House of the Dragondelved into the more supernatural elements of its story in the second season finale. Daemon Targaryen has been trapped in dreams and hallucinations for most of the season, but his final glimpse into the future revealed a lot. He saw most ofGame of Thronesand the end of his own tale. In the mix, he made eye contact with a much younger version of the Three-Eyed Raven. His new appearance draws attention to Lord Brynden Rivers, the man who would fill that role.
One of the most irritating minor gripes about enjoyingGame of Throneswhile also knowing a lot aboutA Song of Ice and Fireisthe minor name changes. The show seems to randomly capitalize a lot of proper nouns that George R. R. Martin left in lowercase. Some titles change in the adaptation. One of the best examples is the old man who gave Bran Stark the gift of foresight. The books call him the three-eyed crow, butGame of Thronesdubs him the Three-Eyed Raven.
Who is Brynden Rivers?
Brynden Rivers may have had the most interesting life in the entire history of Westeros. Brynden was born in 175 AC, around 40 years after the end of theDance of the Dragons. He’s one of the many bastard children of King Aegon IV Targaryen. Rivers was born with a red birthmark that splashed up his neck and onto his cheek. Its red color and vaguely bird-like appearance gave him the nickname “Bloodraven.” His mother was Lady Melissa Blackwood, Aegon IV’s sixth mistress. Since he was born to a noblewoman, he was considered one of the Great Bastards. In 184 AC, Aegon IV enacted his final proclamation from his deathbed. He legitimized every son and daughter he ever had, entering countless young half-Targaryens into the regal line of succession. This led to several wars, immediately thrusting Brynden into a battle that would define his life.
Brynden’s half-brother, Daemon Blackfyre, was his father’s favorite. Aegon IV even favored him beyond his legitimate son, Daeron II. This led Daemon to leadthe First Blackfyre Rebellion, one of House Blackfyre’s many attempts to seize power. Several other bastards chose to support Daemon’s claim, but Brynden didn’t much care for his half-siblings. He liked his half-sister, Shiera Seastar, to whom he repeatedly proposed marriage. His half-brother, Aegor Rivers, was a romantic rival for Shiera’s favor, leading Brynden to despise him. Brynden supported King Daeron II, raising his personal detail of guards into an elite unit of archers called the Raven’s Teeth. The Raven’s Teeth ended the First Blackfyre Rebellion with a hail of arrows that killed Daemon, Daemon’s brother, and Daemon’s first son. Rivers lost an eye in a duel with Aegor, but he claimed victory for his royal half-brother.
Daeron later died in a plague, leaving his son, Aerys I, to take the throne. Brynden became the Hand of the Kingand master of whisperersunder Aerys. He may have been the best master of whisperers of all time. Unfortunately, many saw Brynden as a kinslayer for killing Daemon. They believed that Brynden practiced dark magic, bringing about terrible punishments from the gods. They said he had “a thousand eyes and one,” referencing his impossible foreknowledge of the world around him. Brynden served several kings, but his tenure ended after the Third Blackfyre Rebellion. He always supported the harsh punishment of the pretenders, and that policy would eventually come back to bite him. Brynden illegally arrested and killed Aenys Blackfyre, who claimed to seek peaceful participation in a debate about potential successors. King Aegon V arrested Brynden for that decision. Lord Bloodravenchose to take the blackand join the Night’s Watch rather than face execution.
How did Brynden Rivers become the Three-Eyed Raven?
Lord Bloodraven quickly rose through the ranks to become theLord Commander of the Night’s Watch. He brought many members of his Raven’s Teeth and, potentially, the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister with him to the Wall. Very little is known about his time beyond the Wall. He reached the Wall in 233 AC at the age of 58. Six years later, he earned the title of Lord Commander, the highest office in the Night’s Watch. In 252 AC, Brynden went about his usual ranging beyond the Wall. He never returned to the Night’s Watch. Many believed that he died somewhere beyond the Wall. Around 50 years later, Bran Stark would discover Brynden in a hidden cave within the haunted forest. Brynden became the three-eyed crowor Three-Eyed Raven, depending on adaptational preferences. He is the last greenseer, capable of glimpsing the future and the past. He lives with the Children of the Forest on a throne of sacred weirwood. Brynden is Bran’s mentor, raising him to understand his psychic gifts. He explains his backstory to Bran like this:
I have my own ghosts, Bran. A brother that I loved, a brother that I hated, a woman I desired. Through the trees, I see them still, but no word of mine has ever reached them. The past remains the past. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it.
Who plays Brynden Rivers inGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragon?
Thelate, great Max von Sydowportrayed Lord Brynden Rivers as the Three-Eyed Raven in three episodes ofGame of Thrones. His appearance is brief but impactful. In the prequel series,House of the Dragon, Joshua Ben-Tovim briefly takes on the role. Ben-Tovim is best known for his dance and theatrical work with his company, IMPERMANENCE. He isn’t likely to appear again inHouse of the Dragonsince the show will end long before the character is born, but that doesn’t mean Ben-Tovim won’t be back. Brynden will probably appear inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the nextGame of Thronesspin-off show.
Fans have enjoyed a few glimpses of Brynden Rivers, but it’s exciting to see the character in all his glory. The story of Lord Bloodraven covers so many fascinating elements of Westeros that he practically deserves his own show. From the First Blackfyre Rebellion to the small councilto the Night’s Watchto his life as the Three-Eyed Raven, Lord Brynden Rivers lived quite a life. He has a thousand eyes and one, he deserves to have some on him for a change.
