The real Jon Snow

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Jon Snow embarks on adventures, falls in love, and fights to save the realm, facing prejudice and exclusion as a Stark bastard. The Game of Thrones TV show diverges from the books, portraying Jon differently, focusing on his growth, moral dilemmas, and sacrificial choices.

Insights

  • Jon Snow's character in the books and TV show diverges significantly, with book Jon portrayed as a smart politician with secret plans and desires for honor, revenge, love, and home, while TV Jon is depicted as a brave but "stupid" warrior who lacks internal conflict.
  • Jon's internal conflict between desires and duty in the books forces him to make tough choices, unlike the TV show where he lacks internal conflict, showcasing his growth and commitment to responsibilities.
  • Jon's resurrection in the books is expected to transform him due to his Targaryen blood and connection to prophecy and magic, potentially leading to a different ending than the show.
  • Jon's interactions with Daenerys and Tyrion in the books are anticipated to lead to a different ending than the show, hinting at unique narrative developments.
  • Jon Snow's potential future actions and moral dilemmas post-resurrection, including his identity crisis, relationships, and ultimate challenge against the white walkers, are key elements that will define his character development and the conclusion of his story.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Jon Snow in Game of Thrones?

    Jon Snow is a fantasy hero in Game of Thrones who embarks on adventures, falls in love, and fights to save the realm. He faces prejudice and exclusion as a Stark bastard but joins the Night's Watch for honor and adventure, becoming a compassionate leader who protects misfits like Samwell Tarly. Jon's character differs between the books and TV show, with the books emphasizing his political values and internal conflict, while the show portrays him as a brave but "stupid" warrior. His resurrection in the books is expected to transform him due to his Targaryen blood and connection to prophecy and magic, leading to a different ending than the show.

  • What are Jon Snow's internal struggles in Game of Thrones?

    Jon Snow's internal struggles in Game of Thrones revolve around desires and duty, leading him to make tough choices. In the books, Jon grapples with desires for honor, revenge, love, and home, emphasizing his political values and vision for change. His journey beyond the Wall involves moral questioning, sacrifices, and encounters with white walkers, challenging his beliefs and values. Jon's resurrection is anticipated to have a profound impact on him, hinting at a mysterious destiny and potential changes in his personality. These internal conflicts shape Jon's growth and commitment to his responsibilities, showcasing his true heroism in a morally complex world.

  • How does Jon Snow's character evolve in Game of Thrones?

    Jon Snow's character evolves in Game of Thrones from a privileged bully to a compassionate leader who learns empathy and becomes a protector of misfits. Initially seen as a privileged recruit at the Night's Watch, Jon's experiences with Samwell Tarly and other outcasts help him recognize the value of compassion and leadership. He faces moral dilemmas, tough decisions, and personal growth, especially during his time with the wildlings and his leadership as Lord Commander. Jon's evolution highlights his transformation from a conflicted young man seeking identity and family to a mature hero making sacrifices for the greater good.

  • What is Jon Snow's relationship with Daenerys and Tyrion in Game of Thrones?

    Jon Snow's relationship with Daenerys and Tyrion in Game of Thrones is anticipated to lead to a different ending than the show. In the books, Jon's interactions with Daenerys and Tyrion are crucial, shaping his alliances and decisions. Their connections are expected to influence Jon's path towards kingship, his Targaryen heritage, and his role in the battle against the white walkers. Jon's relationships with Daenerys and Tyrion reflect political complexities, personal growth, and potential conflicts of loyalty and duty, setting the stage for a significant impact on the realm's fate.

  • What are Jon Snow's potential future challenges in Game of Thrones?

    Jon Snow's potential future challenges in Game of Thrones involve facing the white walkers, making tough moral choices, and embracing his Targaryen heritage. As a key figure in the battle against the Great Other and the impending threat of the white walkers, Jon may have to lead a team of rangers, including Daenerys, to confront this ancient evil. His internal struggles between duty and love, sacrifice, and identity will define his character development post-resurrection. Jon's journey towards kingship, potential reunions with family, and alliances with dragons may lead to a bittersweet ending, highlighting the complexities of heroism and sacrifice in a cynical world.

