As the wait forThe Winds of Winterstretches further on, it becomes particularly brutal for Jon Snow, given where his story ended in the most recentA Song of Ice and Firebook.A Dance with Dragonsleft much to speculate upon, from Jon Snow’s death and potential resurrection to what happens next with Daenerys Targaryen. Not all of them were answered even byGame of Thrones' ending, either, thanks to so many divergences, and the omission of characters like Young Griff and Lady Stoneheart.
Few might’ve predicted, though, that the biggest topic of conversation so many years later would beThe Winds of Wintertaking so long to release. The gaps had grown between the other books, butGeorge R.R. Martin himself was long confident thatGame of Thrones- which started the same yearA Dance with Dragonsreleased - wouldn’t overtake him. Until, unfortunately, it did.Martin’s delays and struggles withThe Winds of Winterare understandable, from his busy schedule to the expansive nature of the plot, but that’s meant bad news for poor Jon Snow.
By the time of Jon Snow’s death inA Dance with Dragons, he’s around 16-years-old, having been 14 when the series started (Game of Thronesaged the charactersup by a few years). That’s quite stark when put next to how longThe Winds of Winteris taking: it’s been almost 14 years, and with the book still sans release date,we could actually get to a point where Jon has been dead in the real-world longer than he’s even been alive in-universe. For some added perspective, the first fiveASOIAFbooks were released in just under 15 years.
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It’s a fact that highlights how particularly harsh the wait has been forA Song of Ice and Fire’s co-main character (by the time the saga ends, it will probably span more than his and many others' entire lives).Jon’s story isn’t just waiting to continue - he’s dying. Other characters are at least well-poised for more adventures. It’s easy to imagine life going on for them, but Jon’s story currently ends with death, and it’ll be a long wait for him to be resurrected. (Ok, maybe Daenerys' never-ending diarrhea is just as bad.)
“A Wight Animated By Fire”: After Re-Reading GRRM’s Past Comments, I’m Convinced The Winds Of Winter Will Fix A Jon Snow Resurrection Mistake From Game Of Thrones
Jon Snow’s post-resurrection story in Game of Thrones was lacking, but it’s something George R.R. Martin should fix in The Winds of Winter.
This really throws into contrastJon Snow’s death and resurrection inGame of Thrones. Obviously, it was never going to have the same passage of time in the real-world (and that’s not a bad thing), butin-universe he was dead for a couple of days, and it never really felt like it did enough with the story, instead simply rushing back to the status quo.
“…It’s easy to imagine Martin having Jon be dead for at least a week, if not several.”
In the book, that should be much longer. Not 14-16 years long, of course, but it’s easy to imagine Martin having Jon be dead for at least a week, if not several. That, combined with the real-life wait for the next book, can make it a much more satisfying experience when it does eventually happen.
How Will Jon Snow Be Resurrected In The Winds Of Winter?
It Should Be Different To Game Of Thrones
Jon Snow’s resurrection is the subject of manyThe Winds of Winter theories- not least because there’s been almost 14 years and counting to think about it.Like inGame of Thrones, it will probably involve Melisandre in some way, since she’s still at the Wall in the books, but it’s fair to assume it won’t be as straightforward as it was on TV.
6 Theories About Jon Snow In The Winds Of Winter That Are Different To Game Of Thrones
Jon Snow’s story in the books might turn out differently than in Game of Thrones. Here are some theories that suggest major deviations for ASOIAF.
For starters,Jon will likely be living as Ghost whenThe Winds of Winterbegins, with hints that his consciousness entered the body of his direwolf at the end ofA Dance with Dragons. That would be a smart ploy, as it’s a means of keeping Jon in the story somewhat, seeing things through the eyes and mind of the animal and how that affects him, before he can be brought back.
For the resurrection itself, it should be something either more complex in terms of the magic involved, or something much darker.
For the resurrection itself, it should be something either more complex in terms of the magic involved, or something much darker. One big possibility is a sacrifice, with Melisandre killing someone in order to resurrect Jon (possible options include Gilly’s baby or Shireen Baratheon). Alternatively, it could be magic involving Bran Stark, the Three-Eyed Crow, and the weirwood trees. There are a lot of options heading intoThe Winds of Winter, and the greater complexity combined with the vastly increased passage of time can make it a much better story all-round. Now we just need the book to release.
The Winds of Winter
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
