All avid “Game of Thrones” fans watched Jon Snow get brutally and fatally stabbed by his brothers of the Night’s Watch in the last scene of the Season Five finale. We sat there, wincing with every blow, as his brothers drove their daggers into his chest and abdomen. When Olly delivered the final blow into his heart, and Jon went down, we watched his eyes lose their light just before the credits rolled. The dreadful thought of a yearlong wait before getting answers consumed many, including myself. We then dove deep into reasons why Jon actually isn’t dead, or will be returning from the dead. While doing so, I found so much more than I had bargained for, and I’m so grateful for it. As Season Six is set to premier at 9 p.m. on April 24th, I thought it appropriate to share with you all exactly who Jon is, why he is coming back, and what he might be destined for.
Spoilers ahead for anyone who isn't caught up with Season Five!
First, we need to delve into the history we never saw as viewers of the show. The Targaryen Dynasty began when Aegon the Conqueror rode his dragon Balerion the Dread to Westeros and forged the Iron Throne with the swords of his enemies. Aegon was known by all Targaryens as their ultimate king and savior, and he demanded and received respect from all the large houses of Westeros. Aegon had children, his children had children, and their Dynasty lasted for 300 years as they built many of the major Westerosi cities and conquered the land. That lasted until Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys’ older brother, “kidnapped” Lyanna Stark, Ned Stark’s sister. Robert Baratheon was madly in love with Lyanna and started his rebellion, Robert’s Rebellion, against the Targaryens and the Iron Throne. The war raged on and was close to an end when Ned and a few of his most trusted friends went to a place called the Tower of Joy because of a rumor they heard that Lyanna was being “held” there. Ned and his friend Howland Reed defeated the Targaryen Kingsguard present at the Tower, and went in to find Lyanna lying in a “bed of blood." There, Ned made a promise talked about only in the books--something he wouldn’t talk about on the show, as it would raise too many questions too early on in the series. The promise is unknown and is still a mystery to many fans. Shortly thereafter, Robert won the war and killed every Targaryen, all of whom had a better claim to the Iron Throne, as he was a usurper. However, Daenerys and Viserys were taken and escorted to Pentos. But what about the promise Ned made, as well as the strange circumstances of Lyanna’s death?
Jon Snow is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. On the show, many clues are given that Rhaegar wasn’t a monstrous man like his father (the Mad King), but was kind, loving, and gentle. He was regarded as the “prince who was promised," and the one who would save Westeros against the evils to come (the Long Night, White Walkers, winter, etcetera.) He was not the type of man to kidnap and rape, but he was a man who loved. Petyr Baelish explained a situation in Season Five where Rhaegar defeated Barristan Selmy, who defended Daenerys before his death by the Harpys, in a tournament. When he won, he was given a crown of roses of blue frost. Although Rhaegar was already married to Elia Martell, he rode past her, and bestowed the crown upon Lyanna. That doesn’t sound like something a rapist would do. Lyanna went off willingly and secretly with Rhaegar and conceived Jon in the process. This makes a lot of sense when looking at the entire situation as a whole. First, it explains why Targaryen Kingsguard members are guarding a tower without a Targaryen family member inside. Lyanna was the only one there, but it would be important to protect the life inside of her. It also gives us an idea of the promise Ned made, and the story he would have to create to allow it. Ned promised never to tell anyone who Jon’s father was, as it would put Jon in grave danger with the new King Robert Baratheon. Robert promised to kill anyone with Targaryen blood, not only out of vengeance but also self-interest and preservation. Ned Stark, one of the most honorable men in Westeros, if not the most, created a lie about “Wylla," a tavern wench with whom he had his “bastard” Jon while he was at war. While at the Wall in Season Five, Stannis Baratheon spoke with his wife, Selyse, about Jon. He commented on who Jon was, saying he was the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, and nothing more. Selyse then commented, “and a bastard by some tavern slut." Stannis, without hesitation, retorted, “Perhaps, but that wasn’t Ned Stark’s way.” Stannis Baratheon, a man of honor as well, knew Ned to be too honorable to do such a thing.
There is much more evidence in the show and the book. That is only the surface. But before Jon’s death, we still didn’t know who Jon’s parents were, and that question hasn’t been answered yet. A major mystery to both show watchers and book readers, the answer to that question wouldn’t be nearly as important if Jon wasn’t alive to learn it.
But he isn’t alive. That’s right. Jon is dead. In fact, he has to be dead. It would be incredibly boring if he wasn’t dead, actually. In order to be released from his Night’s Watch vows, Jon must die. The vows go, “Night gathers, and now my Watch begins. It shall not end until my death.” Jon will be resurrected, and will be allowed to venture away from the Wall freely. I’m not sure if he’ll do it before taking revenge on the mutineers, something viewers would love very much. Personally, I want Jon to skewer Ser Alliser Thorne with Longclaw so badly it’s absurd. However, "Game of Thrones" rarely allows times of perfect justice to the viewers, and I’m not sure that Jon killing Alliser is worth using one of those precious moments. But I do believe he will be dead within the first or second episode.
