Despite the fact thatGame of Thronesflaunted an enormous scope and filled its story with a litany of complex and compelling characters, the hit fantasy series did have certain figures who proved to be more resonant with fans than others. Chief among them was Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), the bastard son of Eddard Stark (Sean Bean), who relinquishes his comfortable life with his family to serve on the Wall as part of the Night’s Watch.
A character of conviction and honorin a series where so many others were conniving and duplicitous scoundrels,Jon Snow always stood out for his morality and his courage. With his journey seeing him go from a dismissed bastard to one of the most influential and important political leaders in Westeros, his most meaningful moments mark some of the most pivotal moments in the series.This list will rank the most important Jon Snow episodes inGame of Thrones, which not only progress his story but also contribute to the show’s overall standing.
Game Of Thrones
Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
10"The Iron Throne" (2019)
Season 8, Episode 6
The series finale ofGame of Thronesmay beone of the most maligned and disputed episodesin the history of television. Despite its flaws, however, it remains one of the most dramatic and essential episodes in terms of Jon Snow’s grand arc, and not just because itsees his journey end with him being exiled beyond the Wallto live the rest of his life with the wildlings.
Following Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) fiery onslaught on King’s Landing, the Targaryen queen is ruling as a tyrant. After he meets with an imprisoned Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), Jon realizes he must kill Daenerys before she can extend her reign of flame and destruction to other parts of Westeros. Given Jon’s love for Daenerys, the moment is a fine example of his willingness to place his duty to the people of Westeros above his feelings. Despite the episode’s sloppy execution and narrative missteps,“The Iron Throne” honors Jon’s characterand sees his story in Westeros reach a bittersweet conclusion.
9"The Pointy End" (2011)
Season 1, Episode 8
Going from where Jon’s story ends to where his journey largely began, “The Pointy End” is the episode that consolidates speculation thatthe White Walkers are building their powernorth of the Wall. Jon and Sam (John Bradley) bring the corpses of fellow rangers who had been dead for weeks back to Castle Black. That night, prompted by Ghost, Jon decides to investigate Commander Mormont’s (James Cosmo) quarters, where he is attacked by one of the dead rangers who has been reanimated as a wight.
“The Pointy End” is the single most important Season 1 episode in Jon Snow’s story.
In addition to the revelation of the dead rising, the episode also sees Jon informed of the imprisonment of Ned Stark in King’s Landing, giving rise to a situation in which he will betorn between his fealty to the Night’s Watch and his love for House Stark. As such, “The Pointy End” is the single most important Season 1 episode in Jon Snow’s story, as well as one of the most pivotal episodes in the context of the Night’s Watch and the rise of the White Walkers.
8"The Old Gods and the New" (2012)
Season 2, Episode 6
Few would argue against the notion that the most important character in the context of Jon Snow’s evolution throughout the series isYgritte (Rose Leslie), the wildling warrioresshe falls in love with. While their romance is the best inGame of Thrones, it isn’t necessarily a case of love at first sight, as evinced in the Season 2 episode, “The Old Gods and the New.”
On an expedition beyond the Wall under the command of Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong), Jon and his brothers attack a wildling outpost with only Ygritte left alive. When Jon finds himself unable to execute her, the wildling makes her escape, prompting Jon to pursue her and seeing him become lost from his party and stranded with Ygritte as night falls. Asthe episode where Jon and Ygritte first meet, “The Old Gods and the New”is of significant importance for Snow, not only because of the romance it ignites but also due to what it sparks in terms ofJon’s softening attitudes towards the wildlings.
7"The House of Black and White" (2015)
Season 5, Episode 2
From the earliest episodes ofGame of Thrones, fans recognized thatJon held all the traits that would make him a strong and admired leader. That inkling comes to fruition in Season 2’s “The House of Black and White.” With Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) struggling to garner support in the North, he offers to legitimize Jon as a member of House Stark and make him the Lord of Winterfell if he pledges service to him.
Jon’s situation is only further complicated when Sam nominates him to be the new Lord Commander of Castle Black, seeing Jon triumph over Ser Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale) in a tiebreaker vote to be the leader of the Night’s Watch. To call it a seismic episode for Jon Snow is an understatement.His appointment as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch bolsters his agencyin the story while also placing great strain on his already frayed relationships with several others in his order. It sets the stage for his eventual death and sows the seeds of his rise as a leading figure in Westerosi politics.
6"Kissed by Fire" (2013)
Season 3, Episode 5
Much of Jon’s story in Season 3 sees him living with the wildlings and walking a fine line between gathering intelligence for the Night’s Watch and forming unexpected new relationships with the free folk.His budding romance with Ygritteis a central focus, and it finally comes to fruition in the fifth episode, “Kissed by Fire,” when she lures him into a cave and sways him to break his vow of celibacy to the Night’s Watch.
In addition to being an immensely rewarding episode for fans, given that the teased romance finally sees its long-awaited validation, the Season 3 episode also proves to be crucial to Jon Snow. Not only does the realization of his love and Ygritte’s love solidify what the most integral relationship for Jon in the series, but it also serves asthe first moment he truly breaks his vow to the Night’s Watch. His torn allegiance between the rules of his order and his admiration for the wildlings is his defining conflict for much of the rest of the series.
