Game Of Thrones Recap: 12 Things You Learn Rewatching Season 5

3. Foreshadowing Jon's Return - And His Parentage

Game Of Thrones Sam
HBO

There's always some nice bits of foreshadowing in Game of Thrones, but one of the most enjoyable in Season 5 comes with regards to his death and resurrection. When Olly questions Sam about Jon going to Hardhome, Sam shrugs off his concerns by saying "Jon always comes back." That proved to be more true than Sam could've ever known.

Season 5 isn't just the season Jon dies, though, but also the one where we get the biggest clues yet as to his parentage. While it was Season 6's flashbacks that showed us it, it's this year where the references to Rhaegar and Lyanna are much heavier, with Sons of the Harpy filled with it: Barristan Selmy tells Daenerys about Rhaegar's love of singing songs, and how he never liked killing people. Meanwhile, Sansa finds the feather that Robert placed on Lyanna's statue (which appeared in the Season 8 teaser), and Littlefinger told her the story of the Tourney at Harrenhal, where he crowned Lyanna as Queen of Beauty. Both of these stories fit into their romance, and the fact that Rhaegar didn't kidnap Lyanna.

If that's not enough, then there's also the moment Maester Aemon says: "A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing." Who comes into shot just then, but Jon freakin' Snow?

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.