‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 6: Can Melisandre’s Newest Trick Really Help Jon Snow?

HBO revealed (sort of) the fate of Jon Snow as well as a handy trick up Melisandre’s sleeve in Episode 1 (entitled “The Red Woman”) of the Season 6 premiere of Game of Thrones. But could Melisandre’s trick really help Jon Snow?

SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses Season 6 of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Please proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

In Episode 1 (entitled “The Red Woman”) of the Season 6 premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones, Melisandre (Carice van Houten) managed to shock many viewers with her sudden reveal at the end of the episode. After the priestess (who has also been called the “red woman” or “red priestess”) undressed and removed her necklace, her image drastically altered. Instead of the stunning beauty fans know as Melisandre, the woman standing before them was stooped and old.

As a previous Inquisitr article pointed out, it has been known for a while now that Melisandre was much older than she looked. It has been speculated by some Game of Thrones cast (including the actress who plays Melisandre) that Melisandre could be between 100-400-years-old. And the reveal in the Season 6 premiere of Game of Thrones certainly suggested a great age such as this. But how can her age help Jon Snow (Kit Harington)? Well, if she is as old as has been suggested, and she can maintain the appearance of youth to those who look upon her, then she must possess some powerful magic. After all, if someone can alter the way they look as easily as it appears Melisandre can, surely bringing someone like Jon Snow back from the dead will be easy.

Ever since the Season 5 finale of Game of Thrones, fans have been speculating that Jon Snow is not really dead or will return from the dead with the help of Melisandre. The priestess even conveniently turned up at Castle Black as Jon was being stabbed. The theory behind this is that Melisandre’s religion, the Lord of Light, are apt at returning people from the dead. In Season 1, this was shown when Beric Dondarrion was resurrected by Thoros of Myr. Although Melisandre did appear to be surprised at sheer the number of times Beric had been resurrected, alluding to the fact she might not be accomplished at the task of resurrection.

So could Melisandre perhaps get help from another priestess? According to Deadline, Melanie Liburd has been cast as a red priestess. Could the power of two priestesses be enough to rouse Jon Snow from his eternal slumber? Other reports have also suggested Ania Bukstein has been cast in the role of Kinvara, yet another priestess. The Game of Thrones Wikia has her title listed as High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis, the Flametruth, the Light of Wisdom, and First Servant of the Lord of Light. However, this character and casting has not yet been confirmed, and the actress has not yet been listed as appearing in Season 6 of Game of Thrones, according to IMDb.

But, according to the books the TV series is based on, Melisandre might be much more accomplished than she is alluding to in the TV series. In the fifth Game of Thrones novel, A Dance with Dragons, Melisandre is not only capable of performing glamour on herself, but on others as well. So could her glamour just be a way of hoodwinking people into thinking she is not as powerful as she really is?

Or is it the necklace she wears that really contains all the power? After all, it wasn’t until she removed the necklace that the glamour dropped, and the audience could see what Melisandre truly looked like. However, this isn’t likely as you can see from this photo still from Season 4 of Game of Thrones shows Melisandre looking as youthful as always, minus the necklace.

What dis you think of Melisandre’s reveal in Episode 1 of Game of Thrones sixth season? Let us know your thoughts and theories on Melisandre’s magic by commenting below!

Season 6 of Game of Thrones returns to HBO with Episode 2, entitled “Home” on Sunday, May 1, at 10 p.m. ET.

The official synopsis for Episode 2 (entitled “Home”) is the following.

“Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) trains with the Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow). In King’s Landing, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) advises Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman). Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) demands good news, but has to make his own. At Castle Black, the Night’s Watch stands behind Thorne (Owen Teale). Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) proposes a plan, and Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) entertains other proposals.”

[Image via HBO Inc.]