Editing Jon Snow (character) (section)

==TV adaptation==
===Overview===
[[File:Kit Harington SDCC 2013 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Kit Harington]] plays the role of Jon Snow in the [[Game of Thrones|television series]].]]

Martin told ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in 2014 that some early inquiries he received about adapting ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' suggested identifying the story's "important character" and focusing on that individual plot line, Jon and [[Daenerys Targaryen]] being the two most popular choices.<ref name="RS GRRM 2014-04">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/george-r-r-martin-the-rolling-stone-interview-20140423? |title=George R.R. Martin: The ''Rolling Stone'' Interview |first=Mikal |last=Gilmore |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 23, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808114707/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/george-r-r-martin-the-rolling-stone-interview-20140423 |url-status=live }}</ref> Martin was not interested in sacrificing so much of the overall story.<ref name="RS GRRM 2014-04"/> When the [[television pilot|pilot]] for the [[HBO]] adaptation went into production years later, one of the first parts cast was Jon, with [[Kit Harington]] announced in the role in July 2009.<ref name="THR cast">{{cite news |last=Kit |first=Borysm |author2=Andreeva, Nellie |title=Sean Bean to ascend to ''Thrones'' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 19, 2009 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sean-bean-ascend-thrones-86666 |access-date=August 14, 2014 |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807154616/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sean-bean-ascend-thrones-86666 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GRRM 2009-07">{{cite web|last=Martin |first=George R.R. |title=Not A Blog: A Casting We Will Go |publisher=GRRM.livejournal.com |date=July 19, 2009 |access-date=July 20, 2009 |url=http://grrm.livejournal.com/95840.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227183837/http://grrm.livejournal.com/95840.html |archive-date=December 27, 2009 }}</ref> [[Alfie Allen]] and [[Iwan Rheon]] had also auditioned for the role, and were brought into the show to play [[Theon Greyjoy]] and [[Ramsay Bolton|Ramsay Snow]] instead, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/game-of-thrones/39270/game-of-thrones-season-5-what-we-learned-from-the-blu-rays|title=''Game of Thrones'' season 5: what we learned from the Blu-rays|first=Louisa|last=Mellor|work=[[Den of Geek]]|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2017|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023073621/http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/game-of-thrones/39270/game-of-thrones-season-5-what-we-learned-from-the-blu-rays|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/arts/television/ramsay-bolton-of-game-of-thrones-is-the-most-hated-man-on-tv.html |title=Ramsay Bolton of ''Game of Thrones'' Is the Most Hated Man on TV |work=The New York Times |first=Jeremy |last=Egner |date=April 20, 2016 |access-date=May 11, 2016 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126224650/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/arts/television/ramsay-bolton-of-game-of-thrones-is-the-most-hated-man-on-tv.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/iwan-rheon/ |title=Culture: Iwan Rheon |work=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]] |first=Emma |last=Brown |date=April 20, 2016 |access-date=May 11, 2016 |archive-date=November 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126035553/https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/iwan-rheon |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2014, Harington and several other key cast members, all contracted for six seasons of the series, renegotiated their deals to include a potential seventh season and salary increases for seasons five, six, and seven.<ref name="THR 2014-10">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-cast-signs-season-744314 |title=''Game of Thrones'' Cast Signs for Season 7 with Big Raises |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first1=Matthew |last1=Belloni |first2=Lesley |last2=Goldberg |date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232711/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-cast-signs-season-744314 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DL 2014-10">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/game-of-thrones-cast-salary-raises-season-7-1201268049/ |title=''Game Of Thrones'' Stars Score Big Raises |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221085038/http://deadline.com/2014/10/game-of-thrones-cast-salary-raises-season-7-1201268049/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' called the raises "huge", noting that the deal would make the performers "among the highest-paid actors on cable TV".<ref name="THR 2014-10"/> ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' put the number for season five at "close to $300,000 an episode" for each actor,<ref name="DL 2014-10"/> and ''The Hollywood Reporter'' wrote in June 2016 that the performers would each be paid "upward of $500,000 per episode" for seasons seven and the potential eight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-stars-score-hefty-905288 |title=''Game of Thrones'' Stars Score Hefty Pay Raises for Season 8 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |date=June 21, 2016 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117013249/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-stars-score-hefty-905288 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, Harington became one of the [[List of highest paid American television stars|highest paid actors on television]] and may have earned £1.2&nbsp;million per episode for the show.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425052433/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/game-of-thrones-season-7-actors-salary-net-worth-pay-million-hbo-per-episode-a7700506.html |archive-date=April 25, 2017|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/game-of-thrones-season-7-actors-salary-net-worth-pay-million-hbo-per-episode-a7700506.html|title=Game of Thrones season 7: Actors 'set to earn £2million per episode', making them highest-paid ever|work=[[The Independent]]|last=Hooton|first=Christopher|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrahams |first=Luke |date=2019-10-30 |title=How much did Game of Thrones stars get paid for the final season? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/celebrity/game-of-thrones-salary-how-much-cast-make-paer-episode-a4117871.html |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Evening Standard |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212122714/https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/celebrity/game-of-thrones-salary-how-much-cast-make-paer-episode-a4117871.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Game of Thrones Oslo exhibition 2014 - Ygritte, Jon and Tormund costumes.jpg|thumb|left|The costumes of [[Ygritte]], Jon Snow, and  [[Tormund Giantsbane]] in the show]]

