A Song of Ice and Fire: The Death of Winter

In A Game of Thrones, Daenerys Chapter Three, Jorah the Andal says to Daenerys, "The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends," Ser Jorah told her. Jorah states this with a dismissive implication towards the common people. But the common people have collective wisdom no doubt past down for millennia. It is obvious why they pray for rain, obvious why they would pray for healthy children, and considering the supernaturally unbalanced seasons of their world is it obvious why they would prefer a never-ending summer over any winter. But ultimately what they fear winter brings death. The Winter is death, the other coming forth from the darkness to snuff out all light.
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[@Moeller750]

It's funny you run parallels to Alaska. Growing up in Scandinavia, I understand the horror of the long winters - and the long night. George really captured how long months of darkness shapes a culture. The longing for the light and summer penetrates every aspect of a culture that lives in partial darkness.

[@thetagang6854]

When you read these stories I feel like a kid again in kinder-garden listening to my teacher read short novels.

[@_Woody_]

I do not think that Melisandre is wrong in shadows beeing bound to the light. I think George seperates darkness and shadow here. The latter is the thing that an object draws on the ground when standing in light. Darkness, I believe, is the total absence of light for George, not like the drawn shadows cast by lights.

[@askani21]

I always saw it that way in asoiaf. Shadows live exclusively under the light of day or near to a flame. Darkness falls when the light of day dissipates, or when the flame is snuffed out. It's a very poetic distinction!

[@AlexJones-ue1ll]

"What we know is a drop. What we dont know is an ocean." -One of the tag lines of Dark.

[@lizardbreathh]

Great show!

[@karimam1275]

Isaac Newton's line!

[@Mike.Ivory.Music7]

Just finished that show today and it is absolutely fantastic. I hope Quinn does videos on "Dark". Would be epic.

[@AlexJones-ue1ll]

@@Mike.Ivory.Music7 I hope so as well. Would be nice to see more major channels tackle the show. The more cloud it gets, the better.

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Stories let us cope with big concepts by putting them at arm’s length. Good video.

[@kingxerocole4616]

I've been saying for years that the big enemy in ASOIAF is death itself.

[@wisdommanari6701]

War and revenge but yes they typically bring death

[@kingxerocole4616]

@@wisdommanari6701 those are themes, I'm talking about an enemy that all groups are fighting against. Most of the factions we follow have found some way of cheating death: Dany cheats death, Lady Stoneheart cheats death, Melisandre cheats death, the White Walkers cheat death, Wargs cheat death, the Mountain cheats death. I believe Jon and Arya will also cheat death in some way. Death is the enemy.

[@darkservantofheaven]

And what do we say to death. Not today

[@jollyyeholiver1578]

I wouldn't say death itself, but a living death. Death is probably seen as a mercy to those, living in horror.

[@MagusMarquillin]

@@darkservantofheaven Death replies: _See ya tomorrow!_

[@aperson22222]

I can see why you'd pray for long summers and short winters, but a world without winter is also the stuff of nightmares. No chance for depleted soil to recover, no packed snow to melt in the spring and renew the streams and lakes, no time for the livestock to rest and for their young to grow. Nothing to sustain new growth in the forests, no frosts to kill off destructive insects and other pests, and no rest for farmers and laborers. The balance isn't just important because you can't appreciate the good without the bad. It's all good, and it's all bad. There are _virtues_ in winter without which summer is horrifying.

[@tinamoul]

🙄Yeah this is some serious romanticization of winter right here. You know there are tropical regions on this planet that do just fine, thrive even without a winter season. The depleted soil recovers just fine, people have been practicing crop rotation for thousands of years, if anything farming is actually easier and more fruitful when you don't have huge blocks of time when you can't produce anything, you don't need winter to allow the soil to recover. There are these things called tropical rain forests, which are the richest and most diverse biospheres on the planet, and pests can actually be worse in cold regions, because they seek shelter too during the cold months, and guess who builds the best shelters? Man. It's fine to like winter, but it's in no way necessary for comfortable human existence. Seeing how most prevailing theories actually point to Homo Sapiens originating in a tropical climate, winter is just one of several seasons.

[@aperson22222]

thereign Oh sure there are climates where it’s not necessary. But Westeros isn’t one of them. They don’t live in a tropical rainforest, and the plants and animals they _do_ rely on need wintry weather as part of their life cycles.

