5 ms·

I always wondered why there is so little magic in the stories universe? Why do white walkers have acceess to magic but no one else?

amelius 8y ago
Because it's just too simple an instrument to use, and viewers instinctively know it.
- PurpleRamen 8y ago
  Isn't that like saying science is just too simple of an instrument? Or Money? Or personal ability? Or power to command people to do what you demand? It's not as if magic has no rules, nor limit. It's depends on what the write makes with it, like with every other ressource and plot-tool.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - pinusc 8y ago
    While magic and its limits are indeed defined by the author, the problem with fantasy worlds with widely available magic is that it usually ends up permeating the universe and being at the center of the story. Think of Harry Potter or LOTR or even going back in history to the tales of King Arthur. Game of Thrones is not a fantasy tale as much as a human one. George Martin chose to make the story about people and the struggle for power and ideals and everything else that is human. And even with magic being barely a presence, it still is a force able to radically influence the game - but not much more than money, or armies, or human ability, which are still powerful enough to be relevant. I think if magic was more widely available, it would either have needed to be trivial, not powerful magic, or these other resources would have suffered.
nerdponx 8y ago
That's part of what is so interesting about the series. The world is subtly magical, but its inhabitants don't really recognize it and it doesn't really enter their daily lives. That said, it also does make possible some "cheap shot" plot devices like a certain important someone getting assassinated by a certain priestess in an unlikely way. (Details elided to avoid spoilers).
davidivadavid 8y ago
Eh? Spoilers, but, at least in the TV series, Jon Snow gets revived by Melisandre. Bran can essentially see in the past and the future. Isn't that magic?
- mrfusion 8y ago
  True but it’s not a lot for all the seasons. And it seems like most people don’t have access to magic (or even know it exists)
gpderetta 8y ago
That's probably part ofthe plot and big reveal at the end.
orev 8y ago
A large part of the magic is mostly referenced as historical stories, and then something happened where the magic went dormant (e.g. dragons got smaller and smaller over generations until they just stopped hatching). The present day story takes place at a time when the magic seems to be just coming back into the world (spells to create wildfire suddenly started working much better than they used to). For most people in that world, magic has never existed outside of legends, and much of the knowledge on how to use it is gone or at least not available to most people (probably only in historical records at the Citadel). The TV adaptation also downplays the magic more, either out of budgetary reasons or to keep it more accessible to a general audience.

amelius 8y ago

Because it's just too simple an instrument to use, and viewers instinctively know it.

PurpleRamen 8y ago
Isn't that like saying science is just too simple of an instrument? Or Money? Or personal ability? Or power to command people to do what you demand? It's not as if magic has no rules, nor limit. It's depends on what the write makes with it, like with every other ressource and plot-tool.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- pinusc 8y ago
  While magic and its limits are indeed defined by the author, the problem with fantasy worlds with widely available magic is that it usually ends up permeating the universe and being at the center of the story. Think of Harry Potter or LOTR or even going back in history to the tales of King Arthur. Game of Thrones is not a fantasy tale as much as a human one. George Martin chose to make the story about people and the struggle for power and ideals and everything else that is human. And even with magic being barely a presence, it still is a force able to radically influence the game - but not much more than money, or armies, or human ability, which are still powerful enough to be relevant. I think if magic was more widely available, it would either have needed to be trivial, not powerful magic, or these other resources would have suffered.

nerdponx 8y ago

That's part of what is so interesting about the series. The world is subtly magical, but its inhabitants don't really recognize it and it doesn't really enter their daily lives. That said, it also does make possible some "cheap shot" plot devices like a certain important someone getting assassinated by a certain priestess in an unlikely way. (Details elided to avoid spoilers).

davidivadavid 8y ago

Eh? Spoilers, but, at least in the TV series, Jon Snow gets revived by Melisandre. Bran can essentially see in the past and the future. Isn't that magic?

mrfusion 8y ago
True but it’s not a lot for all the seasons. And it seems like most people don’t have access to magic (or even know it exists)

gpderetta 8y ago

That's probably part ofthe plot and big reveal at the end.

orev 8y ago

A large part of the magic is mostly referenced as historical stories, and then something happened where the magic went dormant (e.g. dragons got smaller and smaller over generations until they just stopped hatching). The present day story takes place at a time when the magic seems to be just coming back into the world (spells to create wildfire suddenly started working much better than they used to). For most people in that world, magic has never existed outside of legends, and much of the knowledge on how to use it is gone or at least not available to most people (probably only in historical records at the Citadel). The TV adaptation also downplays the magic more, either out of budgetary reasons or to keep it more accessible to a general audience.