Dany where they are, and adds more uncertainty into their stories. But we don't know how much George and/or his notes are involved with stuff like this, I suppose.
obsessed with this new tapestry opening!!! its perfect 🔥🔥🔥
I exactly needed YOUR video explaining the tapestry THANKS YOU
same.
I loved the little detail of the dragons not crossing the wall just thrown in there at the beginning. Great take as usual!
thank you!!
thanks Nadia I appreciate you commenting :)
Like Alysanne and her dragon (if I butchered her name sorry.. Targ names are terribly finicky 😂)
very happy to be back with you for HotD summer!
Your explanation of the dragon-bonds just blew my mind. I got that it was a legacy of Valyrian blood magic. But your theory about the three heads, and how only human descendants with a particular ancestor can bond with specific lineages of dragons, that makes so much sense.
20:45 The color covering up the bloodline here is brown like Alicent's or Harwin Strong's hair perhaps showing how this war and the severing of the 'correct' line of succession is partially caused by the brown-haired non-Valyrians entering the royal family (Harwin's bloodline illegitimately). Then again this brown color is coming from Alicent, so maybe it is mostly about her.
Your breakdown just made me realize that the three houses that didn't take up arms during the conquest, are the three houses that rebel & lead to the fall of the house of the dragon!
You forget about Robert and the Baratheons… the whole thing is called Robert’s Rebellion afterwards! 😉
The Tully‘s joined afterwards after the marriages between Hoster Tullys‘ daughters and Ned and Jon Arryn were brokered… first to rebel were Arryn, Stark and Baratheon.
Whereas first houses that knelt to Aegon were those of the Crownlands… Stokeworth, Rosby and so on
And the Lannisters backstabbed them Targaryens too and even the father of Balon, Euron, Victarion and Aeron (Quellon, I believe) Greyjoy used the opportunity and raided the Reach/the Tyrell’s, the main allies of the Targaryens in that conflict
LOL no.
@@spicypineapple2778I mean he's not wrong, the three houses do rebel. He just forgot about, you know, the main house that led the rebellion (Baratheons)
@@michelmorio8026 The Baratheons didn't exist when Aegon invaded. The House was literally created BY Aegon's bastard brother after the Stormlands were taken. So yes, the 3 Houses on the tapestry are the 3 major Houses that existed long enough to have bent the knee during the Conquest but then Rebelled with Robert. Incidentally, the Baratheons were started by Aegon's brother, and by the time of the Rebellion were still the most closely related to the Targaryens through Robert's grandmother.
@@filipferencak2717 Baratheons didn't exist during Aegon's conquest. They're in fact a product of it.
They are both hilts of a sword, with the family divided over it
Props to the person @ HBO that came up with the idea to use the tapestries for the intro - looks cool as hell. 😎
Ironically, I remember telling my friend during season 1 that they should have done something like a tapestry or family tree in a tapestry. This one is more of a Targaryen historical record and not necessarily a family tree.
I think that it just makes sense to have something like this the other opening, although interesting, was very hard to "read".
Showrunner Ryan Condal came up with the idea and said that new iconic events will be added to it as they happen in the show.
What good has come to those who were bonded to magic/sorcery in this story? Childrens of the forest, the Targaryens/Valaryans, house of the undying, ashai by the shadows, none of them seems to be enjoying their forbidden fruits anyway.
lol what good comes to anyone in ASOIAF?
I mean, valeriens had it pretty good for centuries before Doom...
the faceless men are doing quite well :)
@@sophiaeressea5687 lol yah. A death cult that also lets only the absurdly wealthy choose to have their enemies murdered while insisting its members abandon all sense of personal identity. A great barometer for a life well lived.
@@sophiaeressea5687 lol sure, if a death cult that doubles as an assassins guild, but only for those wealthy enough to have their enemies knocked off, & that requires its members to abandon their individuality, sure, if that’s a healthy life…
loving the new tapestry opening! thank you for this detailed breakdown!
also one of the most remarkable aspects of both Got and HotD's costume design is Michele Carragher's amazing embroidery, and the new credits felt like a nod to her as well (at least to me)
David you really outdid yourself with this video ( except missing some details here and there, for example the old man at the Council of 101 is the High Septon not the Grand Maester). I think if someone gets this video in front of George or Condal they would be impressed.
