re: Crackpot ASOIAF Theories SPOILERS

Just finished the Dunk and Egg novellas last night after finishing ADWD just before Christmas. Wow, the books and this thread have my head spinning. I think I would really benefit from a re-read as the amount of foreshadowing in the early novels is immense and would probably enhance my understanding of the entire story structure.

A question to start though, and sorry if this has been re-hashed -

Why is the general consensus that Bloodraven's motives are necessarily bad/evil and in league with the Others? I'm not sold on that idea.

In the D&E stories he is portrayed by the small folk as a sorcerer/kinslayer = evil (responsible for drought, etc...) But in reality, it appears to me that he is just loyal to the Targ family (even though he is only a bastard offspring of the family.)

He then became Lord Commander of the Nights Watch upon is exile to the wall (anti-Other.) At the time of Bran's training, he is holed up in a cave with the Children of the Forest who have throughout the story been on Mankind's side against the Others.

I agree that Bloodraven is the tree training Bran but I do not believe it is established that it is for evil purposes. I think it is a more a passing of the torch in connection with Bran's relationship with Jon and his genealogical lineage (a Targ on the throne.) I don't even know if the Throne is Bloodravens' greatest interest at this point however, it might even be the fact that Winter is Coming - ie, Others gaining strength and a great battle coming.

I'm open to debate though. Fire away -