Indeed, HBO already came close to bringing him back, with Kit Harington’s Jon Snow sequel show spending some time in development, before it was eventually shelved as they couldn’t find the right story. That would be true for Game of Thrones season 9, as well, should it happen (which… again, isn’t impossible in an era where it feels like everything comes back in some way). While Jon’s story may have ended in a similar place to where his book journey will, there is one A Song of Ice and Fire character who should still be used for it.
Game Of Thrones Left Out One Great Character From Jon Snow’s Story
One More Wildling Would’ve Been A Great Addition
On the whole, Game of Thrones did a good job with Jon Snow’s book story. It certainly oversimplified things and smoothed the edges of it, turning him into a purely good character and losing some of the moral conflicts and difficult decisions that make his arc so fascinating, particularly in A Dance with Dragons. Still, the core of the character was there, and I do love where he ended up (if not everything en route to it). But one of the biggest omissions that I really wish they’d found room for, was the character Val.
The sister of Mance Rayder’s wife, Dalla, Val is a wildling who is introduced in A Storm of Swords, and gradually becomes a bigger part of Jon’s story, especially after the death of Ygritte. Like her, she’s fierce, courageous, strong-willed, and has a great, undeniable chemistry with Jon, so much so there’s even a possibility they could eventually end up together in the books.
With Val, Jon could get everything he might want: a wife, a child, even becoming Jon Stark.
Val’s a great character in her own right, with a dark edge to her that plays off well with Jon, and it’s how they interact and what she represents that I really love. She’s a temptation to him. With Val, Jon could get everything he might want: a wife, a child, even becoming Jon Stark. And while he turns it down, those possibilities still remain and highlight the conflicts within him.
Game Of Thrones Season 9 Should Still Use Val For Jon Snow’s Arc
She Can’t Be Exactly The Same, But It Can Keep A Lot
Though Val’s book story couldn’t be directly transplanted into a hypothetical ninth season of Game of Thrones, the character could still be included. If you take the name, the defining character traits, and give her a close relationship with Jon Snow in some form that feels true to the one they have in A Song of Ice and Fire, then you still end up with a strong character and a really great dynamic.
That would be important for continuing Jon’s arc after Game of Thrones season 8. Notably, he’s still with the wildlings, so there is an opportunity for Val to be among them. She may not have the Mance Rayder connection, but much of who she is at her core could hold true. It’s easy to imagine a scenario of her leading a group of wildlings who might be more antagonistic, but just as viable would be having her and Jon form a deep bond and perhaps even finally have their romance (which is even better if the books do confirm it).
The idea of Jon being plagued by guilt and trauma over what happened with Daenerys, but Val being someone he meets where he’s able to heal and love again, could be compelling for his story.
If Game of Thrones season 9 were to happen, I think it’d be interesting for Jon’s story to deal with his trauma, but also to be somewhat about exploration. The lands farthest north are the ones least known, and while I wouldn’t want a retcon that brings back the White Walkers, there could be lingering secrets, mysteries, and even terrors to be uncovered. Jon on this frontier-style expedition, and meeting Val in the process, could be fascinating if done right, and finally do justice to an excellent book character.
