I was looking forward to watching Episode 601 of Game of Thrones. First, season 6 deals with material that is not yet written in the books. Overall, the episode has both superb and appalling scenes. Most of the events that happen in this episode are expected, the main reason why this opening episode may not be appealing to book readers.
The Death of Jon Snow
The screen adaptation has opted to have Jon dead.** The viewer sees the aftermath of the murder. Ghost is locked in a room, and emitting a sorrowful howl. Davos finds the body and secures it. As the body is removed from the snow-covered ground, the camera focuses on the stain on the ground indicating Davos’s gaze on it, hinting a hidden symbolism. Melisandre’s comment about seeing Jon fighting at Winterfell is foretelling. At the same time, Alliser Thorne is rallying what remains of the Night’s Watch to his side. He mentions that Jon made a mistake by letting the Wildlings go through The Wall. Of course, he may convince most members temporarily since many of them are not fond of the Wildlings. It seems that some of them are not happy that Thorne murdered Jon. They prefer to keep quiet. In the meantime, Davos is trying to calm Dolorous Edd from doing something foolish, killing Thorne and losing his life in the process. He suggests Edd finding the Wildlings, whose location at this moment is unknown. They are probably at the Gift, an extensive area belonging to the Watch, south of The Wall. The scene in which Alliser Thorne asks Davos to leave with Melisandre has elements of hilarity and foreshadowing. First, there is the silly request for food before heading south with Melisandre. Second, Davos mentions to the few loyal to Jon Snow that there is also the Red Woman. They are skeptical about her powers. However, Davos tell them that they would not believe the things that he has witnessed her doing.
Melisandre’s Glamor
At this stage, it seems that Jon will be resurrected by fire, in a similar manner in which Beric Dondarrion was reanimated. There are going to be some differences, though. Beric suffers from some “emptiness.” He is also forgetful of his former life. How does this relate to Melisandre and Jon? It has been theorized for a long time by book readers that Melisandre is centuries old. She hides her physical appearance by using a ruby as a glamor. The TV adaptation confirms this theory. In the books, the Lord of Bones is the one who gets burned instead of Mance Ryder. However, everybody sees Mance Ryder. Melisandre’s explains to Jon the nature of glamors.
“. . . Glamour, seeming, illusion. R’hllor is Lord of Light, Jon Snow, and it is given to his servants to weave with it, as others weave with thread.”
Mance Ryder chuckled. “I had my doubts as well, Snow, but why not let her try? It was that, or let Stannis roast me.”
“The bones help,” said Melisandre. “The bones remember. The strongest glamors are built of such things. A dead man’s boots, a hank of hair, a bag of fingerbones. With whispered words and prayers, a man’s shadow can be drawn forth from such and draped about another like a cloak. The wearer’s essence does not change, only his seeming.” (A Dance with Dragons, p. 419).
Of interest are the boots and the bag of fingerbones. Davos used to wear his cut fingerbones in a bag, which he lost at Blackwater. Here is a link discussing this topic in detail: Melisandre, Davos’s Fingerbones, and the Glamor. Regarding the boots, Arya obtains boots in Braavos after killing a deserter from the Night’s Watch: Glamor Items. The logical explanation of these items and their connections is that the magic used by the Faceless Men is based on glamors.
I tend to believe that Melisandre underwent the resurrection ritual, similar to the one that Beric experienced. However, she was not dead at that time. It seems that the ritual made her immortal.
Food. Yes, I should eat. Some days she forgot. R’hllor provided her with all the nourishment her body needed, but that was something best concealed from mortal men. (A Dance with Dragons, p. 410)
This passage shows that Melisandre considers herself different than the mortals. She eats but little. Eating is not a requirement for survival to her. She also does not sleep much and avoids dreaming. In fact, she associates dreams with the Great Other (Night’s King in the TV show). If TV Jon is resurrected by her, he might be similar to her and become immortal. She might die in the process since she will be transferring her life force to him.
The Extinction of House Martell
We witness the murder of the Prince of Dorne, Doran, and his heir, Trystane. The two events are poorly executed. One wonders whether the death of these two characters is related to the dislike and poor reception of the Dornish storyline last season. I would have preferred Doran to survive and become a player. His bodyguard, Aereo Hotah, is not somebody who can be killed quickly; he deserves a better death. Furthermore, I do not understand how two Sand Snakes were able to make it to King’s Landing in order to kill Trystane. I tend to think that this plotline’s weakness is associated with the adaptation eliminating the character of Aegon Targaryen, believed to be a Blackfyre pretender.
** The general perception by book readers is that he is not dead but comatose.