WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood and Tales of Dunk & Egg books!
Summary
- The Three-Eyed Raven in House of the Dragon is confirmed to be Brynden Rivers, a Targaryen bastard with a raven-like birthmark.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will explore Bloodraven’s history and Targaryen ancestry before his role as the Three-Eyed Raven.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms could reveal clues or visions hinting at Bloodraven’s future beyond the Wall.
The next spinoff in the Game of Thrones franchise, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, is expected to expand on House of the Dragon season 2’s reveal of the Three-Eyed Raven’s identity. While the Three-Eyed Raven’s identity as Brynden Rivers is implied in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books, this revelation isn’t made clear in HBO’s Game of Thrones show. Bran Stark’s predecessor didn’t confirm his name or past and lacked the raven-like birthmark that gave Brynden his nickname, so the Three-Eyed Raven’s Targaryen identity wasn’t made TV canon.
However, this information was finally confirmed in House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale. During his visions at Harrenhal’s weirwood tree, Daemon briefly sees Brynden Rivers, whose birthmark transforms into the more literal three-eyed raven seen in Game of Thrones. While Game of Thrones never explained the story of Brynden “Bloodraven” Rivers, his Targaryen ancestry, or how he becomes the Three-Eyed Raven, HBO’s upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show, which begins about 75 years after the Dance of the Dragons, will give more background to the compelling character after House of the Dragon’s shocking reveal.
House Of The Dragon’s Three-Eyed Raven Reveal Explained
House Of The Dragon’s Season 2 Finale Confirms Brynden Rivers Was The Three-Eyed Raven
Though it was left ambiguous in Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon confirms that the Three-Eyed Raven before Bran is Brynden “Bloodraven” Rivers. In addition to Daemon’s visions of Daenerys Targaryen and the White Walkers, he sees another one of his own descendants, as Bloodraven is actually a bastard of House Targaryen. Bloodraven’s identity is difficult to deny given his silver Targaryen hair, raven-like port-wine stain birthmark, and a seat on the tree where he later appears as an older man in Game of Thrones.
This matches the exact description of Brynden Rivers from Martin’s books. Bloodraven was born a bastard of House Targaryen, the son of King Aegon IV Targaryen and his paramour Melissa Blackwood. Brynden was one of the “Great Bastards” of King Aegon IV, and was even legitimized by his father prior to the King’s death. He was said to have lost his eye during a rebellion, though House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones’ iterations of the character give him both eyes. Bloodraven also carries the Targaryen ancestral sword Dark Sister, which previously belonged to Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Bloodraven is the great-grandson of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, through their youngest son Viserys Targaryen.
Eventually, Brynden Rivers became the Hand of the King to his nephews, King Aerys I and King Maekar I Targaryen, and served during three Blackfyre Rebellions. However, Brynden was later sent to the Night’s Watch by King Aegon V Targaryen after killing Aenys Blackfyre, despite offering him safe passage. Bloodraven was soon elected the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, but suddenly disappeared beyond the Wall while ranging. After this point, Bloodraven’s fate was unknown, but Game of Thrones’ books, and now House of the Dragon, reveal he stayed beyond the Wall and became the Three-Eyed Raven.
Bloodraven Will Eventually Appear In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
Brynden Rivers Is A Character In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Book Series
After appearing for a brief moment in Daemon’s House of the Dragon vision, Brynden Rivers will officially be introduced in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, the prequel show picks up about 90 years before Game of Thrones’ timeline begins, exploring another generation of House Targaryen’s family tree. This includes Brynden Rivers, who is mentioned in one of the books before appearing as an active character in The Mystery Knight’s story.
He may not be too prominent in the show, but
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
will at least paint a proper portrait of who Brynden Rivers was in Westeros and his influential role in House Targaryen before disappearing and becoming the Three-Eyed Raven.
While perhaps not in season 1, Bloodraven is one of several Targaryens appearing in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It’s unclear exactly how far A Knight of the Seven Kingdom’s timeline will extend into House Targaryen’s history, but Bloodraven will be introduced as the Hand of the King to Aerys I and, later, Maekar I. He may not be too prominent in the show, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will at least paint a proper portrait of who Brynden Rivers was in Westeros and his influential role in House Targaryen before disappearing and becoming the Three-Eyed Raven.
Will A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Dive Deeper Into The Three-Eyed Raven?
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Likely Won’t Follow Bloodraven’s Journey Beyond The Wall
It ultimately seems unlikely that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will actually show Bloodraven becoming the Three-Eyed Raven. Instead, the last time he appears in the show could simply be when he and Maester Aemon are first escorted to the Night’s Watch from King’s Landing. It would be a missed opportunity to not include any nods to Bloodraven’s future as the Three-Eyed Raven after House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale, but this may be difficult unless a different dragon-dreaming character foresees it.
Considering Bloodraven was accused of being a sorcerer,
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
could also go off-book by revealing that he has visions of his future beyond the Wall and calling as the Three-Eyed Raven.
As it turns out, Bloodraven’s great-nephew Daeron “the Drunken” Targaryen is known to have visions in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The show may use Daeron to continue House of the Dragon’s focus on Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire dream, prophetic visions of House Targaryen’s future like Helaena’s, and teases for future events in Game of Thrones. Considering Bloodraven was accused of being a sorcerer, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight could also go off-book by revealing that he has visions of his future beyond the Wall and calling as the Three-Eyed Raven.
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Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
