To the disappointment of many viewers, Jon Snow didn’t become king in Game of Thrones, but there were many signs that this would be the case. The Game of Thrones ending was incredibly controversial, leaving many viewers appalled by the choices made surrounding the show’s biggest mysteries, including the Long Night, Daenerys Targaryen, and the Iron Throne. The idea of Bran Stark becoming king was ridiculed, but there are reasons why it fits the story better than Jon.

George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire novels, from which the HBO show is adapted, are among the most prolific works of fantasy, largely contradicting ideas established in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s ending involves Aragorn, the long-lost heir to the throne of Gondor, returning to his rightful position and leading his kingdom into an era of peace and prosperity. This happening with Jon Snow in Game of Thrones sounds like a hopeful ending to cap off a show filled with loss and devastation, but it’s not thematically in line with Martin’s ideas.

5Jon Snow Is Too Cliché Of A Choice For Game Of Thrones

Jon Snow Is The Obvious King Candidate

As a long-lost Targaryen and archetypal fantasy hero, Jon Snow already raises comparisons to Aragorn. He’s the obvious choice to end up on the Iron Throne, but George R.R. Martin’s story has proven to be anything but obvious. That’s not to say this should be subverted just to throw audiences for a loop, but Jon Snow fulfilling this archetype seems to establish him as an obvious Red Herring. Season 8 certainly still could have offered him a more prominent role, but having him end up on the Iron Throne would be a betrayal of Martin’s thematic exploration with ASOIAF.

Jon Snow Was Happiest Beyond The Wall

Jon’s Ending Brought Him To Where He Was Meant To Be

Fans were right to want Jon Snow to “win” by becoming king, but this wouldn’t be a victory for him.

In a sense, there’s some poetry to Jon Snow being exiled to the Night’s Watch and traveling to the real North. Jon’s time with Ygritte was the only period where he was truly happy and felt free from the terrible society of Westeros. Jon was the one who realized the Free Folk weren’t barbarians (at least not all of them) but people trying to survive, and he admired their tenacity to not kneel. Fans were right to want Jon Snow to “win” by becoming king, but this wouldn’t be a victory for him. Jon leaving Westeros was bittersweet, but it’s ultimately the best thing for him.

3Jon Snow Already Became King In The North In Season 6

GOT Already Had The Cathartic Jon Snow Moment

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In a sense, Jon Snow already had his moment in the spotlight in season 6’s ending. “The Winds of Winter” saw him revealed as the lost Targaryen heir just before he was crowned by his followers and made King in the North. This is a beloved scene that made audiences celebrate with joy, a rare opportunity in Game of Thrones, especially after the brutality of the Battle of the Bastards. To repeat this moment in season 8, attempting to create a similarly satisfying payoff, would feel cheap in retrospect.

Game Of Thrones Was Never About The Targaryen Dynasty Returning

The Targaryen Line Returning Would Be A Regression For Westeros

Adding to the thematic betrayal of A Song of Ice & Fire, having either Jon or Daenerys on the Iron Throne at the end of the series wouldn’t work with the story George R.R. Martin is trying to tell. The history of the Targaryen dynasty, while filled with incredible characters and powerful moments, isn’t meant to be shown as an ideal. This was a dynasty ruled by egotism and prophetic belief that resulted in volatility for the realm.

If Daenerys or Jon were to become the monarch, the realm might see peace and success for a time, but they would ultimately have an heir. The problem with monarchy is that, eventually, someone inherits the throne that doesn’t deserve it, and matters like the Dance of the Dragons or the War of Five Kings happen all over again. Game of Thrones and ASOIAF are about breaking this cycle, meaning Jon would never be an ideal candidate.

Jon Snow Is Constantly Compared To Ned Stark

Jon Would’ve Succumbed To A Similar Fate As Ned

Jon Snow may not be Ned Stark’s biological son, but he’s still a Stark, and he’s still Ned Stark’s son. He’s frequently compared to his adoptive father, even by Cersei Lannister, suggesting that he, like Ned, isn’t suited for the South. Starks don’t fare well in King’s Landing, and it’s even mentioned at one point that Jon traveling south sounds all too similar to the fates of previous Starks. Even if Game of Thrones ended on an optimistic note, a new monarch would shortly see matters return to their old ways, and Jon would be eaten alive in King’s Landing.