Does Jon Snow Survive ‘Game Of Thrones?’ Why Character Will Likely Die

He’s a fan favorite character, one that many would love to see ruling the Seven Kingdoms when all the fighting is over on “Game of Thrones.” Still, despite being the true heir to the Iron Throne, a lot of signs are pointing towards Jon Snow dying before the series comes to an end.

Fans were elated when Season 6 came around and saw Jon (Kit Harington) resurrected following his murder by fellow brothers of the Night’s Watch who didn’t agree with his plan to bring wildlings across the Wall. He’s done quite a lot since then on the HBO series, but it doesn’t seem likely that his story will end happily. In fact, there are several signs the character not only won’t end up on the throne but won’t even survive the show’s final six episodes. Here are four reasons why it seems likely Jon Snow will die during the final season of “Game of Thrones.”

The Rightful Heir Never Really Ends Up On The Throne

Westeros hasn’t seen any “rightful” heirs on the throne in some time. While some would still claim that a Targaryen, like Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), is the rightful heir because her family once ruled, those who still believed in King Robert’s (Mark Addy) reign, would feel one of his heirs is meant to rule. No matter which camp you believe in, it doesn’t take away the fact that the ones who have sat on the throne since the Mad King and Robert’s reigns—Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Cersei (Lena Headey—weren't rightful rulers. Cersei was never meant to rule and only took the throne after the deaths of each of her children. Her sons before her were also not illegitimate heirs since they weren’t actually Robert’s sons. That makes Robert the only legitimate King from his bloodline.

Since Robert was a usurper, he also isn’t considered legitimate, which means that the Mad King’s heirs are the only ones with a true claim. Jon, since he is Rhaegar’s (Wilf Scolding) son, is the rightful person to take the throne. Since it seems like the rightful heir never really does end up on the throne though, it doesn’t seem likely that the pattern would be broken in favor of a King who was brought up to believe he was a bastard his whole life.

Jon Has Never Wanted Power And Control

Jon has never made it a goal to sit on the throne or have a powerful position. He grew up knowing his place wasn’t to have one, since he was simply seen as the Bastard of Winterfell, and he still only knows himself as such. Even if he were to learn the truth about his parentage, it likely wouldn’t change his mind. But if he doesn’t want power and control, that can make him weak to enemies like Cersei, who could find it easier to take down her enemies when they aren’t as big of threats to her.

Script Leaks Seem To Confirm His Demise

Though they were not confirmed, early alleged script leaks from the Freefolk Reddit thread, which has been correct with leaks from earlier seasons, did state that Jon is set to die. That since deleted thread hinted Jon would die during a battle with the Night King (Vladimir Furdik), because of the fact that he was technically a form of magical life since he was already brought back from the dead. His death is necessary to end the battle with the Dead for good. While fans won’t know if this pans out until the episodes air beginning in 2019, it is an ominous sign that he Jon Snow could be seeing his final days in Westeros.

He Slept With Dany

They don’t know that they’re actually aunt and nephew, but the scene which saw Jon and Dany making love in the Season 7 finale can only spell trouble for their future. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Jeremy Podeswa hinted that fate was going to be unkind to the new pair once they eventually learned the truth about their relationship.

“For us, it was very important that there be a question about what could possibly happen after this moment... They don’t even fully understand what it’s all about and what the consequences of it are,” he said.

Fans have generally believed that either Jon or Dany would die since both can’t sit on the Iron Throne. If one of them dying is the way the story needs to go, as sad as it would be to lose Jon Snow again, he seems the more likely of the two candidates.

“Game of Thrones” returns to HBO in early 2019.