As the series premiered, ''[[TV Guide]]'' called Harington a "soulful heartthrob" whose Jon is idolized by his younger siblings and who "seeks purpose" by joining the Night's Watch.<ref name="TVG 2011-04">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Roush-Review-Thrones-1031879.aspx |title=Roush Review: Grim ''Thrones'' Is a Crowning Achievement |first=Matt |last=Roush |work=[[TV Guide]] |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2014 |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112191600/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Roush-Review-Thrones-1031879.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Creators [[David Benioff]] and [[D. B. Weiss]] later noted that Jon "tries to live with honor, while knowing that honor often gets his family members murdered".<ref name="EW 2014-06-15"/> They explained that he is one of several characters in the series who must "face hard truths about the world they live in, and adapt themselves to those truths. The struggle many of them face is how to do that without losing their grip on who they are."<ref name="EW 2014-06-15"/> Matt Fowler of [[IGN]] wrote in 2013 that while Jon and Daenerys' storylines in [[Game of Thrones season 1|season 1]] and [[Game of Thrones season 2|season 2]] "felt very separate" from the rest of the series' plot, for the first time in [[Game of Thrones season 3|season 3]], "Jon's entire situation felt incorporated into the larger picture."<ref name="IGN Season 3">{{cite web|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/06/17/game-of-thrones-season-3-review|title=''Game of Thrones'': Season 3 Review|last=Fowler|first=Matt|website=[[IGN]]|date=June 17, 2013|access-date=August 5, 2014|archive-date=June 24, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624221421/http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/06/17/game-of-thrones-season-3-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Fowler also added that Jon's "oath-breaking romance with Ygritte added a lot of heat to the story".<ref name="IGN Season 3"/> In May 2015, ''[[International Business Times]]'' called Jon "clearly the most popular character" of the series.<ref name="IBT 2015-05">{{cite web |title=Who is Kit Harington? 5 lesser-known facts about ''Game Of Thrones'' star Jon Snow |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-kit-harington-5-lesser-known-facts-about-game-thrones-star-jon-snow-1561376 |work=[[International Business Times]] |first=Sutrishna |last=Ghosh |date=May 22, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201081549/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-kit-harington-5-lesser-known-facts-about-game-thrones-star-jon-snow-1561376 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a 2015 interview Benioff said, "The problem with Jon is, he’s not a cautious man. It's the problem with him, and also the reason we love him. He is a hero, but heroes are inherently incautious."<ref name="HBO Inside 50">{{cite AV media |url=http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/episodes/5/50-mothers-mercy/video/ep-50-inside-the-episode.html? |title=Ep. 50: Inside The Episode |type=Video |first1=David |last1=Benioff |author-link1=David Benioff |first2=D. B. |last2=Weiss |author-link2=D. B. Weiss |publisher=[[HBO]] |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=June 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620014224/http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/episodes/5/50-mothers-mercy/video/ep-50-inside-the-episode.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Weiss added, "At the end of the day, Jon is his father’s son, he’s a person who’s honorable to a fault and does the right thing even when the right thing is extremely dangerous to him personally."<ref name="HBO Inside 50"/> In the June 2015 [[Game of Thrones season 5|season 5]] finale "[[Mother's Mercy]]", Jon is stabbed to death by [[Alliser Thorne]] and several men of the Night's Watch after being labeled a traitor.<ref name="HBO Inside 50"/> With Martin's 2011 novel ''A Dance with Dragons'' vague on Jon's fate, Harington confirmed the character's death in an interview with ''Entertainment Weekly'', saying "I've been told I’m dead. I'm dead. I’m not coming back next season."<ref name="EW 2015 Mercy">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/14/game-thrones-jon-dies-interview|title=''Game of Thrones'' star on that shocking death: 'I'm not coming back'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=James|last=Hibberd|date=June 14, 2015|access-date=June 15, 2015|archive-date=June 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615081223/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/14/game-thrones-jon-dies-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> He added, "I loved how they brought [the orphan boy] Olly in to be the person who kills me. I love how the storyline with Thorne was wrapped up."<ref name="EW 2015 Mercy"/> Benioff also said of the episode:

