The Rewatch Project: Season 1, Episode 2

Okay, to start with, a Synopsis

 Dany is despondent over the Dothraki Sea and the menu (horse or grass). Jorah tells her how the world will end and then tells her, “Chin up.” When they stop Viserys and Jorah bond over what a silly offense slavery is. Tyrion wakes with the dogs and then imp slaps Joffrey over being a prat.

"It's no mercy. He will be a cripple."

Breakfast with the Lannisters is crypic but we learn Bran will probably live. Jaime and Cersei seem thrilled with the news. Cersei visits Cat and a comotose Bran and totally makes up a story about a baby that died.

 Jon gives Arya a sword that she names Needle and the two bond over the pointy end. Jon then visits Bran and Cat is a major bitch to him. Jon lies to Robb and says she was lovely before the two say good-bye, then everyone leaving Winterfell rides out. Ned promises to tell Jon about his mum the next time they meet.

 Ned and Bobby have a picnic. Bobby wants to talk about boobs and killing Targaryens, but Ned loses his appetite.

Dany is barely tolerating sex when she spots those dragon eggs and gets a spark in her eye.

A heap o' rapers join Jon, Benjen and Tyrion on the road to the Night's watch and Tyrion asks Jon to join his book club.

Cat is avoiding life, so Robb steps up to make some appointments, then spots a fire. An assassin comes in for Bran. Cat buys time until Summer can get up to save them both. Good dog.

 Dany wants to talk dragons and only Doreah seems to have a story she likes, so she kicks out the other hand maidens, then asks Doreah for love lessons.

The wall is massive.

 Cat does some CSI and realizes Cersei was in a suspicious location when Bran fell. The boys (Robb ad Theon) posture and offer a pissing contest but Maester Lewin warns they need the truth before acting. Cat and Ser Roderick decide to go south.

 Dany takes control in the bedroom and it is clear these two are falling for each other... Mmmmm Momoa...

 On the King's Road Sansa and Joffrey go for a walk. They find Arya and Micah dueling with sticks and Joffrey is a prick, so Arya hits him. Joffrey and Arya have a wee battle before Nymeria comes to the rescue and bits Joff. Arya throws Joffrey's sword in the river, then has to run Nymeria off, as she knows the penalty for biting a prince. Later, in front of the king, Joffrey lies an Sansa won't support Arya's story. Robert and Ned agree to each punish their own children, which is all well and good until Cersei calls for a wolf pelt. Since Nymeria is gone, Ned is stuck killing the innocent Lady.

As the knife goes in, Bran awakens.


 Locations and Characters

Dothraki Sea and Camp, Dany, Jorah, her hand maidens and Khal Drogo (along with a cast of thousands)

Winterfell with all the Lannisters, all the Starks

Kings Road with everyone headed south in one direction and everyone headed north in the other.

No Easter Eggs Spotted


Best Lines 

Tyrion: Speaking for the grotesques, I disagree. Death is so final. Life is full of possibility.

Ned: You are a Stark. You might not have my name but you have my blood. Next time we see each other, I'll tell you about your mother.

Tyrion: A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone.

Dany's first seduction

Review 

The really big things here were Dany realizing she didn't have to play victim. She could take control.

And Jon saying good-bye to his family: Bran, Robb, Arya, Ned.

These two characters (Jon and Dany) have been living life in roles assigned to them that showed little prospect and little control, but now both have taken control, for better or for worse, to become the people they were meant to.

There was also the mystery set up of who tried to kill Bran and so just after Ned and his daughters set off down the King's Road with Robert's party, Catelyn sets off as well, leaving only the Stark boys at the castle.

And finally, we see Joffrey's true colors and the cruelty Cersei can display in PUBLIC as well as private.

It was much slower than the first episode. Far fewer big moments, but there were several little ones and it moved the story along.