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Summary

00:00

Jon Snow: Hero's Journey Through Struggle

  • Jon Snow is a fantasy hero who embarks on adventures, falls in love, and fights to save the realm.
  • As a bastard, Jon feels rejected and seeks family and identity, struggling to navigate a morally complex world.
  • The Game of Thrones TV show closely follows the books in the first three seasons but diverges significantly in later seasons.
  • TV Jon is portrayed as a brave but "stupid" warrior who takes risks and is honest to a fault, unlike book Jon.
  • Book Jon is depicted as a smart politician, not a great warrior, who lies and has secret plans, grappling with desires for honor, revenge, love, and home.
  • Jon's internal conflict between desires and duty in the books forces him to make tough choices, unlike the TV show where he lacks internal conflict.
  • Jon's resurrection in the books is expected to transform him due to his Targaryen blood and connection to prophecy and magic.
  • Jon's relationship with Daenerys and Tyrion in the books is anticipated to lead to a different ending than the show.
  • Jon Snow, a Stark bastard, is raised at Winterfell but faces prejudice and exclusion due to his status.
  • Jon's journey to the Night's Watch is driven by a desire for honor and adventure, despite facing discrimination and injustice.

13:59

Jon Snow's Transformation and Leadership in Night's Watch

  • Jon Snow, the son of a great lord, joins the Night's Watch as a recruit.
  • Initially seen as a privileged bully, Jon learns empathy and becomes a leader.
  • Jon protects misfits like Samwell Tarly, showing his compassion and leadership skills.
  • Jon convinces recruits not to harm Sam, showcasing his ability to bring people together.
  • Jon recognizes Sam's strengths and persuades him to become Maester Aemon's steward.
  • Jon's character in the books differs from the TV show, emphasizing his political values and vision for change.
  • Jon becomes a full brother of the Watch and receives a Valyrian steel sword named Longclaw from Jeor Mormont.
  • Jon faces a moral dilemma between his duty to the Watch and his love for the Starks.
  • Jon chooses duty over love, symbolizing his growth and commitment to his responsibilities.
  • Jon's journey beyond the Wall involves encounters with white walkers, sacrifices, and moral questioning.

28:12

"Jon's Journey Among Wildlings and Starks"

  • Qhorin selects Jon to accompany him due to Jon's connection to the Starks and the old gods through his direwolf, Ghost.
  • Jon, Qhorin, and their group venture into the mountains, encountering wildlings along the way.
  • Jon kills a wildling named Orell, who is a skinchanger connected to his eagle, leading to Orell's spirit seeking revenge through the eagle.
  • Jon captures a wildling named Ygritte, who challenges his perspective on the wildlings and the southerners.
  • Ygritte shares a story about the relationship between the Starks and the wildlings, highlighting their familial connection.
  • Jon faces a moral dilemma when deciding whether to kill Ygritte, ultimately choosing to spare her based on Ned Stark's teachings.
  • Jon's dreams and magical connections with Ghost and Bran hint at a mysterious destiny and the return of old powers.
  • Qhorin sacrifices himself to allow Jon to gain the trust of the wildlings and learn their plans.
  • Jon struggles with his loyalty and identity as he joins the wildlings, experiencing conflicting emotions and moral dilemmas.
  • Jon's encounter with the wildlings, especially Ygritte, challenges his beliefs and values, leading to significant personal growth and internal conflict.

