10 Things We Want To See Happen In The Jon Snow Spin-Off
Like "House of the Dragon" and every other potential "Game of Thrones" spinoff, the Jon Snow series has a uniquely tremendous challenge ahead of it. Not only does it have to follow up on one of the most popular and critically acclaimed television series of all time while simultaneously compensating for the polarizing "Game of Thrones" finale, but it also has to bear the weight of complete and total freedom. The Snow series is free from any books and free from any obligation to wrap up any previously established storylines, which is as dangerous as it is promising. It's an especially exciting and terrifying prospect for a show following an already beloved character.
The Snow spinoff is uniquely positioned to explore, expand, and enhance the world of "Game of Thrones," and it is just as capable of collapsing it entirely. To help tip the Snow showrunners — hereafter referred to as Snowrunners, of course — towards the more fruitful former side, there are a few aspects of the world and its previous series that they would do well to keep in mind. Because no one wants to see Kit Harington or the Snowrunners deliver fans anything but their best, here we list ten things we want to see happen in the Jon Snow spinoff.
Tormund Giantsbane and Jon Snow: buddy cops
There's no denying the magnetic charm that Tormund Giantsbane exuded during his time on "Game of Thrones." The juxtaposition of his giant, bearded, disheveled frame with his impish sense of humor and schoolboy crush on Brienne of Tarth made him a near-instant fan favorite. Actor Kristofer Hivju has always been a standout, even in relative disappointments like the 2011 "The Thing" prequel. And with Giantsbane meeting Snow beyond the wall during the "Game of Thrones" finale, the chance to pair the two for an extended period and truly develop their relationship is one that the Snowrunners simply have to take.
Hivju has been busy since "Game of Thrones," starring in multiple television series and most importantly for fantasy fans, providing an extremely memorable cameo as Nivellen in "The Witcher," but there's no obvious reason we can see why the Norwegian actor's future couldn't include a return to Westeros. As we've seen before, Giantsbane is one of the few characters capable of piercing Snow's gloomy, black shell. Look no further than their celebration after the Battle of Winterfell ... and try to ignore the scene's infamous inclusion of an errant coffee cup.
Children of the Forest
"Game of Thrones" was always focused on mutually destructive conflicts within the world of humans, and that is a good thing. Like other fantasy settings, the world of George R. R. Martin depicted humans as more adaptable and power hungry than their more one-dimensional, harmonious peers, and so human schemes are just more fun. But the Snow series doesn't need to anchor itself to a preexisting set of stories about a few families and their feuds; it can open the narrative up to new players. That fact in combination with the show's focus on the lands north of the Wall makes the criminally underutilized Children of the Forest the perfect addition to the ongoing Snow saga.
One of Snow's greatest traits has always been his practicality in the face of pressure. He always did what he believed was just and best, regardless of any cultural stigma or bias. That's why he chose to break a centuries-old conflict by allying with the Wildlings, even knowing the choice might lead to his demise. The Children of the Forest are a natural next step for Snow in his long history of rewriting tradition and gathering allies around the gravity of his kingliness. In that way, his journey would make him an anti-Daenerys, assembling tribes of misfits to help build a better future — except Snow would likely keep his promise.
An expanded world
There is no reason for the Snow show to restrict itself to the humans of Westeros, the Children of the Forest, any race of Westeros, or even the continent itself. There is a vast, unexplored world in which the series can play, full of unknown and untapped peoples, creatures, sources of magic, and maybe even gods. If the Snow show never allows itself to delve deeper into the known world and define new corners of it, it will waste a tremendously potent opportunity.
There are so many moments throughout "Game of Thrones" that clearly display creative joy, and the Snowrunners have the opportunity — and indeed, the responsibility — to try to best that series' total. There is no doubt that the zombie polar bear was written with glee, and the same is true of the mammoths and the myriad pyramids and ziggurats of Essos. Even without betraying the setting's relatively low-magic status quo, the Snow series has the ability to play around with new civilizations and architecture, new spells and gods, and certainly new exotic animals. If dire wolves and woolly mammoths exist in Westeros, why not saber-toothed tigers or giant ground sloths from the same age?
Aegon Targaryen
As fans are by now aware, there is no Jon Snow — at least, not if we're keeping with tradition and honoring birth names. Instead, there is only truly Aegon Targaryen, the last known male Targaryen — and after his final interaction with Daenerys, the only Targaryen, period — and rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Though he's unlikely to ever seek out his birthright as doing so would almost certainly be a death sentence after his banishment, there is a lot of storytelling potential in a predestined king choosing to shun the title, and in that king's eventual return. We know this to be true because we've seen the objectively best trilogy conclusion ever, "The Return of the King."
As we mentioned when talking about the Wildlings, Snow has always had a regal bearing — the type that intrinsically draws those around him into his circle. Whether he wants it or not, his destiny is to lead others. Though it's possible — likely, even — that Snow's charisma and dignity will never be enough to push him back into kinghood, the Snowrunners shouldn't simply forget Snow's royal attributes now that the game of thrones has been at least temporarily settled. Perhaps Snow's destiny is to establish an anti-kingdom — a true democracy, or a commune.
Maybe no thrones, but definitely more games
Even if Jon Snow never seeks out the Iron Throne — or whatever big chair Bran Stark is sitting on following the events of the finale – his series needs to keep some measure of the "Game of Thrones" lifeblood pumping. While, yes, that lifeblood contained high amounts of dragons, battles, and vague threats of a coming Winter, its greatest component by volume was the game itself — the backstabbing, bickering, bartering, and betrayal — that made the quest for a metal chair so riveting.
