The First Weirwoods Were GREEN - Secret Origins of the Green Men p4 - A Song of Ice and Fire 

What do Greenmen do when they're trapped in red-leaf limbo? Dream of Spring.

Im hiding in the walk-in fridge at work to watch this. Time theft for the win.

The first time we see the white walkers in the prologue to AGOT, it's with "A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood". Every writer knows you get bonus points if when you first introduce your main villain, you sneak something in about their true nature. If the white walkers are shadows that are brought out of weirwood trees, then that fits perfectly with their introduction. The only issue is that weirwoods are white, not dark... but if the tree is hollowed out, then the inside would be dark. So when the white walkers are first introduced, GRRM is literally saying "A white walker came from inside of a weirwood".

I just realized that the stark kids (other than jon and arya) have pale bark(skin) and red leaves(hair) cause of their tully coloring.

That Isle of Face's Weirwood Tree's Face looks like it had to put up with way too much of Rhaegar's love poetry being recited to Lyanna right in front of him . Poor fella😞

I think it's more than just un-stuck from the long night. I think healing the trees might correct the wonky seasons! They might start having 4 seasons in a year again. It's my personal theory that a huge part of why the timelines of things are confusing (more than just it being a long time ago), is that the seasons used to be normal. If seasons were used as time markers back then (as they are in the real world), then offsetting seasons will absolutely fuck their ability to keep track of time. Or even compare when one event happened compared to another.

I think another suggestion that the Weirwoods were once green is through the Hightower at Oldtown, being a tower made of white stone with a firey red flame atop making it a symbolic Weirwood with their white trunk and firey red leaves atop And interestingly we now know that when the Hightowers call their banners to arms, this fire changes to green, giving us a weirwood with firey green leaves when calling forth an army Amazing video mate Praise Garth 💨

Jon's wolfdream of Bran's face in a Weirwood might be a clue about the way the Weirwood magic used to work since Bran's Weir-face is not screaming. It also could have been that awakening the 3rd eye was less traumatic since the Greenseers would likely have been more powerful when the trees were green and not horrifically tortured death trees. It could also explain why the Children fell further back within the territory that's rightfully theirs in the pact, their magical abilities were diminished wher the Weirwood net was invaded. Thanks for another wonderful video and giving us so much more to think about 💜

Weirwoods are probably Oaks trees. Like, the legends and traits of oak trees match up with Weirwoods crazy well, especially with them having root systems up to 5x as large as their canopy and being able to intermingle roots between each other, and their leaf shape. They were probably extra magical even before they were wighted, but they were definitely a type of oak. So Garth's oak throne was a Green Weirwood throne. No mistranslated myth necessary.

I like how bran eating the paste is like how a spider liquefies their prey before devouring it. A tree spider that is. The paste is just food prep.

Florida Man Assaults Puppeteer After 'Wrong Puppet Dies in Show'

quick side note: the need for the Lord Commander to be a warg may be why Benjen originally took the black. It’s definitely why Mormont groomed John for command.

Once again proving House Gardener is goated and the best family in Westeros

Never thought I’d expect to see talking trees in ASOIAF, but man does this theory make me realize how wrong I was. I always underestimate just how high fantasy the magic in this series is. The Nightfort’s talking tree gate used to feel out of place to me, but now it’s so clear how it foreshadows the various Great Deku like trees on the isle of faces.

19:50 I like that smile on the Oak. It could be friendly but he’s probably thinking “I’m going to eat your body when you pass on. Might as well make friends with your dinner!”

This is amazing. Somehow, after so many years in a famished longing for the next book and years after the disastrous ending of the show having shadowed people's enthusiasm for the series, you and other amazing channels like the Disputed Lands, Michael Talks About Stuff and Grey Waste Tim manage to put out fresh and exciting material that brings us closer than ever to understanding the novels and what went into their vast worldbuilding.

The Florida Man segment was hilarious

My first thought was that that was some pretty wild speculation to be based on a piece of calendar art.... but then you tied it all together and holy shit am I on board!

I do love the idea of the Black Gate being one of these green Weirwoods. I have wondered before if the original trees had natural living faces rather than carved ones, and the Black Gate is just the only one that survived. I would certainly understand early first men cutting them down if they had actual living faces!! I do wonder though, if the Night King and Queen were sacrificing to the others at the Night Fort, you would expect the Weirwood there to be the bloodiest of all. I can't remember if the younger parts of the tree in the kitchens is said to have red leaves. Were the Night King and Queen's 'sacrifices to the others' actually attempts to put the others back into the trees? Was that the pact that ended the Long Night? That might explain why the Night Fort's Weirwood is so healthy, compared to the bloodied ones elsewhere. Also, I've been wondering, if the Great Houses that we know now could only have risen after the Long Night, how could Night's King have been a Stark? Or known to be a Stark? They could only have been a very new house surely, and then erasing his name from history wouldn't have been as much work as it sounds? Would have been harder to preserve his name! Idk, sorry about the ramble, I'm out of my ADHD meds.