5"Oathbreaker" (2016)
Season 6, Episode 3
Following his shocking assassination in the Season 5 finale,Game of Thronesfans everywhere were left debating whether Jon Snow would somehow return to the series or if the beloved character was gone for good. “Oathbreaker” answers that question,seeing him resurrected by Melisandre(Carice van Houten) before he presides over the execution of the mutineers who killed him and, having given his life as his oath demanded, resigns from the Night’s Watch.
As if this direct focus on Jon’s story wasn’t enough, “Oathbreaker” also has several other moments that are of indirect consequence for him as well. Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson) being presented as a prisoner to Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) at Winterfell sees the stakes rise in the looming war for the North, while Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) observes a young Eddard Stark’s (Robert Aramayo) battle with Ser Arthur Dayne (Luke Roberts) as he searches for his sister. While the significance of the duel isn’t fully revealed initially,it does hint at Jon’s true lineage. Coupled withJon’s departure from the Night’s Watch, it makes “Oathbreaker” an episode of monumental importance for the character.
4"The Watchers on the Wall" (2014)
Season 4, Episode 9
A rare instance where an entire episode is dedicated to just one of the several plot threads that ran co-adjacently throughoutGame of Thrones, “The Watchers on the Wall” isan action-packed presentation of Castle Black’s fightagainst the might of the wildling horde. The brutal battle is perhapsthe greatest display of Jon’s qualities as a leaderin the entire series, with him both calming and commanding his brothers in the Night’s Watch as they stand outnumbered and flanked on both sides.
Of course, the episode also has the essential and heartbreaking moment when, in the midst of combat, Jon’s and Ygritte’s eyes meet moments before Ygritte is shot in the back. Their parting embrace is one of the most painful scenes inGame of Thrones. As a result, Season 4’s penultimate episode can only be considered one of the most significant in Jon Snow’s journey, one thatemphasizes his prowess and valoras a leader while also serving asthe closing chapter on his most tender and cherished relationship.
3"Hardhome" (2015)
Season 5, Episode 8
Regarded by many to be the defining highlight ofGame of Thrones’ fifth season, “Hardhome” is revered for its monumental battle that sees members of the Night’s Watch and wildling warriors standing together against the White Walkers. Venturing to one of the most remote wildling settlements, Jon makes the unprecedented offer for the wildlings to relocate south of the Wall if they agree to aid the Night’s Watch in repelling the White Walkers. While the negotiation goes well, a wight attack forces everyone to flee immediately.
The battle is one of the best and most compelling depicted inGame of Thrones,a large-scale onslaught that sees Jon again prove his worth as a military leader. His killing one of the White Walkers with his Valyrian steel sword is a stunning moment of triumph, but it is perhaps offset by the foreboding final image of the Night King resurrecting the fallen as wights while the survivors slowly flee on boats. Completely arresting and unbearably intense, “Hardhome” delivers a terrifying affirmation concerning the might of the White Walkers, while the political ramifications of Jon’s alliance with the wildlingswould bear significant and shocking consequences.
2"The Dragon and the Wolf" (2017)
Season 7, Episode 7
With so many story elements beginning to crossover and intensify, Season 7 is one ofGame of Thrones’ busiest installments, a fact that is particularly true to the progression of Jon Snow’s arc. While the season sees him doing everything from trekking north of the Wall to capture a wight to negotiatingan alliance with Daenerys Targaryen, it is the season finale, “The Dragon and the Wolf,” that truly stands as his most significant episode in the season.
“The Dragon and the Wolf” reveals that Jon Snow is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, making him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne ahead of Daenerys.
In addition to Jon providing a confronting presentation of the threat the White Walkers pose to the leaders of Westeros, the episode alsosees his bond with Daenerys evolvenot only to the point of complete loyalty but to romantic passion as well. It also reveals that Jon Snow is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding) and Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi), making him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne ahead of Daenerys. “The Dragon and the Wolf” is a pivotal chapter for Jon’s story, and while the show would ultimately drop the ball with these reveals, they remain of vital importance to his characterization.
1"Battle of the Bastards" (2016)
Season 6, Episode 9
A soaring triumph ofGame of Thrones’ penchant for captivating drama and intense violence, as well asa definitive fan-favorite episode, “Battle of the Bastards” representsthe series at its absolute best. It also marks one of the most important chapters in the context of Jon Snow’s story and, by extension, the fate of the North. Ignited by Ramsay’s cruel execution of Rickon Stark, Jon charges into the bloody battle head-on.
With the grueling fight eventually seeing the Starks prevail over Ramsay Bolton and his allies, “Battle of the Bastards” ends with Winterfell being back under the lordship of House Stark and an imprisoned Ramsay being mauled by his dogs.Effectively leading to Jon Snow being heralded as the King of the North, the penultimate episode of Season 6 is one of significant consequence for Jon and House Stark. It alsoshowcases some of Harington’s finest acting in the show, cementing it as Jon’s best episode inGame of Thrones.