Despite the inherent allure of more Snow, Giantsbane, Ghost, and Wildlings, those aren't the characters that made "Game of Thrones" a game. For the most part, they were simple champions for good or soldiers embroiled in larger schemes. Without the machinations of Cersei Lannister, Littlefinger, Tyrion, Lord Varys, Daenerys, and a dozen other puppet masters, the soldiers, armies, and monsters of the known world are just blunt objects smashing into each other without purpose.
The Snow series needs to forge its own path to be sure, but completely abandoning what made its source series such a smash hit would be a mistake. However peaceful the North might be after the defeat of the Night King and Bran's appointment as king, there are always more Machiavellian players to be found.
Planning ahead
For as many fans that want the spirit of "Game of Thrones" to stay alive, there are likely just as many willing to lose one major facet of the series for good — its notoriously unpopular final season. Many critical, legacy-marring errors seemingly resulted from a lack of planning on how exactly to stick the landing after performing one of the most impressive and intricate narrative flying trapeze acts in history. Of any mistake the Snow show could make, this is the single most important to avoid
It's easy to imagine the Snow series incorporating another overarching threat that advances toward the heroes at a glacial pace. Instead of the White Walkers, it could perhaps be an invasion from another land or an entirely new race. The Children of the Forest created one evil, monstrous Night King, so why not another? This time, however, the Snowrunners need to know ahead of time when and where the threat is coming from, and a satisfying, fun way to defeat it without completely destroying the show's verisimilitude. Put simply, any diehard "Game of Thrones" fan is going to be along for the ride that the Snow series offers — they just don't want it to end by being dropped off in a ditch.
Flashbacks
There's a huge opportunity that the Snowrunners have in front of them, and it ironically involves looking backward. To seize the opportunity, they might want to take notes from one of the best spinoff series ever — "Better Call Saul." The acclaimed "Breaking Bad" prequel uses its platform not only to tell a fresh, engaging, Emmy magnet of a story, but also to intertwine with its source series and expand upon its world. Thanks to "Better Call Saul," we know Tuco Salamanca far better than we ever did from his appearances in "Breaking Bad," and the same is true for Mike, Gus, and of course "Saul Goodman" himself. The same could easily be true for the Snow show if its producers desire. If they're smart, they'll desire it bad.
One of the greatest tragedies of "Game of Thrones" is that Sean Bean had to do what Sean Bean does and die onscreen. The Snow show could ameliorate this misfortune by flashing back to the days of young Snow and the lessons he learned from Ned Stark, and from his uncle Benjen, for that matter. The issue of fatherhood has always been central to Snow's storyline, and being able to further expound on that is, as another Bean character would say, "a gift."
Flash forward
If there is one more potential gift that the Snow show has ingrained within its premise, it's the exact opposite of flashbacks. Unlike other "Game of Thrones" spinoffs like "House of the Dragon," Snow's series is not beholden to a prewritten past that necessarily must service the present age of "Game of Thrones." Snow's adventures can go boldly forward into their own unwritten future, and that future needn't be set immediately after Snow's expulsion to the North.
Snow has been through a heck of a lot, and another decade of a heck of a lot more may just transform the already-grim warrior into a more cynical, utilitarian figure in the spirit of Wolverine from 2017's "Logan." And considering Snow's magical return from the nothingness of death, who's to say he even ages at a normal pace anymore? The Wolverine connection may not be that much of a stretch. The thought of following an older, scarred, eye-patch-wearing Snow as he does what he has to in order to survive a harsh, frozen North after everyone he ever loved is dead is a fun concept.
Samwell Tarly
If you're a fan of Jon Snow — and if you're reading this, we're willing to assume you are — then it's likely that you can't imagine the character's future without at least an appearance by his best friend and most trusted confidant, Samwell Tarly. Many of Snow's happiest moments have been with Tarly — even when the two scrubbed dishes and froze atop the wall together, Snow tended to smile more in the presence of Samwell's low-key agreeability. And if we do get the Snow-Giantsbane buddy adventure we're hoping for, the sudden interjection of Snow's longtime best friend would almost certainly make for solid comedic fodder.
We've already seen the comedic potential inherent in the three men's relationship — for example, their grand reunion at the start of Season 8. In so many ways, Tarly and Giantsbane are exact opposites; their confidence, exuberance, battle prowess, intelligence, stature, and even their cleanliness are all diametrically opposed. To see the two vie for Snow's attention could be hilarious, especially if the socially inept but assertive Giantsbane isn't even aware that he's vying at all. Whether in a social triangle or not, Tarly would be a welcome sight in the new series for any "Game of Thrones" fan.
Jon Snow happy
More than anything, Jon Snow deserves some peace and happiness. Throughout eight long seasons of "Game of Thrones," no character received so little reward for so accomplishing so much good. There are a number of arguments to be made about who the ultimate hero of the series is — Samwell, Arya, and Tyrion are certainly frontrunners — but not a single character maintained an absurdly high ratio of misery suffered to heroism accomplished anywhere near approaching that of Jon Snow.
After rallying the various peoples of Westeros (and in the case of the Unsullied, even part of Essos) to unite and defeat their true enemy, the White Walkers, Snow ended "Game of Thrones" imprisoned, hated, and once more banished to Castle Black. We've mentioned that Jon Snow's fate mirrors that of Frodo Baggins in at the conclusion of "Lord of the Rings," but at least the hobbit gets to spend his final days at home. For all his sacrifices, including even giving his life, Snow wasn't even granted permission to return to Winterfell.
That's why, above all, Snow deserves his own exceedingly well-earned happy ending. While retconning character deaths can be a cop-out for a lot of franchises, Snow himself has already been resurrected, so seeing him settle down with a similarly resurrected Ygritte may just be the ideal end to the White Wolf's hunt.