But how will Jon actually be resurrected? Many think it will be the Red Woman Melisandre, who has conveniently arrived at Castle Black just before the mutiny against Lord Commander Jon Snow. We have seen blood magic work on the show before. When Melisandre used Gendry, Robert Baratheon’s bastard and travel companion of Arya Stark, to extract blood from him to throw into the flames, she showed us her powers. We watched as “The Usurper Robb Stark and The Usurper Joffrey Baratheon” each perished in the Red Wedding and Purple Wedding. Stannis said those words and watched the fruition of blood magic. Melisandre has also just burned Stannis’ daughter, Shireen, who also had King’s blood. However, when she saw Stannis’ cause become a lost one, she abandoned him for the Wall.
Melisandre has also had a few interesting interactions with Jon. As Jon and the rest of the Night’s Watch men burned their fallen men at the battle against the Wildlings and Mance Rayder, Melisandre was staring at Jon through the flames. Melisandre also tried to seduce Jon, just as she had with Stannis and Gendry. Why? Why these three men only? Because they had King’s blood! When Robert usurped the throne from the Targaryen family, he became a true king through valor and strength. But Jon came from the direct line of Aegon the Conquerer, as the Mad King Aerys did, and Rhaegar was Aerys’ son. That is also King’s blood. Though she cannot see understand why, she sees greatness in them, and the value they can add to the war against darkness. As Melisandre said, “This war of Five Kings means nothing. The true war lies to the North.”
Furthermore, we also saw Thoros of Myr resurrect Beric Dondarrion after being killed by Sandor Clegane, infamously known as The Hound. Conveniently, in the episode after that, Melisandre showed up. Wow! Shocker! Of course she did. Her search for Gendry led her to Thoros and his Brotherhood Without Banners. Thoros and Melisandre are, if you have forgotten, both red priests for their god R’hollor. Thoros then brought Melisandre to see Beric. He told her he has resurrected Beric six times. Melisandre was astounded. But it proved to us show viewers, on screen, that it was possible to come back from death.
But Melisandre resurrecting Jon seems too easy. As “Game of Thrones” fans, nothing is easy for us. In the eighth episode of the first season, we saw our dear Ned Stark lose his head with his own sword. We were forced to wait a whole year to understand exactly what happened to Jon, if he is still alive, or if he is dead. Now, in no way am I suggesting Jon won’t be back. He will. What I am suggesting is that Jon will be brought back in another way. Melisandre and Stannis sacrificed Shireen, a girl with King’s blood. Yet, the sacrifice didn’t go so well. Stannis lost half his men, his wife killed herself, and Stannis died at the end of Season Five. R’hollor wasn’t “waiting” for the right person to use the sacrifice on. It failed. I think Melisandre will try to resurrect Jon, but will fail. How painful will that be? She’s at the Wall, she has the power of the Lord of Light (R’hollor), and Jon just died and isn’t a white walker yet. The opportunity is ripe for the picking, so to say. And that is when “Game of Thrones” fans are always blindsided. Everything seems so perfected and equated and predictable. Then, all of a sudden, two plus two doesn’t equal four anymore, just because George R.R Martin, David Benioff and D.B Weiss said so. “Game of Thrones” is a game for them, too. They play with their audiences, and, ultimately, we always end up loving it anyway.
So how will that genius trio do it? With something we’ve entirely forgotten about. Bran Stark has shown us his magical powers since the second episode of “Game of Thrones," but one must pay attention. In the episode “The Kingsroad" when Ned is forced to kill Sansa’s direwolf Lady by Queen Cersei, right at the moment Ned puts the dagger in, Bran wakes up from his monthlong coma. Bran has dreams where he is his direwolf Summer. In reality, Bran actually is “warging” into these wolves. He can feel their pain, he knows when they die, and he can feel their presence within his own mind. For all of Season Five, Bran wasn’t a part of the show. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B Weiss have talked about Bran’s absence as a sort of Luke Skywalker scenario, where he does all his training off-screen. If anyone remembers “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," Luke came back as a master of the Force. If you don’t know what the Force is, you probably don’t understand this article, and if you don’t, why are you still reading? I digress. Anyway, this pretty much means that Bran will come back extremely powerful. He will be able to see the past, present and future with his new powers, as Jojen Reed has told him. That means we will probably see the Tower of Joy scene through Bran’s visions. Bran will understand then exactly who Jon is, what his importance is, and possibly resurrect him! Who knows what Bran is capable of now after a long period of training with the Three Eyed Raven?
This leads us to the importance of Jon in the future. Just as Melisandre told Stannis he was Azor Ahai, I am telling you that Jon is. Azor Ahai, if you have forgotten, is the person who led an army and stopped the Long Night over 7000 years before the events of “Game of Thrones." We know that, along with winter, the Long Night is coming back. We saw the White Walkers in the first scene of the first episode of Season One. They are the ultimate enemies to the realms of men. Men need a savior, and Jon is the perfect candidate. Born under the Red Comet, reborn of salt and smoke, of Targaryen blood and Stark blood, Jon is a dragon and a wolf. There is no combination like that in the “Game of Thrones” universe, and someone born as a combination of most viewers’ two favorite houses would be amazing to reveal, both to audiences and Jon himself. Mistook for his father, Jon is truly “The Prince who was Promised." Also, being born of Stark and Targaryen blood, houses which represent Ice and Fire, Jon could literally be called “The Son of Ice and Fire." “A Song of Ice and Fire” is the name of the book series “Game of Thrones” is adapted from.
*Mic Drop*
