Turns out Coldhands is a “Wind of Winter”, the first revealed member of a secret society of undead in the books who are committed to making GRRM go sleepytime whenever he sits down to write about them.
Thats what brought me to this video. I'll try to make this brief, Jojen sees a winged wolf in chains. Jojen wants to help the wolf be free, but Bloodraven has no intentions of healing Bran. The winged wolf is not Bran. Several characters go through the dark basements of KL and feel like something or someone else is down there with them. Littlefinger tells Ned he is going to stuff him in the walls and leave him there as a joke. Jaimie has nightmares of being deep down under KL. Jaimie tells people that Brandon Stark killed himself with a "Tyroshi Torture Device". Aerys didn't run when Ned showed up at his gates during the rebellion. Aerys was killed by Jaimie before Ned took the City. Jaimie was sitting on the throne with his sword layed over his lap just like the Kings in the crypts of Winterfell. Have you figured it out yet?? Aerys was going to use the imprisoned Brandon Stark as leverage to force Ned to surrender. Jaimie hated Aerys and the Starks so much he killed Aerys before Ned reached the gates! Jamie lied and Brandon Stark is still down in the prison cellars!!
@@pyramidion5911 i'm not sure i believe this, but the plot and character motivation are so good😭 i would read an entire other story built upon this premise
I'm on team Raven's Teeth, personally. It just makes sense that Bloodraven would revive one of his loyal companions. Brynden's last ranging has "Last Hero" vibes, so I figure all of his guards died one by one as he sought the children beyond the wall.
the old gods might in their own way. the only gods we see actually have any power would be R'hllor and The Old gods, possibly even the God of Death if you wanted to debate that. I don't see any issue with a sacrificial ritual performed by a man with the best genetic makeup to be a magical overlord, that would make sense to me. @@onyedikachukwumiracle
@@onyedikachukwumiracle He does have the power to do most anything else... stands to reason that he figured out how to summon enough power and resurrect one of his most loyal men. Perhaps he has more but keeps them hidden.
There’s another piece of evidence saying that cold hands is much older than any living character at the start of the story. When his gigantic elk dies of exhaustion or something like that, coldhands speaks the old tongue over it as a sort of eulogy. My theory is that he has to be ancient, like thousands of years ancient. We will probably never get an answer in the future books but I think he was one of the original founding members of the watch that fought alongside Azor ahai or the last hero. David lightbringer has a great theory on this. Basically the founding members of the nights watch were all undead since the wall is in such a remote place, how big it is, and how much food living people need is crazy if all the forts were manned. Also there is a quote from Dolores ed where he complains that “even if I die they’ll just pick me back up again and put me back on my post, we won’t even be able to quit when we’re dead jon.”
Or he could even be Azor ahai! I enjoyed David Lightbringer’s video on this theory. Since Leaf is 250 years old, I think her using the term “long ago” means Coldhands has truly been dead (undead, semi-dead) for eons.
It doesn't say "old tongue", it is just a tongue Bran doens't know. Can be Valyrian. The best fitting character that could be Coldhands is by far The Rogue Prince. Killed a long time ago in the only place in the seven kingdoms where the Children of the Forest live, his body never recovered (everything else from the battle was recovered), he was a main character of his own story who simply vanished in a battle. He is also Bloodraven's ancestor, had the same goals, but probably didn't have such strong powers.
@@petrmaly9087 but what motivation does he have? If he was reanimated by children of the forest why not cut through them and go to kings landing where his niece and wife is struggling to rule and has schemers and mutineers around every corner?
@@ianlachey1726 First thing is options he have. Many his reanimation is linked to the will of the CotF, second, they do show people (Bran, Bloodraven) visions of the past and the future, he knows he needs to serve behind the wall, to get visions to his descendant bloodraven and later to protect Bran. He is of no use to his wife and kids as he doesn't have a dragon.
The Danny Flint theory is my favourite but the Raven's teeth makes the most sense to me. Does every mysterious figure have to be someone we've heard of?
@pamelaguerra3768 because in life we don't always get statisifying resolutions. And for author who loves human heart in conflict with itself a unsolved mystery seems a perfect connection to that seeking answers and never finding them.
@@pamelaguerra3768 It might not be intended as a mystery so much as a piece of foreshadowing and worldbuilding. That someone can exist who’s part ice wight but on the side of humanity and still sentient might be an important fact toward the end of the books. The ‘who’ of Coldhands might not be so important as the ‘what’.
