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Since Game of Thrones' fifth season ended, everybody involved in the series — from the cast to producers to the head of HBO himself — has played coy as to whether Jon Snow, dreamiest foundling of the North, is actually dead.
Okay, yes, everybody has been plenty willing admit that the character died, thanks to all those fellow brothers of the Night's Watch who, y'know, viciously stabbed him. What people have been cagier about is whether Jon will be resurrected. After all, Melisandre, known for her magical prowess, is right there, and if she's going to be in such close proximity to such a major character, the least she could do is bring him back to life. It's only fair.
However, on November 23, it seems HBO thought about prolonging this mystery a while longer and then said, "Nah," releasing the first promotional art for season six, which solely features the visage of Jon's portrayer, Kit Harington, along with the show's return month (April 2016).
APRIL. #GoTSeason6 #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/DSK2xZi9i9
— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) November 23, 2015
Tellingly, this version of Jon has a face streaked with blood — perhaps his own? — so you know he's not messing around. It's long seemed obvious that Jon would somehow return to life because the mystery of his parentage is so important to Game of Thrones as a whole and because he just might fulfill an important prophecy within the show's universe.
HBO, perhaps sensing that the internet is full of set reports and knowing its attempts to keep a lid on this have always been halfhearted at best, appears to have simply caved. It was the right call. Here's hoping The Walking Dead learns a thing or two.