This 'Game of Thrones' fan theory about Bran is so wild it could work

LONDON — Not to be unkind to Bran or anything, but we've invested a hell of a lot of time watching him do very little on Game of Thrones.

In the time it's taken Daenerys to rear three dragons, take over three cities and amass a gigantic army of loyal followers, Bran has basically just walked a few miles through the snow and found a cave.

Obviously he's been through a lot of unpleasantness on the way, but all we're saying is that there must be some wider purpose to those long, cold scenes of him traipsing through the barren North.

Now that he's teamed up with the Three Eyed Raven, though, things might be about to change.

Reddit user Negative Karma Snilfer certainly thinks so, anyway. On Monday morning, after episode three aired, they posted the following theory about Bran and the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen. 

IMAGE: REDDIT

Pretty far-fetched, right?

Well, maybe not. From the Tower of Joy flashback in the last episode it seems pretty clear that Bran — despite what that killjoy the Three Eyed Raven says — has the power to influence the past as well as watch it.

Just look at the confusion on Young Ned Stark's face after Bran calls out to him.

Is it really that much of a leap to suggest that Bran, while watching other characters in the future, could actually influence what happened to them in the past? The Three Eyed Raven certainly looked nervous in the flashback when Bran yelled "father;" it was as if he knew what the consequences of the boy's actions could be.

Reactions to the theory were mixed on Reddit.

IMAGE: REDDIT

IMAGE: REDDIT

Eventually someone pointed out a connection to the beginning of the show, when Bran inadvertently sparks the escalating conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters.

IMAGE: REDDIT

Some people took things even further, too.

IMAGE: REDDIT

This isn't the first time theories about Bran and time travel have been bandied round. In the past, people have suggested he may in fact be one of the legendary Brandons he hears about in Old Nan's stories (Brandon the Builder, Brandon the Shipwright, etc.).

It seems pretty clear that Bran is destined for something big, anyway. The buildup to him meeting the Three Eyed Raven and realising his own powers took so long that there has to be a decent reason for it.

Whether he uses his powers to start meddling with the past — or whether he simply becomes a roving eye through which the fates of other characters, past and present, can unfold — still remains to be seen.