@@pamelaguerra3768 what if it isn't a mystery? people seem to make a mystery out of everything theese days, especially in Asoiaf. the fact that Bran questioned who Coldhands was doesn't mean that we will eventually need to know who he really is. it could be the same as with magic in their world.. a double edged sword who may cut you with disappointment when you know his identity because it might not be someone interresting enough for you
I would add that if he were Benjen, he would likely show encouragement to Bran in what he's about to undertake with Bloodraven, and come across as a bit more protective. Similar to his talk with Jon on the wall about doing what's necessary, especially since would still be a frightened boy, more so than Jon.
Coldhands was a member of the Nights Watch who went north with his Lord Commander Bloodraven. I doubt George will ever give us his real name nor that it is important. I personally think there is more than one Coldhands and that Bloodraven has a few loyal undead crows serving under him as his "force on the ground"
I subscribe to this, but have more - I'm thinking Coldhands was a warg and evaded mindless ice zombiehood by his familiar warging back into his raised corspe - the same way I think Jon Snow will come back, raised by the Others yet regaining his own consciousness.
I’d lean more towards nights king than any other options presented. He uses an ancient tongue when killing the elk, so being thousands of years old aligns with that. Also, in regards to coldhands having to be “killed” by the others - The nights king gave part of his soul to his other bride and so “died” by the others similarly to how obi wan claims anakin to have “died.” Not a literal total death - GRRM has played this trick with the Elder brother claiming Sandor to have “died” The nights kings story is lost to legend - This is GRRM we’re talking about here. Do we really think the actual historical figure would be a cut and dry evil villain? The nights king may still be (and always have been) extremely loyal to the NW. Maybe a pact with the others could be seen as something in full interest of the realm - perhaps the reasons for the nights king actions were truly inline with the vows of the nights watch (at least by his own perception). It mirrors Jon’s actions with making peace among the wildlings, and furthermore how others have judged those actions by Jon. The nights king was cast down for a pact with the enemy - and so was Jon. Those who would record history and write songs from a lens opposed to Jon’s actions would likely even sing of his romance with the enemy - ygritte (yet another mirror of the nights king). But if coldhands is nights king, he still lives, resurrected, just like Jon.
I like the Danny Flint one. Haven't heard of it yet. But let's face it, Coldhands is obviously Euron, who is secretly Quaithe, as well as Howland Reed, Bloodraven, Patchface, Moqorro, Jaquen H'ghar, the ghost of High Heart and of course Balerion the Cat at the same time.
I think it's Night's King myself but the reason I don't quite discard Danny is that tales change over time. Look at our own fables and fairytales and see how they've changed over the centuries.
Which makes no sense, tbh. Danny Flint is a “Sweet Polly Oliver”. Polly almost never dies. In all the Polly songs I’ve ever heard, there is literally ONE variant where she dies and that could arguably be due to the time period of the song(the napoleonic wars and the bloody code, titled “Willie Taylor”, altho more popular versions have the heroine become a ship’s captain). And while rape isn’t exactly uncommon in old ballads, it’s not as ubiquitous as all that, and almost never occurs in Polly songs. Generally, Polly is accepted as one of the soldiers, even after her identity is discovered(altho that might also coincide with her dismissal from the army, because she’s getting married). But Danny Flint’s death being changed to “raped and murdered by her comrades” would make sense in the context of propaganda. Especially if she were to die in a mysterious way, at the hands of magical creatures that aren’t supposed to exist. For one, the whole concept of a penal colony at just about the ends of the earth would have most people rioting. It might make sense for a couple of centuries during the bloody codes, but during the medieval period? For thousands of years? Across multiple countries? But what better way to assure people that the watch is full off bad nasty people than the story that they had a female member who was literally raped to death? It also has the double impact of discouraging people from following their loved ones to the Wall. Because it’s impossible to believe that the families left behind when some guy took a deer bc his people were starving wouldn’t just pack up and go with on occasion. Make it sound dangerous, so they’ll stay away. Finally, it would explain the mysterious death of a watch member in a way that the teller could understand themselves. It’s not mysterious forest creatures, I’m the commander of a penal slave colony full of bad people.
The "Long Ago" comment can easily be thought of as Leaf using the term from Bran's perspective, as she's talking to him at the time and giving him conext. That being said, even from Bran's perspective, Benjen's disappearance hardly qualifies as "long ago".
