Game of Thrones Symbolism: The Night's Watch 

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I think that black also means neutrality, in the sense of "no house color", since the watch will never pick a side in a war

Just want to give a shout out to Jessica Babineaux, the editor of this video. Editing was totally on point today, and video editors don't get enough credit.

The crow that was executed by Ned Stark in episode one was executed for NOT returning to castle black and warning them of the white walkers and NOT doing his duty. He was executed for desertion not warning of the white walkers like you said. Great video!

I think Ned wanting Jon to join the Watch was to protect him more than anything. If the truth of who he is came into light, Jon's life would be over, and (most important to him) Ned would have failed his sister.

you guys are really coming through with these Game of Thrones analysis videos

RIP Eddison "Dolorous Edd" Tollett, 999th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. We shall never see his like again. And now his watch has ended....

Game of Thrones symbolism: The wine. Make it happen.

So you've covered the houses, the Night's Watch, the Dothraki, the White Walkers, and a few characters continuing stories. I'm curious now for one about the religions which would be interesting to see how they all differ and serve a purpose whether it succeeds or fails.

Crows are smart birds that like high places for safety. From the Wildling's perspective the men in black atop the wall resemble crows on, well, a wall.

In all likelihood, the Nights Watch could have continued in a downward spiral. It took a man like Jon Snow to make them respectable again.

Considering what the Night's Watch is all about, it actually makes sense that part of their oath is no lover. It would be too easy for a house to send someone who could manipulate them. Even without cruel intentions, many people would put their love (and any children that would come from it) above their duty to the Wall.

“You are no longer part of the system. You are above the system. You are over it. Beyond it. We’re them. We’re they. We are the Men in Black.” 😎 Oops wrong video! Silly me

something incredibly important you've missed is that THEY never call themselves crows. if you analyse symbolisms one of the most important questions is WHOOO calls them crows. it's their enemies, the free folk (or so called wildlings by the men of the watch -- see? point of view is important) and never themselves. so the symbol of the crow is not a good one but rather a pejorative one.

Jon: Do you take me for a servant? Aemon: We took you for a man of the Nights Watch. Perhaps we were wrong in that. I love that exchange, it speaks to the level of duty to the order or ego.

My favorite faction of the show. I always thought the idea of a Night's Watch to be pretty cool and useful.

I remember watching GOT with my grandpa back in 2011 and he said The Night’s Watch was exactly like being married 😂 DEP mi viejito 😔

Who else feels like they survived 2 LONG years of winter waiting for final season

Somehow i feel The Nightwatch has some Starks's personalities such endurance, duty and honour

I'm 74 and a veteran of the Vietnam War. I joined the USMC in 1965, when almost the entire US Army was drafted, and they actually drafted some Marines. This is a perfect example of this Watch dichotomy, a reveal of those conflicts. This fucking show is deeper than I could imagine, and now that it's over these analyses reveal more depths.

Do the Free Folk please! Kind of similar to the Dothraki, I imagine, but not exactly the same.

No mention about inner democratic system in feudal world?;/

Could you do Symbolisms of the parts of westeros, you know like the North, South, East, West?

A last one on the wildlings would be cool

As we are approaching the premiere, your video essays on Game of Thrones are the only ones I can and will watch!! I can't bring myself to watch other channels' bcs they spend too much time on fan theories to the point that it's become exhausting to sit through

When Jon Snow is saying that there is only the great war and then a Game of Thrones videogame ad, starts with the narration: "The great war in Westeros..." Well played Skynet!

Great analysis of the reason why most of the NW is there at the Wall. People tend to forget that, although they are supposed to leave behind their former lives, most don't. Besides Karl, Rast & Janos - Alliser is another perfect example of someone who doesn't let go. When you think about it, even Jeor Mormont didn't. He should not have had Longclaw. That sword should have stayed on Bear Island regardless of Jorah leaving as it's Lord. Even Benjen still visited Winterfell as a brother to Ned, and an Uncle to Ned's children. Waymar Royce should not have had command of that ranging either. Anyways...there are plenty of weird shit going down on the Wall that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I hope we get some answers in the final season. But I suspect we'll need to wait for the books for the real answers. Great video! 😊🏝️🌺❤️

"Crows aren't exactly beautiful" excuse you?

I always found the happenings at the Wall or beyond it to be the most interesting of the shot, because everywhere else for a long time there wasn't a lot of supernatural stuff and it always seemed to be the place where all that stuff went down. Also, the extreme nature of the landscape seemed to mirror and intensify the extremely crazy nature of the happenings there.

I really like the wisdom that Aemon shows every time he speaks.

The Night's Watch is the key to the story. The men of the Night's Watch are Azor Ahai, The Prince that Was Promised, etc. They bring back 'the light', and guard the realm from 'darkness'. And it seems likely that Jaime Lannister will join and reform the Night's Watch.

Thank God I have these videos. After my watch has finally ended with horrendous writing I can come back and appreciate your work even more.