5:46 I think like this season theme would be of ancestry and motherhood - as first season was about fatherhood and legacy (Strong bastards, Targarien kingship, first sons, history remembers names, not blood etc).
We briefly see a dragon skull in Dragostone hall, and there's more scenes with it in trailer. Someone already theorised that is Meraxes - a literal Mother of dragons, from her lineage came almost all of dragons on show, except for Vaghar, her sister.
Maybe, that's how a dragonbond ritual is possible - not through father's blood (a legacy), but through mother's bond to her children. No wonder that song to Vermithor was like a lullaby - a one that mother would sing to her *newborn* child. Maybe that's why a woman is sacrificed?
It's all just theory, tho 🤔
Amazing job! Best breakdown of the subject I’ve found. Great editing, voiceover, and script. Congrats on your intro Hightower as well, looks great!
Oh damn! 'The Crow' :D
Didn't notice that
Awesome!
The tapestry was super exciting, I was not expecting to get such a lore drop.
At 21:04 - it looks like a scab, or oxidized / “dead” blood? It has that rusty colour to it!
Also: “Three heads has the dragon” does sound like something you might say about an exasperating relative. “Ugh, she can’t make up her mind, it’s like she’s got three heads and they all disagree!” - Ancient Valyrians literally kvetching about Nana Vhagar
Wild speculation: what if Azor Ahai, used obsidian as pet of his corruption of the weirwoods. Like combining the soul jars/glass candles with the weirwoods to boost their power, in an attempt to create a super soul jar
*as part of
I'm sure others have pointed this out as well, but may well be another Elden Ring connection re: Iron Fist Alexander
Great breakdown, David. I really appreciate you doing this. I have a hard time following when it goes by quickly. Can't wait to see how the tapestry evolves with the story.
Your theory on the incest felt spot on because marriage under feudalism was an act of consolidating power and wealth. And in this case the power is dragon power.
The 2 women (Black & Green) are the hilts of a double hilted sword. So yeah, connected but on opposite sides (of the war)
Yah I see this as well, but I think it’s even deeper: I think we’re meant to see those two opposing blades with the queens as their hilts, but I also think we’re supposed to see the table of that last family dinner where conflict was *almost* avoided when Alicent & Rhaenyra had their moment. Thus I think what we see is one blade “sheathing” over the other, as if saying “daggers were drawn but then sheathed in peace,” which almost happened at that dinner.
great stuff guys thank you
19:33
Theory: The "interruption" caused by Alicent is about how Aegon's dream and the Song of Ice and Fire (how it passed down from Heir to heir) will be stopped by the events caused from this Civil War...
The song of Ice and Fire will be forgotten after the Dance of Dragons and will not pass on, depriving future heirs about the "Prince that was Promised" secret
20:43 could it mean "bad blood"? like, in both literature sense and literal sense. The blood of alicent is corrupting the fresh red blood of targeryans
Thanks so much for doing this! Upon first watching the intro… i tired to map all what I saw to what I know. Was really good fun 🐉
I think the scene with Alicent in green and Rhaenyra in black is supposed to be the last dinner with Viserys. The black covers the red/blood because Alicent immediately after disrupts the intended bloodline by placing Aegon on the throne.
What is this, a history video disguised as a house of the dragon video?
Sign me up!
I'm known to slip it in on occasion hahaha
This is the most detailed analysis of the opening tapestry I’ve seen. Well done! 👏🏻❤️🖤 🐉
The fields could also be the gift or general symbolism for prosperity
Yeah, that was my thought as well, I think we’re definitely supposed to at least think of The New Gift when we see those fields, probably along with general abundance & prosperity during that period.
Maybe the woman holding the bleeding man is actually a mother and son, maybe signifying all the infighting? Great insights!
That was pretty damn good David, thanks! I'll be on the look out if they fix Visenya haha
Excellent work, David and your research and presentation on the tapestry, you know I love the way you think!
Yaaaas!! So glad youre diving into this David! We need insight!
Did anyone notice Helena when she was fleeing and got to the bottom of the stairs she stopped and did a big gasp as if reality had just sunk in.... Or did she have a vision perhaps of something happening at the bottom of those stairs in the future? 🤔🤔
This was exactly what I needed. Thank you.