[@HaroldoPinheiro-OK]

@@aperson22222 the point is that if they had a tropical climate, animals and plants would adapt to that, eventually. You don't need severe winters, you don't want extreme summers.

[@aperson22222]

@@HaroldoPinheiro-OK They might adapt to the tropics eventually. Or they might not. They might adapt to permafrost, too. The one is no likelier than the other.

[@kikima258]

@@tinamoul you said it it's tropical so it's a very specific climate no winter in other climates will be hell nature does things for specific reasons plus like every thing in this world tropical climates has good and bad side to it

[@eric2500]

I found this the first time during a lonesome evening in the pandemic. Missing my mother. It still moves me. Thank you again, Quinn. I don't know what to do either, but I look for ways to help. After all, valar doheris.

[@eric2500]

Part of how much this clicks is the argument with the obnoxious smug troll type entity. So superior. Denies reality, defensive jerk - just like so many humans - what if we finally meet the aliens and they are just jerks? DEPRESSING THOUGHT. But then you fight it off. We all have our inner smug alien jerks, they need deleting. *We have things to do, saving this world that gives us Spring's brightness and Winter's rest.* Be well.

[@zenjeongrebelle1808]

Or what if u just read the book...THE BOOK the book that more than any other book has inspired all fantasy....scripture

[@PrintAndPlayPodcast]

When are you going use that cool voice of yours in an audiobook?

[@alevtinabor3984]

oh please do. asoiaf audiobook:))

[@dark3rthanshadows]

@@alevtinabor3984 DAAMN that would take a lot of reading lol.

[@cbob213]

Are you going to do your own AudioBook Quinn??

[@shdwfx40001]

Or short fanfictions?

[@Snakie747]

That Jorah quote really resonated with me. It's crazy that much of the narrative of this story is the Game that the majority of the inhabitants couldn't care less about- commoners don't care who sits the throne. It is a little weird that the story goes out of it's way to show the impact the war has on common people, yet there are no POV common people. Everyone is a lord, lordling, lady, princess, or noble bastard. The story is told exclusively from those who's primary background is that of privilege. The closest we get is Arya who lives as a commoner for much of the story and Davos who was born in flea bottom but is now a core member of a king's court. I get why- their point of view would likely be too limited to really add much to the overall narrative, but it creates kind of a weird blindspot in the "horrors of war" theme to me.

[@potterpal5]

I completely agree about how the fear of the Others and Winter represent the fear of death. However, I think who they are and what they want is extremely important on a fundamental level. Otherwise, they are just a generic "evil" race that the "heroes" are justified in committing genocide against (like in the show).

[@Zeithri]

Quinn talking about days of darkness, and the icy bit of Wind. Meanwhile, Me, a Swede, - Sounds normal to me! Winter, is coming. And I for one can't wait for the darkness and comfy!

[@songbird7450]

I'm moving to Norway in a month. Gonna see what the long night really feels like.

[@askani21]

I live in Quebec, therefore I believe I hold bragging rights about Long Night winters haha! -25° for months is actually pretty comfortable, and snow is great for outdoor activities! :D Plus, people only get eaten by Whitewalkers on weekends, so it's fine. :)

[@alevtinabor3984]

oh dear Half of Siberia is living in the circumpolar region. And polar night is never sudden, as you depict it here. Sun goes lower and lower and day becomes shorter, than it is only twilight, than long night. also there's polar day in summer, when sun never goes down. so it looks easy to dedicate how it works. than they had a calendar, so they new when exactly the winter will end. it was no mystery.

[@robadamson1]

The most terrifying world in the Hyperion cantos was that sunless world with the wraiths that came about because of the collapse of the gate network. Very much in this theme.

[@MG-ou4qd]

To be honest...at this point my excitement for TWoW has disappeared into nothingness....anyone else feel the same? It's just been sooooooo long....it's like waiting for them to pick up Firefly again...

[@JakeyD23]

Have hope….

[@blackknightr892]

Gotta love organisms from trollion

[@lukeadams8565]

even tho you may not realize it brother you are changing the world for the better keep up the amazing work on the interweb peace love and light brother you are a true man a true seeker of life and all is facet's and in that we find ourselves

[@skwisgaarskwigelf331]

I really wish there was no summer THIS hot in Spain. I want some winter! Yeah, and the season too.

