Warning: Spoilers for the latest episode of Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones and "Happy Endings" are not something one would expect to come together in one paragraph, much less one sentence. The reasons for this is because he artin wanted to tell a "realistic" narrative over the standard feel-good high fantasy narrative, and this is his justification for killing off key sympathetic characters, particularly with a large percentage of the Stark family, over keeping them alive. In a recent interview, GRRM claimed that works of fiction only kill off supporting characters just to create an element of danger and suspense, but decried this supposed purpose as "such a cheat". His argument is that most fantasy storylines focus on the heroes going on a epic quest to defeat some great evil , but no one suffers. Martin claims that in real life, things are different, and anyone can die in battle, lose someone close to them, or get horribly wounded.
Consequently, Martin tells the audience to not expect the traditional happy ending. Instead stating that when he finishes his books, it will have a bittersweet ending that would reflect on loss over "life being sweet" from that point forward. Yet given Martin's petulance for making life as miserable as possible for all his characters, what would be bittersweet? Would it actually have any sweetness or be a whole load of bitterness. There are even fans that believe that given the constant death, backstabbing and chaos in Westeroes that a "sweet" ending would be the White Walkers killing everyone for being so messed up and backstabbing each other.
While we do not know what exactly will happen in the books, the Tv Show, despite a gory and bleak Season 5 seemed to have turned a whole new direction for Season 6. Season 5 was Game of Thrones' bleakest season, where the aspirations of many of the protagonists have amounted to nothing. Yet at the end of Season 6, it seems things are looking up for the most sympathetic characters. Despite seasons and seasons of death and misfortune, it seems things may be finally looking up for the "good" characters of this story.
A key element of Season 6's turn towards the light is reflective of the fortunes faced by the Stark family, whom have essentially been given the short end of the stick for most of the series. Season 1 ended with Ned Stark being captured by Littlefinger and excecuted by Joffrey because he knew the truth about why Jon Arryn was killed. Season 3 ended with the Red Wedding orchestrated by the Lannisters and carried out by the Freys and the Boltons, which killed Robb Stark, his wife Talisa and Catelyn stark(it should be noted that in the books, Talisa's counterpart Jeyne survives, while Catelyn was brought back to life as Lady Stoneheart, seeking vengence on her captors). Season 5 ended with Sansa facing an uncertain future after being raped horrifically by Ramsay Bolton, but escaping with the help of Theon. The season ends with Jon Snow was stabbed by his own men in the Night's Watch for bringing Wildlings as allies to the White Walkers.
Yet Season 6 ends with a different image. By episode 2, we have Jon Snow being brought back to life, through the causes are unclear(but perhaps because of the Red God's power or Jon's own ability to Warg into a wolf). The following episode sees Jon Snow executing the Night's Watch conspirators for killing him and leaving the Night's Watch with Sansa and Davos' forces. Jon is convinced to help Sansa take back Winterfell from Ramsay, who has killed his own father Roose, captured Rickon Stark and secured his position as Lord of Winterfell. Yet, they have failed to rally all the houses to aid them with the exception of House Mormont, with many showing distrust for both Sansa and Jon. Yet, with a last minute appeal for assistance to Littlefinger, the arrival of Baelish's forces during the Battle for Winterfell and the Starks were able to take it, through at the cost of Wun Wun's life and Jon's failure to save Rickon from his death at Ramsay's hands. In the end Jon becomes the King of the North, the Houses all apologize to the Starks for their and Sansa condemns Ramsay to a satisfying death at the hands of Ramsay's own dogs.
Ramsay is not the only character to get his just desserts at the hands of the Starks, the Frey family also suffer a similar fate. Through Jamie's intervention allowed the Freys to retake the Twins from the Blackfish, it did not offer Frey deliverance from death. After Arya got an assignment from the Temple of the Many Faced God in Braavos to assassinate Lady Crane, she has an epiphany and chooses not to kill the actress, resolving to return to Westeros. So the Waif was tasked to hunt down Lady Crane and Arya. Through she kills the former, she is defeated by the latter, who presents the Waif's face to the Hall of Faces in exchange for her own freedom. This allows Arya to return to Westeroes and kill Walder Frey and his Family, which she does so by baking the Frey children into meat pies and using their deaths to torment Frey, subsequently slitting his throat.
Ramsay and the Freys are not the only ones who get their comeuppance this season, but so did Melisandre. One of the darkest scenes of Season 5 was Melisandre compelling Stannis and his wife to burn his own daughter, Shireen for a blessing from the Lord of Light to fight against Ramsay, through this backfired on Stannis and led to his death and the hands of Brienne. What distinguishes Melisandre from Ramsay and Walder was that while both of these characters are established as completely evil and selfish, Melisandre's actions are cast in a morally ambiguous light despite the bodycount, in that regardless of our views on human sacrifice or using shadow demons to kill one's opponents(in this case Stannis' killing of Renly), Melisandre's magic seems to be a necessary evil in order to fight the White Walkers. In season 6 however, Melisandre faces consequences for killing Shireen, this being due to Davo' discover of Shireen's doll at the site where she was burned. As a result of this discovery, Melisandre was banished from Winterfell for her crimes. Overall, this seems to show that even a supposedly "necessary evil" must be ultimately held accountableif the repercussions of her crime was the death of a child.