I'm still with theory that the Coldhands is one of Blood Ravens followers that went to the wall with him and then went ranging North. Died and then was resurrected by Blood Raven or the children of the forest. Either way by the power of the old gods
@@7PlayingWithFire7 If Bloodraven is connected to the weirwoods then he could probably learn it through that and then teach his companions. My question is what happened to the rest of his companions
Coldhands is not Benjen, but I think Benjen is going to be the next “Coldhands”. If Ravens Teeth theory is correct then Bloodraven wanted someone he could trust as his thrall, and Bran will follow suit with Benjen. Just a thought
Correct me if I'm wrong but those brothers he kills were the mutineers and if Blood Raven can see through Mormont's crow, then that's how Coldhands would know to kill them.
Thanks for the nod QTGM. Myself and another fan discussed Ch=Brave Danny in the comments on another channel (Bend the Knee) months ago; they saw our comments and did a video on it too, and furthered the theory in the best way... We know Dany is a 'Flint', but it's unknown which of the four House Flints she comes from. Two of the House Flints have very curious heraldry- House Flint of Widow's Watch has a pair of blue eyes floating at the top of their sigil; House Flint of Flint's Finger has a grey stone hand in the middle of their sigil. Might GRRM have been trying to tell us something by having the only two House Flints with given heraldry each feature details that tie to Coldhands/the Others? If Ch is actually Danny Flint, might her new name derive from the sigil of her house (Flints of Flint's Finger) because a stone hand and a cold hand are effectively the same thing? This was an awesome video. Thanks again for the shout-out :).
I actually really like the idea of him being the Night’s King. If he gave a part of his soul to an Other that could certainly be an explanation as to how he’d keep his sentience, and to me really implies death and resurrection
I’ve seen a theory that Coldhands is Daemon Targaryen. The evidence is that Daemon was last seen near the isle of faces, which is known for its connection to the CotF. This could explain how Daemon was resurrected and was sent north. Additionally, GRRM loves Daemon and might want to bring him into the main series. I find the theory a little out there but it’s still a fun theory.
I don’t think Martin saying Coldhands isn’t Benjen makes it true since he’s also said that Berrick isn’t Berrick anymore after his resurrection, it seems that Martin says that they’re different beings after death
Valid point but why would Leaf say Benjen is old. Leaf is hundreds of years old so I’m inclined to believe that Coldhands is the Nights King whose name is Bran Stark
@@benjaminklein8379 oh I don’t think it is benjen because of leaf saying “long ago”, I’m just saying that Martin saying No doesn’t really mean much because of how he treats the undead
I don’t believe Bloodraven was sent to the Wall for punishment. I think Egg sent him there because they knew it was necessary to have a “Targaryen” there e/or beyond the Wall. Egg had visions or believed on the visions of others Targaryen since he “created” Solarestival.
The Brave Danny Flint theory was kinda stupid, I get the fan fiction appeal of it, but come on. I mean Benjen, Waymar et al being out on account of the "they killed him long ago" quote and Children having long lifespands but somehow this behemoth of a ranger who killed multiple brothers of the NW is some chick who joined the watch and didnt meet a happy ending a couple of centuries ago. The evidence is sketchy at best while I believe it is nonexistant. Those songs in the North serve a different purpose. They are foreshadowing regarding current events as in history repeating itself. Think Manderly calling for the Rat Cook song when serving delicious pies made of fat Frey pigs. Why doesnt the song make an appearance in Feast? Because we dont see the North in that book. Or the "No man of the NW can open the gate at the Nightfort", maybe, just maybe a better explanation would be that he is a walking corpse reanimated by magic that the wall was especially designed to repel?
I like the theory that Coldhands is Dunk from the novelas, bind to serve Bloodraven. This sad end to an amazing character is very likely to GRRM writing 😅
Dunk becoming BloodRaven's own Darth Vader is a ironic end for him, since Brynden thought Dunk would be needed for the realm in the future, It would be super unexpected If this was his future that Brynden talked about!
