The night of the Season 5 Game of Thrones finale, there was an article through People Magazine with Jon Snow's actor, Kit Harington, pretty much confirming that Snow is done. And that Kit, is done with the show. I went to back to find the article, and it seems to be gone. But there is another one with the Director of the episode, who says the same thing. Snow is done, for good.
But there is a lot of problems with this, that most book readers will already know, and that show watchers may be glad to learn. Or mad to learn, if the show runners decide to keep Snow permanently gone. Here is a list of reasons why Jon Snow for all intents and purposes should not, could not, be permanently gone. And some other mysteries of Season 5.
1. Jon Snows Importance
You may argue that a lot of other important characters have died. But none of them at this point, or any point, as important as Jon Snow. As horrible as it is to say, Robb Stark and Catlyn Stark were just pawns in the war. In a war story, they were disposable. Joffrey was bound to die the second he became King and beheaded Eddard Stark. Ned Stark had to die, that's what starts a huge part of the war.
Snow on the other hand, from the beginning was given his own point of view, and a lot of effort into building his character. It can be argued that he has had some of the most development. Going from a boy who knows nothing, just a bastard of a Lord, to a Commander of the Nights Watch with compassion for all men. He knew the importance of bringing the Wildlings onto the South side of The Wall. The real war is coming along with Winter. The White Walkers and their army of Wights.
Without Sam Tarly, Jon knows more about fighting the Walkers and Wights than anyone. He's battled them himself. He knows both about dragon glass and valeryian steel being deadly to Walkers, and fire to Wights. He is the only one who could even remotely keep some control over the Wildlings.
Without him around, who is there at The Wall to stop the Wildlings from killing all of The Night's Watch? Who is there to lead the war against Winter and the Dark Night? There is no one of any significance. Without Jon, the Wall, the Night's Watch, the Wildlings, and the rest of the realm is doomed.
2. Details Point To Him Being Azor Ahai Reborn
Melisandre has all this time thought that Stannis Baratheon is the reborn Azor Ahai with his sword Lightbringer. But Stannis's sword never burned with the Red God's flames, only gave off light. It's been apparent the entire time he was not Azor Ahai. Then there is the matter of what we saw/ or read, when it comes to Berric Dondarrion. The Red Priest Thoros brought him back to life, and when this happened, he was able to fight with a sword that indeed covered itself in flames. Dondarrion is not Azor Ahai though. For him to be resurrected, a death needs to be paid in return. And not only that, but Dondarrion is dead in the books and not even payed attention to in the show anymore.
This leaves Jon Snow. Why him? This will be mostly book spoilers. When Stannis goes off to battle against the Boltons at Winterfell, he leaves Melisandre, his wife Celise, and daughter Shireen behind at Castle Black. Melisandre begins having a huge interest in Snow way before Stannis leaves thought, but Jon pays her no mind. She keeps seeing Jon in her flames, surrouned by snow and fire and blood. It's pretty obvious that she now believes that Jon is really meant to be Azor Ahai Reborn. He will be the warrior who fights the White Walkers and Wights with a flaming valeryian steel sword. Not Stannis.
This theory makes sense for Jon to die, because her resurrecting him could bring him back as the reborn warrior. And it also makes sense as to why Shireen is going to die in the books. The show kills her off early, burning at the stake as an offering to Rhollor for Stannis to succeed. But this doesn't work. Melisandre returns to Castle Black alone. At that moment it almost solidifies that she is there for one reason and one reason only, the resurrect Jon. And in the book, Shireen is probably the sacrifice she makes to make the rebirth possible, giving death for life, as well as royal blood. And with Stannis and Davos not around, she could get away with it.
But if Jon is dead for good, then who will be Azor Ahai?
3. He Should Have Been Able To Warg Into Ghost
We all know what Warging is thanks to Bran, whether a watcher of the show, reader of the books, or both. A Warg has the ability to enter and become one with an animal, and in Bran's case even a human (which only Bran has ever done).
When a Warg dies, they will pass into their animal, or one their animals. Jon has Ghost, so if he was to die, he would pass into his direwolf. Now you're probably saying "But Jon isn't a Warg?"
But he is. It's not given much light in the show, but Bran, Jon and Arya are all shown to be able to have the ability to warg into their direwolves. The direwolves are way more important to the Stark children and even possibly the story as a whole, then the show has lead people to believe.
In the GoT/ ASOIAF universe, that's what would happen if Melisandre doesn't ressurect him. So maybe Jon Snow as a human is gone, and Ghost will become a bigger part of the show, taking the actors place, since Snow will now and forever be a wolf, until Ghost dies.
