The Mystery of Benjen Stark and the Nights Watch

Benjen Stark, once seen as an enigmatic and powerful ranger of the Night's Watch, with his ability to summon ice dragons and warg into ravens, has perplexed fans of the a href"_of_Thrones"Game of Thrones/a series. However, this narrative twist blurs the lines between the show and the source material, leading to an intriguing but ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. This article delves into the discrepancies between Benjen's portrayal in the show and the original a href"_Song_of Ice_and_Fire"A Song of Ice and Fire/a novels, revealing the true identity of Coldhands and the complex plot lines that have been altered or omitted in the adaptation.

The Confusion and Inconsistencies in the Show

The show adaptation of a href"_of_Thrones"Game of Thrones/a has been criticized for its numerous plot inconsistencies and alterations from the source material. One of the most significant examples is the depiction of Benjen Stark. In the show, Benjen was transformed into Coldhands, an entity with magical abilities including the ability to summon ice dragons and warg into ravens. However, this stark deviation from the books has left many fans questioning the accuracy of these portrayals.

Critics point out that the show combined Benjen Stark's character with that of Coldhands, a figure from the novels with somewhat similar but distinct magical powers. Coldhands is known to have the ability to communicate with ravens and is described as someone who died a long time ago. This discrepancy highlights the complexity of adapting a rich, detailed narrative into a more concise and TV-friendly format, often leading to omissions and alterations.

Benjen Stark: The Missing Ranger of the Night's Watch

Benjen Stark was a ranger of the Night's Watch and was dispatched on a ranging to find Ser Waymar Royce, a member of the ancient and influential House Royce from the Vale. Ser Waymar was brought down by the White Walkers near the beginning of the series. This event, along with the mysterious absence of Benjen, left many questions unanswered in the show, contributing to the sense of confusion among viewers.

The reasons behind the mysterious disappearance of Benjen Stark in the show remain superficial and unexplained. The lack of clarity surrounding his fate, combined with the show's decision to merge his character with that of Coldhands, leaves much to be desired. The show's translators to the source material seem to have misrepresented Benjen's character, failing to capture the essence of the strong and enigmatic figure created by George R.R. Martin.

Coldhands: The Real Character and His Abilities

Coldhands, a character from the novels, is an enigmatic figure with a unique connection to the magical world outside the Wall. Unlike Benjen Stark, Coldhands possesses the ability to speak with ravens and has been tied to the Children of the Forest and the old gods. He is described as having black hands and black blood, marking him as a dead man. Coldhands has also been involved in various crucial events, such as assisting Bran Stark and Gilly in their escape from the Others and escorting them back to the Wall through a secret weirwood door.

While the show strives to capture the essence of the source material, it often falls short, particularly with characters like Benjen Stark. The magical abilities and backstory of Coldhands in the novels are far richer and more integral to the plot than those given to Benjen in the show. This shows a significant departure from the original narrative, where Coldhands is a distinct character with a deeper connection to the magical and ancient aspects of the world.

Conclusion

The blending of Benjen Stark with Coldhands in the show adaptation is a prime example of the many changes made to the original story. While the show attempts to remain faithful to the source material, it often fails in capturing the depth and complexity of George R.R. Martin's world. Fans of both the show and the books will find it fascinating to explore the differences, especially in the portrayal of characters like Benjen Stark and Coldhands.

Keywords: Benjen Stark, Nights Watch, Ice Dragons