Bring me to life
Sci-fi show Resurrection is returning the dead to the land of the living… and there are a few TV favourites we’d like back.
Being six feet under doesn’t mean that you’re a goner on TV. Internet streaming service Showmax has both seasons of Resurrection (20142015) in their library and the Brad Pitt-produced show centres on people who come back to life. But something is amiss – these “resurrectees” haven’t aged a day since they passed on. Like little Jacob (Landon Gimenez), the first resurrectee we meet. He is found in a rice field in China, clueless about how he got there. All he remembers is his name, hometown of Arcadia, Missouri and the house he lived in… which is now occupied by an elderly couple whose eight-year-old son Jacob died over 30 years ago. So that got us thinking, which other TV characters would we bring back from the dead – and why might it be better for TV fans if they stayed resting in the afterlife?
EDDARD “NED” STARK
Game Of Thrones (2011-current; seasons 1- 6 are available on Showmax)
Spoiler alert – Sean Bean’s character dies in season 1! Fans don’t even get a full 10 episodes from Dead Ned, who loses his head in episode 9.
Rise again: look at what happens to his family! The Starks go from lords and ladies of the manor to murderers, thieves, vagabonds, warlords, trophy wives and far worse over the seasons.
Rest more: how else would the fantasy series develop if Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams) and the other Starks didn’t seek revenge? Plus, if Ned was still alive, all those secrets would stay buried and no one would know the truth about his illegitimate son Jon Snow (Kit Harington)…
WILL GARDNER The Good Wife (2009-2016; all 7 seasons are on Showmax)
Just because you’re a managing-partner lawyer in a courtroom doesn’t mean that you are safe. Will (played by Josh Charles) is shot mid-trial by the very criminal he’s defending in season 5 episode 15.
Rise again: fans need to see Will and lead character Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) rekindle their love. They’ve been snogging since their days at law school and midday hook-ups in the office have never been sexier.
Rest more: Josh wanted to leave. If Will comes back, he is going to be “blah” and “meh” and “average” because Josh doesn’t want to be there. And Alicia’s love is worth way more than that!
DEREK SHEPHERD Grey’s Anatomy (2005-current; seasons 1-11 can be found on Showmax)
Hunky Patrick Dempsey’s character “Dr McDreamy” bites the bullet in season 11’s finale after a car crash. Ironic as Patrick is a professional racing car driver!
Rise again: seeing Derek’s lead- character wife Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) break down as she turns off his life-support will shatter your heart. The only thing that can heal them is Derek returning from the grave.
Rest more: the show isn’t for sissies. When it comes to killing off big-name characters, creator Shonda Rhimes is second best only to Game Of Thrones’ author George RR Martin.
ATHELSTAN Vikings (2013-current; seasons 1-3 are on Showmax)
The hostage priest-turnedViking friend (George Blagden) is central to main man Ragnar’s (Travis Fimmel) development. But that bond with the warlord is his downfall in season 3 episode 6 when jealous boat builder Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård – see p65) cuts Athelstan down to size.
Rise again: who’ll complete Ragnar’s conversion to the Christian faith? Only Athelstan had the guts to help him.
Rest more: Ragnar wouldn’t be as conflicted and driven if his bestie was still alive. Take one for the team and stay down, Athelstan.