{{Blockquote|This is obviously a big deal, the death of Jon Snow. This is something we've been thinking about for a long long time, and Alliser kills him, it's kind of like, it's a bad guy killing a good guy. But when it's Olly holding the knife … Olly's not a bad guy. Olly's a kid who’s seen just way too much horror way too early, and he makes a decision that's a really hard decision for him but you understand where he's coming from ... It's one of those great conflicts that makes us love the books and this saga, is that it's, ultimately it's not just about good vs evil, it's about people of good intentions who come into conflict with each other because they have very different views of the world, and unfortunately it did not work out well for Jon Snow in this case.<ref name="HBO Inside 50"/>}}

Writing for ''The New York Times'', Jeremy Egner called Jon's demise "the biggest death on the show" since Ned Stark's beheading in season 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com//2015/06/14/game-of-thrones-season-5-finale-jon-snow/ |title=''Game of Thrones'' Finale Recap: Shocking Deaths and a Walk of Shame |work=The New York Times |first=Jeremy |last=Egner |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-date=November 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127082204/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/game-of-thrones-season-5-finale-jon-snow/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Amid strong fan reaction over Jon's death on [[social media]],<ref name="IBT 2015-05"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-season-5-finale-ending-2015-6 |title=Fans are freaking out over the ''Game of Thrones'' cliffhanger finale |work=Business Insider |first=Kirsten |last=Acuna |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131443/http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-season-5-finale-ending-2015-6 |url-status=live }}</ref> immediately following the episode journalists began theorizing how the show could resurrect the character.<ref name="EW 2015-06"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-is-jon-snow-dead-or-alive-2015-6 |title=What the devastating ''Game of Thrones'' finale means for next season |work=Business Insider |first=Kim |last=Renfro |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131750/http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-is-jon-snow-dead-or-alive-2015-6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tor.com/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-10-mothers-mercy/? |title=''Game of Thrones'' Season 5, Episode 10: 'Mother's Mercy' |work=[[Tor.com]] |first=Theresa |last=DeLucci |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617164837/http://www.tor.com/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-10-mothers-mercy/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="VF Lives">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/jon-snow-alive-game-of-thrones-comic-con |title=Update: New ''Game of Thrones'' Information Adds Fuel to the 'Jon Snow Lives' Conspiracy |first=Joanna |last=Robinson |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223014553/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/jon-snow-alive-game-of-thrones-comic-con |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="VF Snow">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/jon-snow-dead-game-of-thrones-azor-ahai-melisandre-warg |title=''Game of Thrones'': Is This Really the Last We'll See of Jon Snow? |magazine=Vanity Fair |last=Robinson |first=Joanna |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=June 19, 2015 |archive-date=July 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722114132/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/jon-snow-dead-game-of-thrones-azor-ahai-melisandre-warg |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Forbes Mercy">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-10-review-mothers-mercy/ |title=''Game of Thrones'' Season 5, Episode 10 Review: 'Mother's Mercy' |last=Kain |first=Eric |work=Forbes |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 21, 2015 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132545/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-10-review-mothers-mercy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Nate Jones of ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' noted:
{{Blockquote|It's easy to see what [other characters'] deaths meant for the series' sprawling narrative: Ned's execution sent the Stark kids adrift in a universe where there was nobody looking out for them, while Robb's murder was the final death knell for the hopes that the saga would ever have a traditional 'happy' ending. What would be accomplished, narratively, by getting rid of Jon permanently right now?<ref name="Vulture 2015-06">{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/06/jon-snow-theories-game-of-thrones.html |title=Why the Latest ''Game of Thrones'' Death Might Not Be Like the Others |website=Vulture.com |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=June 19, 2015 |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618115845/http://www.vulture.com/2015/06/jon-snow-theories-game-of-thrones.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

