One could argue that Game of Thrones [1] has several protagonists, but none has captured the hearts and minds of fans like Jon Snow. He is the first to proclaim the dangers of the White Walker threat and take action against the impending foe. He unites the wildlings with the people of the North [2] with great peril to himself and the legacy of House Stark. But most notably, he's an honourable man once labeled a bastard and now perhaps set to rise as the next would-be king [3].
Yet, despite all of Jon's accomplishments, he seems to embody an overall lack of effectiveness that's baffling for a man with so much potential [4]. The most recent example being that Jon's actions during the Great War [5] — the dragon flying, sword slinging, and self-sacrifice — seem to have zero effect on the outcome. In that battle, as with almost every other in which Jon plays a role, people get hurt and someone else swoops in to fix Jon's strategic mistakes. Even still, his missteps often have an upside — as if the Lord of Light [6] really does have a plan for our reluctant leader. So let's count six of the worst decisions Jon has made during the series and analyse how he's bounced back.
Attempting to Become a Spy Within the Wildling Ranks (Season 2)
On the surface, this looks like a smart move. By ingratiating himself to the Free Folk's culture, he's ultimately able to capitalize upon that relationship when the White Walker threat becomes irrefutable during season seven. However, the short-term result of this decision triggers a cycle of events during the fourth season that ultimately lead to an all-out war at Castle Black. When Jon returns to the Wall, he must answer for his behaviour before a panel of brothers in a formal hearing. His responses earn the wrath of acting Lord Commander Alliser Thorne and Olly, who shoots an arrow into Ygritte's heart during the Wildling's attack on the Wall.
Travelling North Beyond the Wall to Assassinate Mance Rayder (Season 4)
Jon's misguided solution to fix the tensions between the Northerners and the Wildlings is to eliminate the Free Folk's king, Mance Rayder. Jon believes Rayder is the only component that binds the individual wildling clans that make up their central army and that his death will dissolve their ranks for good. Not only is this plan strategically unsound due to Jon's insistence upon going alone and his decision to leave his Valyrian steel sword with Sam but also the solution doesn't make ethical sense. You don't stop violence with more violence.
However, Jon does manage to get close enough to the Wildling leader to stage an attack — although he's surrounded by Rayder's devoted followers and such a move would mean certain death. Luckily, Jon is literally saved by the bell [7] when war horns signal the arrival of Stannis Baratheon's mounted knights. Stannis wants to retake the North with the help of the wildlings and burns Mance Rayder alive when he refuses to bend the knee. Jon intervenes by putting an arrow in Rayder's heart to keep the man from suffering, a move that inspires debate among the free folk.
Inviting the Free Folk South of the Wall (Season 5)
Without conferring with his brothers in arms, Jon uses his power as Lord Commander to offer the free folk refuge south of the wall and dragonglass weapons if they agree to help the Night's Watch in the upcoming battle against the White Walkers. During the negotiations, an attack from the walker army turns Jon's peacekeeping strategy into an evacuation as the Wildlings abandon their home to avoid the icy threat.
Jon returns to Castle Black with his new allies and fails to read the signs of mutiny that bubble beneath the surface of his brother's caustic welcome home. As the Wildlings pass through the Wall, Jon comments about not being able to save everyone from the Night King's attack. Alliser Thorne replies that Jon's kind heart will get him killed, which is exactly what happens.
Taking Ramsay’s Bait and Charging the Battlefield Alone (Season 6)
During Battle of the Bastards, Sansa warns Jon that Ramsay Bolton is duplicitous and that he should avoid playing into Ramsay's hands. Of course, Jon fails to heed this advice. As the armies gather, Ramsay brings out Jon's brother Rickon and tells the boy to run to Jon's army. The child obeys and Ramsay fires arrows at him as Jon sprints onto the battlefield to save his sibling. Sadly, Ramsay's arrows are swift and Rickon dies, and Jon stands defenceless in front of enemy lines. Jon's cavalry charges in at the last second and narrowly saves him from execution, but the Stark forces are outnumbered and Ramsay overpowers them with a pincer formation.
Fortunately, as is the theme with Jon Snow, Sansa saves him from certain death by calling on Littlefinger and the Knights of the Vale.
Travelling North Beyond the Wall to Capture a Wight (Season 7)
Jon hatches a risky plan to travel beyond the wall with a ranging party of a dozen men to capture a wight in hopes that a live demonstration of the threat will convince Cersei Lannister to lend her men in the fight against the Night King. They succeed in the endeavour, but the group faces an army of White Walkers on their return trip. Jon sends Gendry running back to Castle Black to send a raven to Daenerys who arrives with her dragons to save the men from ambush. Unfortunately, the foolhardy endeavour gets Thoros the Red Priest [8] and a bunch of other Northern allies killed, including Daenerys' dragon Viserion.
Taking the Night King’s Bait and Charging the Battlefield Alone (Season 8)
Charging the enemy with no plan, back up, or recourse seems to be Jon's general modus operandi. While everyone in the world sat at home watching the Night King slowly prepare to raise his arms, Jon never reacts to the one White Walker move the speaks louder than any phrase a man or monster can utter. Jon's signature charge, a strategy we once viewed as a brave move, just looks foolish when we know how high the stakes have grown.
Let's hope Jon learns from his mistakes when attempting to secure the realm in the final battle for Westeros.