The Lord of Light has always been a mysterious entity on Game of Thrones. And in the penultimate episode of Season 7, “Beyond the Wall,” one big character death complicates his role in the wars to come.
Spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 7 episode 6, “Beyond the Wall.”
In “Beyond the Wall,” the Red Priest Thoros of Myr dies after being mauled by a terrifying zombie polar bear. He survives the initial attack, but when Night King’s undead army traps Jon Snow and his Band of Merry Men on a rock in the middle of a frozen lake, Thoros freezes to death overnight.
Thoros is one of only two characters that have actually performed a ressurection of this sort on Game of Thrones. And, as Beric Dondarrion points out to Jon Snow in “Beyond the Wall,” he and Jon are the only two people who are known to have come back from the dead.
Thoros’s death is therefore a big deal for more reasons than just its impact on the show’s man-bun quota.
Jon Snow and Beric Dondarrion in 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 episode 6, "Beyond the Wall"
As the Hound later points out to Beric Dondarrion, “Careful Beric, you lost your priest. This is your last life.”
It’s too much of a coincidence that Melisandre — the only other person who is known to have performed a successful resurrection — has conveniently left Westeros. Thoros’s death coupled with Melisandre’s absence seems to signify that resurrection no longer has a role in the story. It was a limited time deal, and Jon Snow got the last selection on the clearance rack.
To be fair Game of Thrones did leave a loophole for resurrection to play a role in Season 8. Earlier in Season 7, Melisandre told Varys that she must come back to Westeros “to die in this strange country.”
But for the time being, every character is on their “last life.” Thoros’s death means the Lord of Light has foresaken the living and second chances at life are no longer an option — unless you’re part of the Army of the Dead.
The Game of Thrones Season 7 finale airs Sunday, August 27 on HBO.
