When the Game of Thrones finale left us with Bran Stark on the melted Iron Throne, many viewers were outraged: how could this be, Jon Snow was the perfect candidate! But if you look closely, the series has been hinting from the very beginning that Jon would never become king. And it’s not just because George R.R. Martin loves to subvert cliches (although he does that, too). Here are five reasons why Jon Snow was doomed to remain in the shadows.
5. Jon Snow is too obvious a choice
Jon is the lost Targaryen heir, a noble warrior, and the epitome of an archetypal hero. Sounds like Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, right? But Game of Thrones has always gone against the grain. Sure, he could have played a big role in the finale, but crowning him on the throne would have gone against Martin’s entire philosophy.
4. Jon was only happy beyond the Wall
Remember how Jon smiled with Ygritte? It was the only time he felt free. Beyond the Wall, he found his place among the wildlings who do not bend the knee. For Jon, becoming king is not a victory, but a prison. His exile at the end is a bittersweet but logical conclusion.
3. Jon was already king
In season six, Jon had his moment of glory: he was proclaimed King in the North, and then his true parentage was revealed. Repeating that moment in the finale would be redundant. Jon has already had his moment of glory, and that's enough.
2. Game of Thrones is not about the return of the Targaryens
The Targaryens are a great dynasty, but their reign was far from ideal. Even if Jon or Daenerys had taken the throne, it would only have delayed the inevitable: a new round of wars and betrayals. Martin tells a story about breaking the vicious circle of monarchy, about a broken wheel, and Jon here is not the solution to the problem, but part of it.
1. Jon is the second Ned Stark
Jon may not be Ned's son by blood, but he has inherited his honesty and straightforwardness. And the Starks have never had it easy in King's Landing. As Cersei said, "Northerners don't survive in the south." Even if Jon had become king, he would have repeated his father's fate, he would have died trying to play by someone else's rules.
The Game of Thrones finale left many questions, but one thing is clear: Jon Snow was never destined for the throne. His path is the path of a warrior, not a ruler. And perhaps that is why he remains one of the most beloved characters.