A July 2015 sighting of Harington arriving in [[Belfast]], a primary filming location for the series where other actors were arriving for [[Game of Thrones season 6|season 6]] script read-throughs, prompted further speculation about the character's return.<ref name="VF Belfast">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/07/kit-harington-belfast-jon-snow-season-6-game-of-thrones? |title=Finally, Photographic Evidence that Kit Harington Has Joined the Cast of ''Game of Thrones'' in Belfast |first=Joanna |last=Robinson |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=July 21, 2015 |access-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722204601/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/07/kit-harington-belfast-jon-snow-season-6-game-of-thrones |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/20/game-of-thrones-spoiler-kit-harington-spotted_n_7832792.html |title=''Game of Thrones'' Spoiler: Is Kit Harington's Jon Snow Alive? Actor 'Spotted Close to Set in Belfast'... |first=Rachel |last=McGrath |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703210806/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/20/game-of-thrones-spoiler-kit-harington-spotted_n_7832792.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, a story in ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' pointed out that [[Charles Dance]] had been seen in Belfast the previous year after his character [[Tywin Lannister]]'s death as well, and he only appeared in the first episode of the subsequent season as a corpse.<ref name="VF Belfast"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/nzba12/charles-dance-teases-game-of-thrones-return |title=Charles Dance Reveals ''Game of Thrones'' Return |publisher=[[MTV News UK]] |date=September 19, 2014 |access-date=August 12, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925103826/http://www.mtv.co.uk/game-of-thrones/news/charles-dance-teases-game-of-thrones-return |archive-date=September 25, 2015 }}</ref> A season 6 ''Game of Thrones'' promotional poster released in November 2015 featured a bloodied Jon.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/game-of-thrones-season-6-jon-snow |title=The First Official Look at ''Game of Thrones'' Season 6 Is All About Jon Snow |magazine=Vanity Fair |first=Katey |last=Rich |date=November 23, 2015 |access-date=December 29, 2015 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124151059/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/game-of-thrones-season-6-jon-snow |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jon is resurrected by Melisandre in "[[Home (Game of Thrones)|Home]]", the May 2016 second episode of season 6.<ref name="EW Silence">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/01/game-thrones-jon-snow-harington-alive |title=''Game of Thrones'': Kit Harington breaks his silence |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=James |last=Hibberd |date=May 1, 2016 |access-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817123724/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/01/game-thrones-jon-snow-harington-alive |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/arts/television/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-review.html?_r=0 |title=''Game of Thrones'' Season 6, Episode 2: Jon Snow, Dragons and Ramsay's Dogs |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 4, 2016 |date=May 1, 2016 |last=Egner |first=Jeremy |archive-date=May 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505225352/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/arts/television/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-review.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Though calling it a "predictable move" for a television series, David Sims of ''[[The Atlantic]]'' praised the plot development as "the right choice" for the show's narrative.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/05/game-of-thrones-isnt-the-first-show-to-cheat-death/480957/ |title=''Game of Thrones'' and Television's Long History of Cheating Death |first=David |last=Sims |work=The Atlantic |date=May 3, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-date=August 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808014725/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/05/game-of-thrones-isnt-the-first-show-to-cheat-death/480957/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a subsequent interview with ''Entertainment Weekly'', Harington said:
{{Blockquote|I'd like to say sorry for lying to everyone. I'm glad that people were upset that he died. I think my biggest fear was that people were not going to care ... But it seems like people had a, similar to the [[The Rains of Castamere|Red Wedding episode]], kind of grief about it. Which means something I'm doing—or the show is doing—is right.<ref name="EW Silence"/>}}