[@jessehipp2531]

How hot is it in spain because in texas it's 105 with about 85 percent humidity or more daily

[@dangerdan2592]

105 F is around 40 Celsius just in case OP is wondering.

[@AGaiman]

True Death is a finer thing than the hollow existence of a wight. The Faceless Men know that mortality can be a kindness.

[@barbiquearea]

Also people can and have adapted to living in the desert and learned to thrive. If you are running out of water you can dig a well, or dig up frogs in the sand dunes, or cut open cactuses, or slaughter camels for their water and their meat. Deserts maybe harsh but there is hope in such arid environments. Living in perpetual winter is not only terrifying because it's hard to locate food but the darkness itself creates uncertainty, like when the cold will go away or when crops will once again be able to grow.

[@danarthur4527]

The whole concept of dualism for humans is based on the way our brains have evoled. We think in concepts such as light and dark, good ana evil, heat and cold, but once we examine these ideas we understand that the world is much more complicated than that: what is hot fr a human is cold for a reptile, what is evil for one man is nature to another.

[@ElKabongg42]

Thank you as always for the insightful content, Quinn, you are my go-to source for Dune and one of my two for GoT (shouts to Alt) Lots of us out here feel lost and helpless like you've expressed, but keeping ourselves looking forward and putting one foot in front of the other is the way to be ready when action calls to us

[@mattfoulgerBC]

Sat down for lunch and saw the notification pop up. Yes yes yes

[@user-lp7tx1fe6t]

Lucky

[@diegoolivaresgonzalez42]

The same but for dinner

[@TheArtisanTarotTBMoon]

Quinn I recently took an in-depth course on deeping my mediumship abilities and we went over what our ancestors did in the winter and why Halloween and death was so feared. But mediumship and divinisation became helpful and people like me became more common. Communing with the ancestors was used for prediction help with crops, farming and when was a good time for marriage. I am loving this video!

[@danielleodom678]

I cannot truly express how much I loved this video! Thank you! Be well Quinn.

[@thisguy8106]

Another great video, Quinn. Thanks for all of your hard work

[@mzmendy]

You're becoming a better and better story teller Quinn. Soooo much so, that the more disturbing parts of your description are giving me chills.

[@applewagon253]

Giving me Comic Book Girl and Robot vibes and I’m here for it. Loved your moment of vulnerability too! Excellent work!

[@respectfulconversation944]

That was a beautiful comment from the darkness of ASOIAF to the darkness and fear we live with now in the present day. But i do have hope that we can cope and make a better world. If we all do some small things they can add up to somerhing big :)

[@anguscampbell3020]

I love how you analyze the themes of these classics. Makes me think Tadhya was written with a purpose. Definately gonna havento check it out.

[@brendaoerlemans3946]

Heared about this vid in lml's livestream so when he was done I immediately turned here! You rock! I always say balance is the key, balance between dark and light, the seasons and life itself. In asoiaf the balance is gone. So the battle is more about bringing balance back to the world.

[@RooseveltAliWashingtonX]

I was stationed at Ft. Wainwright, AK for three years! In hindsight, I'm glad that I went through it. At the time, during the winter, in particular, I loathed it!

[@Moeller750]

I remember when this channel was just Quinn reading out his scripts in front of his closet.

[@HavanaSyndrome69]

Organism 916 coming in and surprising me was so funny and unexpected. It really did snap me out of listening to your hypnotic spooky voice. You're the biggest dork in the world dude never change haha

[@RiderOfKarma]

I love the use of color Q, this is all going in a very cool direction.

[@ursaber]

A never ending SPRING! Summer is too hot. And Spring is just out of Winter meaning, if Spring ends, Summer and Autumn are next!

[@yurivendruscolo7676]

Love it Quinn! But on the evolutionary side, one could remember the survivor bias, that on winter/cold, humans can, even through hardship, survive, while on other kinds of extremes we don't genetically fear, maybe instead of just the lone wolf dying, the whole pack died!

[@patreilly3184]

that monologue at around 12 minutes hit me hard. im often so afraid to admit how fucking scared i am with everything going on. got me cryin lol

[@pernillekaaber8335]

Wow! I'm so impressed with this video. You really upped your game! Thoughtful, insightful and honest. Just...wow

[@fuferito]

I agree with a great man who said that we all "come from a long line of death."

