Video: Fascinating exploration of the role of death on Game of Thrones

“There is only one God, and his name is Death.” That’s one of the first things Syrio Forel told Arya Stark during her water dancing lessons. Since then, the idea of Death has become a major touchstone of the Game of Thrones universe. Death itself may as well be vying for the Iron Throne at this point.

YouTuber Will Schoder turned his attention to the subject with a video essay entitled “The Repercussions of Morality.” It’s a fascinating, well-researched piece that takes a close look at one of the show’s most iconic phrases: All Men Must Die. Take a look for yourself below.

GRRM the Kingslayer

When George R.R. Martin first published A Game of Thrones in 1996, there were nine main characters through whose perspectives we saw the story unfold. As he progressed through A Dance With Dragons, that number expanded to 31. Schoder argues that Martin isn’t a typical fantasy writer, as many of the storylines don’t follow the ‘hero saves the day’ redemption arc. Instead, by letting us experience the plot right alongside whichever player is witnessing it at the moment, we become emotionally invested, which means we’re primed for the writer to throw a wrench into things and kill people.

One of the first major deaths in the series, that of Lord Eddard Stark, happened mainly because of his character’s choices, even though he made them according to an upstanding moral code. The point is, no matter what a character’s motivation is, be it the good-hearted Ned or the devilish Joffrey, Game of Thrones adheres to the “All Men Must Die” rule. This is what makes Martin’s creations so fascinating. Their mortality makes it easier to identify with them, so we’re devastated when they pass on.

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The End

Game of Thrones also shies away from sugar-coating things. Once a character is gone, they stay gone (unless you’re Beric Dondarrion or Jon Snow, of course). There’s a distinct sense of finality when a character dies, since we see a ripple effect of emotion from everyone close to the deceased. We see periods where these characters grieve. It makes things very real and sometimes uncomfortable, as we’re forced to question our own mortality.

Bringing it back to Jon Snow, he’s one of two people to actually come back from the dead in the series. But in Season 6’s “Oathbreaker,” he tells Melisandre there is nothing after death, only darkness. Him knowing what lies beyond the great beyond completely changes him, and he’s left spending every waking moment doing all he can while he can.

It’s a good guide to how we should all be living each day. One of the few things all humans have in common is we all have an expiration date, even if we’re not eaten alive by hounds or shot through with a quarrel to the chest. The hope is that we have a nice time while we’re here, and we stick by our own sense of morality.

To see more of Will Schoder’s commentaries, check out his YouTube channel or Facebook page.