Jon Snow Sequel Wishlist: 10 Things We Want To See In The Game Of Thrones Spinoff
A Jon Snow Game of Thrones spinoff sequel on HBO could take many directions. Here’s our wishlist for how we think the series should play out.
HBO has announced a Game of Thrones Jon Snow sequel, and there are many things on the wishlist for how it should play out. Game of Thrones ended its eight-season run in 2019 to one of the most divisive reactions a TV series finale has ever had. The prequel series House of the Dragon has since rejuvenated hope for seeing George R.R. Martin’s world expands as a prestige television franchise, and it seems more spin-offs will soon be underway. The Jon Snow spin-off was announced in June 2022, although there hasn’t been many notable updates since.
Despite its rough ending, Game of Thrones is still considered one of the best TV shows of all time, and any sequel series will be under critical examination from audiences. Like many Game of Thrones spin-off projects, the show’s development could take years. After years of pitches and ideas about spin-offs for Martin’s universe, only two shows have been greenlit, with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms being the next series to start filming. Jon Snow could be stuck in limbo for a while, and it may benefit the series to have some separation from the Game of Thrones finale time-wise.
10 The Jon Snow Show Shouldn’t Try To Fix Game Of Thrones
The spin-off series shouldn’t recon any events from season 8.
Game of Thrones Finale Daenerys and Jon
A Jon Snow series, in particular, seems fit to right the ship at the end of the original show’s timeline, as it can tie its narrative into storylines that went wrong, like the disappointing conclusion of the White Walkers. However, the expectation that a sequel series could somehow fix Game of Thrones is unrealistic. That ship has sailed, and retconning previous events to fix them will result in a confusing, disjointed mess. That doesn’t mean the Jon Snow series can’t expand on ideas presented in Game of Thrones, as it would be impossible to ignore it entirely.
9 The Jon Snow Sequel Should Further Explore The White Walkers Origins
There are White Walker mysteries left unsolved.
While resurrecting the Night King or trying to develop a new conflict with the White Walkers would feel frustratingly contrived, there’s still plenty of room to explore their origins beyond the Wall. There are mysteries left open-ended by Game of Thrones, such as the dichotomy between the Walkers and the Children of the Forest or the mysterious symbols left behind by White Walkers. The Children of the Forest created the Night King in a gruesome flashback vision seen by Bran, but the situation depicted begs more questions. Book readers have even theorized that the Children are the true villains.
8 Jon Snow Should Reunite With Arya
Arya Stark is one of the few Game of Thrones characters that should return.
Jon Snow didn’t have the best relationship with many characters left alive in the Game of Thrones ending, although he and Arya had a sweet relationship from season 1. Once his half-sister, now his cousin, Arya Stark’s conclusion saw her captaining a ship, sailing west to discover new lands. Depending on the outcome of her journey, she could plausibly return after several years and join Jon in his adventures.
A sequel shouldn’t rely too heavily on Game of Thrones characters to round out its cast, but Arya’s ending leaving her alone means she could cohesively tie into the show’s narrative. Involving Bran, for example, would require further involvement from more familiar characters, as any King’s Landing scenes would beg the question of the whereabouts of Tyrion, Brienne, and others. Arya Stark’s wayward ending makes her the best fit for a Stark family reunion in the Jon Snow spin-off.
7 The Jon Snow Show Should Introduce Lady Stoneheart
Lady Stoneheart wasn’t introduced in Game of Thrones, so now might be the time.
One A Song of Ice & Fire storyline that Game of Thrones ignored was Lady Stoneheart, the revived Catelyn Stark who roams the Riverlands executing Freys. It’s an excellent subplot of the novels, though it ties into the Red Wedding revenge already seen in Game of Thrones with Arya killing Walder Frey. Still, connecting threads between Lady Stoneheart and Jon make it a captivating idea. Both Jon and Lady Stoneheart were revived by the magic of the Lord of Light, and it will be fascinating to see their similarities.
While Jon’s demeanor changes significantly following his resurrection, he’s not as changed as Lady Stoneheart. Since her neck was sliced, she can’t speak, and personality-wise, she lacks much of her previous empathy. Not to mention, the two share a history, as Catelyn saw Jon as a reminder of Ned’s marital betrayal and mistreated him for most of their lives, which she reckons with in a beautiful scene with Talisa Stark in season 3.Who knows what role Lady Stoneheart could play in a sequel, but the connectivity to Jon makes it worth considering.
Jon Snow doesn’t need to return to the Seven Kingdoms, but he should be redeemed in the eyes of Westerosi history.
Whether or not the Game of Thrones ending feels earned, it’s bittersweet to imagine Jon exiled from Westeros. On the one hand, he’s liberated from the politicking of the Seven Kingdoms and left to spend his days in the one place where he found love and felt at peace. On the other hand, Jon is one of the few good men in Westeros, and it’s heartbreaking to see him abandoned and sent to the Wall after doing what he had to do to protect the people. Through some heroic deed beyond the Wall, Jon deserves redemption in the eyes of Westeros.
5 The Land Beyond The Wall Should Be Explored Thoroughly
There’s a sizable landmass to be explored in the Jon Snow series.
As an extension of Jon’s exploration of the history of the White Walkers, there’s a significant geographical landmass North of the Wall that’s essentially uncharted. The Land of Always Winter is a landmass that was uninhabitable by humans, though it wasn’t like that before the White Walkers were created. Now that the White Walkers have been defeated and the Long Night is over, this area should be safer to explore. There could be any number of dangerous creatures there, or perhaps the land is worth inhabiting and establishing a new kingdom in.
4 Tormund Should Be A Main Character
Tormund should remain by Jon’s side for the sequel series.
Throughout Game of Thrones, Tormund is a supporting character mainly related to comedic relief. While he isn’t the most complex of George R.R. Martin’s creations, he’s a vicious warrior and loyal loyal first and foremost. Having Tormund remain with Jon as a friend and enforcer would create an endearing dynamic for the series leads. His character also has plenty of room for exploration, especially with him returning to his homeland.
3 The Jon Snow Sequel Should Explore The Mythology Of Giants
Giants are another mystical creature with room to explore.
Game of Thrones introduced audiences to the giant Wun Wun, but he’s not the only one of his kind. In the books, a historic King-Beyond-the-Wall named Joramun blew the Horn of Winter to awaken giants from the earth. The location of the horn is never explored in Game of Thrones, and it’s an active mystery in the novels that could be incorporated into the Jon Snow sequel. If Jon needs to unlock the full power of the North, giants could be vital.
