Jon Snow made some crucial choices in Sunday's "Game of Thrones." First, he doled out some justice to the Night's Watch traitors who stabbed him to death, including Olly. They're all sharing a cup of win with Joffrey in hell now. Next, Jon quit the Night's Watch all together ("Now my watch has ended").
At first glance, you may be shocked at this turn of events. But "Thrones" star and Jon Snow himself Kit Harington believes his character's two choices this week are clearly connected.
"He's done with it," Harington said of Jon Snow and the Night's Watch. "He's seen the other side, seen what's there, and comes back and realizes he needs to lead his life and get out of there. This place betrayed him, and everything he stood for has changed. Plus, he had to kill a child, Olly, and that's what really does it. He kills an underage kid and he can't see the point in being up there anymore. At the heart of it, he knows by staying at the Wall he can't help the kingdoms and he's probably going to die very quickly if he stays."
The Night's Watch oath states that members are sworn brothers until death. Well, Jon Snow did die, technically releasing him from his vow. He's not the "oathbreaker" of the episode's title, but he's not hesitating when it comes to taking this loophole.
Harington notes that Snow's conversation with Davos and Melisandre after his resurrection will be important for his character going forward this season.
"At first, I was worried that he'll wake up and he's the same, back to normal - then there's no point in that death," Harington said. "He needs to change. There's a brilliant line when Melisandre asks: 'What did you see?' And he says: 'Nothing, there was nothing at all.' That cuts right to our deepest fear, that there's nothing after death. And that's the most important line in the whole season for me. Jon's never been afraid of death, and that's made him a strong and honorable person. He realizes something about his life now: He has to live it because that's all there is. He's been over the line and there's nothing there. And that changes him. It literally puts the fear of God into him. He's seen oblivion, and that's got to change somebody in the most fundamental way there is. He doesn't want to die ever again. But if he does, he doesn't want to be brought back."
"Game of Thrones" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
