What's Next For Jon Snow On Game Of Thrones?

SPOILERS FOR GAME OF THRONES SEASON 6 FOLLOW

Last week's episode of Game of Thrones, "Home," allowed many fans to breathe a sigh of relief as Jon Snow finally drew another breath. Now that Jon is officially among the living again, what's next for the Bastard of Winterfell?

A Dance with Dragons, the most recent of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, ends Jon's story with his death. Since The Winds of Winter hasn't yet been released, we don't know how Jon's fate plays out in the novels, but there are certain differences in the way his killing goes down that could point us in the right direction.

In Game of Thrones, Jon was murdered because he allowed the Wildlings to settle the lands south of the Wall. In Martin's novel, the Watch's decision was much more tragic and less sinister. Stannis Baratheon had tried to convince Jon to march with him on Winterfell, but Jon refused, following the sage counsel of Maester Aemon.

Stannis departed with his army, leaving Melisandre behind at the wall. Later, Jon received a letter addressed to "Bastard," with a pink seal resembling House Bolton's. Jon believes the letter to be written by Ramsay Bolton, though there are some fan theories that suggest otherwise. Since the other two alternative authors of the letter have been written off of Game of Thrones – Stannis Baratheon and Mance Rayder – we'll assume that the letter is from Ramsay, for our purposes.

The letter, commonly referred to by fans as "The Bastard Letter," contains a series of threats from Ramsay, who wants his bride and his Reek returned to him, and he threatens to march on Castle Black if his demands are not met.

It is this letter that finally breaks Jon, galvanizing him to rally whatever members of the Night's Watch and the Wildlings are willing to follow him to Winterfell to depose Ramsay. These action break Jon's vows to the Night's Watch, turning him into an "Oathbreaker," and it's this crime causes the Watch to turn on him.

While events have been altered, it seems that Jon is still on a collision course with Ramsay. We know from Ramsay's final conversation with his father that they correctly believe Sansa to be heading towards the Wall and Jon, and that Ramsay views both Sansa and Jon, bastard though he may be, as a threat.

What is interesting is that, now that Jon has died, will that relieve him of the oaths in took previously in life? Is he still bound to the Night's Watch, or is he free to lead an army against Ramsay? Of course, it may be incidental either way. With Thorne now out of power and considered traitors, the Watch is completely loyal to Jon and would likely follow him no matter where they decided to take him, as likely would Tormund and the Wildlings.

One way or another, it seems that Jon is destined to end up in conflict with Ramsay. Melisandre prophesized a great victory in the snow. She believed that victory was Stannis's, but perhaps it actually Jon's, leading a united army of Night's Watch, Wildlings, and Stark bannermen to reclaim Winterfell.

Game of Thornes airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

-----

Did you see Captain America: Civil War? Want a chance to win a Hot Toys 1/6th scale Captain America figure from the movie? Head on over to the ComicBook.com Movie Database page and rate the movie to enter!