Alternative Ending for John Snow

Published May 22, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey guys,

I love the podcast. See below an alternative ending for John Snow that I believe would have been more powerful and appropriate:

* Grey Worm only accepts the death of John Snow for killing his queen (eye for an eye). This is more true to Grey Worms’ character. * Grey Worm insists that John’s death be at the hands of the unsullied and Dothraki, and he announces it will be death by fire in honor of the mother of dragons. * The unsullied and Dothraki tie-up John to a stake, with Jon’s family and friends off at some distance watching from an elevated area.

Alternative 1

* As John begins to burn, Arya pulls out a bow and strikes John with an arrow to the chest from quite some distance away. This would be a call-back to both (1) Arya practicing the bow with her father as a young girl and (2) the death of Mance Rayder.

Alternative 2

* It seemed odd that Bran so quickly agreed to this punishment in a callous manner with lack of remorse (back to his 3-eyed Raven schtick). * As John being to burn, Arya pulls out a bow. Before she can fire the bow, Bran says in an emotionless manner “the punishment must be paid.” * Fire burns bright and hot … However, after 20 seconds John walks out of the fire as the last Targaryen. * Implying that Bran had seen visions of the past where Dany had emerged from various fires, which is why Bran so quickly agreed to the punishment. Bran smiles. * Dothraki go nuts having seen a new power emerge, and they start attacking the unsullied. * John walks away through the chaos as a free man having survived his execution, a screenshot of his back and scars from Castle Black as he walks away (a callback to “my watch has ended”) …. roll the music and credits.

Robert Johnson

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