I'm LOVING that the newer info about the glass candles is confirming a lot of suspicions we had about spirit transfering (at least strengthening the hints anyways). I think George cut that info from the prologue not because he changed his mind about the soul jar thing but because it wasn't the right place to reveal that info. I wasn't totally sold on the Quaith is Shierra Seastar theory but I'm coming around to it now that we know this. Anyway thanks again for another fantastically thorough analysis!
the norman conquest and other history stuff is a winner for me, David! Good work, Cheers!
Silurian Hypothesis confirmed
@7:00 I wonder if Glass Candles are akin the Bran in the Trees looking back to memeories - could a glass candle user go back in time through the glass candle's memories and see these early, Valyria forming rituals performed? Valyrian steel creation ceremony too? Fascinating!
Thanks for making my brain turn a new gear just now LML ♥
My big “complaint” (not really a complaint, more of a want) about the glass candles thing is, as far as I understand ASOIAF lore, they’re never really explained in-world why they should be able to do what they do. I could be wrong, but it seems to me we’re left to assume something like
“oh, they’re obsidian thus volcanic, thus fiery, & Valyeria had volcanoes, & Valyeria was magic-heavy, so volcanoes & magic go together, & dragons are magic, & dragons seem to like volcanoes, so obsidian must also be magic, & also Sam finds obsidian shit at the Fist of the First Men & kills a Whitewalker with obsidian, so magic confirmed,”
But like, there’s a lot of other (well-hidden) explanations for the “rules of magic” in the lore of ASOIAF, but the glass candles, & obsidian in general, not so much. That I can remember, anyway. Seems like we’re all just supposed to make assumptions based on related lore. Which I dunno. Seems…lacking?
As an avid handcrafter, I was so excited when I saw the new intro. It's already stunning. Thank you for your analysis!
I like the new tapestry opening, it ties in nicely to Heleana doing needlework while spitting out prophecies :)
Thank you this was awesome! Very cool new intro and the song is a banger!
At the end of section 1. The person holding someone who is dying could be either more people sacrificed to the dragon bond or, I think more likely, people who have been killed and conquered by the valyrians as the empire expanded (Ghiscari and pre- Dorne Rhoynar for example)
The part with team green and team black with the dark rectangular thing in between them seems to respect the last supper, not the wedding. It makes more sense since everyone would be there and they'd be the correct ages.
I really love the new intro .. be interesting to see if the tapestry changes/grows as the season progresses.. thanks for the video Lightbringer 🙌🏼🐲👑🔥
Awesome.
Thanks for breaking down the opening
It's the first time my brain went there but when I read Nissa Nissa on the thumbnail all I could think of was Full Metal Alchemist
NISAAANN!![
The theory of Azor Ahai actually being the first dragonspawn is the most probable theory about why Azor Ahai figure is so big a thing.
But that begs the question of on what extend, that myth is related to Brandon Stark
I love this intro ❤ so full of ASOIAF lore
In the first scene the guy wasn't sacrificing his wife/beloved/sister/etc, he was sacrificing himself for the dragon bond. That's why she is seem holding him next and that's why the tapestry "evolves" from them.
Very impressed with how fast you put this one together. Great stuff as always LML. Thank you
Yes! I am so glad fir this breakdown. Been looking forward to it.
I was DYING to see you publish a vid like this addressing the intro
I felt the call, I saw the bat sign
I’ve been on a Lightbringer BINGE for like the last few weeks! 😅
I think someone watched the opening credits from Motherland: Fort Salem (2020). They had a very similar tapestry opening credits sequence.
Just finished the stream and i find you did this. Cant wait to watch it
Random aside you talking about glass candles and sorcerers be able to like project their spirit inside of them. That really reminds me of Robin Hobbes farsier books where they go through the like black obelisks
This is a really good analysis 👏🏼
The minute I saw the tapestry I knew LML was gonna eat this up 👏🏻 great job as always !!!
I've been waiting for this! Thank you SO much for this video! It satisfies the history (real life *and* ASoIaF lore) and nerd parts of my brain....yet also compels me to continue on by purposefully falling down several internet rabbit holes at once.
