Let’s admit it: the fact that characters like Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister are perpetual fan favorites has as much to do with their fighting prowess as anything else, because it’s thrilling to watch the epic battles and one-on-one fight scenes alike in Game of Thrones. But just like in real life, it’s not only brawn that wins — having the brains is crucial too, and as far as John Bradley is concerned, it’s the combined knowledge of his character Sam Tarly and Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) that might save the day in Westeros.

“What I think links those two characters is that they’re both characters who are in possession of abilities and skills that nobody else has,” Bradley told TV Guide in a recent interview. “Between them, they’re such a formidable team because … both of their set of skills are so unique. Sam’s penchant for absorbing knowledge and absorbing academia and his wish to apply that for the greater good combined with Bran’s visions and supernatural skills means that between the two of them, it is a real recipe for success.”

The first glimpse of that success was, obviously, the former Citadel acolyte and current Three-Eyed Raven putting their heads together and figuring out that Jon Snow was not a bastard but the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark — a revelation that will have huge implications for Jon and his aunt (and now lover, I guess?) Daenerys.

Bradley believes that the duo have far more to contribute to the endgame in Westeros, and teased that viewers shouldn’t “write them off” as a partnership.

“Between them, they can use their own and each others’ skills to really shake the place up a bit as we go forward,” he said.

The full interview is available here.