But from the perspective of the show, that storyline wouldn't work out so well. Which in a way leads to the possibility that at this point the show writers may go their own way and George R.R. Martin his own way. On the show Jon would be totally gone. In the books, his chapters would be through the eyes of Ghost.
4. The Dragon Must Have Three Heads
The Dragons Must Have Three Heads prophecy is one that remains pretty important in the story. There's three dragons. There needs to be three dragon riders, and these riders do not have to be Targaryens.
I won't go into all the details of the prophecy, other than sharing the information that the last time dragons were around, Danaerys's ancestor and his two wives/sisters were the three heads of the dragon, and the three dragon riders. We know one head of the dragon is definitely Dany, and her dragon is obviously Drogon.
That leaves two. Leading contenders are Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Bran Stark. Remember, Bran Stark "will fly". But it's more likely he will control one of the dragons opposed to riding one of them into battle, so who is to know if that counts as one of the Heads.
That leaves Jon and Tyrion, who more likely than not, are the other two dragon riders. And if Jon isn't one of the dragon Head's, that still doesn't take away his importance of leading the war against the White Walkers, and him being the number one canidate for Azor Ahai reborn. Allbeit that the dragons will most certainly have a part in the war against the White Walkers.
A Song of Ice and Fire.
It doesn't get any more clear cut than that.
And onto some other mysteries to ponder for good measure.......
5. Did Brienne Kill Stannis, Essentially Killing Off The Baratheon Line?
His wife is dead and so is his daughter. His army is destroyed. Melisandre shows up unscathed and alone at Castle Black.
But did Brienne actually go through with killing him? They don't show us, leaving us to ponder this. In the books Stannis is nowhere near Winterfell and has a battle plan and a pretty big army still, along with Theon's sister Asha, her Iron Born, and a man from the Iron Bank of Braavos. But forget the book, because we are past that.
Stannis lost. His men are all dead, the Boltons have won. He has nothing left. He is essentially the last Baratheon except for his brother Robert's bastard children. As much as Brienne loved Renly, I don't think she was able to take Stannis's life, and may have instead brought him somewhere to help heal him. But if she did indeed kill him, the Baratheons are gone.
Unless Gendry is pardoned of his bastardry and House Baratheon could live on. I always had a feeling Gendry had an important part to play somewhere down the line. Maybe that's it.
6. What Does Myrcella's Death Mean For The Lannisters?
Jamie and Bron are leaving Dorne with Myrcella and Tristane. They are given a goodbye on the docks. The tiny Sand Snake seduces Bron again, and Ellaria Sand kisses Myrcella right on the lips. The second that happened, I knew there was trouble.
Jamie finally gets to know that his daughter KNOWS she is his daughter and that she is glad of it. Jamie has been growing into a more standup guy as the story goes on, ever since he lost his hand. (That rape scene with Cersei was uncalled for and I say it should just be ignored.) His daughter and her lover are coming home. Cersei will have her living children back.
Not so fast. Myrcella collapses into her fathers arms with no antidote to save her. And that horrible woman Ellaria is shown on shore, taking the antidote for herself and cleaning her lips, before her and the Sand Snakes leave the dock.
There's no way that this is going to go over lightly at all. Cersei has now lost 2 of her 3 children. If she wasn't a stone cold bitch before, she sure as hell will be now. And Jaime? He's not going to let it slide. Ellaria and the Sand Snakes want war, and it seems they will be getting it. But will the outcome be what they want?
Chances are Trystane will turn against his own home for them killing the girl he loves and was set to marry. And his father certainly isn't going to be happy either. I'm sure the Sand Snakes won't go down without a fight, but I'm pretty sure they are definitely going down.
7. Where Will Sansa and Theon Go?
This was by far my favorite part of the episode and I had to include it. Theon finally does what he knows is the right thing, despite his crippling fear of Ramsey.
He kills Ramsey's bitch Miranda to save Sansa, and holding hands, they jump off the walls of Winterfell into the deep snow below.
Now we know they aren't dead. But, where will they go, and how? It's horribly deep snow everywhere, they have no provisions, and no horses. Possibly an injury from the jump. I can't let myself believe that they will be caught by Ramsey.
Let's hope they run into Brienne, shall we? It's about time Sansa becomes the badass she is meant to be, and Theon redeems himself for the broken man he has let himself become.
So what do all of you think? Is it possible Jon Snow is in fact totally dead? Or do you agree that there's no way? Do you think the show and books are officially going to split apart and do entirely seperate things from here on out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!!
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