Highlights
- The Mutiny at Castle Black was a pivotal moment in Jon Snow's life and the series, as he was betrayed and killed by fellow members of the Night's Watch.
- Jon's decision to ally with the Wildlings and bring them into the Seven Kingdoms was seen as a betrayal by the Night's Watch, who believed it would lead to the downfall of humanity.
- Jon was brought back to life through the magical powers of Melisandre, although it was initially believed that the revival had failed. He then executed those who had conspired against him and left the Night's Watch to continue his fight against the White Walkers and the Lannisters in Westeros.
There’s no shortage of harrowing events throughout the Game Of Thrones series. Fans of Jon Snow were sure to be pulling at their hair when, in the show in which seemingly anyone could die at any moment, Jon Snow was betrayed and killed. The Mutiny at Castle Black was a shocking and pivotal moment in the series, though many people may not have fully grasped each aspect of the situation.
No one could be blamed for missing a few things, the shocking and sudden death of a fan-favorite character is never an easy thing, even if he did make his return soon after. Regardless, those who had no idea where Jon Snow’s character arc in Game Of Thrones was going were left to sit and stew for far too long wondering exactly how the show could move forward after yet again killing one of the most important figures in the series.
What Was The Mutiny At Castle Black?
The Mutiny at Castle Black was one of the most pivotal moments in the life of Jon Snow. The then Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow, had made a decision that flew in the face of the long-running history of the group. He decided that the Wildlings from beyond the wall should enter the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Rather than only feeling intense compassion for the people, the decision was in part motivated by the pressure and movement of the horrific White Walkers beyond the wall, a group that demonstrated their potential for destruction every time they came into contact with a main character.
The Night’s Watch would make a horrific decision that, while they believed they were doing right by the group’s history, could have potentially led to the downfall of all humanity in Westeros. With much of the Night’s Watch in the same mindset, the group would lure Jon out into the open one night, labeling him as a traitor before they would all take turns stabbing him, leaving him to die in the snow. Many within the group were happy to be rid of Jon, but they still had to deal with those who remained loyal to the former Lord Commander, and that included the remaining Wildlings Jon had helped retreat from Hardhome.
A clash would occur between the traitor members of the group and those still seeking to honor their Lord Commander, with those loyal to Jon coming out on top thanks to the aid of the Wildlings and the giant they had with them. With the traitors defeated and sent to be held in prisons, the remaining members of the Night’s Watch and the Wildlings are left to decide on their next steps. Thanks to the quick thinking of Davos, Melisandre is brought in to try to use her magic in order to bring Jon back to life, and while it appears as if she’s failed at first, Jon does eventually return to the land of the living.
Why Was Jon Snow Killed?

The trouble is that Jon had been shaking things up too often, and the Night’s Watch turned mutinous, taking it upon themselves to kill Jon Snow for his forward thinking. Most people in the North never looked too kindly on the Wildlings, but Jon had spent enough time with them that he’d realized they really weren’t so different from those within the wall. After witnessing the White Walkers at Hardhome, it’s made clear that Jon’s line of thinking to ally with the Wildlings is wise beyond his years, but those within the Night’s Watch didn’t view things in the same way. Realistically, many within the watch felt like Jon Snow had betrayed the entire group, and in turn, the entire realm by allowing one of the threats they were sworn to defend against into the lands.
What those who betrayed Jon failed to realize is that Westeros was in far more danger than anyone could have thought. With the White Walkers on the march toward the wall, it was only a matter of time before they’d reach the Night’s Watch, mowing down the defenders with ease. Considering the forces of Westeros were lucky to defeat the White Walkers with the help of additional armies and dragons, it’s easy to label those who trend against Jon as some of the biggest fools in the entire series. Ironically, those who would label Jon Snow as a traitor were also viewed as traitors, as while they did what they did to protect the Night’s Watch, it is also obvious that killing the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch goes against the standards of the group.
How Did Jon Snow Come Back To Life?

Exactly how Jon Snow came to life is an interesting thing to think about. It seems obvious that it was Melisandre’s magics that brought Jon back to life, though thanks to the mysterious nature of magic in the Game Of Thrones universe, even that’s not entirely a certainty. The group trying to revive Jon actually believes that the attempt has failed for quite a while, something that only adds to the mysterious nature of how magic and The Lord Of Light work. Once he’d sprung back to life, Jon’s followers would help nurse him back to health so that he could properly deal with those who had led a mutiny against him.
Once Jon executed those who’d conspired against him, he officially left the Night’s Watch thanks to the fact that he’d technically followed his sworn oath to remain a member of the group until he died. While horrific, it was a simple act of mutiny that allowed Jon to freely leave the Night’s Watch and begin his crusade in Westeros both against the White Walkers and the Lannisters.
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