41:47

Jon Snow's Leadership Challenges in Book 5

  • Jon fights mutineers led by Karl Tanner in the show, which simplifies the moral complexity of the books.
  • Jon returns to Castle Black wounded and heartbroken, finding out about Winterfell's destruction and the impending wildling threat.
  • With only forty men left to defend Castle Black against a hundred wildlings led by Styr, Jon and Donal devise a plan to defeat them.
  • Jon uses a smart plan involving burning and collapsing stairs to defeat Styr and his wildlings, differing from the TV show's epic sword fight.
  • Jon holds Ygritte as she dies, feeling guilt for betraying her, and faces the massive wildling army led by Mance north of the Wall.
  • Stannis Baratheon's army arrives to defeat the wildlings, saving the Night's Watch, and offers to legitimize Jon as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell.
  • Jon becomes the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch after a political election where a talking raven influences the outcome.
  • Jon faces tough decisions, sending Sam, Aemon, and Gilly away for their safety, showing a harsher leadership style as "Lord Snow."
  • Jon struggles with balancing alliances, facing threats from Cersei, and uniting the Night's Watch and wildlings against the impending white walker threat.
  • Jon's plotline diverges significantly in the books from the TV show in Book 5, as he must make tough decisions and let go of his innocence to survive.

55:37

Jon Snow's Leadership Struggles and Sacrifices

  • Melisandre might burn a baby with king's blood, so Jon secretly swaps the babies to save the child.
  • Gilly pleads with Jon to let her keep her baby, but Jon, as Lord Commander, makes the tough decision to protect Gilly's child.
  • Jon feels isolated as Lord Commander, having to maintain authority over his men and losing his close friends.
  • Jon sends Grenn, Pyp, and Edd away to other castles, leaving himself friendless and vulnerable.
  • Jon focuses on his duty, working tirelessly and training in combat to become a better swordsman.
  • Jon executes Janos for disobedience, a personal act of revenge due to Janos' betrayal and attempt to get Jon killed.
  • Stannis and Melisandre execute Mance Rayder, but it's revealed to be a magic illusion, with Mance secretly alive.
  • Jon convinces wildlings to join the Night's Watch and brings a giant named Wun Wun to the Wall, turning enemies into allies.
  • Jon makes bold decisions to prepare for the white walkers, including borrowing money from the Iron Bank and training his men in archery.
  • Jon faces moral dilemmas, balancing his duty to the Night's Watch with his personal desires to help his family and make the Watch more fair and effective.

01:09:07

Jon Snow's Resurrection and Transformation Speculation

  • Ramsay threatens to harm Jon Snow and the Night's Watch if his demands are not met.
  • Jon Snow's actions, including aiding Stannis and the Starks, lead to the Night's Watch facing the wrath of the Boltons.
  • Jon publicly declares his intention to fight Ramsay and leads the Watch on a dangerous mission to Hardhome.
  • Jon's assassination mirrors Julius Caesar's death, both seen as political threats and killed by their own men.
  • Jon's resurrection in the TV show is straightforward, but in the books, it is hinted to be more complex, possibly involving his direwolf, Ghost.
  • Jon's time as a spirit in Ghost could change his personality, making him more wolf-like and reckless.
  • Jon's resurrection may come at a cost, possibly involving a sacrifice like king's blood or Melisandre herself.
  • Jon's appearance post-resurrection may change, with hints suggesting he could have white hair and red eyes, symbolically connecting him to fire and ice.
  • Undead characters like Beric and Coldhands have perks and downsides, raising questions about Jon's potential changes.
  • Jon's death may free him from his Night's Watch vows, leading to speculation about his future actions in The Winds of Winter.

