While Game Of Thrones fans spent months asking "Is Jon Snow Dead?," now they have to start asking, "Why is Jon Snow alive?" In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jon Snow himself, Kit Harington talks about having to fake his own death and lie to not only the fans of the show, but his cast mates, revealing that having to make a "fake goodbye speech" at the wrap party at the end of Season 5 was like "being at my own funeral.” It was all in hopes of keeping this plot twist under wraps until Season 6, which producer David Benioff told Harington would be a big year for Jon Snow. To be exact, Benioff told Harington "you’ve got a sh*tload to do next season. You’re going to be doing a lot.” It's something Harington repeated to EW, “It’s a massive season for Jon. It’s his biggest season for him so far.” So, of course, the world is now trying to figure out why the heck Jon Snow is having his biggest season yet after nearly losing his life.
What makes the theory game even more fun this time there's no source material to guide us. But still, this doesn't mean there haven't been clues to why Jon Snow needed to stick around a bit longer. (Apparently, a lot longer, since Entertainment Weekly reported Harington had "more shooting days than ever before.") I mean, we haven't even figured out who Jon Snow's mother is, which is basically the biggest mystery of the series right? (And one that the Huffington Post says could be revealed this season.)
Harington does give a few clues to what Jon Snow is like after he wakes up on that table, explaining that he needs to change and will. "There’s a brilliant line when Melisandre asks: 'What did you see?' And he says: 'Nothing, there was nothing at all,'" Harington told EW. "That cuts right to our deepest fear, that there’s nothing after death." Harington said that was the "most important line of the season," because it forces Jon Snow to really question what he's been doing:
Jon’s never been afraid of death, and that’s made him a strong and honorable person. He realizes something about his life now: He has to live it, because that’s all there is. He’s been over the line and there’s nothing there. And that changes him. It literally puts the fear of God into him. He doesn’t want to die ever again. But if he does, he doesn’t want to be brought back.
The actor also said, "There’s one episode this season, which is Jon’s story, that’s the most epic episode we’ve done." Expect a battle, but for what? The "Jon Snow is Azor Ahai" theory is already gaining steam. Azor Ahai was the mythical Westeros hero who is destined to be reborn and rescue the Seven Kingdoms. Melisandre previously said that Stannis Baratheon was Azor Ahai, but, since he's no longer around, the role still needs to be filled. Why not by the man once she just brought to life?
That could explain why there'd be an epic battle scene. Surely this hero would love to take some baddies down? Especially since Ramsay Bolton has already mentioned he's thinking about heading to Castle Black to reclaim his bride, Sansa. This may also fuel the theory that Jon Snow is not the bastard son of Ned Stark, but instead Lyanna Stark and Robert Baratheon's son. Maybe Melisandre just had the wrong Baratheon. If this is in fact true, it would make also make Jon Snow the rightful King of Westeros. (Yes, R+L=J theorists, I'm saying that "R" could stand for Robert, not Rhaegar Targaryen.) Perhaps learning all of this is why Jon Snow is having such a transformative season?
Obviously, everyone knows that question is completely rhetorical, being that the show's producers wouldn't even let Harington tell his family that Jon Snow wasn't dead. But we can still watch and theorize in anticipation for another big reveal. Until then, we're a lot like Jon Snow in that we know nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Image: HBO