It's so funny that you put this out now when I was just watching Crowfood's Daughter's vid on the topic yesterday. The pow moment realising all the CotF/Green Men culture being green when their most important trees are red! (I did wonder if that was why greenseer eyes are either red or green - perhaps a little hinty hint from GRRM about the ol' switcheroo?) It did send me into a sort of asoiaf colour theory/juxtaposition spiral though. Noting that greenseer trees are red, the Black Gate is white, the WW are pale shadows, ice can burn, summer snows, etc etc. There's a lot that's topsy turvy in the world of ice and fire, and I think your theories are our best idea of what it was that caused it all to flip. ☄️🔥🗡️

My mind is blown like King Stannis' ships on the mouth of the Blackwater. Holy sheesh Another outstanding one, chief

“So it’s a cancel?” “Definitely a cancel!” You have the best add reads out there I never skip (I wouldn’t dare(

Living trees with hand-shaped, green hands make sooo much sense. That also explains why the place is called The Isle of (living) Faces 💡💡💡

I'm so glad I found this channel. And that this community is still so active!

I was rewatching your videos and I saw the Stannis video. He’s described as having “eyes like wounds/ deep gouges” being described as “gaunt, hollow, thin, corpse like”. Essentially I’m getting wight tree/ Azhor Ahai symbolism from Stannis and thinking about how he parallels the nights king, occupying the night fort with the weir wood face and the weir wood net corruption theory. George is doing that word motif back tracking he does to fill out the lore like the great empire of the dawn eyes being seen in AGOT. Pretty cool seeing all of the threads you pick up from all the motifs and adjectives, the fact that George does this is why he’s my favourite author

I think it would be awesome if your theory about the white walkers being tree spirits ends up true and the end game is to put them back in the weirwoods

This... This is *the theory.* It really adds layers and depth to the rest of the story, and helps other pieces fit into the puzzle. As Obi-Wan would say, "That's why I'm here!"

Anybody else thinking the real reason GRRM isn't releasing the next book is because he's loving watching us all theorize about it? 😂😅

When the others go back into the weirwood trees the regular cycle of the seasons would begin again. Maybe the weirwoods will lose all their leaves and eventually grow back green ones in spring/summer. A return to the natural cycle of a solar king dying in the winter and rising again in the summer. I cannot imagine the corrupted weirwoods permanently “dying.” A gradual healing feels more in line with GRRM’s style

Gives the knight of the laughing tree something to base their motif off of

This might be kinda odd but Cercei burning the tower of the hand with wildfire seems like a symbolic echo of the trees turning from green to red.

those green trees sure are snarky. probably a humor one develops in a world where squishers roam free.

Thank you David for helping to reignite my love of ASOIF

"That would be a long 8,000 years." Ah, but it may have only been 5,000. Cold Hands can do 5,000 years standing on his head.

I work at Rocket Money and it made my day to see you do the ad as Rhaegar 😂. Great work @david

WOW🤯 The whole garth/weir connection... I mean WOW.... AND, YOU KNOW you're one of the best on the platform when I don't even want to miss one of your ads because they're so damn funny! They do keep getting better 😆😂 🤣, along with the entirety of your channel. And I just discovered your actual website....... Even more incredible stuff. You're (green) "HANDS DOWN " the best ASOIAF creator! Sometimes I even wonder if George thought about it as far into it as you do!

FANTASTIC! BRAVO! This series made me fall in love with this channel! The analysis of The Green Men, of the old ones on Leng, of Garth and his fertility, and the connection to Cernunos and Dionysus...spoke to me. This video is like the bow on top of this phenomenal series!!! *Chef's Kiss* P.S. The Earth-toned flannel looks hot, don't apologize. 😎

Weirwoods and Others were what got me interested into ASOIAF… George went unnecessarily hard when designing those. (Btw yeah current weirwoods are def tainted by the abominations of bloodmagic or something)

Please. Let us indeed keep the faith for George. Me and George think about things a bit differently. But he is a sweet man. It wasn't Tolkein that sparked my love of fantasy. It was George. I was sat in crisis 10 years ago, killing time between therapy, and I found a little book called a Game of Thrones. Characters like Tyrion, Jon, and Sam. Bran. All Georges misfits. They taught me a lot about myself. And the types of man I could be becoming. That jolly fella changed my life. And he always will always has my Red-blooded American LOVE. "For the night is dark, and full of terrors."