The Re-Watch Project: Season 1, Episode 1: Analysis

My goal with this is more process than “did you like it?” It goes without saying that I love this show, but what I am watching for in the rewatch is what they emphasize, what breadcrumbs are dropped, how characters develop and change. It has spoilers for later in the series and I may do some digging into books to further explain or contrast, so if you plan to read and don't want THAT spoiled, maybe this isn't where to be.

Synopsis:

A man of the night's watch finds some dead people on display but when he goes to show his friends they've buggered off. Then they appear and kill two of them. The third man runs like hell only to be tracked down several hundred miles south.

At Winterfell a young boy failing at archery is being hazed by his older brothers as the adults watch on. A girl, tired of needlework, shoots an arrow from behind everyone and hits the bulls-eye instead of the back of somebody's head, which is fortunate.

Ned takes the little boy to watch him behead the Night's Watch bloke and on the way home they find some puppies.

In King's Landing Jaime and Cersei have a secret that the king would kill them over but we are too freaked out by the eye stones on the dead guy to really pay attention.

Catelyn finds Ned in the Godswood cleaning Night Watchman blood off his big ass sword and tells him Jon Arryn is dead and the King rides north with a cast of thousands.

The house preps. The thousands arrive. The blonde kid makes eyes at the redheaded girl. Robert wants to go to the crypt and we learn he was meant to marry Ned's sister. Instead they arrange to marry their children. Robert names Ned as hand of the king.

Tyrion is found in the whore house. This will be a repeating theme.

Viserys gives his sister a dress but you can still tell he is a jerk. Illaryo presents Dany to Momoa (and the blog author drools on her notes so they cannot be read further)

Winterfell feast yadda yadda, Benjen arrives while Jon is beating on a dummy with a sword. It's clear they are close and Jon resents his exclusion. When Benjen goes in, Tyrion talks to Jon... Not kind words, but feasibly wise words.

Cat and Ned have some pillow talk then the Maester comes in to join them. (talking, not on the pillow)--a raven from Cat's sister that her husband was murdered. They decide the only thing to do is send Ned to get murdered too.

There is a Dothraki wedding which is more like a fraternity party.

Ned and Robert go out with a hunting party. Bran climbs a wall to find Cersei and Jaime in a compromising position, and Jaime pushes Bran out the window.

Locations and characters this Episode 

North of the Wall: Three unnamed brothers of the Night's watch and a couple spooky zombie things

Winterfell: The full cast of the Stark household and the visiting members of the Baratheon Court 

King's Landing (Sept of Baylor): Dead John Arryn and Cersei and Jaime

Pentos (House of Illaryo Mopatis and the sea where the wedding occurs): Daenarys, Viserys, Illario, then the Dothraki people and Ser Jorah


Easter Eggs 

Ser Waymar Royce is the arrogant ass of a Night's Watchman who is leading the ranging. It is him who Sansa refers to in Season 4 when she confesses her identity to Ser Yonn Royce: “I met you once, at Winterfell, when you were taking your son up to the Night's Watch.”

Robert leaves Lyanna a feather that Sansa picks up in season 5 when she an Littlefinger are discussing Lyanna

I don't know if this qualifies as an easter egg, but when Viserys suggests the Dothraki lay with horses and Illaryo says "I wouldn't ask them that." Viserys says, "Do you take me for a fool?" to which Illaryo replies "I took you for a king. King's often lack the caution of other men."  This struck me as Illaryo encouraging Viserys's hot-headedness--making him think it is kingly... I think Illaryo knows (after a year) Viserys is trouble and is giving him the tools to hang himself faster.

Best Lines 

Benjen: "Direwolves south of the wall. Whitewalker spotted in the north. And my brother may be the next hand of the king. Winter is coming."

Tyrion: "Never forget what you are. The rest of the world won't. Wear it like armor and it can never be used to hurt you." (to Jon on his bastardy)

First line by a named character:

 From Jon. “Father is watching. And your mother.” (to Bran) The very first thing we learn about any characters we care about is that Jon Snow is different from his brother and sisters. In fact this is emphasized several times this episode. With Tyrion. With the wolf pups.

