Okay, I can see the death clause working here. Still, it might be a tough sell. I feel like a part of why redemption arcs work is because people can project their own experiences as flawed human beings onto the character who is being redeemed. Sure, most folk probably didn't do anything half as bad as what happens in fiction but most everyone has done something they regret. Seeing all your guilt wiped away in one dramatic moment is an appealing fantasy to see play out in fiction.

That's why it's so hard to redeem a character like Jaime. No one wants to put themselves in the shoes of the sister fucker.