Am I the only one trained to instantly, earnestly pick up my pipe when they hear "Praise Garth"?

Bro you blessin me with content to chill at work with 🙏🏽

HELL YEAH DAVID LETS GO KING

As a fun sunglasses enjoyer, I always get a kick out of seeing your eye wear choices.

You should check out One Piece, im sure you'd love the Sun Godking, Moon Princess, and Dragon God symbolism all throughout it.

DUDE!!!! This is the best theory video yet! Florida Man for the win!

Zero hour gang lets go

Excellent video, as always. Michael talks about stuff has some amazing ideas as well. Hope you two cross paths one day and bounce theories off one another

Returning to the old ways, righting an ancient forgotten wrong, and giving respect to the natural order of the world despite the ambitions of mankind would be a fitting and diplomatic end. The restored trees would be venerated as gods, which means the "bad guys" Others would technically win and rule the world. Seems bittersweet to me

I watched this video all the way through like 4 times now (totally not cos I started listening before going to bed and then falling asleep)

And here i am thinking the Talking Heads in Westeros was at the Whispers. Wheres Nimble Dick when you need him?🤦🏾‍♂️

I'm such a sucker for Reading Rehgar. I would buy anything from that guy ❤

Me screaming at the pc ..YES YES! This IS also my head cannon and I love the hard work you do for us! Praise Garth! to the hilt.

Azor Ahai's invasion of the weirwood net weakened the First Men and their allies the Children of the Forest, leaving them vulnerable to the Andals.

I thought just add that in Elden Ring a lot of the tree network is like mushrooms with the roots 😂.

Wow! I didn't think the parallels between Elden Ring and ASOIAF were there until NOW! Thank you for your awesome channel!

Dude! I hope GRRM watches your vids. Very interesting stuff! Congrats!

Also your whole Skin magic theory with the Boltons and others is actually in Elden Ring too via these entities or faction called Godskin who hunt demigods and skin them to obtain power from their skin

I would be really interested in an ending where Jon and Dany work together to lead the white walkers back into the weirwoods. I have a theory that the White Walkers actually want to die, but there is some magic that is preventing them and the weirwoods from dying. Either there is a mission that they need to finish (like ghosts), or they are slaves of the Night's King who has stolen the gift of death from them (as the kindly man calls it), so that they can do his evil bidding. This is why the red weirwoods are undead, they cannot die, they are stuck in a limbo situation, just like the white walkers are. So Jon and Dany would do whatever needs to be done so that the White Walkers can rest in peace, let them move on, after thousands of years of living hateful lives. So going back into the weirwoods means, the white walkers and those trees that are undead can finally die. Not the ones in the Isle of Faces, those ones seem to be doing alright.

HOW HAVE U SINGLE HANDEDLY ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION IVE HAD FOR YEARS- and youtube JUST showed me your channel. Love GOT and lore videos- and I just found this channel ! WHAT A GOLD MINE!!!

I’ve always been a bit confused by your restoring the weirwood net theory. But wow, does this video really clarify everything! Breaking it down like you’ve done here shows off just how surprisingly obvious the greater mysteries of the series are. The Others really don’t seem so unknowable anymore lol

Heck yeah new video!

Nice shout out by the channel “Michael Talks About Stuff” that linked me to this video. I’m new to the fandom and @DavidLightbringer is my favorite ASOIAF RU-vidr- by a large margin. I appreciate all of the connections to Celtic and Norse mythology. I am a pagan, and it’s fascinating to me to see the plethora of nods to Norse and Celtic gods and myths. Thank you, David, for all of your amazing work. I’ve been binging it for the last week. Fingers crossed that GRRM will give us Winds and ADOS so that we can enjoy and analyze the new material together.

I was very surprised that you didn't mention what maester Aemon said: "fire consumes, cold preserves" e.g. evicted green men preserved as frozen icy Others, and the fiery red weirwood trees consuming the greenseers inside them. It fits perfectly with the ideas in the video. Great theory though, it would be great if it is true when we see the Isle of Faces in the books.

Do you think resurrection/death suspension magic was possible before the defilement of the weirwoods or as a result of it? I could see part of the defilement being the inversion of "all men must die" by letting bodies be re-animated by their shadows (as opposed to 2nd-life in animals or tree hive minds). I have a hard time seeing resurrection magic/ death suspension magic as a "natural" part of green magic and the natural state. It feels like something possible only after a "killing/stealing from the gods" or Azor Ahai apotheosis event. Curious to hear your thoughts :)

Cheers from Ecuador. Nice theories

23:38 House Man-woody... and their sigil looks like a depiction of a dead tree, pale dead face and a crown (like a tree has)

My fave!