I'm also considering trying embroidery now. I'm a meticulous perfectionist who happily gets lost in the details.. 😶🌫️❤
I absolutely love this intro, I hope they keep updating it every episode depicting the events of the show ❤
20:46 I took it to be the divide between Rhaenyra and Alicent, which was solidified by the green dress entrance, overshadowing the flow of Targaryen blood. The stable flow of the Targaryen bloodline is now followed and eclipsed by the shadow of the wedding and alicent’s green dress. It’s the mothers’ rift colouring the children’s future bloodlines.
Another thing I love about the Queen Rhaenyra’s Black and Aegon The Usurper Green hands reaching out is obviously history will say it’s the war of the siblings, and even the Realm might see it that way and it’s sold as that to the Houses they wish to win to their side, but back to the darkening of the Targaryen bloodline is the true beginning of the end…with Alicent and Rhaenyra’s relationship permanently souring.
Aegon being the face of the Green’s faction but Rhaenyra’s fight truly starting with his mother…but Alicent is not a blood Targaryen and this is the officially recorded history of the Targaryen so that is omitted. Aegon is, at this point, propaganda…it’s such a clever way of showing that we never truly know all the players and true reasons or feelings of fights in history from a HUMAN standpoint, we only know what is chosen to be painted or written or woven. What looks epic.
This gets me thinking about The Cannibal. If your theory correct the the 3headed dragon and how the dragon bond with one family then The Cannibal could very well be from another line of dragons could have been on Dragon-stone before the Targaryens. He could be from a line that was owned by a rival house in Ancient Valyria which is why he/she keeps eating other dragons… and that may also be why none of the Targaryen bastards could claim him.
Yes that's the larger cannibal theory and I think it does make a certain amount of sense doesn't it
@@DavidLightbringer I am not sure if you talked about this already but what are your thoughts on the fertility/SUCCESSFUL birth of the Targaryens mirroring the fertility/Successful birth of the Dragons?
I feel like there were a lot of miscarriages and infertile eggs or and deformed babies and hatchlings. I think the Dragons suffered due to the poor breading pool just like the Targaryens did.
@@SpintoTenor25 @DavidLightbringer, also interested in this, and was there also some lore about dragon-riding females always needing to be fertile to keep the dragons reproducing…?
It's just so amazing about Martin that an event or a tale is about many different things and still itself stands on its own
House Tyrell was wise, and took no side in this conflict. Growing Strong!
It's fact my friend. You are spot on. Very much how it works in our world as well
Hey there Lightbringer: have you any content on that mysterious message from that early princess of Dorne to Aegon the Conquerer that’s mentioned in “Fire & Blood?” I looked through your catalogue but I may have missed it.
Please elaborate on Alyse Rivers in a red cloak surrounded by gold cloaks in the season ahead preview.
I think the glass candles 🕯 playing a role in the ritural makes so much sense. You can invade dreams of people why not a dragon. But that doesnt account for the genetics of Targaryen and other Valeryian Lizard People. Maybe you answer it in the video i am this far in 7:36 so far.
oh no that's a whole different process to make that part of it. check out my video called Dracomorph
I will do that. It's awesome just how much info they put out in an opening scene. Compared to the rest of the show. I am far me intrigued with this review of that banner then the episode. I didn't catch this opening. My sister paused the episode after that ended waiting for me to come over to watch it. I love having a show that allows the viewer to watch and try and figure things out. Most modern shows now seem to just want to hit you in the face with everything, and remove any subtly.
this came on autoplay at work and i had to stop and check whose funky channel i had just came upon and it was good ol lml😂 sick new intro🔥
God I just realized how nuts your videos sound out of context. Like if I'm watching it and soneone walks by and just hears "they're lizard people", or just anything where you really get into proving that people have lizard DNA.
The three dragons from Rhaenyra are Vermax, Arrax, and Caraxes. Remember Daemon is going to the Tulleys. I think your theory about the dragon bonding is really good. This is now my head canon.
Another banger video, i knew these tapestries had some hidden gems👍
Awesome video! ❤ and love the new intro
What if Lightbringer actually represents a dragon. A weapon of flames. And Nisa Nisa was a warg who warged a dragon and was sacrificed so that her consciousness would be trapped in the dragon and she could then control it. Hmmm? Maybe?
Wargs are those who bond with wolves, but yeah that makes a lot of sense that they skinchanged into a dragon. I also like the theory that the dragons are skinchanging into the people that establish the dragon bond
Great video Dave!
Interesting decision to change the whole opening sequence, but i guess the positive is that this one actually tells us a story.
