Melisandre's necklace in season 6

Question

It's important that you don't read this question if you haven't watched episode 1 of season 6, "The Red Woman".

No-one who has been paying attention to either the show or the books will be surprised to know Melisandre's necklace

has some sort of magic properties. We know it somehow protects her from poison, and some of us suspected it somehow aided in her charms/glamour.

However, there is an inconsistency. In an earlier scene from another season, we already saw Melisandre's

naked body while she wasn't wearing or touching her precious necklace. For example, in this scene where she bathes naked while Lady Selyse is watching her. She looks young, not like a hag. Some fans have commented there is a suitably odd expression in Lady Selyse's face while she's talking to Melisandre, like she's noticing something we, the spectators, don't.

But it doesn't make sense. Whose point of view was that earlier scene? Was Meli's magic working in some other way? Was it a case of artistic license?

Why would Lady Selyse see something different than us?

Or were we deceived in that earlier scene, and only now the deception has been revealed?

Answer 1

There are really only two sensible explanations

...besides "the writers forgot."

1. The most plausible explanation is that the necklace is not the sole source of her power. Melisandre transforms after removing her necklace, true. But she also transforms after removing her clothing, and that doesn't necessarily imply that the clothing is the source of her power. True, the necklace can protect her from poison, as seen with Maester Cressen. But that doesn't mean that it is the source of all her powers. This seems unlikely, in fact: she repeatedly insists that her power comes from her faith in R'hllor.

2. It is also, possible, though, that her capability to create illusions is indeed dependent on the necklace, but those illusions can extend to the necklace itself. That is to say, Melisandre may have been wearing the necklace in the bath.

The explanation that the bathtub scene was not being shown from Lady Selyse's perspective doesn't make much sense. If the necklace is necessary to maintain Melisandre's appearance, and she was not wearing it in the bathtub, there is no character from whose point of view in which she looks young, at that point in time.

Answer 2

In addition to Jonah's good answer: From the novels we know that the necklace isn't the (only) source of her power. As far as i recall, it doesn't appear at all. She clearly states that she has potions that can disguise people. In the novels:

She also disguises Mance Rayder to look like Rattleshirt. [Source]

In the scene with the necklace we can also see one of her potions on her table.

Answer 3

Before taking the necklace out she seems to be making some sort of decision. Considering what else has been happening in Castle Black, the change that happens might be a consequence of her channeling her powers to some sort of spell (bringing back John Snow for example) and that she was making that decision because(at least for that time) she'd be vulnerable. So, her necklace would be some way to amplify/focus her powers but she'd still have those powers(even if temporarily) when not wearing it but in that situation she had expend all of her powers and leave herself exposed like that.

Answer 4

According to the books, the 'spell' she is using to change her appearance is a 'glamor'. This is mentioned a few times in the books:

"Call it what you will. Glamor, 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."

and

"Mummers change their faces with artifice," the kindly man was saying, "and sorcerers use glamors, weaving light and shadow and desire to make illusions that trick the eye."

and

"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 prayer, 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."

This, especially the last quote, would infer that the 'artifact' used 'helps' create the glamor but isn't entirely responsible for it. Therefore, if it is desired then Melisandre can create the glamor without wearing the necklace.

Source here (full of spoilers of course)