Oh, Jon Snow. For someone who knows nothing, you sure seem to know how to work your way into people's hearts. The long, dark break between Season 5 and Season 6 was not able to bring everyone's favorite bastard back — Jon Snow is still dead on Game of Thrones. And, unlike previous seasons where the future was foretold in the pages of the Song of Ice And Fire novels, the show has no precedent to follow. Jon Snow could come back at anytime and it would be a complete surprise to anyone. Although perhaps the question shouldn't be, "Will Jon Snow return?" Instead, fans should be asking, "When will Jon Snow return?"
The one reason Game of Thrones fans shouldn't give up on Jon Snow is because death isn't permanent in Westeros, and there are plenty of reasons that Jon will come back to life, even if it's not until the very end. He's not badly mangled or beyond repair — which is why we know that Ned Stark won't be coming back anytime soon (closing a couple of stab wounds is easy, at least compared to replacing a head). Jon Snow also happens to be at the same place as Melisandre, who is able to give birth to murderous shadow babies, make herself appear far younger than she actually is, and has other proven magic abilities. But, the one thing to keep in mind when considering whether or not Jon Snow has a future is that this has happened before.
Resurrection is nothing new to the Game of Thrones world, and it's almost as if all the resurrection clues so far have been hinting at a major event. Only one character has been seen to be resurrected in the show in the truest sense — Beric Dondarrion of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Only appearing briefly in Season 1 and in Season 3 for a run of episodes, Dondarrion is a minor character that leaves a major impression on Arya, The Hound, and eventually Melisandre by returning from death. Despite seeing the sharp end of The Hound's sword, Beric's associate Thoros of Myr is able to channel the Lord of Light and bring Beric back from the dead. Thoros hasn't been seen since Season 3, but he's reportedly making an appearance in Season 6, according to Screen Crush. Perhaps Melisandre wants to bring Jon Snow to the best resurrector she knows.
While the show has a short history of bringing people back to life, a different form of resurrection can be found in the book in the form of Lady Stoneheart, or as she was known when she was alive — Catelyn Stark. Lady Stoneheart has yet to make an appearance in the show, but, in the books, the resurrected body of Catelyn Stark serves as the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Fans are still waiting to see Lady Stoneheart brought to the screen, but perhaps the showrunners want to save their first big resurrection for Jon Snow. Either way, it's not unheard of for a Stark to be brought back to life.
There's too much at stake both at The Wall and in all of Westeros to risk letting Jon Snow, likely the only person who can unite the Kingdoms against the White Walkers, stay dead. Whether he comes back in a different form or if he's the sulky, unlucky Jon Snow that fans already know and love, expect a huge comeback before the show ends.
Image: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO; Giphy (2)