I know it might be random, but i was the most excited to see Rhaenyra sitting on the Dragonstone throne, which Daenerys sat on. I really hope to see that throne room again!
I have always wondered why we have not seen that room in this series… Thanks for mentioning it!
Regarding the 2nd couple in scene 1 (that some folks have suggested is Daenys the Dreamer): I agree, quite vague, & the Daenys interpretation seems like quite a stretch.
I think it’s meant to be much simpler & less specific. I think it’s either an “after” to the “before” of the earlier couple about to commit magical sacrifice, as in the dead person in the 2nd couple is the about-to-be-dead person in the 1st couple (they all seem rather androgynous to me, genders seem rather indeterminate), or it’s all part of a scene describing *multiple* magical sacrifices installing *multiple* human souls into *multiple* dragons, thus describing a general practice rather than a specific occurrence, a specific sacrifice. It makes much more sense to me, particularly as the first scene, thus an “introduction” type scene, rather than specific, named historical characters.
To me, it’s the inclusion of the 2nd couple that suggests it’s *not* Nissa Nissa & Azor Ahai, because without that 2nd couple, the Nissa Nissa interpretation is the strongest. That 2nd couple doesn’t fit a specific piece of lore (to my knowledge), so the producers including it leads me to think this scene is meant to be generalized history rather than a specific historical event.
Another banger! Love your videos. The original opening was too dark and confusing especially for ppl who haven’t read the book
Incredible stuff! You always have the best theories!
A couple of thoughts: The scene on the tapestry of Rhaenyra and Alicent was representing the Last Supper, not Rhaenyra's wedding, hence her wearing the black dress (I know Corlys wasn't there, but whatever). Additionally, the scenes with the Field of Fire and Maegor's death have those two dragonheads (why not three IDK) supersized in the scene - I think that fits your theory about human souls being stuffed into the heads of the dragons. I also think that soul doesn't necessarily depart from the dragon's head when it dies, so while the Targs can harvest the dragonbones for weapons and the like (the material being probably the most valuable traded commodity in the Known World after Valyrian steel, weirwood, shade of the evening wood, and gold itself), but the skulls they keep around. Through the skulls, the soul can still observe and manipulate events to a degree. For example, in Game of Thrones, the dragonskulls are in the throne room when Jamie Lannister kills the Mad King, are in the cellars of the Red Keep for a number of important scenes, including when Arya overhears the plotting of Varys and Illyrio Mopatis, Jamie and Tyrion meeting to discuss a truce, Cersei firing a scorpion bolt into Balerion's skull, when Jamie and Cersei are killed, and of course are there when Tyrion finds their bodies.
I really like the visaryon/victarion idea particularly because the book has maqorro mending his flesh with sorcery and the resulting transformation is essentially “fire made flesh”
Came across a couple who do react videos, and the husband had the 👏au👏da👏ci👏ty👏 to call the tapestry a tampon. Wife looked so annoyed and uncomfortable. In a show about the sacrifices women make to build a kingdom (autonomy, wants, happiness, bodies, and their lives) he couldn't even comprehend the significance of blood spreading across the woven history, but haha tampon joke because menstruation. 🙄
So glad for the appreciative deep dives on the tapestry. History buffs and textile artists are being spoiled!
I think it’s Daenys seeing herself in the dream, holding a dead male relative while watching the Doom of Valerya unfold.
Love this breakdown , thanks ❤️🩸🐉🔥
Sigils on the bottom : something, Stokeworth , something, Beesbury
RIP Lord Beesbury
19:15 I thought this was the dinner scene (Episode 8/S1) & that black thing being embroidered is the TABLE. But it could also represent them "mending their rift", as they technically did at the dinner scene.
However, it's showing the fact that their families are CLEARLY DIVIDED, even if they (Rhaenyra/Alicent) renewed their connection, their family's haven't.
21:53 Is it lava? I thought it was dragon 🔥, symbolizing that the realm will burn bc of them each being crowned...
Or, IMO, it also looks like a TREE...maybe the "family tree" burning 🔥🤔
I'd say it's all of the above, on both. I should have mentioned that it was also the last dinner with Viserys, yeah. these sorts of tapestries are capturing multiple events in a time period So they're going to do kind of like history collages
"that's a lot of blood" "maybe he's sleeping" 😂