GAME OF THRONES: Jon Snow’s Vengeful Return

Season 6 of Game of Thrones officially has our undivided attention thanks to ongoing helpings of black magic, time travel, and infanticide. Jon Snow may be back, but he’s not happy. A return trip from the great beyond always comes with its share of baggage, and despite Melisandre’s reassurances about the Lord of Light and a grand destiny, it’s pretty clear that Jon’s not arrogant enough to believe his revival is some divine attempt to balance the scales of justice — just further evidence of mankind’s hubris. When people meddle with dark forces, they don’t understand that bad things happen. But nothing brought Jon Snow fans more joy than watching him line up all the men who ruthlessly murdered him (including Olly) to hang in the bitter cold.

Ultimately, Jon decided that he no longer wanted to be at the mercy of dogma — he’s seen firsthand that there are no gods, nor the Lord of Light, nor the Seven — nor anyone else — waiting on the other side. That realization might be incredibly terrifying, but it’s also super liberating; so he passed his cloak on to the deserving Dolorous Edd and walked away from the Night’s Watch.

Is Jon an “oath breaker”? Technically, he’s fulfilled his vow to the Night’s Watch and then some, since each pledge swears that his watch “shall not end until my death.” And we’re unaware of any fine print directing what to do in the case of supernatural resurrection.