In Memory Sorrow and Thorn, the storm king is depicted with antlers, but near the end of the story it is revealed to be a crown made of tree branches

You ever think it’s a possibility that, given the other time traveling/enchantment theories that are out there, that Rhaegar and Leanna are actually not in current day Westeros at all, but in a different time or a different realm, etc? Perhaps by the magic of an adversary?

It's interesting how Patchface has Horns and is both green and red on his face. Is he like a Drowned Carved Green Man?

It all makes sense

do you think the bloody "dead" trees will be revived and turn green again by the end of the story? or do you think they will change again and take on a new form?

Restoring the green trees also reminds me how in LOTR they replaced the old dead king tree with a new one that they found safe in another place

My longing for TWOW is through the roof, again ❤️

Was so Glad to see you in Quinns stream this morning. Keep up the great videos

What! My favorite mythos Chanyl releasing new before the weekend! Praise Garth!

Once Green leaves now turned Blood-red. All the dark works of the Bloodstone Emperor, and what Azhor Ahai had to do in order to stop him, all ruined the trees and their OG purpose. And if it's true that White-Walkers were once a part of the Ancient Old-Ones, but are now simply a cold, icy version of them, this could be all part of them wanting to undo what happened to their magics. What was the old ways of the Wierwoods, I wonder. I've gotta see those vidoes

This was such an awesome video man, some really, really good stuff in this one. You being able to extrapolate SO much regarding the overall story/lore from something as “minuscule” as yearly calendar artwork, (not sure if ‘minuscule’ is the right word considering George himself is closely involved with the calendar artwork), is nothing short of mind-blowing to me. As always, thank you for what you do, and keep up the good work man!

I LOVE your sponsored content too, I never skip them xD well done. Also, I have been waiting for this video!!

Oh, great timing, I just have a free hour today, I now know how I'm gonna spend it...

The "maybe they buried people up to their necks and they turned into Weirwoods" reminds me of the Ender's Game sequel "Speaker of the Dead" and the peculiar lifecycle of "Pequeninos" where males have to be ritualistically killed to become "fathertrees" that can fertilize females of their species. Wait, like how Garth (tree according to some theories) fertilized human females? George is a scifi fan, could this be a direct inspiration?

Praise Garth

39:00 'Green man' name list

*cracks open high noon, puts youtube on the tv* ahhhhh yes dave blessing us with another sick video! ❤

"The grass was not red when the sun came up" The mystery knight, about the Redgrass field

Love the work you and Grey Waste Tim do! I’ve been wondering what the uncorrupted Weirwood network looks like. Makes sense that the Weirwoods have summer/spring colors when it’s uncorrupted by Azor Ahai with his fire magic. Praise Garth!

The tree at the black gate looks like Maester Aemon

Absolutely, all the best wishes to Martin. He seemed a little unhappy of late. I usually always stick to your theories. It's the safest bet ;) Great video. Although, I think that a Democracy in a medieval setting is kind of silly. Well, maybe it works with green magic involved.

If he put his power into real world conspiracy theories, he would be unstoppable

It's so fun listening to your theories as usual. Thanks for the video! Also, that new Coldhands art is so cool, a couple of friends saw a picture of it that I reposted/retweeted and got interested in the books for the first time because of it.

Another banger! Keep up the good work! 💚💚💚 (you look good in natural tones 🥰)

LETS GO!

Another excellent video, Dave - meticulously researched, written, spoken, edited and soundtracked. These always have a 90s documentary tinge to them, especially with the cut-aways to narrated text, art and music, and garnishings of earnest humour. No one else on RU-vid is doing what you do as skilfully and passionately, mate. Well done (and congrats on 100k, soon to be many times that I’m sure), and keep it up 👍

I will only be able to look at ASOIAF through a Florida man scope from now on

Reading Rhaegar never gets old. Is your channel theme song on Spotify or something? Its such a jam.

Praise be unto Garth

When the children created the night king with corrupted dragonglass bound to a weirwood tree caused the weirwood network to be cursed in the same way. Which is why greenseers now need to be bound to the tree in order to become connected to the network. Symmetry and balance. Weirwood were originally balanced bringing life in conjunction with the green men. This is why the trees are in a "undead" state similar to the white walkers. They are intrinsically connected.

I know you haven’t played Elden ring, but the dlc trailer dropped yesterday and in it the erdtree has what looks like a strangler fig wrapped around it. I think when the hammer of waters called down the moon meteors they brought something that infected the original greenwoods like a parasite. Perhaps this parasite is what influences the worshippers to try blood sacrifice and other creation.

Reading Rhaegar is awesome. Too good!

Where do you find all this art? They're always so cool...