I like the Raven's Teeth theory. It would be interesting if we get to meet Coldhands before he met his final fate in a future Dunk and Egg book. Though whether the White Walkers were even active in this time period is unclear.
they're not bound by dragon magic so I'd bet that they were "active" whatever you mean by that. they're comming south as some kind of punishment, not because they want to just erase all humanity "Eren-yeager style." they most certainly lived far more north though in that time period
What about the theory that cold hands is Ser Dunk the tall? He was killed long ago. He is big and rides a huge elk. Dunk always had a strong bond with horses. They both have a Scar on their face.
The newest theory is that coldhands is actually Daemon Targaryen. According to reddit, his death wasn't confirmed and theres tons of convoluted contrivances that could explain how he survived his battle with Aemond over the gods eye. 😂
About it being unlikely that it’s Nights King cause the body decomposed - we know from when they find Othor’s body that even maggots and worms won’t touch a wighted corpse, which might extend to bacteria. That would slow the decomposition process. Furthermore, “ice preserves” so I think it’s possible that the magic could preserve the body for all that time.
His name is perhaps Brandon Stark, and he might be the Brandon Stark, our Bran sees in his final Weirwood vision in his final chapter in A Dance With Dragons, the prisoner who gets his throat slit by the white haired woman in front of the Winterfell Weirwood. Just my hypothesis, because Coldhands, when asked who he is, tells “I am your monster, Brandon Stark”, and he seems to be rattling and covering up something around his neck, perhaps a wound made by slitting his throat “…long ago”.
I think Coldhands could be Daemon Targaryen after the Battle Above The Gods Eye after he kills Aemond Targaryen his death is never confirmed and as we will know if a death is never confirmed they most likely didn't die so I reckon he ended up joining the Nights Watch where he was eventually killed by The Others whilst being beyond The Wall. He becomes Coldhands and roams beyond The Wall eventually Brynden Rivers ends up beyond The Wall and becomes The Three Eyed Crow they meet each other Daemon now Coldhands reclaims his Valyrion Steel Sword Dark Sister from Bloodraven and they join forces. If Jon Snow ends up being Rhaegar and Lyanna's Child like in the show that makes Daemon Jons Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather so if Jon does get Resurrected and goes beyond The Wall like in the show it would be very apt that Coldhands (Daemon) sacrifices himself for his Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandson perhaps Jon then inherits Dark Sister from Daemon.
The only thing against Brave Danny Flint theory is that Leaf specifically says about Coldhands "They killed *him* long ago." So unless The Children of the Forest are big users of gender-fluid terminology in an oppressive world of tradition and stark (heh) enforcement of gender roles then there's no chance it's Danny Flint. Danny Flint was also killed by other Night's Watchmen, not the Others, so Leaf's conversation wouldn't even make sense because she was just talking about The Others not being able to kill Coldhands anymore because they already did.
When he says "your monster, brandon stark" could he be implying Bran warged into him in the past and this was the outcome? "yours, yours, yours" from the crow amplifies that implication for me. Or it could mean they have been waiting for Bran and he is there to serve him.
I believe that the Coldhands we know is a long-dead skinchanger that has been warging recently-killed bodies for a long time (that way he doesn’t lose his humanity). Right now, he’s in Benjen’s body
Now I really want to read ASOS god damn it. Why can't I escape these books. There are so many, but when the sun sets, no candle can replace it, except nipples on a breastplace and wet nurse.
Its clear that Coldhands can only be one man: Yoren(my boy!) when he’s south of the wall he loses some power and when hes north he goes by Coldhands, but either way he sticks to his mission of serving the Watch (and his hobby of saving Stark children). Its a reason everyone talks about how bad Yoren smells (the hide the smell of death, duh)
Just subbed. 1) when was the wall raised, 2) timing of the 13th Lord Commander, 3) if a Stark, given repetition of Brandon name in that family, Coldhands speaking literal truth, 4) who were the ‘they’ who killed him, 5) wouldn’t the Children of the Forest say ‘we’ killed him, 6) Martin’s fondness for using the Undead/zombie trope in his story.
I’ve never seen anyone talk about the “champions” of the lord of darkness that melisendre sees in her visions. I believe the man with the wolf head could be benjen stark being a mirror to the original nights king as they are both starks and nightswatchmen. Jon would also be an obvious candidate as well being half wolf and lord commander
The best fitting character that could be Coldhands is by far The Rogue Prince. Killed a long time ago in the only place in the seven kingdoms where the Children of the Forest live, his body never recovered (everything else from the battle was recovered), he was a main character of his own story who simply vanished in a battle. He is also Bloodraven's ancestor, had the same goals, but probably didn't have such strong powers. In the show we see his preferred language is Valyrian, while Bran recognises him speaking in a foreign tongue...
