Justice Deserves Another Chance: Why Dragon Age Should Bring Him Back
Justice Deserves Another Chance: Why Dragon Age Should Bring Him Back
When Dragon Age fans discuss characters who deserve a return, names like Alistair, Morrigan, Varric, Leliana, and Shale are often mentioned. Yet one of the most fascinating characters in the entire franchise is frequently overlooked: Justice.
Not because he was unimportant.
Not because his story was complete.
But because many fans assume his story ended with Anders.
The truth is that Justice's story may be one of the most unfinished narratives in all of Dragon Age.
Justice Was Never Just Another Companion
Justice first appeared in Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening as something unique. He was not a warrior, rogue, mage, or noble trying to save the world. He was a spirit from the Fade attempting to understand mortals.
He represented an idea.
Justice.
The concept itself.
His conversations were some of the most thought-provoking in the series because he viewed the world differently than everyone else. He struggled to understand lies, compromise, politics, selfishness, and moral gray areas.
To Justice, right and wrong seemed simple.
To mortals, they never are.
That conflict created some of the most memorable dialogue in Dragon Age.
The Tragedy of Justice and Anders
The merging of Justice and Anders in Dragon Age II remains one of the franchise's boldest storytelling decisions.
Neither character was truly evil.
Neither character intended to become a monster.
Yet together they transformed into something dangerous.
Justice slowly became Vengeance.
Anders became consumed by anger and obsession.
Their story explored a powerful question:
What happens when a noble ideal becomes corrupted?
It was never simply a story about mages and templars.
It was a story about what happens when a righteous cause loses its balance.
Unfortunately, the franchise never truly resolved what became of Justice himself.
Why Bringing Justice Back Makes Sense
Unlike many characters, Justice does not require a miracle resurrection.
He is a spirit.
Dragon Age lore has repeatedly established that spirits can:
Change forms
Be reborn
Reform within the Fade
Fragment and reunite
Become entirely different entities
Justice is not bound by the same rules as mortal characters.
A future Dragon Age could easily reveal that fragments of Justice survived after Anders' story concluded.
Perhaps the spirit spent years rebuilding itself.
Perhaps it has been wandering the Fade, trying to understand what it became.
Perhaps it no longer knows whether it is Justice, Vengeance, or something entirely new.
That uncertainty alone creates incredible storytelling opportunities.
A More Mature Justice
The most interesting version of Justice would not be the same spirit players met in Awakening.
He should be changed by his experiences.
Imagine a Justice who remembers:
The Grey Wardens
Anders
Kirkwall
The Mage-Templar War
His transformation into Vengeance
For the first time, he would understand that pure ideals can become dangerous.
He would no longer be an innocent observer.
He would carry regret.
He would carry guilt.
And he would carry wisdom.
That character could become one of the deepest companions Dragon Age has ever created.
Justice and the Future of Thedas
Thedas has changed dramatically since Justice first appeared.
The mysteries of the Fade, spirits, Titans, lyrium, and the Veil have expanded considerably.
Justice could become the perfect bridge between these storylines.
Imagine a companion questline where Justice investigates the nature of spirits after the weakening of the Veil.
Imagine him confronting demons that were once spirits like himself.
Imagine him questioning whether true justice can even exist in a broken world.
These are exactly the kinds of philosophical themes that made the first three Dragon Age games so compelling.
The Return Fans Deserve
Dragon Age has always been at its best when it explores difficult questions rather than simple answers.
Justice embodied that philosophy.
His story was never about power.
It was never about saving the world.
It was about ideals colliding with reality.
Bringing Justice back would not simply be fan service.
It would be an opportunity to finish one of Dragon Age's most fascinating character arcs while reconnecting the franchise to the deeper moral and philosophical storytelling that helped make it beloved in the first place.
Some characters deserve to remain in the past.
Justice is not one of them.
His story feels unfinished.
And Thedas still has plenty of questions left for him to answer.
Justice's Return Could Be Dragon Age's Most Powerful Story Yet
If BioWare truly wants to recapture the depth, mystery, and emotional weight that made the first three Dragon Age games special, then bringing back Justice should be high on the list.
Not simply because he is a beloved character.
Not because fans recognize his name.
But because the questions surrounding Justice have become even more relevant as Dragon Age's world has evolved.
In many ways, the franchise has been building toward his return for years.
Justice Was a Victim Too
When fans discuss the tragedy of Anders, they often forget that Justice was also a victim.
Justice entered the mortal world with noble intentions.
