WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!
Summary
Alys Rivers’ cryptic words inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 6 subtly link to Bran Stark’s memorable ending inGame of Thrones, which could formalize House Targaryen’s Three-Eyed Raven connection in the show’s canon. As Alys Rivers plays a more active role inDaemon’s vision-heavy Harrenhal story, her character’s mysterious nature is becoming increasingly reminiscent of who Bran Stark became inGame of Thrones’ last few seasons. From her seemingly all-knowing nature to her frequent allusions to the powerful weirwood trees,Alys givesHouse of the Dragonan intriguing exploration of the magic linked to the First Men and Old Gods.
When Daemon tries fleeing Harrenhal inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 6, Alys stops him and says that when something goes wrong, he always runs. She even mentions Daemon fleeing to the Stepstones, to Pentos, and then to Harrenhal – details she seemingly shouldn’t know as a healer in the Riverlands.Siting by the weirwood tree, Alys discusses a “living memory,”things much older than them, the two being pieces on a board instead of players, and that those who don’t want to rule are better suited for it. When puzzling her speech to Daemon together, it sounds quite like Bran’sGame of Thronesjourney.
Alys Rivers' Comments By Harrenhal’s Weirwood Tree Connect To Bran Stark Being The Three-Eyed Raven
Alys' Words Mirror The Sentiment Behind The Three-Eyed Raven, Who King Bran Stark Becomes
With Alys discussing elements of the world at play that are older than living memory, the idea that one could obtain knowledge of these past events ties into the purpose of the Three-Eyed Raven. Of course, throughoutGame of Thrones, Bran Stark’s journey takes him beyond the Wall to find the Three-Eyed Raven, meet thesurviving Children of the Forest, and ultimatelybecome the new Three-Eyed Raven, allowing him to see all things in the past, present, and future. These ancient forces Alys speaks of that are moving them like pieces on a board link to what Bran is eventually able to see as the Three-Eyed Raven.
They exist within the memory that only Bran possesses, playing small parts in the nonlinear scheme of the world.
As Bran says inGame of Thrones, the Night King sought to erase this world and its history, withBran, as the Three-Eyed Raven, being the world’s memory. In the context of everything leading to the Night King’s return, the Targaryens losing the throne before Daenerys and Jon Snow’s time, dragons dying out after the Dance before returning a century later, and the Three-Eyed Raven eventually becoming King inGame of Thrones' ending, Alys is right that she and Daemon are just pieces on a board moving toward a bigger play down the line. They exist within the memory that only Bran possesses, playing small parts in the nonlinear scheme of the world.
Alys Rivers: House Of The Dragon’s Harrenhal “Witch” & Powers Explained
House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, introduces audiences to Alys Rivers. Here’s what we know about her in the show and in the book.
With Bran’s sight also being connected to the powers of the weirwood trees, Alys Rivers’ curious obsession with this tree inHouse of the Dragonmeansshe could possess some foresight that Bran Stark eventually takes up the mantle of the Three-Eyed Raven. Or, she could play a role in influencingGame of Thrones’ Three-Eyed Raven before Bran takes over. The weirwood trees play a role in the sight that greenseers have in understanding the world, so Alys’ cryptic words that relate to the Three-Eyed Raven’s ultimate role indirectly set up Bran’s journey long before he’s born.
House Of The Dragon Hints Alys Rivers Could Also Be A Greenseer
Alys Rivers Includes The Major Elements Of Bran Stark’s Story In House Of The Dragon
Like Bran Stark and the original Three-Eyed Raven,House of the Dragonhas dropped some hints thatAlys Rivers could be a greenseer. Similar to those figures,Alys has inexplicable knowledge of certain events and private moments from others’ pasts, particularly related to Daemon and House Targaryen. One way this could be explained is by the character being a greenseer, which would also give a reason for howAlys predicted Daemon Targaryen’s deaththe first moment she met him.
Greenseers have important connections to weirwood trees, and Alys often discusses their magic, seems to have her strongest powers when she’s near them, and may even be using theirpaste in the potion she gives to Daemonto influence his visions. Additionally, there arehints that Alys could be both a greenseer and a skinchanger/warg. Ayls initially tells Daemon that she was a barn owl trapped in human form, and later calls a barn owl to her arm when standing near the weirwood tree. If so, Alys could potentially have a bigger role connected to a Targaryen who soon becomes the Three-Eyed Raven.
Alys Rivers' Story Could Make Brynden Rivers' Three-Eyed Raven Identity Canon In Game Of Thrones
Alys Has A Deep Connection To Two Major Targaryens In The Riverlands
While this isn’t explicitly revealed inGame of Thrones, the books heavily imply thatBrynden Rivers is the Three-Eyed Raventhat Bran Stark meets beyond the Wall.Brynden, aka “Bloodraven,” is a bastard of House Targaryen from the Riverlands rumored to be a sorcerer. He goes from Hand of the King to his nephews, King Aerys I and King Maekar I, to being exiled to the Night’s Watch, to disappearing beyond the Wall and seemingly becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, later teaching Bran about greensight and skinchanging.
House of the Dragoncould make this canon by having Alys cryptically foresee a future Targaryen as the most powerful greenseer.
Alys’ connection to House Targaryen inHouse of the Dragoncould be linked to Brynden eventually becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, as her greensight may allow her some insight into their descendant taking on that role.Alys also has a romance with Aemond TargaryeninFire & Blood, whose appearance mirrors Brynden as tall, silver-haired men who lose an eye at young ages.While Brynden is born about 30 years after the Dance, Alys could still be alive at that timeand help hone his greensight powers. If so,House of the Dragoncould make this canon by having Alys cryptically foresee a future Targaryen as the most powerful greenseer.
Alys and Aemond also allegedly have a son in Fire & Blood, which could support the idea that she foresaw a Targaryen greenseer that she thought would come from her own blood.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