The Starks were not the only family that received a change in fortune, other sympathetic characters seem to have also received changing fortunes for the better. Daenerys ended Season 5 surrounded by Dothraki and Season 6 opens with her being their slave. However, within the span of 1 episode she was able to kill the Dothraki leaders and take control, and by the season finale, return to Mereen and protect it from the Slavers coming to take revenge for Daenerys taking the Unsullied from them. The final scenes of season 6 show Daenerys finally sailing to Westeroes with Tyrion and the Greyjoys(Theon and Yara) at her side, the latter having joined her after being forced to flee the Iron islands due to Euron usurping the throne and killing their father.
If fact, the only gain for any "villainous" character has to be the King's Landing storyline, which depicted Cersei's ongoing conflict with the High Sparrow and the Faith Militant, who has succeeded in converting Tommen and Margery to his side, and forbidding Trial By Combat, which also prevents Cersei from using Gregor to her advantage. Season 6 ends with Cersei purposely not going to her trial and-accompanied by chilling music-using Wildfire against the Faith Militant. The resulting explosion kills Margery, the High Sparrow and leads to Tommen's suicide once he witnesses the destruction of much of King's Landing. The destruction of the Faith Militant and Tommen's own death allows Cersei to finally achieve the position of Queen, through it is quite likely she will lose it in a future storyline, possibily ending with her own death at the hands of Jaime, especially given the prophecy that her own "little brother" will end up killing her(Cersei long thought this to by Tyrion but Jamie was born seconds after she was.......).
So what does this all mean?
With this all said, it seems that compared to the mass death and devastation facing the more "good" characters in the series from season 1-5, it looks like season 6 is a completely different series. While sympathetic and heroic characters still die, especially at the hands of Ramsay before his final defeat(Fat Walda, Osha, Rickon and Wun Wun), their deaths seemed to not at all be in vain, and it looks like the show might end with a happy ending for those that deserve it.
But of course I could be wrong, Game of Thrones for instance is known for throwing twists and turns whenever they appear. Season 3 episode 9 had the Starks supposedly at the peak of their power and a chance to win the war...only for the Red Wedding to occur. With most of the evil characters, Euron, the Night's King and Cersei aside, dead, Game of Thrones has the opportunity to become really tragic as the characters we root for come to blows with each other.
How will this happen? Season 6 ends with Jon and Sansa consolidating their power and Jon becoming king of the North, but Dany and her fleet are coming to Westeroes. With Jon revealed to be a Targeryan himself, confirming the R+L=J theory in the series(the books could still veer off into a different story), it is quite likely that the North will not just go quietly into the good night. This is even furthered by a possible schism within the Red Temple; through Melisandre now believes that Jon Snow is the Prince that was Promised, Red Priestess Kinvara seems to believe Danerys was the chosen one. While Melisandre was banished and there is a chance she could align with Kinvara's views later on, or not and fade into obscurity, these differences between the interpretation of the Red God's champion may led to a schism in that religion that would translate into an actual conflict between Jon and Dany.
Another source of conflict is Dany and Jon's own personality differences that could prove to be her undoing. While she is genuinely good intentioned, she is often shortsighted and stubborn, her failure to find a balanced solution to the problem of Slavery in Mereen for instance has led to the Sons of the Harpy turning against her. This is contrast to Jon's more professional, seasoned and experienced character. In setting up these polarized differences, it seems the show is setting up two clashing personalities. Yet, we should not neglect the fact that she could easily grow out of these problems through character development
A conflict between the North and Dany seems to be inevitable when this is said, and both of these sides will have sympathetic characters whom the audience dosen't want to die(Dany, Tyrion and the Greyjoy siblings on the Targeryan side, Jon, Sansa, Brienne and Davos on the Stark side). Some fans hope and theorize Jon and Dany will fall in love and share the Targeryan throne together as king and queen, and then proceeding to beat the crap out of the Night's King, Cersei, and Euron. However, how would such a relationship develop? While Game of Thrones has become more optimistic, to have Jon and Dany end up together may be too cliche or unsatisficatory, or could make a good storyline somewhere else, but not really fit into the themes of the series. Consequently the tragedy is that we get characters whom we don't want to die on opposing sides, and the survivors will have to deal with the White Walkers.
Of course I could be wrong and Jon and Dany will get together and beat the crap out of Cersei and Euron and then taking the fight to the Night's King. Or the show will end with a fight between the two Targeryan heirs that will end with one winning but the books do the latter, or vice versa. Ultimatly, while the signs are there Game of Thrones could be headed for a happy ending, we should not overlook the fact that this is Game of Thrones and that the moment of calm and happiness we are feeling right now could be prelude to a bigger storm--much like the calming music that played as Cersei set in motion the destruction of King's Landing.
No comments:
Post a Comment