[@jasonmadmax4445]

Love that voice you do. And I think, you're a real great philosopher. Love your videos.

[@MrGoncalobraz]

Welcome back to the deep thoughtful videos and got to say I like the new extra dimensional vibe. Kudos bro

[@mistermoaronn228]

Love the sound work. As always the ideas are engaging and well presented, keep up awesome sauce.

[@tired_and_stressed]

Quinn rolling natural 20s on his charisma check on his videos. Dude is so freaking charming.

[@_Woody_]

Quinn...I always take ASoIaF content from you. Maybe there is coming more in the future. I would be honored to watch them.

[@ashelypfleger]

I’ve been following you for a while (along with other theorists), and as far as ASOIAF theorists go, I appreciate your production talent. I also side with your common-sense stance on many theories. I had to comment on your comparison of modern times to that of ASOIAF’s Winter. It is so spot-on, and the fact that you leave it open; that we don’t have a solution (and that’s okay) is relatable. Valar Dohaeris Side note: I don’t approve of recreating consciousness lol we all know that’s unethical :P

[@melindamaplewood8676]

Your videos have that 80s fantasy sci-fi vibe and I have to say I totally dig them. 😀

[@salweezy]

Great video Quinn. Loving the new style. I would watch at least 10 seasons of this

[@quinnarnold8733]

I love these thematic ideas, other Quinn! I think this bolsters your theory, but I don't think you mentioned it: The followers of R'hllor have the ability to resurrect people, but with a cost. This speaks to your idea that the lord of light is the yin to death's yang, and that despite being prayed for, an "endless summer" could be just as much a curse. I think that is borne out in the changes Beric and Catelyn undergo, and perhaps Jon if we ever see his book counterpart resurrected.

[@cbob213]

Love the "down the barrel" in the chair like its a Tales from the Crypts episode... Great video, loving all the content in the era of lockdown. Winter has come most people just haven't realized yet... **Edit** Are you doing the AudioBook reading for Tahdya Quinn?

[@sethhale8828]

You have been killing it....and quite frankly you still are. Your channel fell off my algorithm... but it came back with a vengeance. PROPS. Loving the mystery science theatre 3000 vibe. Glad to be back on this train.

[@cooperkauffeld8921]

This is well worded and beautiful. Thank you

[@mohsenbayati3627]

This long winter must come for Arrakis

[@yfullman]

"Death is the enemy. The enemy always wins, but we still need to fight it." -Beric Dondarrion One of the last decent lines in the series. Also I really thought Quinn was gonna follow up his talk about him being scared with Organism telling him that we'll get through this the same as the ancient humans did. Together.

[@williamford9432]

Quinn brilliant perspective, I really enjoyed it!

[@Leah-xu2fd]

Best video so far. I really admire your blend of realism, cynicism, frustration, fear, and hope all into one. The content and analysis was spot on like always but amazing job letting people know that yes the world is batshit bananas out there but we need some crazy to give us perspective but reminding people to not be jerks, or that was my take, was perfectly said. Keep up the amazing content. I've really enjoyed watching your takes. Really great job.

[@Attilablabla]

Love the artwork

[@TheRodolfoVideos]

I digged this new format!

[@NotYurAverageJoe]

Lol i like the comic SCP-esque side character.

[@brandonlambert9768]

These videos give me something to look forward to during these crazy days.

[@firetarrasque4667]

You're brilliant, mate. Have you read Wittgenstein's thoughts on death? I'm still struggling to quite wrap my head around it, but it really is deeply insightful.

[@shamblepants1450]

This was great! The organism's voice gives me the giggles.

[@labang1174]

Another excellent video. That background music is giving me some Phantasm vibes.

[@konstantinboev7018]

i love it when you make videos in your spooky voice and scary music

[@rabbithaze9707]

With the unfortunate passing of Roy Dotrice, you should put your name in the hat for reading the official audibooks for TWOW and ADOS

[@asarishepard8171]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS.

