Concerning Coldhands (Spoilers Main)

Coldhands is extremely interesting imo just because of the implications to the overall story that the character brings forth. He does seem like an outlier from what we've seen in the story thus far in terms of magic, and the closest parallel I see is with Beric (just displacement of fire w/ ice on a basic level).

His interactions with Bran & Sam lend me to believe that it's Jon Snow, for a few reasons:

• We know that George is playing w/ temporal ideas in at least some shape or form, though little to go on about how said ideas will culminate in the narrative.

• Coldhands deliberately covering his face, the guy doesn't strike me as being shy in anyway even if we're to assume he's disfigured or something. Inclined to think that this is due to how Sam & Bran aren't supposed to know who he is, as they'll be able to identify him.

• He also goes to make sure how his presence is kept extremely secret, esp with Sam, who at the time would shortly go on to meet with Jon Snow.

• More clear-cut connections w/ Bran depending how you interpret his response to the 3-eyed crow being a "monster". It could be the character is Bran, but again Jon fits the bill better imo than Bran the little child. If we are to suppose it's Bran, then one is acknowledging the temporal elements being pretty substantial as the character would be an aged Brandon Stark, and idek how that is meant to work.

• Possibilities of Coldhands being warged by someone else is possible I guess, but again that doesn't fit the bill of covering his face & even saying weird stuff like how blood runs to extremities to coagulate (paraphrased). It could be disinformation from Coldhands, but considering he does seem to be "off" in the sense of mannerisms & such, I just think he's someone losing touch with any sense of humanity from the deaths he's experienced. Again, we have a precedent in the story via Beric going through the same thing.

• Leaf saying he died a long time ago points to more evidence of implicit temporal shenanigans at play. The whole scene in the caves is weird, but to stay on topic I think the most that needs to be said is some disinformation, PoV unreliability, etc. is likely deployed in the context of that chapter.

• Jon's head-space at the time of his stabbing isn't necessarily anti-Nights Watch. The pink letter did make an active threat at the Lord Commander, and I am in the camp that Jon still very much considers himself as a member of the NW, though I realize this is apt for debate.

• There is thematic resonance of Sam dwelling on his interactions w/ Coldhands & Bran but never divulging the info to Jon. It seems a better fit than some other figure in history who just happened to insert himself at this point in the story.

• Note, Coldhands condition is evidence of him dying a few times, so I do not think Jon instantly becomes Coldhands after the whole stabbing. But slowly becomes so with subsequent deaths that he'll experience.

Lastly, further honing in on the Beric/Coldhands parallels -- thoughts on if he'll be able to revive someone in the same way that Beric did to Stoneheart?

I can see this being challenged by people claiming he can't because he's not been revived via followers of the Lord of Light, but metaphysical elements in the book shouldn't be taken at face-value. At all. Especially when the followers themselves don't even have a good understanding, and the author draws inspiration from stuff pertaining Eldritch/Lovecraft. It's an easy counter, but there is a trend of assuming that we have a good grasp of how magic operates in-universe.

Curious as to what others in the sub think of Coldhands identity?