This article contains spoilers for the "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, as well as season five of the television series.
With a new 41 second trailer for season six debuting last Thursday, "Game of Thrones" has already been generating buzz, four months ahead of its slated return. This season is especially significant because it marks the beginning of a larger deviation from George R. R. Martin’s original novels in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. While some new story elements (especially those in relation to sexual violence) were criticized, the new season presents an opportunity for the writers to incorporate aspects of popular fan theories.
Jon Snow’s shocking death at the end of season five left many in denial. The randomness of it has led many to believe that he will return as a character, whether through flashbacks or real time plot developments. Reports of actor Kit Harrington on set and promotional images have fueled these theories. Here are the top four that are rumored to make an appearance in the new season:
1. Jon Snow is a Targaryen.
Also known as “R + L = J," this is certainly one of the most widely circulated fan theories. The premise is that Jon Snow is actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Ned Stark’s sister, Lyanna, both of whom died during Robert’s Rebellion. Though Lyanna gets a few mentions in the show, she hasn’t been a large player in the TV show, even though her kidnapping by Rhaegar was one of the major causes of Robert’s Rebellion. Fans speculate that Lyanna was carrying Rhaegar’s child and died from complications after giving birth to Jon. She asked Ned to raise the boy himself. It also important to note that in the books, Arya’s and Jon’s physical appearances are very similar (so much that Sansa once thought that Arya was a bastard like Jon), and Arya is said to bear a striking resemblance to Lyanna. If this theory is true, this would mean that Jon is the true heir to the Iron Throne, as well as one of the last surviving Targaryens.
2. Jon Snow is a twin.
In this theory, not only is Jon the son of Lyanna, but he'S also part of a pair of twins. To keep the children safe, Ned chose to split them up (also, because returning to Winterfell with not one but two bastard children probably would not make for a very happy Catelyn). Before he reached Lyanna, Ned and his six companions had to battle three Kingsguardmen. Only Ned and Howland Reed survived. Howland has been absent from the TV series, but we have met his children, Jojen and Meera Reed, who help Bran Stark on his journey to find the three-eyed raven. According to fans, Ned entrusted Lyanna’s infant daughter to Howland, who raised her as his own. This would make Meera, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Jon Snow, Lyanna Stark’s daughter.
3. Jon Snow is The Prince Who was Promised.
Many believe that he will be brought back to life by Melisandre, who is conveniently at Castle Black when Jon is murdered. Since her introduction in season two, Melisandre has been searching for The Prince Who was Promised, an incarnation of Azor Ahai. At his death, it was prophesied that Azor Ahai, a central figure in the R’hollor faith, will be reborn to save the world from darkness. Now that Stannis, who Melisandre thought was Azor Ahai, is dead, she may be looking for a new “chosen one." There was that crazy tension between the two back in season four and that strange scene in season five.
4. Jon Snow will be resurrected as a White Walker.
Let’s go ahead and assume that yes, Jon Snow is actually dead. If the Night’s Watch doesn’t burn his body in time, he could come back as a wight. While we still don’t know how White Walkers are created, it is possible the Jon could make the leap from wight to walker, especially after the Night’s King shows an interest in him when Jon’s Valyrian steel sword shatters a White Walker. Why would the writers show such an interesting interaction between the two just to have Jon die almost immediately after? Perhaps the Night’s King will have a hand in bringing Jon back to quasi-life.
