‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 6: Here’s Why HBO Need To Stop Trying To Convince Fans Jon Snow Is Dead

Ever since the season 5 finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones, fans have been speculating about the fate of the certain character from the Night’s Watch. But has HBO been messing with fans heads about just how dead this character really is?

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information about the season 5 finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones as well as speculation about the upcoming season 6. Please proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

Jon Snow has become the Schrodinger cat of television ever since the season 5 finale of Game of Thrones. Is he dead, or isn’t he? Of course, no one will know until at least the season 6 premiere on April 24. But, for many fans, it makes absolutely no sense for Jon Snow to die just yet–especially considering both HBO and the author of the book series it is based on, George R.R. Martin have kept the mystery of Jon Snow’s parentage alive and at the forefront.

So, when Jon Snow was left dying in the snow in the season 5 finale of Game of Thrones, and HBO insisted in various interviews that Jon Snow was actually dead, many fans were outraged. Yes, Game of Thrones is a show where you can never assume people will live just because they are a main character, but, at the same time, it has also maintained a level of consistency of story lines that actually make sense, even among all the slaughter. Yes, it is was shocking to see the Starks nearly annihilated or Joffrey poisoned but, within the Game of Thrones universe, the justification for both of these events fits within the story line. If Jon Snow is really dead in Game of Thrones, there was absolutely no point to have his parentage questioned multiple times during both the TV series and the novels. After all, if Jon Snow’s parentage really is important, then what’s the point of questioning it now, especially if the fan favorite theory of Jon Snow’s parents actually making Jon a legitimate contender for the iron throne.

However, is HBO perhaps going overboard in the “Jon Snow is dead” department? Considering many fans are questioning the validity of Jon Snow actually being dead, HBO seemed to have upped the ante, trying to prove to fans he really is dead. But, in the age of the internet, this is not as easy as it used to be. And, with HBO perpetuating the theory, it might actually be doing damage to their fan base. There are plenty of ignorant people on the internet, but, for thinking TV watchers who read up on everything and weigh the theories before taking a side, HBO consistently calling Jon Snow dead when it doesn’t even make sense for it to be so, may be cause for some fans to believe HBO is calling them stupid.

In the past with TV shows (before the internet), interviews and articles were few and far between, with many networks releasing what they needed to in order to perpetuate the hype they required between seasons. Now, in the internet age, fans are able to connect with other fans from all over the world, comparing stories, theories, and even images that would not previously be widely available. So, with HBO saying over and over that Jon Snow is dead but there are images fans have taken of the actor who plays Jon Snow, Kit Harington, showing up on fan sites such as Watchers on the Wall, things start to get interesting.

Kit Harington has been spotted several times in the same country as where filming for Game of Thrones was underway. There is some suggestion he might be there just to film death scenes or other flashback scenes important to season 6 as Vanity Fair pointed out with Charles Dance doing a similar thing after he was killed in season 4 of Game of Thrones.

Then this image appeared on Watchers on the Wall and, once more, HBO was having to perpetuate the “Jon Snow is dead” mantra, leading to further speculation from fans that the devil just may be in the details. Yes, Jon Snow died in the season 5 finale of Game of Thrones. Yes, he is currently dead. But perhaps he really will be resurrected just like Game of Thrones fans have been insisting since the season 5 finale. After all, besides HBO playing up the mystery surrounding Jon Snow’s parentage since season 1, they also made sure they included a scenes in both season 1 and 3 where Beric Dondarrion was killed and resurrected by the Lord of Light cult. Considering Melisandre turned up at the Wall just as Jon Snow perished, it seems like Jon Snow may be dead–but not for long.

Added to this is the fact HBO recently released a new season 6 trailer. In it they repeated their mantra about Jon Snow. Not only do they show an image of the dead Jon Snow, they follow it up with the voice-over, “He’s gone.” A scene showing Melisandre doubting her vision is also shown, further backing up HBO’s theory that Jon Snow is deader than dead. And then they go and pop this image into the trailer, it’s almost like HBO is just messing with the fan base now.

Remember that image Watchers on the Wallreleased? That looks suspiciously like the same armor Kit Harington is wearing in the above image. And, for the eagle-eyed fan, that is probably Stark armor. So is Jon Snow now Jon Stark? Once again, could the mantra HBO have been chanting actually, technically, true? Is Jon Snow dead because he is now known as Jon Stark?

Added to the fact fans are calling HBO on their perpetual insistence on Jon Snow’s fate is news that some of the images from the season 6 trailer may actually relate to the Tower of Joy. So what is the Tower of Joy? The Tower of Joy is where Ned Stark defended his sister all those years ago. And, for those that follow the R + L = J theory of Lyanna and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen being Jon Snow’s parents, there are a couple of images that suggest Jon’s story line is not yet done with. As Tech Insider pointed out, there is an image in the trailer that shows a knight wearing the House of Targaryen sigil.

Now, fans all know that the only Targaryen left in Westeros is Daenerys. So it is likely this is a flashback sequence. So, if Jon Snow is really dead for good in Game of Thrones, why is HBO suddenly reminding us of this old battle that could have resulted in the conception of Jon Snow? What is the point of Jon’s heritage if he is already dead and can’t take over the iron throne? Only time will tell it seems.

What do you think: is HBO messing with the fans, or is Jon Snow really dead? Let us know your thoughts and theories on this matter by commenting below!

Season 6 of HBO’s Game of Thrones premieres on Sunday, April 24, 2016.