When you like and favorite before watching the video because you already know it's going to be high quality.

Since there’s a lot of scandinavian mythology in GOT maybe there is a relation between Jon and Sam with Odin’s crows Huginn and Muninn one being more of a thinking man (actions and trials) and the other looking in memories (books and histories ) for knowledge...

The onset of the long winter in season 7 coincided with the wardrobe department dressing characters in black, even in the south. As it became more and more apparent that the game of thrones was inconsequential compared to the war with the dead, the fact that Cersei and the Starks are all dressed similarly may symbolize that they're all actually on the same side, even if they refuse to acknowledge it.

There is so much crystal clear work put into these videos amazing job!

I am loving all of this Game of Thrones content. Thank you so much for all the work that must go into making these. They’re incredibly entertaining and informative. Valar morghulis.

You guys should definitely do analysis on Avatar: The last airbender.

G. R. R. M has his own version of Romanticism. In his meaning of Romanticism, there is a constant yearning for the past to come back. These things were traits of the Romantic movement of the nineteenth century, a movement that Martin has identified himself with in the past. Romanticism has a palpable presence in his award-winning short stories. Although Martin has said that he feels his earlier work is more romanticist than his later novels, the influence can still be clearly found in the Song of Ice and Fire series, having a pervasive effect on the presentation of the narrative. The most prevalent manifestation of romanticism is the view of the past espoused by many characters in the novel. It seems a part of human nature to idealize the past, to suppose things were somehow “better” in days gone by. The same can be said about how characters view the past of Westeros, citing examples of how the realm was once better off and has now declined. To exemplify, the Night’s Watch has fallen on hard times. Their numbers are depleted and their cause neglected by most of the great lords and kings, compared to the past when, as Yoren describes it in A Clash of Kings, “a man in black was feasted from Dorne to Winterfell, and even high lords called it an honor to shelter him under their roofs.” How true is this statement from Yoren, an older member of the Watch? There’s probably some truth to it, but at the same time it seems likely to be a simplification-a simplification revealed when Jon Snow considers some of the history his uncle Benjen taught him, of times past when members of the Watch warred against one another, and when the Starks had to forcibly put the Watch in order. More generally, Jon Snow and others hold a kind of romantic image of the noble calling of the Night’s Watch, an image that is swiftly punctured when Tyrion Lannister points out that his brothers will mostly be common thieves and murderers who choose the Wall over death, rather than out of a sense of honor or duty. The Watch has dwindled significantly, with fewer noble-born officers and fewer capable men generally . . . but they certainly were not all high-born paragons even in its earliest days. The history of the Watch and how it is represented is a subject for another discussion.

You guys are amazing! I’ve devoured so much GOT content in the past few weeks, you guys always manage to bring up something I’ve never thought about before. Also I showed my Mum your videos on Breaking Bad and she was so impressed. We thought we were good at picking up themes and imagery, but you put us to shame!

I love everything about Game of Thrones, but I think my favorite arc is the one with Sam and GIlly. He seems to grow and change more than anyone else in the story. Plus, I love Gilly (and Gendry) from a British show called Skins. It's great, and worth a watch!

The symbolic associations of the black/ white binomial opposition seen in China, where the life/ death symbolism take on the "intverted" associations seen in GOT. Just thought I should mention this detail because this channel is such a treasure that any way I can make a contribution is an honor.

Crows are also communal. They often fight off bigger birds like eagles by working together.

I loved the character of Aliser Thorne. Not the nicest guy. Though he was a highly professional officer who's skills still existed while he was basically exiled and he really fought for what he believed in whether it was right or wrong. That took a lot of backbone. Game of Thrones had so many wonderful characters like that.

Samwell Tarly, Lord Paramount of the Reach!

Sam's love never really contradicted his duty as a brother of the Watch. he didnt have to choose like Jon or Aemon. Love is the Death of Duty and if it came to it, Sam would abandon his duty to save Gilly. proving the point of why they have that Rule.

I love all of these GOT symbolism videos

I forgot that they would have sent Ned to the wall!! If that had happened, no Jon Snow. How brilliant. Great 👍🏾 loved the explanation.

I Am The Shield 🛡 That Guards ⚔️ The Realm 🌎 Of Men 👑

Really great and informative video. Outstanding work, ladies! 💃🏽

I love all these videos. I'll keep coming back to this channel for years to come☺️

Would you do a prediction video for the end based on your analysis?

I love this channel so much! It’s the only channel I sit through the ads.

This was absolutely fantastic! Thank you!

Ygritte:"you swore some stupid oath and now you can't touch a girl" Jon:"yes but nobody said anything about licking..eh..xD"

What I find to be interesting is when the video says that white = evil and black = good. In more recent seasons, Daenerys has progressively been seen in black clothing. The only episode in S7 that she wears white is the one where she sees the army of the dead and they take down her dragon. But her outfit in Season 8 episode 1 is completely white. I wonder if this foreshadows that she might either go completely mad or perhaps is turned by the Night King, or that she's somehow connected to the Whitewalkers on a deeper level perhaps? It would be an answer to the whole "A song of Ice and Fire" if she (fire) were turned into a Whitewalker (ice) and perhaps won the Game of Thrones for good. Then again I could just be looking into it too much ...its something to think about...