Couldn’t he just be Bloodraven warging some dead nights watch body. He can’t leave the cave because he’s rooted in, so this gives him a way to move around and be more interactive. It also explains the animal control.
He's the original Night's King on a redemptive path. He gave his Queen his seed and his soul which, combined with his magical or symbolic death "long ago" lead to his current undead state. Referring to fellow NW men as "crows" is a useful obfuscation for the fact that, as a Stark named Brandon (per Nan's retelling of the story), he is a sort of Brother to Bran Stark.
Furthermore, we know that the Starks have always had a strong connection to Winterfell's past, Winter and the Wall. They forgot the Night King's real name, but I believe the books hide that because he is also a Stark. In the past, Brandon the Builder raised the Wall, and the Night's King has always stood by the Others. If history repeats itself, we could see Bran trying to hold the Wall while Jon becomes the new Night's King, leading the Others and willing to bring down the Wall for good. It would be a showdown between two Starks. And yes, I believe that Jon Snow will be the new Night's King and march to Winterfell, because ''there must always be a Stark at Winterfell''. As far as I can remember there had been a pact between the Night's King and the Others. Perhaps the Pact was that always a Stark not only had to be at Winterfell, but that the Night's King had to always be a Stark as well. And in the crypts of Winterfell, the dead Starks are said to rest there, in statues with their swords. Perhaps Winterfell's crypts also have a connection to the White Walkers.
please don't combine the night's king with the night king from the tv show. we don't even know if Others have such a figure to lead them and even if they do, it would probably be a different character since Others are more like a completely different species who just may or may not breed with humans from time to time. However, it would really fit the story if Jon became the incarnation of the Night's king (the lord commander one)
I think he's one of the Raven's Teeth. I bet we will see a him in a vision before Bran has to leave the cave. Love your content, I'm so happy to see this channel blowing up like it is!
I like the theory that he is one of the Ravens Teeth... I'm not sure any character of "long ago" is appropriate. He may have been one of the founding members too... but I think THAT would qualify as "ages ago" or "long LONG ago"... and not just "long ago"... but who knows? (Other than GRRM).
An alternate, alternate take To understand reference Forbidden Planet and Only Kids are Afraid of the Dark. The Id Monster and Dr. Weird respective. This is essentially Time Traveling Bran. Bran, while training with BR goes extremely far into the past. While there in spirit the connection to his body is cut (maybe the tree is damaged, or they have to move him from the cave). Bran learns to skinchange the dead, or wights, and has been waiting until he's past the moment in time he went back to return to himself. "your monster, Brandon Stark", as in Forbidden Planet, he's literally Bran. Recall in the same chapter Coldhands immediately responds to the Last Greenseer question, while BR appears slightly confused. Either this makes Old Bran the 3Ecrow watching Bran with BR, or it might indicate he knows how BR appear privately to Bran. Common theory is that BR might not know how he's perceived to others. However, if this is an older version of Bran he'd know this. It might also resolve your early speculation about knowing when and where Bran is for Sam to retrieve. If he is Bran, he'd remember where he was and when. It might also circle back to the Last Hero (Last Greenseer). If Old Bran had used the Body of that Hero and returned with the CotF to create the NW, it might make sense. The prophecy is about the reborn AA returning. If he was there in Spirit and is now returning to his own body, it would fit the idea of a returning AA.
Nah, Coldhands is a Ring-Wraith, send by Sauron, to infriltrate the World of Ice and Fire. Joking aside. The he died long ago comments. Its obviously someone we aren't expecting... Its Joramun, the First King Beyond the Wall, since he was a contemporary of the Night's King.
I hope he's some weird enforcer of nights watch vows that is eternally controlled by the Children...A pact of some sort. And maybe BenJen will offer himself as the next Coldhands...BAM! PLOT TWIST! BENJEN IS NOT *AND IS* COLDHANDS
I never thought Benjen Stark was Coldhands. Mainly because of the "died long ago" bit. I have been warming up to the Raven's Teeth theory. Though the reason we don't know any specific member is the reason I'm not convinced of it.
Good video! I personally still believe it is Benjen, but I like the Raven's Tooth theory. Not as much of a fan of the Flint theory, just because Leaf said they killed HIM long ago, which tells me Coldhands is a man. I mean, if we can read so deeply into "long ago" which is subject to perspective, I think "him" is pretty straightforward.
