Game of Thrones left many storylines unresolved. Some character arcs were never fully developed. One of the most mysterious figures was the Three-Eyed Raven.
In the series, he is briefly shown as a strange old man beyond the Wall, living among the Children of the Forest. He helps Bran Stark learn to see the past and sense the present. The character also claims to have lived for a thousand years. But viewers never learned who he really was.
The History of the Three-Eyed Raven
George R.R. Martin’s books hint that this character may be one of the most well-known Targaryen bastards — Brynden Rivers. He was the son of Aegon IV, known as Bloodraven due to a distinct birthmark on his face.
He was legitimized, served as Hand of the King to two rulers, and headed the intelligence service. Later, Rivers became Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. But 13 years after arriving at the Wall, he mysteriously disappeared into the woods — and it was there that he became the Three-Eyed Raven.
The Three-Eyed Raven and House of the Dragon
In the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, much attention is given to the prophecy — the 'Song of Ice and Fire'. It turned out that this revelation was passed down from king to king within House Targaryen. That’s why a new theory emerged online: Rivers was not sent to the Wall as a punishment.
Instead, the Targaryens may have wanted to have their own man stationed at the northernmost point of Westeros. This would mean that the bastard’s conflict with the Night King became personal. Rivers turned out to be the keeper of ancient secrets passed down by his ancestors, who had known about the White Walkers long before their arrival.