01:23:07

Jon Snow's Resurrection and Future Battles

  • Catelyn and Beric focus on final missions after their resurrections, with Catelyn seeking revenge for the Red Wedding and Beric fighting in the riverlands.
  • George states that purpose is a driving force for them, suggesting the same for Jon after his resurrection, focusing on fighting Ramsay, saving Arya, and taking Winterfell.
  • In the TV show, Stannis dies, and Jon fights the Battle of the Bastards to defeat the Boltons and take Winterfell, but in the books, Stannis might defeat the Boltons.
  • Jon's battles in The Winds of Winter will explore his character development post-resurrection, including moral choices and conflicts.
  • There are hints of a conspiracy to make Jon King in the North due to Robb Stark's will naming Jon as his heir.
  • Jon's desire for Winterfell is highlighted, with potential conflicts arising from his claim to the Stark home.
  • Jon's potential reunion with Arya is discussed, with the possibility of a darker and sadder outcome due to their changed identities.
  • Jon and Daenerys falling in love is speculated, with their similarities and potential political alliance explored.
  • Jon's true parentage as the son of Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen is mentioned, with potential ways for Jon to discover this information.
  • The impact of Jon learning the truth about his parents on his identity and relationships is considered, with potential emotional and familial conflicts arising.

01:36:36

Jon's Targaryen Identity and Moral Struggle

  • Jon could potentially have a family with Queen Daenerys, becoming royalty with ancestral homes at King's Landing and Dragonstone.
  • In the show, Jon is given the name Aegon Targaryen, but in the books, his name might be Aemon or Jaehaerys Targaryen.
  • Jon has always felt connected to the Targaryens, idolizing King Daeron Targaryen and being mentored by Maester Aemon Targaryen.
  • Jon could bond with the dragon Rhaegal, named after his father Rhaegar, and embrace his Targaryen identity through experiences with the dragon.
  • Dragons represent power, ambition, and destruction, awakening the fire in Jon's blood and connecting him to his Targaryen heritage.
  • Jon may want to take the Iron Throne to bring justice and protect the innocent, influenced by his experiences with the wildlings and his desire for change.
  • Jon's moral struggle and identity crisis are highlighted, as he faces the temptation of power and the destructive nature of dragons.
  • Melisandre may play a significant role in Jon's journey, potentially leading him to believe he is the prophesied hero Azor Ahai and guiding him with her visions.
  • Jon's resurrection and potential role as a messiah figure could lead to a religious conflict, with followers rallying behind him and the red god demanding sacrifices.
  • Jon's ultimate challenge may involve facing the white walkers, potentially needing to find a way to make peace with them rather than engaging in a traditional battle.

01:50:40

"Jon's Sacrifice to Defeat White Walkers"

  • Melisandre mentions the white walkers are controlled by the Great Other, a god of ice and darkness.
  • The white walkers were created by the children of the forest with the magic of the old gods.
  • The Great Other may be an evil offshoot of the old gods, possibly residing at the heart of winter.
  • Jon might have to journey north to destroy the Great Other, similar to the legend of the last hero.
  • Jon could assemble a team of rangers to fight the white walkers, including Daenerys, and they might fly north on their dragons.
  • Sacrifice and tough moral choices are emphasized in the legends of Azor Ahai, suggesting Jon may have to make a difficult decision.
  • Jon's morality and identity will be defined by his choice between duty and love, possibly involving a sacrifice.
  • Jon might have to sacrifice himself or his dragon Rhaegal to destroy the white walkers, rejecting his Targaryen side.
  • Jon could create Lightbringer by stabbing Rhaegal with his sword, then use it to burn the frozen tree and defeat the white walkers.
  • The ending of Jon's story is expected to be bittersweet, similar to the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings, with a final conflict and a cost of victory.

02:04:59

Jon Snow's Sacrifice for True Heroism

  • Jon Snow faces a crucial decision between returning to Winterfell or pursuing kingship, knowing he may be despised as a traitor and murderer, sacrificing everything for a world that rejects him.
  • Having matured through experiences of love, power, and glory, Jon comprehends the sacrifices he must make, potentially leading to exile beyond the Wall and separation from the Starks, possibly joining the wildlings and finding solace with Val.
  • Jon Snow embodies a deconstruction of the classic fantasy hero, rejecting destiny and birthright to make morally grey choices, showcasing true heroism through his struggles, doubts, and commitment to saving others in a complex, cynical world.
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