Game of Thrones' series finale made some extremely divisive and shocking choices, but for Jon Snow, it really took him back to the beginning. After killing Daenerys Targaryen, Jon was sent back to the Wall inGame of Thrones' ending. Although this was ostensibly a punishment, it gave his story a rather bittersweet denouement.
Prior toGame of Thronesseason 8, many might’ve expected him, rather than Bran Stark, to be Westeros' King at the end of it all. Certainly,Jon’s Targaryen heritagegave him a shot, but in the end, it was about ending a Targaryen reign, rather than beginning a new one. And with that, him leaving King’s Landing behind seemed inevitable.
Not only was that the right choice, but it was a fitting fate for the character, andit all ties back toGame of Thrones' very first episode, “Winter Is Coming.”
Jon Snow’s Story Finished Where It Started
It Was The Right Place To End Things
Game of Thrones' cold open begins with rangers riding out from the Wall, into the vast, snow-covered lands beyond.Game of Thrones' final scene sees people riding out from the Wall, into the vast lands beyond, still with snow, but green shoots heralding a dream of spring.
Even more specifically, though, it was a full circle moment for Jon himself.The Night’s Watch was where his story really began- watching Ned Stark behead the deserter, Will; then telling his uncle Benjen that he wanted to follow him to the Wall.
After becoming King in the North and then bending the knee, he ended up back where he’d always belonged.
It was that choice that started Jon’s entire journey - from Castle Black to places far beyond it, to King’s Landing, Winterfell, and even his own death and resurrection. After becoming King in the North and then bending the knee, he ended up back where he’d always belonged.
Alongside Jon, of course, was Ghost.Game of Thrones' pilot had theStarks discovering the direwolveshad, for the first time in centuries, made their way south of the Wall, Ghost among them. While the exact fate of Nymeria is unknown,it’s another full-circle moment to have one of the last known remaining direwolves return beyond the Wallwhere they, too, truly belong.
Jon Snow’s Ending Highlighted A Couple Of Problems
The Night’s Watch & Direwolves Could’ve Been Handled Better
As a moment itself, andfor how it completes his story, I love Jon Snow’sGame of Thronesending. However, it’s also just another example of how things before could’ve been done better, or at least tightened up.
The return to the Night’s Watch is really just a plot device to get Jon back beyond the Wall, but raises questions about the show’s internal logic. What even remains of the Night’s Watch? What is it even needed for, at this point?
The HBO show completely diminished the role of the direwolves and their importance to the Starks, which has long been one of the more unforgivable mistakes for me.
More so, though, is how it highlights how underutilized the direwolves were. Again, I adore the moment of Jon’s reunion with Ghost. It’s delightful. But it’s notentirelyearned. The HBO show completely diminished the role of the direwolves and their importance to the Starks, which has long been one of the more unforgivable mistakes for me.
There’s supposed to be an incredibly deep bond here. They aren’t mere pets, they’re extensions of the Starks themselves, but the show - due to budget constraints and difficulty with VFX - hardly used them. Jon ending hisGame of Thronesstory beyond the Wall with Ghost at his side was absolutely right, but I just wish there’d been more of the direwolves along the way.
Game Of Thrones
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Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