You know, I am very much onboard with the "Brave Danny Flint" way, and I do hope she will take up Dark Sister in the next books (who will be released next year, right? Right?!) Dark Sister alongside the Black Brothers Or, Dark Sister, Bright (Dawn) Brother. Also, please, someone, tell me that I am not the only one who found the Targaryans stupid, for having the dream "...of Ice and Fire" and didn't push harder for more unions with the Starks/North in general?
My theories about ColdHands' identity is that he's: A. Commander of BR's Raven's Teeth; B. Dany Flint; C. Duncan the Tall, which would fit due to CH's stature and the state of his body!
I was expecting to see Sir Duncan the Tall as a possibility. I mean, how interesting would his story be if he survived Summerhall, perhaps with burns on his face that'll conceal his identity (burns on his hands too maybe?). Feeling disgraced (failed to protect the king, probably not actually a knight anyway) he takes himself off to the nights watch for lack of anything else to do. Maybe even guided there by Bloodraven in animal form. Evidence for: Make the character of Coldhands a bit more relevant established relationship with Bloodraven, Bloodraven would know who he is and is good intentions Connection with animals (Dunc cries after one of his horses dies) Would be cool Evidence against: Summerhall happened 7 years after Bloodraven disappeared Coldhands not described as particularly tall Edit: oh! And Dunc escorted Bloodraven to the wall! Plenty of time to say "if your life crumbles and you lose all purpose, the apocalypse is coming and I could really use your help north of the wall"
When cold hands says "Your monster", I believe he is referring to the three eyed crow, not himself. Meera: "Who sent you? Who is this three eyed crow?" Cue creepy crow moment... Bran: "A monster." Cold Hands: "Your monster"
If we operate under the assumption that the Three-Eyed Crow is being truthful with Bran, he's definitely Bloodraven and not a time-traveling Future Bran. The Three-Eyed Crow says that his birth name was Brynden, he says that he has watched Bran with "a thousand eyes and one," which the only other usage of is in reference to Bloodraven, he has a birthmark on his face just like Bloodraven (and unlike Bran,) and he mentions having "a brother he loved, a brother he hated, and a woman he desired," which perfectly fits Daeron II, Bittersteel, and Shiera Seastar, and does NOT fit Bran since he loves Robb, Jon, and Rickon so there is no brother he hates
I like Coldhands being the Night’s King, if only because having a character that ridiculously old around could be a chance to glimpse at some of the foundational events of the Wall. As for decay, we do know maggots and things that eat bodies shy away from the undead; Benjen’s companions who were killed and turned into wights had been dead for months, but besides the cold their bodies looked fresh. And not to get too weird but there have been cases of properly stored bodies irl being near-fresh even 2000 years after the fact, and that’s not even accounting for magic! (Look up Lady Dai for that one) I’m just saying a little ice magic and a tree-stasis cocoon could to wonders for even the crustiest corpse.
I can't see Coldhands being Benjen. It makes no sense for him to be Benjen, plan to bring Bran to Bloodraven, and not reveal himself. It'd make Bran trust him immediately and make their journey together much easier. Is this guy dead? Doesn't matter, he's my uncle and therefore trustworthy no matter what. Did he just kill his Black Brothers? Don't care, Benjen is honorable and just so he must have a really good reason for it.
I don‘t know how useful this is, but it always felt significant to me that Coldhands is described (and addressed) specifically as a „ranger“. I.e. he died as a member of the Watch‘s military arm, the Rangers. Of course, that still includes a lot of people (like Benjen who it definitely isn‘t), and it‘s not like many builders or stewards were on the list to begin with. On the other hand, it arguably excludes Lord Commanders, who are no longer part of any of the three orders. But actually, I feel like this might point to a much more banal, but also very likely, answer to the question of Coldhands‘ identity. Namely, he is just „a Ranger“. Not a specific one we would know, but one whose identity is either completely irrelevant or forgotten entirely, including by himself. This strikes me as by far the most likely answer. People in George R R Martin‘s works don‘t have to be anyone special to play an important role. This is true especially beyond the Wall.
