Was there a single more traumatizing event in the last television season than poor, innocent Princess Shireen Baratheon being burnt alive on Game of Thrones in front of her unyielding father, King Stannis? Would it make Shireen's death any less tragic if we were to find out in season six that it had actually achieved something? Or will the memory of her screams always remain more powerful than any potential outcome? This is a question that GoT viewers may have to ask themselves next year if one fan theory about Shireen's sacrifice turns out to be true.
In the two months since season five ended, grieving fans have been trying to come up with rational theories and explanations for how Jon Snow, last seen stabbed in the back (and front, and everywhere else) by the Night's Watch, could still be alive. These theories have ranged from the Lord Commander warging into his direwolf, Ghost, to him being reanimated as a wight in the thrall of the Night's King. But all the most popular theories have to do with Melisandre, since she arrived at Castle Black not long before Jon's "death."
But how exactly would Melisandre manage to resurrect Jon Snow? She herself has previously admitted that she's never done it before, and seemed surprised that it was even possible when Thoros of Myr resurrected Beric Dondarrion back in season three. If Melisandre is responsible for Jon's resurrection, I don't think it will be a simple matter of a prayer to R'hllor and a fancy hand gesture. The power to give life would have to come from somewhere ...
As Mirri Maz Duur told Daenerys back in season one, "Only death can pay for life." If this theory holds true, the reason Shireen's sacrifice didn't work out as planned for Stannis is because the Red God is saving the power of her death to give life to his chosen savior, Azor Ahai — aka Jon Snow. According to Melisandre, the prophecy of this Prince that was Promised states the following:
When the red star bleeds and darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons from stone.
A different fan theory — so widely accepted that it's practically considered canon at this point — is R+L=J, which states that Jon Snow isn't actually Ned's bastard son, but rather the secret son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen ... which would make Jon half blood of the dragon. We also learned in season five that those afflicted from the mysterious disease greyscale eventually turn into monstrous stone men. And who do we know who has (or had) greyscale?
Could Jon be the prophesied dragon that will be woken from stone? The evidence certainly seems to line up. Of course, resurrecting Jon Snow won't retroactively alleviate the horror of Shireen's murder. But it might at the very least mollify viewers who are feeling particularly brutalized after Game Of Thrones season five. After all, what would the show be without Kit Harington's dreamy eyes and dark, curly locks?
Not a show I'd be interested in, that's for sure.
Images: Helen Sloan (2)/HBO; HBO; Giphy
