What The Others Actually Are Explained (ASOIAF Theory)

The video starts by establishing that the Others are likely a created race, not a natural one like elves. Evidence includes their creation by the Children of the Forest in the show, supporting book quotes, and George R.R. Martin's statement that they lack a 'culture' and are a 'different sort of life.' He compared them to the 'she,' ethereal nature spirits from Gaelic folklore, reinforcing the idea of a mystically created, inhuman existence.

The theory posits that the Others are a product of 'shadow magic.' Examples of shadow magic in the books, like Mirri Maz Duur's 'shadows' and particularly Melisandre's shadow baby, are discussed. Melisandre's shadow baby, birthed through intimacy and sacrifice, offers a direct parallel to the Others' potential creation. The concept of 'only death can pay for life' is highlighted as a core principle of this magic.

George R.R. Martin's commission of an 'icy Melisandre' figurine and other narrative parallels suggest that the magic of ice and fire mirror each other. Examples include warging (ice) and dragon bonding (fire), and weirwoods (ice) and glass candles (fire). This supports the idea of an 'icy shadow magic' counterpart to Melisandre's fire-based shadow creations, indicating that the Others could be products of such a mirrored magic.

An unused draft quote from George R.R. Martin, where Mance Rayder states the Others were not 'men of woman born,' is analyzed. This phrase, referencing Macbeth, implies an unnatural birth, aligning with the idea of the Others being magically created beings rather than naturally procreated. This strengthens the argument for their engineered origin through shadow magic.

The discussion extends to the permanence of shadows, referencing the 'undying blue shadows' in the House of the Undying. It's suggested that these shadows represent everlasting life forms, possibly sustained by powerful magical trees, much like the green seers in Westeros are bound to weirwood trees. This connection proposes that the Others are 'green seer shadow babies,' allowing their consciousness to act in the world while their physical bodies remain dormant and immortal within the trees.

World-building elements from Elden Ring, co-created by George R.R. Martin, are drawn as further evidence. The character America the Eternal, whose body is bound to a world tree and splits her consciousness into a 'shadow' to act in the world, mirrors the proposed origin of the Others. This parallel suggests a consistent conceptual framework in Martin's mind across his fantasy works.

Detailed textual analysis of the Others' first appearance in A Game of Thrones reveals frequent descriptions involving 'shadow' and 'moonlight.' Their armor, silent movement, and 'misty' dissolution upon death align with characteristics of shadows. The various names for the Others, such as 'white shadows,' 'cold shadows,' and 'shadows with teeth,' further emphasize their shadow-like nature and connection to trees ('white walkers of the wood').

Craster's practice of giving his sons to the Others is linked to the shadow baby theory. It's suggested that the sons are used to 'birth' more Others, providing a mutually beneficial arrangement for Craster. The term 'neverborn' from George R.R. Martin's 1993 pitch letter is reinterpreted as a possible early name for shadow babies, indicating their unnatural origin and their role in the Others' legions.

The video speculates that all shadow magic, both icy and fiery, is derived from 'moon magic.' Consistent imagery associating the Others, weirwoods, and moonlight (e.g., 'alive with moonlight') is presented as evidence. The absence of Others during daylight, when the sun obscures moonlight, supports this connection. Two moons in A Song of Ice and Fire are proposed: an icy moon (linked to Others/weirwoods) and a darkened fire moon (linked to dragons/shadow binders like Melisandre).

The theory converges on Jon Snow's potential role as a 'Night King' figure. Given Melisandre's presence at the Nightfort and her previous attempts to use Jon for shadow-casting, it's suggested that a resurrected Jon, infused with weirwood magic, could lead an army of 'weirwood shadows' (Others). Old Nan's stories of wildling women 'laying with the Others during the Long Night' are reinterpreted as sexualized shadow-binding. This scenario fulfills an old fan theory and aligns with a potential conflict between Jon and Bran, mirroring the 'dance of dragons' from the South with an 'ice dance' in the North.