I think Coldhands could be Bloodraven, who has reanimated and has control over Benjen Stark's body OR even just the original Bloodraven who was prevented from turning into a wight by a alternative timeline Bloodraven from the future OR the cave Bloodraven sits in is a weird time machine where only a select few can enter it and get transported across time, Coldhands can't see it because it doesn't exist for him. I know GRRM said Coldhands isn't Benjen Stark, but if Bloodraven takes over Benjen Stark's then Coldhands is and isn't Benjen Stark, i.e. Ship of Theseus.
I wrote it in the community post already but I'm gonna repeat myself nevertheless: Coldhands is a son of Night's King and his WW bride in my headcanon, until George proves it otherwise.
Coldhands is the last hero. The “they” who killed him long ago is not the Others. The last hero’s dog and horse died and then his sword broke. In the symbolism of the story, this means his loyalty and honour died and then he broke his oath. Oathbreakers are executed, by the Stark of Winterfell if needs be, just as we saw in Bran’s first chapter. Bran saw the death of Coldhands through the eyes of the heart tree in Winterfell, where long ago a woman cut a captive’s throat with a bronze sickle. This wound remains concealed beneath Coldhands’ scarf.
At this point my head-canon is that Coldhands is Azor Ahai. The original one. Elric Shadowchaser. Like Jon he died and became a type of Wight, and then he went on and fought the others and became a Hero. After the fighting was done He became a founding member of the Night's Watch and became their first Ranger who went north beyond the wall, as well as their first Ranger who went beyond the wall and never returned.
But Coldhands appears to be a man, right? I think the reason they can‘t open the black gate is much simpler: Coldhands is, after all, dead. And we know that dead people exactly the sort of people the Wall is definitely supposed to keep out. That probably includes magic doors that go under it. Plus, Danny Flint also doesn‘t seem to have been killed by the Others, since she was presumably murdered by her „brothers“, which seems to preclude the possibility that she is Coldhands.
Other comments have pointed out that George's terse and unexpanded response to the question leaves the door open to Coldhands not being Benjen, but is possibly still Benjen's corpse, piloted perhaps by Brynden, one of the Children, or someone from the Weirwood net. Anyone with the right power, really. Assuming this could be the case, it begs the question: why is Coldhands different to the other wights? One of the most distinctive physical features of wights we know to be absent from Coldhands: the cold, icy blue glint of the eyes. It's easy to dismiss the eye colour as a trivial detail regarding the Other's control, but its absence does suggest that it's directly tied into whatever it is that changes a mindless wight into... whatever Coldhands is. The very last time we see a Wight in the series thus far is with Thistle, where we learn there's something more supernatural going on here than just blue coloured eyes, she has pale, flickering lights in her empty sockets, and the Varamyr chapter ends with those eyes as the focal point of the scene as they stare down Varamyr's consciousness in his wolf. We've seen that the wights must harbour some lingering element of their personality, some small scrap of self still clinging on deep inside them. Jon suspects as such with the cunning of the wights who attacked Mormont, then we have Paul not attacking the ravens, and finally Thistle. Thistle's last moments were spent in agony, tearing her face apart as she fought off Varamyr, mind and soul. And the very first thing her revenant does upon its raising is stare at him specifically. She sees him. To go out on a massive limb, perhaps this whole thing hints at how wights work in the first place. They're violent, murderous things, but if they were nothing but complete automatons piloted by the Others, those touches of personality likely wouldn't exist. Perhaps the deathly cold in the Other's sorcery literally freezes some small part of the soul as their victims die, leaving them in a perpetual state of agony and torment. Paul dies literally angry and attacking an Other for its mistreatment of a horse, and his fondness for beasts follows him to his undeath. Thistle dies resisting Varamyr, and immediately carries a burning, frosty vengeance in her gaze aimed directly at him upon her return. Maybe that's why the Others seem so callous and cruel in their limited appearances, they want to inflict a terrifying death in order to create a useful, frenzied servant. In a sense that makes them analagous to Stoneheart, and how her anguished demise coloured her resurrection. So perhaps Benjen was turned into a regular wight, only for Brynden or the Children to find him and pluck out that tormented pearl of frozen consciousness, leaving the body as an empty vessel for someone else to use. Perhaps every single wight's death is literally a mercy, as you're putting their soul at peace.
I don‘t think killing mutineers is that significant. You can bet every truly loyal Night‘s Watchman would go after deserters. The Starks behead deserters, and in fact Jon goes on a whole mutineer-slaying mission in the show.
