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Resurrection is one of the most common elements in modern pop culture. Many fantasy projects use it as a prominent plot device. But George R.R. Martin believes that there should be a perfect approach to bringing back characters from the dead. The author believes thatA Song of Ice and Fireexecutes the element of resurrection better than other fantasy works.
Some notable characters inA Song of Ice and Firehavecheated death. Martin believes that whenever a character is resurrected, it must be a transformative experience. The character’s survival should cost something. He argued that while his novel series smoothly follows this, another prominent fantasy mediaThe Lord of the Ringsfailed to do it with Gandalf’s resurrection.
George R.R. Martin believes that resurrection must come with a heavy price
George R.R. Martinrevealed some significant details when he gave his memorable 2011Sound of Young Americainterview. While talking with John Hodgman, Martin asserted that bringing back a dead character should always be a “transformative experience“. TheGame of Throneswriter believes that a dead character should always return with an impactful physical or mental scar.
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To explain it better to the audience, Martin used the example of the Marvel hero Wonder Man. He suggested that he lost the thrill later when he was also resurrected. However, he raised many eyebrows when he added that evenJ.R.R. Tolkienmade a mistake by bringing back Gandalf.
George R.R. Martin said that the scene where Gandalf the Grey fell to his apparent death inFellowship of the Ringwas memorable. But he was extremely displeased when the character was resurrected as Gandalf the White and stated that the Ian McKellen character should have stayed dead.
According to Martin, Gandalf the White was more powerful, confident, and improved but lost the charm of the OG character. TheElden Ringwriter revealed that whenever his characters are resurrected, they come back worse and it helps more to the story. He strongly believes that cheating death should be a bitter victory instead of an enjoyable event.
Much as I admire Tolkien, I once again always felt like Gandalf should have stayed dead. That was such an incredible sequence in Fellowship of the Ring when he faces the Balrog on the Khazad-dûm and he falls into the gulf…My characters who come back from death are worse for wear. In some ways, they’re not even the same characters anymore. The body may be moving, but some aspect of the spirit is changed or transformed, and they’ve lost something.
George R.R. Martin’s approach is evident in the characters of Beric Dondarrion. The character, played by Richard Dormer in live-action, lost a part of himself every time he was revived. Even Lady Stoneheart from the books was an example of Martin’s cruel approach to resurrection. Martin adds a more humanistic layer to resurrection by showing survival as a burden.
Jon Snow’s resurrection negatively impacted Kit Harington
It must be noted that, unlike the live-action series, George R.R. Martin’s book series is yet to receive its conclusion. In his last book,A Dance with Dragons, Jon Snow faced his death and has been waiting for his potential resurrection. Nevertheless, in live-action, when the character was killed and brought back inGame of ThronesSeason 6, things did not go very well.
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Jon Snow was killed after being stabbed by his brothers in The Night’s Watch. Although the death of Ned Stark made it clear in the very first season that nobody has a plot armor, the audience was intrigued to see if Jon Snow would return. As per theHidden 20%podcast (viaComicBook.com), the sudden surge in popularity drastically impacted Kit Harington’s mental health.
My darkest period was when the show seemed to become so much about Jon when he died and came back. I didn’t like the focus of the whole show coming onto Jon. When you become the cliffhanger of a TV show and a TV show probably at the height of its power, the focus on you is f—ing terrifying. I realized that my life was hinging on this.
Kit Harington‘s character finally returned in Season 6 episode 2 with the help of Melisandre. But unfortunately, it did not have the desired impact on the audience. The makers not only fumbled to give his character any definitive purpose following the resurrection but also killed the weightage of deaths inGoT, which we felt earlier with the deaths of Ned and Robb Stark.
Game of Thronescan be streamed on Max.
Subham Mandal
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1461
Subham Mandal is currently working as a content writer for FandomWire with an ardent interest in the world of pop culture. He has written more than 1000 articles on different spheres of modern pop culture and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He’s also an experienced student journalist having demonstrated work experience with the Times of India. He aspires to be a column writer in the future.
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Game of ThronesGeorge R. R. MartinJ.R.R. TolkienThe Lord of the Rings
