I Better Not See Samwell Tarly Cry Ever Again

March 27, 2022 Post a Comment

Helen Sloan/HBO

Well, that happened.

Every bit if the Cherry-red Hymeneals wasn't brutal enough for all of usa Stark lovers, "Game of Thrones" put the show'south fundamental family through its most traumatic moment yet past robbing us of 1 more than hero. Didn't watch the episode yet? Consider this your big fat SPOILER alert, because we're talking about the expiry…

of Catelyn Stark's husband's bounder...

and Samwell Tarly's best friend...

and Ellaria Sand'southward complete and full stranger...

…Jon Snowfall.

Hey, don't freak out! Jon'southward not dead! I mean, it certainly looks that way, what with the Lord Commander of the Night'southward Watch getting stabby-stabbed by several of his sworn brothers in an epic act of betrayal. And Kit Harington insists Jon is dead, too. But if the Faceless Men of Braavos have taught united states anything, it's that looks (and talk) tin be deceiving, especially on "Game of Thrones."

Information technology'due south a dour state of affairs for Eddard Stark'southward bastard, but if you think this is the stop of his story, you know nothing most Jon Snow. Here'due south why he'll be back in season six:

It'south his destiny!

"Game of Thrones" tends to shy away from the talk of prophecy and destiny that's so heavily emphasized in the books, so much so that we have heard very little about Azor Ahai, a legendary hero in Westeros sociology. According to the stories, Azor Ahai fought during a dandy period of darkness and saved mankind, at the expense of the adult female he loved. It is believed by many that Azor Ahai will be reborn, with Melisandre telling Jon:

"When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be built-in again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone."

Melisandre believes that Stannis fulfills this prophecy, only what if it's Jon? The prose George R.R. Martin uses in Jon'south "death" scene fulfills literal conditions of the prophecy; Wun Wun tears apart a man with a reddish star sigil, the Night'due south Watch traitors represent the darkness, Jon's wounds are described as "smoking," and the salt is represented in one of his betrayer'south tears.

Grasping at straws? Maybe. Simply few things in "Thrones" are pure coincidence. Fans who believe Jon will play a critical role in the state of war against the White Walkers have reason to believe he'll come back from this betrayal stronger than ever before. The question is, how? Well, there are theories, such equally…
He's a warg!

Bran isn't the only Stark with the ability to zap his consciousness inside some other living fauna — at least not in the books. Warging runs in the family, and Jon Snow is no exception. In the prologue for "A Dance with Dragons," the warging wildling Varamyr Sixskins notes that Jon is a gifted skin-changer, albeit an undisciplined i. E'er since Jon's "death" occurred in the books, fans have theorized that he warged into Ghost. He certainly seemed to lose a lot of blood for that to be possible, simply hey, if Kit Harington wants to play the Westeros version of "The Shaggy Dog" adjacent year, we're all for it.
Melisandre is nearby!

We accept seen the Ruby Priestess' powers in activeness in the past; fifty-fifty if she was very, very wrong almost Stannis equally a messianic figure, she's got other magic working for her. And while we have not seen her breathe life dorsum into the deceased, we've seen another Lord of Light disciple resurrect the dead — namely, Thoros of Myr, the human who repeatedly brought Beric Dondarrion dorsum from the great beyond. Could Melisandre be Jon'southward golden ticket?
The Nighttime's Rex is nearby!

In "Hardhome," the White Walker head honcho stepped out into the public eye and resurrected an army of the undead, his optics locked right on Jon. He has a proven ability to bring the dead back to a certain class of life, and he has Jon Snowfall very much on his radar. Could the Night's King be the one to bring Jon back — and if and then, will Zombie Jon even be on our side anymore? Scary idea!
If he's expressionless, what's the indicate of R+Fifty=J?

There'southward no unmarried theory in "Game of Thrones" fandom more accepted than this one: Jon Snowfall is not Eddard Stark'due south son. His existent parents are Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, putting him at the center of the ice and fire Venn diagram. That lineage lone makes Jon one of the almost important characters in the story. What purpose does he serve if he'southward just… dead?
He's Jon Snowfall!

"Game of Thrones" does not have one primary protagonist. It has several. But at that place are a few figures who are right at the beating middle of the story. Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen spring immediately to mind. Jon is on that list also, the one human being with a highborn name and a front end row view of the coming snowmageddon promised by the White Walkers.

Yes, the Nighttime's Watch turning their backs on and plunging their blades into Jon Snowfall lines up perfectly with his arc at the Wall. But it does not line up with everything else we've come to expect from Jon's story. "Thrones" plays with expectations all the time, ripping crucial characters from the playing field at inopportune times. But this is non Ned Stark. It's not flavor one. As much equally nosotros loved Robb Stark, the show could go on without him. The same is non true for Jon. He'southward essential, and whatever arguments to the contrary are invalid.
Okay, maybe he's gone.

At that place are valid arguments that Jon is not coming dorsum. The fact that HE GOT STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES IN PLACES Yous Do NOT Desire TO BE STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES is a large one, for instance. But to paraphrase Lucille Bluth, I don't understand the argument, and I won't respond to it. I choose to apply the Atomic number 26 Islands philosophy to the Jon Snowfall situation: "What is expressionless may never dice, but rises again, harder and stronger." Let's hope those Greyjoys are correct for once.