Joanna Robinson of ''Vanity Fair'' credited Jon's much-discussed cliffhanger death as a primary factor behind ''Game of Thrones''{{'}} subsequent 25% ratings increase for season 6.<ref name="VF S6 Ratings">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/game-of-thrones-most-popular-show-ratings |title=''Game of Thrones'' Is Even More Insanely Popular than You Think |first=Joanna |last=Robinson |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-date=July 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713104709/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/game-of-thrones-most-popular-show-ratings |url-status=live }}</ref> Harington's performance in season 6 earned the actor his first [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination in July 2016.<ref name="2016 Emmy Variety">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/game-of-thrones-2016-emmys-nominations-1201814023/ |title=''Game of Thrones'' Rules 2016 Emmy Race With 23 Nominations |work=Variety |first=Laura |last=Prudom |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830110843/http://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/game-of-thrones-2016-emmys-nominations-1201814023/ |archive-date=August 30, 2016 }}</ref> Harington as Jon had the most screen time of any other character in the first seven seasons of the show.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/1065792/game-of-thrones-every-character-ranked-by-screen-time-through-season-7/ |title=Someone clocked every second of ''Game of Thrones'' and ranked each character by screen time |last=Epstein |first=Adam |date=August 30, 2017 |website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |access-date=September 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111214234/https://qz.com/1065792/game-of-thrones-every-character-ranked-by-screen-time-through-season-7/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/35991-game-of-thrones-characters-ranked-screen-time-jon-snow-tyrion-lannister |title=''Game of Thrones'' Officially Has a New Main Character |last=Grebey |first=James |date=August 29, 2017 |website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]] |access-date=September 13, 2018 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023002223/https://www.inverse.com/article/35991-game-of-thrones-characters-ranked-screen-time-jon-snow-tyrion-lannister |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://winteriscoming.net/2017/10/19/chart-screentime-game-of-thrones-top-100-characters/|title=Track the screentime of the Top 100 characters on ''Game of Thrones''|last=Tracy|first=Molly Kate|date=October 19, 2017|website=Winter is Coming|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031351/https://winteriscoming.net/2017/10/19/chart-screentime-game-of-thrones-top-100-characters/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Storylines===
====Season 1====
Jon Snow, the bastard son of [[Eddard Stark]], Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, decides to join the [[Night's Watch]]. He arrives at Castle Black with his direwolf Ghost to find that the once proud order is a shadow of its former self. Raised to be a skilled fighter with a strong sense of justice and honor, Jon is initially contemptuous of his fellow recruits, most of whom are lowborn criminals and exiles. He is persuaded by [[Tyrion Lannister]] to put aside his prejudices and help train the others. Jon befriends [[Samwell Tarly]], an overweight, fearful recruit who is more an intellectual than a fighter. Jon takes his vows but is disappointed about being made steward to Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]] rather than a ranger. Sam points out that Jon is likely being groomed for future command. Jon saves Mormont from a wight and is given the House Mormont ancestral sword Longclaw, made of Valyrian steel, with a wolf's head pommel custom-made for Jon. Jon learns of his father's execution for apparent treason and, although tempted to leave the Wall to join [[Robb Stark]]'s army, is convinced to stay.

====Season 2====
Jon accompanies the Night's Watch on the Great Ranging beyond the Wall. When the Night's Watch seek shelter from the wildling [[Craster (character)|Craster]], an old man who marries his own daughters, Jon is horrified to discover that Craster sacrifices his sons to the [[White Walkers]]. Later, as part of a small scouting party led by legendary Night's Watch ranger [[Qhorin Halfhand]], Jon is tasked with killing a wildling prisoner, a woman warrior [[Ygritte]]. He finds himself unable to do so and she escapes, only to capture him with her comrades. Qhorin, also taken prisoner, orders Jon to pretend to defect and join the wildlings in order to discover their plans. Qhorin stages a fight and secretly instructs Jon to kill him to gain the wildlings' trust. Jon does and is taken to meet former Night's Watch ranger [[Mance Rayder]], the wildlings' King-Beyond-the Wall.

