Wizard, Werewolf, Hand, Lord Commander: Jon Snow Isn't Worth the Little Finger of 'Game of Thrones' Most Outstanding Bastard

Almost every discussion of Game of Thrones in popular culture cannot be complete without Jon Snow. He is a bastard, a hero, a resurrected warrior of Azor Ahai, and a fan favorite. But let's be honest: he is far from the only bastard in the world of Westeros, and certainly not the most prominent.

And no, we are not talking about Ramsay Bolton, another famous bastard son of a lord. Today we are talking about the royal offspring who influenced the ending of the Game of Thrones series.

The Royal Bastard

His name is Brynden Rivers, nicknamed Bloodraven. And also, the Three-Eyed Raven. And also, the Hand of two kings, rebel hunter, head of intelligence, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, shadow lord, wizard, albino with ruby ​​eyes, and, possibly, the immortal spirit of the Old Gods, ingrained in a tree beyond the Wall.

Brynden was one of the many bastard children of the depraved King Aegon IV the Unworthy. Unlike the other "great bastards," he did not seek power. He was chosen by the darkness itself. He was born an albino with white hair, red eyes, and a birthmark in the shape of a raven on his face - hence his nickname. From a young age, he was distinguished by his sharp mind, cold calculation, and a craving for magic. At the same time, he had an incredible loyalty to the crown. When the bastard Daemon Blackfyre led a rebellion, Brynden sided with the rightful heir Daeron II and, in effect, single-handedly destroyed Blackfyre's dreams of the throne.

He did not simply fight - he killed personally, coldly and efficiently. Blackfyre himself and his two sons fell at his will. The rest he hunted down and destroyed as soon as they raised their heads.

Spy, Hand, Exile

After the war, Brynden became Master of Whisperers, and later Hand of two kings at once. He built an empire of influence, completely controlled the capital, and did not shy away from harsh methods. Under him, the Seven Kingdoms were more stable than ever. He thwarted conspiracies, nipped rebellions in the bud, eliminated traitors, and always acted "for the common good."

But his most daring intrigue also became the cause of his downfall: Brynden lured one of the last Blackfyres to the capital, promising immunity - and executed him. This caused anger at court, and the next king exiled Bloodraven to the Wall.

And then he disappeared... and became a legend

On the Wall, he quickly became Lord Commander, but one day he went beyond the Wall and never returned. It seemed that his story was over. But years later, Bran Stark heard the voice of the Three-Eyed Raven in his dreams, and found him — fused with a tree, alive, wise, with the power to see the entire history of the world.

Yes, that same Three-Eyed Raven from the show was Brynden Rivers, and believe me, HBO showed 1% of his coolness. He became the embodiment of ancient knowledge, the last bastion of Old World magic. He did not seek the throne, he guarded the very existence of Westeros, even in oblivion.

And Jon Snow? He is just a good guy.

No one denies that Jon is a hero. But a hero can be anyone who can hold a sword and speak honestly. But ruling a country, seeing into the future, holding back magic and death, being a monster for the sake of peace - this is the destiny of the chosen few.

Brynden Rivers is not just a bastard. He was a king in the shadows. And he is remembered in history as the one who could have taken the throne — but chose to protect the world.