Awesome breakdowns. Great work you.

ONE MORE DAY!!!!!

Sam grew strong and courageous until he spent the entire battle of winterfell crying and getting everyone who tried to help him killed.

" I am the Teeth in the Darkness, the Talons in the night, MINE is Strength and Lust and Power!!" Oops.. sorry wrong video!~

I would love to see a character study on Ser Davos and a symbolism video on the free folk

Nice video. I want to point out that, the Night Watch isn't to protect mankind from Night King or White Walker. Maybe the origin was. The wall in the TV series have no magic power to stop Night King or the army of undead. But they were bound by the magic of the children, they couldn't cross the cave where the old 3-eyed raven lived until Bran got Night King "marked". And therefore no one in the Winterfall have seen any Wright for thousand of years, and the Night Watch people don't even believe their exists. So what they defend? the wildings. The story told us the wildings have invaded the North for 7 times but was that really invasion? Those were the 7 winters when the undead become active and moving south, the wildings were force to move south for surviving. They're refugees. It recognize a lot likeness to the situation in US and Europe today.

HA! Opening with Maester Aemon was perfect. "None of us are free... we are men of the Nights Watch."

A week or two before new GOT season is the best part of any fan's life. We get treated to tons of interviews, articles, insights and other amazing contents. What would our lives be without GOT? I hope the prequels come soon enough.

Do you think you’d be able to do a video on True Detective or Vikings?

@10:20 The men of the Watch shouldn't be allowed "love" in the marriage and children sense. The bond to one's offspring would be greater than his bond to duty. The commanders of the 19 castles (though only 3 are currently occupied) would inevitably will their castle to their children and the castles and commanders would become nothing more than fiefs and feudal lords on the wall, fighting each other etc etc. That would be the end of the mission. It is mentioned in the books about castles on the wall warring with each other and that is what allowing love ie marriage & children would do.

this struck a chord within. perhaps the feeling of purpose and mission. a form of dedication fuels and strengthens one to become a true guardian, a protector of the realm.

You should make a video on the iron bank.

Awesome and insightful as always

Amazing video and so much detail.

Always great content keep it up ladies.

Thanks so much for all your GoT videos 😁

Perfect timing with this as their war has started ! Great music as well

There's a significant mistake here. The crow that Eddard Stark executed at the very beginning was executed for deserting his post after pledging his life. I didn't make it very far into the show, but both the show and the books made it look as if the guy was using the white walkers as a justification for his abandonment.

thank you for your thorough and insightful take on this series and its characters. I'm really enjoying the in-depth analysis!

...I LOVED that scene when Jon is brought to life back again! :) ...

Crows are also often associated with ravens. They are a lesser sort of raven. So the nights watch are sort of like a less magical version of the 2-eyed ravens

Yes. I was waiting for this one.

You guys! ❤️ your content is the best 🙏🏻

Marvelous analysis as always. Now I've a better understanding as to why a Stark (Benjen) would join the night's watch

The night’s watch are a “stark” contrast. Gosh I love unintentional puns.

I think this is what i wanted to recommend last time

"yeah.... HIGHLY essential in the last battle....."

Beautiful piece on the night's watch

Another great one!

The realm failing the Night's Watch is the reason the Night's Watch ultimately failed to protect the Realm. Honor, Duty, perseverance let the survivors put in place a defense that merely stalled the White Walkers advance. Stealth (and the NK's arrogance) was ultimately what brought him down. Like he was "programmed" to counter direct, frontal attacks.

Do you think you could do one on Coraline

There should’ve been another season. Usually ignoring warnings that something is very dangerous gets you killed in the show (ex: red wedding), but Cersei never gets the karma of the whitwalkers coming for her after having ignored them for so long. The whole cast of characters never payed the price for their arrogance, and as a result the writing off of the knights watch is never exposed as the mistake it truly is.

Love these videos. Can y’all make a video about the life of a kings guard?

I look forward to these videos

Great Video! 😊

Excellent

Yo! What do I have to do to get a video about House Reed yo? 😭😭😭😭 Please please do House Reed yo? Please and thank you!

You make great videos, but I think you misunderstood one part here. The person who Ned beheaded, Will, wasn't a poor man running to spread the good word, he was deserting! He had plenty of reason to be terrified of course, but it was his duty to report what he saw back to the Night's Watch. Instead he abandoned his brothers, and post, to bypass the Wall (and intended to avoid Winterfell also) in his attempt to flee South.

This series is incredible.

The nights watch is based off of the Legendary French Foreign Legion

Bran means "crow" in Welsh

loved this except for one thing, crows and ravens are gorgeous!

THANK YOUUUUUU

amazing video, girls! thank you :)