====Season 3====
Jon pledges his loyalty to Mance and travels with the wildlings, learning that they intend to scale the Wall and force their way south to escape the inevitable arrival of the White Walker army. Jon attempts to convince Mance not to attack the wall, falsely claiming Castle Black is home to over 1,000 Watchmen. Ygritte seduces Jon and takes his virginity, and they eventually fall in love. After scaling the Wall, Jon refuses to kill an innocent man to prove his loyalty. He is attacked by the other wildlings but escapes to Castle Black, despite being wounded by a devastated Ygritte.

====Season 4====
Jon survives his wounds and is tried for his defection to the wildlings, but [[Maester Aemon]] is convinced of Jon's loyalty to the Watch and frees him. Jon leads an expedition to Craster's Keep, where some Night's Watchmen have mutinied and murdered Lord Commander Mormont. After defeating the mutineers, Jon is reunited with Ghost. Later, [[Tormund Giantsbane]]'s wildlings attack Castle Black while Mance's army besieges the Wall. Acting-commander, Ser [[Alliser Thorne]], is wounded forcing Jon to take command of the battle. Jon fights and kills Styr, leader of the Thenns. The wildlings are successfully repelled, although Ygritte is shot with an arrow and dies in Jon's arms. Jon goes beyond the Wall to negotiate with Mance, but [[Stannis Baratheon]]'s army arrives and routs the wildling camp, taking Mance prisoner. At Tormund's behest, Jon cremates Ygritte beyond the Wall.

====Season 5====
Stannis enlists Jon as an intermediary between himself and Mance, hoping to add the wildling army to his own. Mance refuses to kneel to Stannis, and he is subsequently burned at the stake by the red priestess [[Melisandre]]. Jon shoots Mance with an arrow before he succumbs to the fire. Stannis, who intends to take Winterfell from the traitorous [[House Bolton]], offers to legitimize Jon as a Stark and name him Lord of Winterfell in exchange for his support, but Jon remains loyal to his vows.

As the Watch prepares to elect a new Lord Commander, Sam advocates for Jon who is unexpectedly elected as the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, initially tying with his nemesis Thorne before the tie is broken by Maester Aemon's vote. Jon's intention to bring the wildlings into the Seven Kingdoms and grant them lands south of the Wall further enrages Thorne's faction of the Watch, who all hold a hatred for the wildlings. Jon travels to the wildling village of Hardhome, seeking their support for his plan to ally the Night's Watch and the wildlings against the growing threat of the White Walkers. Several thousand agree to come with Jon, but the rest are massacred when the White Walkers attack the village, although Jon discovers their vulnerability to Valyrian steel when he destroys one with Longclaw. Jon returns to the Wall, where he learns that Stannis has been defeated by the Boltons. Later, he is lured into a trap by his steward Olly and is killed by Thorne and his men. They assassinate Jon for his perceived betrayal of the Night's Watch.

====Season 6====
[[Davos Seaworth]] finds Jon's body. He, [[Dolorous Edd]], and other brothers of the Watch loyal to Jon barricade themselves in a room with Ghost, and an attack by Thorne and his men is thwarted by the arrival of Tormund and his wildlings. Davos encourages Melisandre to attempt to resurrect Jon. The ritual seemingly fails but Jon suddenly awakens. After hanging Thorne and the other ringleaders of his assassination, Jon declares that he has been released from his Night's Watch vows by death, and passes command to Edd. He makes plans to leave Castle Black. Jon is reunited with his half-sister [[Sansa Stark]], who has fled her abusive husband [[Ramsay Bolton]] and seeks Jon's aid in retaking Winterfell. Jon refuses until a threatening message arrives from Ramsay demanding Sansa's return and announcing Ramsay's possession of their brother [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]]. Jon, Sansa, Davos, and Tormund travel the North to recruit an army to take back Winterfell and rescue Rickon, but many houses refuse to support them. Jon convinces the wildlings to fight with him. As the armies assemble, Ramsay kills Rickon in order to provoke Jon and lure the Stark forces out of position. The ploy works and the outnumbered Stark forces are surrounded and nearly slaughtered, but the Knights of the Vale of [[House Arryn]] arrive with Sansa and [[Petyr Baelish]] and rout the Bolton army. Jon pursues Ramsay back into Winterfell and subdues him, but allows Sansa to decide his death. Jon gathers the lords of the North and warns them of the threat of the White Walkers. The Northern lords declare Jon the new King in the North.