He wanted to help.
He wanted to protect.
He wanted to understand.
The problem was that Justice was never meant to experience the world the way mortals do.
Spirits embody ideas.
Mortals embody emotions.
When those worlds collided, both Justice and Anders were transformed.
The spirit who once represented Justice became Vengeance.
The man who wanted freedom became consumed by obsession.
Both lost themselves.
A future Dragon Age could finally explore the consequences of that transformation from Justice's perspective.
How does a spirit cope with becoming something it never intended to be?
Can a spirit feel regret?
Can a spirit seek redemption?
Can an idea heal after becoming corrupted?
These are fascinating questions Dragon Age has never fully answered.
Justice Could Reveal New Secrets About Spirits
For years, players have been told that spirits are not simply magical creatures.
They are living manifestations of concepts.
Wisdom.
Faith.
Compassion.
Purpose.
Justice.
Yet we still know surprisingly little about how spirits truly function.
A returning Justice could become our guide into parts of the Fade never before explored.
Imagine discovering:
Spirit societies.
Ancient spirit civilizations.
Spirit conflicts that existed long before mortals appeared.
Lost memories of the creation of the Veil.
How spirits perceive time.
Justice would be uniquely positioned to explain these mysteries because he has lived in both worlds.
He understands the Fade.
He understands mortals.
Few beings in Thedas can claim both.
Justice Could Judge Thedas
One of the most compelling story concepts would be Justice returning to find Thedas more divided than ever.
The world is full of suffering.
Wars continue.
Power corrupts.
Nations rise and fall.
Everyone claims to fight for what is right.
Justice would naturally ask:
Who is actually right?
For perhaps the first time, he might begin examining every major faction equally.
Not as a friend.
Not as an ally.
As a judge.
Imagine Justice confronting:
Corrupt nobles.
Fanatical mages.
Violent templars.
Ruthless Grey Wardens.
Elven extremists.
Religious zealots.
He would see flaws everywhere.
The player would constantly challenge his conclusions, creating some of the richest companion interactions in the series.
The Justice Every Companion Fears
Dragon Age companions are often loved because they challenge the player.
Justice could challenge everyone.
Imagine companion banter where:
A rogue argues that survival sometimes requires deception.
Justice disagrees.
A mage argues that power can be used responsibly.
Justice questions whether anyone can be trusted with power.
A warrior claims loyalty matters above all else.
Justice asks whether loyalty should ever outweigh morality.
No matter the companion, Justice would force them to examine their beliefs.
The result could be some of the strongest party dialogue Dragon Age has ever produced.
Justice and Cole
Perhaps the most fascinating relationship would be between Justice and Cole.
Both occupy a unique space between spirit and mortal.
Yet they reached that point through very different paths.
Cole represents compassion.
Justice represents judgment.
Cole seeks to ease pain.
Justice seeks to correct wrongs.
Their conversations could explore the fundamental question:
Which is more important?
Mercy or justice?
Few philosophical debates fit Dragon Age better than that one.
Justice and Shale
A reunion with Shale would also be extraordinary.
Both characters are outsiders.
Both struggle to understand the people around them.
Both possess surprisingly sharp observations about mortal behavior.
Shale's cynicism would constantly clash with Justice's idealism.
The result could produce some of the funniest and most insightful dialogue in the franchise.
Justice as a Companion Again
If Justice returned as a companion, his specialization system could reflect his internal struggle.
Path of Justice
Focuses on protection.
Defensive magic
Barrier creation
Ally support
Crowd control
Justice believes redemption is possible.
Path of Vengeance
Focuses on punishment.
Spirit damage
Fear effects
Aggressive combat
Execution abilities
Justice accepts that some enemies deserve destruction.
Path of Balance
A new evolution.
Neither Justice nor Vengeance.
A spirit that understands both mercy and punishment.
This path would represent the completion of his character arc.
The spirit has finally learned what mortals always knew:
The world is rarely black and white.
A Story Worth Finishing
Dragon Age has introduced many memorable characters.
Some had satisfying endings.
Others completed their journeys.
Justice is different.
His story feels suspended.
Incomplete.
Waiting for resolution.
He represents one of Dragon Age's greatest themes: the struggle between ideals and reality.
Thedas has changed dramatically since players first met him.
The world is now more complex.
The lore is deeper.
The questions are bigger.
And perhaps no character is better suited to explore those questions than the spirit who once believed justice was simple.
Because after everything he has seen, Justice may finally discover that understanding people is far harder than judging them.
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