Warning: This article contains spoilers about the Game of Thrones season five finale.


Game of Thrones' season five finale sent shockwaves around the world on Sunday (June 14), after the last moments appeared to show the death of fan favourite character Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

In the books, Jon's fate is equally as up in the air as the TV show, having been stabbed by members of the Night's Watch. While Harington has claimed he will not be coming back, fans are already debating whether he is actually dead, or if he could be revived via Melisandre or even his direwolf Ghost. Either way, we'll all have to wait a year to find out.

In the meantime, Digital Spy has put together just some of Jon Snow's finest moments to get you through these tough times.

1. His romance with Ygritte

Jon's relationship with wildling Ygritte (Rose Leslie) was one of the show's most fascinating and emotional romantic stories so far, and the pair's chemistry was palpable as soon as they unwittingly walked into each other's path.

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Initially taking her as his prisoner, her taunts of him knowing "nothing" and their obvious connection with each other couldn't stop him from breaking his Night's Watch vow and losing his virginity in the caves. This allowed Jon to become more human after whole seasons of brooding and not much else.

Their Romeo and Juliet-style romance was never going to end well, but they were at least able to have a proper goodbye before she died, which is something most Game of Thrones characters aren't usually rewarded.

2. Killing a White Walker

Jon's friendship with Samwell Tarley was derided by the more bullish of the Night's Watch warriors who view the overweight and bookish steward as a coward.

But it's only through his kind and wise appreciation of Sam that Jon learns that Dragronglass can be used to slay the fearsome White Walkers, something that saves his live in that climatic battle in season 5. As chaos and bloodshed rain down around them, we see Jon fight for his life against a towering foe who is clearly startled when he realises that Jon's weapon cannot be shattered like other swords.

In a memorable punch-the-air and shout-at-the-TV moment, Jon Snow once again triumphs and reminds us all why he's the everyman hero we love to root for.

3. His friendship with Sam

Mirroring Frodo and Samwise's bromance in the Lord of the Rings series, Jon's friendship with Sam (John Bradley) is equally as touching.

Jon's leadership qualities first emerge after the rotund Sam is brought into the Night's Watch, and the brothers soon begin to beat him. Jon puts a stop to this at once, and even instructs Ghost to convince Rast to back off once and for all. This allows Jon to become a future leader, a path that ultimately leads him to his downfall.

Their bond remained throughout the series, and also helped Sam gain strength and leadership skills of his own. It will be interesting to see where Sam's story will lead now if Jon is gone for good.

4. His bond with Ghost

Along with Sam, Jon's other ally is direwolf Ghost. In the pilot episode, the Starks find a dead wolf with five pups, one each for Ned Stark's children (Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon).

Jon suggests that it may be a sign from the Gods that there only five, until the bastard son finds a sixth pup, a white runt which heads straight to him. Naming him Ghost, the pair become one instantly and Jon remained his master until the end. Though, where was Ghost in the finale's last moments?

Jon's handling of the Stark situation and the direwolves were the first signs of his honour and selflessness that became hallmarks of his character in later seasons.

5. Kicking ass against the Wildlings

In one of several battles featuring the Night's Watch, Jon and his brothers faced off against Ygritte and the Wildlings towards the end of season four.

Jon had showed off his fighting skills before, but not in such badassery as in the Battle for Castle Black. Like David Beckham against Greece in 2002, he almost singlehandedly took on the army, either with his sword or by leading his brothers when his real masters were cowering in the corner.

After killing the brutal Styr with an axe to the head, he fought off his beloved Ygritte before she was cruelly killed off by Olly - the same boy who would later appear to give him the killer knife to the chest.

6. Small justice for Ned Stark by beheading Janos

Game of Thrones can be difficult to follow when it comes to bit-part characters. In case you had forgotten, Janos Slynt was the former commander of the City Watch in King's Landing, who betrayed Ned Stark and ultimately got him beheaded. He was also behind the massacre of King Robert Baratheon's bastard children before being banished to the Night's Watch by Tyrion Lannister.

Once at Night's Watch, he is clearly not up the to the task of leading any troops, and often hid away from times got tough. In the aforementioned Battle for Castle Black, he cowardly stayed underground while his men were slaughtered.

In season five, his cowardly nature was followed by general insubordination when Jon Snow is elected as Lord Commander. Jon finally gets some kind of justice for his father Ned by executing Janos in front of his men.