Meanwhile, [[Bran Stark]] has a vision of the past which shows Ned reuniting with his dying sister [[Lyanna Stark]] in the Tower of Joy. She makes him swear to protect her son with [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], who is revealed to be Jon.<ref name="HBO Rhaegar"/><ref name="Hibberd EW Jon"/><ref name="io9 Jon"/>

====Season 7====
Jon prepares the North's defense against the White Walkers. He receives a message from [[Cersei Lannister]] that he swear his allegiance to her, as well as an invitation to [[Dragonstone (A Song of Ice and Fire)|Dragonstone]] from [[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s Hand Tyrion. In a message from Sam, Jon learns Dragonstone has a deposit of dragonglass, to which the White Walkers and wights are vulnerable. He decides to meet with Daenerys. Daenerys wants Jon to bend the knee but Jon refuses, insisting that the White Walkers are a threat to all of humanity. Tyrion persuades Daenerys to let Jon mine dragonglass as a gesture of goodwill. Jon discovers cave drawings of the First Men and the Children of the Forest fighting the White Walkers and invites Daenerys to view them. As part of the plan to convince Cersei that the army of the dead is real, Jon leads an expedition beyond the Wall to capture a wight to provide proof of it. During the mission, when Jon kills a White Walker, the wights it had reanimated are destroyed. He realizes that killing the Night King will likely kill the entire army of the dead. When Jon and his party are surrounded by wights, Daenerys comes to their aid with her dragons. However, one of the dragons, Viserion, is killed by the Night King. Daenerys is forced to flee without Jon but [[Benjen Stark]] arrives to rescue him, sacrificing himself. Later, Daenerys vows to fight the Night King with Jon and he swears fealty to her as his queen.

Jon and Daenerys travel to King's Landing to parley with Cersei. Cersei is apparently convinced to declare a truce so that the Lannisters may aid in the battle against the dead but later reveals to [[Jaime Lannister]] that she has no intention of keeping her word. Meanwhile, Sam and Bran have discovered that Jon was born Aegon Targaryen, the legitimate son of Rhaegar and Lyanna and rightful heir to House Targaryen. Having fallen in love,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Joanna |title=Game of Thrones: 18 Secrets, Easter Eggs, and Revelations Hiding in 7 Seasons of Scripts |date=5 December 2018 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/12/game-of-thrones-scripts-secrets-cersei-pregnancy-tyrion-daenerys-snow-on-the-throne |publisher=Vanity Fair |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222075454/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/12/game-of-thrones-scripts-secrets-cersei-pregnancy-tyrion-daenerys-snow-on-the-throne |url-status=live }}</ref> Jon and Daenerys give in to their feelings for each other and have sex on their voyage north while unaware they are related by blood.

====Season 8====
Jon returns to Winterfell and is reunited with Bran and [[Arya Stark]]. He learns the Wall has been breached by the White Walkers. Though they have readied Winterfell for battle, Sansa and the Northern lords are angry over Jon bending the knee to Daenerys. Jon's bond with Daenerys continues to grow, and he rides one of her dragons, Rhaegal. Sam tells Jon the truth about his identity as Aegon Targaryen. Later, Jon reveals this to Daenerys. The White Walkers arrive and Jon attempts to engage the Night King in single combat but is stopped when the Night King reanimates the dead to fight Jon. Jon attempts to pursue him to the Godswood, where Bran is waiting to lure the Night's King, but is cornered by the undead Viserion. Jon prepares to fight Viserion, but the Night King is killed by Arya, destroying the army of the dead. In the celebrations afterwards, Jon is praised by the wildlings. This troubles Daenerys, who fears the people of Westeros would prefer Jon as their ruler over her. Jon is troubled by his blood relation to Daenerys, causing him to withdraw from their intimacy.