[@cooperkauffeld8921]

First off really like you voice. You videos help so much. Thank you 😊

[@churchofthegreatpumpkin8564]

this is a great video but i didn't need to be called out for my fear of mortality today

[@Frznwhrlpll]

organism really is a fuckin great representation of that side... you will give a succinct strong well spoken explanation and they will completely ignore it and disrespect your perspective

[@nickmajors2459]

LML... I mean organism needs a spin off show

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

HBO and GRR Martin ought to hire you to narrate their GOT reboot series.

[@sydnitheromantictaylor112]

Love your ASOIAF content Quinn.

[@RDHardy79]

You are on fire my friend. Loving these videos.

[@Milo82795]

Love the new channel name. Keep up the great content 👏 👌

[@Ar1AnX1x]

this video felt different from your other videos and I like that

[@kashhusain8154]

Cool music at the end.

[@alysaneblackwood]

This video is all the reasons I love watching you @Quinn's Ideas

[@edwardmartin5860]

That was so good your on that nxt level shiat.And yes I'm scared too brada,but confident that theres more good and sane people and together we will see that sunrise.Thnx Quinn vid was very entertaining & smart.

[@ursaber]

A winter that lasts three months instead of three years

[@ghoulishfool]

When will the rest of the winds of winter prediction videos with LML come out?

[@spinakker14]

LML said a few times that they definitely want to make those videos but they are still in the process of moving

[@Zveebo]

@@spinakker14 I love that Quinn and LML live together - that makes me so happy 😊

[@made-line7627]

@@Zveebo Do they really? Well!

[@samuelsilva8364]

In this context, what's the meaning of "What's dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger."?

[@made-line7627]

Great question. Perhaps the planet and nature itself could be *one* of the answers

[@bartistclord1916]

I translated that title as grrm died and the world will never get Winds of Winter...

[@waltermanson999]

Amazing video ! Love you Quinn !!!

[@ranica47]

Excellent video Quinn.

[@rasnac]

I love you Quinn, but I have to say it: so many bells and whistles you recently added to your videos really distract me from enjoying the actual content. Is it impossible for you to return to clean minimalist video essay style?

[@Zveebo]

I like the bells and whistles mostly! But I agree Quinn could rein it in just a little to let the content shine.

[@thatguythere8737]

i also like it better without the jokes there always bring me out of the immersion

[@bushmaster6894]

Agreed. I enjoyed listening to his content and feeling the sense of immersion in what he was explaining. I don't mind videos where he addresses the trolls and makes the content more light hearted, but not all of them need to be like this.

[@ranica47]

@@pwmvsi Pathetic comment.

[@tylerbarrett6652]

Glad you did this and infused the whole dualism/unity idea... but I often come back to the fact that ice is not actually the opposite of fire.... There is heat/energy and the absence of heat/energy.... Light, and the absence of light. Ice is more the opposite of steam than it is of fire.... and yet it's water and the absence of water. You can't have too much or too little... and like that sphinx, we need a little of this and a little of that.

[@puzzlecat9816]

Love your new sidekick!

[@luminyam6145]

Incredible video, thank you Quinn.

[@Jesse-B]

Bravo Mr Quinn, that silky voice of yours paints a vivid picture. You gave me an idea; I have no idea how anyone else feels, but I'm all for an original tv series (not a fkng "remake") by Denis Villeneuve, which stays faithful to George Martin's vision of A Song of Ice and Fire. By the time he's finished Dune, George would hopefully have finished and published the books. I still have a lot of unresolved anger over what D&D did to it.

[@steveburton2165]

So you brought up entropy... you know with entropy, earth's atmosphere would be sucked into the vacuum of space..... without a container.

[@ZoomingRainbowHoover]

Some advanced organisms are just too unreasonable by our primitive standards.

[@MG-rf5vp]

I really felt like I was watching a movie with the visuals. It had great graphics and content. The Organism provided some humor we all need. Something different is always a plus. Keep things interesting. So true that dualism is a part of everyone and everything.

[@karimam1275]

It's not boring organism!

[@aracen74]

ASOIAF never drops the ball and hits the landing every time

[@aaronsoto1346]

Vsauce and cbg19 vibes from this video. Great job!

[@roxelaneelmira4678]

Fear is the mind killer...

[@morganSnow421]

This video is amazing!!! Oh and what is that awesome music in the background called?

[@isabellamego5321]

Loved it!

[@leijten]

love your voice bro

[@juliogalindo9363]

I loved this video, thanks for your hard work.