Jon assures Daenerys that he has no desire to take the Iron Throne, renouncing his claim for hers, but insists he must be honest with his sisters about his true parentage. Jon tells Sansa and Arya, swearing them to secrecy, but Sansa sees him as a preferable alternative to Daenerys and tells Tyrion. Tyrion informs [[Varys]], who implores Jon to take the Iron Throne but Jon refuses to betray Daenerys.

Jon leads the Northern forces to help Daenerys claim the Iron Throne. They take King's Landing and the city surrenders to Daenerys. However, having been driven mad by her recent losses and betrayals, Daenerys burns the city, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Afterward, she declares she will wage war on the rest of the world until she rules the entire planet. Arya and Tyrion warn Jon that Daenerys will view his heritage as a threat and she is a threat to the Starks. Tyrion tells Jon that despite Jon's love for Daenerys, it is his duty to kill her to protect the people. Jon confronts Daenerys but, unable to dissuade her from further destruction, reluctantly kills her and she dies in his arms. Jon is imprisoned by [[Grey Worm]] and awaits execution. Tyrion convinces the lords of Westeros to set up a new system of kingship, with Bran elected the King of the Six Kingdoms (the North having been granted independence). Bran sentences Jon to the Night's Watch to appease Daenerys' supporters as a compromise. Jon returns to Castle Black and leads the wildlings to return to their lands beyond the Wall.

===Recognition and awards===
Harington has received several accolades for the role of Jon Snow, including a [[Golden Globe]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] in 2019, and two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] nominations for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2016 and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2019. He has also been nominated for two [[Critics' Choice Awards]] for [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2016 and [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series|Best Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2019.<ref name="2016 Emmy Variety"/><ref name="2016Emmy">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/14/emmys-nominations-2016 |title=Emmy nominations 2016: See the full list |first=Lynette |last=Rice |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715182538/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/14/emmys-nominations-2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harington was also nominated for four [[Saturn Award]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television|Best Supporting Actor on Television]] and a [[Saturn Award]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television|Best Actor on Television]].<ref name="Saturn2012nom">{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |title=Nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards |publisher=[[Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films]] |date=February 29, 2012 |access-date=February 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221234527/http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |archive-date=February 21, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Saturn2016nom">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2016-star-wars-mad-max-1201713942/ |work=Variety |first=Jacob |last=Bryant |title=''Star Wars'', ''Mad Max'', ''Walking Dead'' Lead Saturn Awards Nominations |date=February 24, 2016 |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=May 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507141412/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2016-star-wars-mad-max-1201713942/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Saturn2017nom">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rogue-one-walking-dead-lead-saturn-awards-nominations-982468 |title=''Rogue One'', ''Walking Dead'' Lead Saturn Awards Nominations |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Aaron |last=Couch |date=March 2, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303123108/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rogue-one-walking-dead-lead-saturn-awards-nominations-982468 |url-status=live }}</ref> His other nominations include the [[Golden Nymph Award]] for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 2012,.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvfestival.com/presse/2012/liste_N_compet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917101632/http://www.tvfestival.com/presse/2012/liste_N_compet.pdf |title=Nominees/Competition 2012 |publisher=[[Golden Nymph Award]]s |page=8 |date=2012 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He won the [[Young Hollywood Awards|Young Hollywood Award]] for Actor of the Year in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |last=Carbone |first=Gina |url=http://www.wetpaint.com/news/articles/2013-07-18-young-hollywood-awards-check-early |title=2013 Young Hollywood Awards: Check Out Early Winners |publisher=[[Wetpaint]] |date=August 1, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923070939/http://www.wetpaint.com/news/articles/2013-07-18-young-hollywood-awards-check-early |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and was nominated for the [[Critics' Choice Television Award]] for [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/critics-choice-tv-awards-hbo-leads-22-nominations-1201746217/ |title=Critics' Choice TV Awards: HBO Leads With 22 Nominations |date=November 14, 2016 |access-date=November 14, 2016 |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730071319/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/critics-choice-tv-awards-hbo-leads-22-nominations-1201746217/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[IGN]] also nominated Jon Snow as its Best TV Hero in 2011.<ref name=ign2012>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2011/Best_Television_Hero |title=Best Television Hero 2011 |website=IGN |date=18 December 2011 |publisher=[[News Corporation]] |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303063438/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2011/Best_Television_Hero |archive-date=March 3, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>