In fact one thing I missed here that the book has is this is all from Bran's PoV—and Bran KNOWS how much it costs Jon to use “Lord Stark” and exclude himself when noting there is the perfect number of pups for the Stark children. Bran loves Jon for that—for the sacrifice he knows this is.

 Arya also gets perfect characterization with nearly no lines. Grumbling about needlework, then shooting from behind Bran for a bulls eye, then running through people (Arya Underfoot) to see (Bran has climbed—ever the adventurer). It is clear Arya is a tomboy, not following the lady's rules.

Ned and Cat, serious but loving, True confidants and keeping their humor only for their most intimate moments. They hold their duty seriously, but the show shows it is a very intimate relationship that both of them hold dear. The beheading establishes northern traditions—he who passes the sentence must carry it out. And that it isn't without compassion. Bran asks “So he was lying” and Ned said, “A mad man sees what he sees.”

Sansa and Joffrey—idiots liking shiny things. At this point it is sweet. Nobody knows yet the monster Joffrey will be. But it also has the sappy infatuation of 13-year old love. It is perfectly suited to their ages.


Mysteries Established

Why did Robert “Kill him?” (with such hatred he does it every night) and what does it have to do with Lyanna?
What did Jaime and Cersei do that Robert would kill them for?
Was John Arryn murdered?

And the SUPER strength, in my opinion... 

This show keeps people coming back with a trick of WTF bookends. The first was when the Night's watchman turns around and sees the girl corpse he saw earlier, but now walking and blue-eyed... dead coming to life. The last was Bran stumbling (climbing) onto the scene of Jaime and Cersei (in the books this was also Bran narrated—he thought they were wrestling—it's adorable) and then Jaime pushes him out the window. Those things tell the watcher this is unlike any other show.

Next Set of (sometimes book-informed) Season Six Predictions

I read the books. I watch the shows. I read fan theories. All these things go into what I think is coming, so spoilers abound. You have been warned.

I know nothing...

Cersei, Margaery, Loras 

I believe Loras will confess and will take the GOLD as punishment—Gold cloaks never marry, live a life of service, and he can swear to chastity. Margaery's punishment will be small—she was only defending her brother—a lie, no more.

Cersei's trial by combat will “prove her innocence”--the Mountain will likely kill Lancel, something that will not endear Kevan to her. She is largely powerless and then Jaime returns with a dead Myrcella. Cersei screams for vengeance, but Kevan forbids poking Dorne.

Instead Jaime agrees to go to the Riverlands to try and make peace (Cersei makes him swear he will fetch Sansa, he evades). Kevan and Pycelle will be murdered because they are being rather too efficient.

 I believe Tommen will fall next season, the result of a Dornish assassination plot, leaving a vacuum on the iron throne—that is where King's Landing will end the season. Perhaps someone will try to put Gendry there (in the books I think Aegon is there to take the throne, not in any final way, but that is who I believe will rule after Tommen. Gendry and Tristane are the only logical subs for him). At this point Cersei will flee back to Casterly Rock, all her children dead, she is one of the last Lannisters by this time..

Sansa, Brienne, and Theon 

 So this prediction is totally off book, but there are some things that have happened that make my guess make some sense.

 1)The casting calls look like something big is going down in the Riverlands.

2)Sam and Gilly took a CART south from the wall instead of a ship.

 I believe Brienne will find Sansa and Theon and help them escape, and low and behold, there is a cart from the Wall to give them a ride. I believe as one last act toward redemption, Theon will head toward the Iron Islands to lead Ramsay's dogs in the wrong direction (via scent), allowing Sansa and Brienne to get on that cart and flee to safety. I don't know if Theon WILL get caught or not (maybe Nymeria will save him--stranger things have happened)...

I think he really does have a sacrifice coming in the books that requires him to stay in the North (maybe his death—the rightful king of the Iron Islands—is what Mel can use to pay for Jon's life. That would be fitting, both for book and show.)

 I believe as they head south, in the Riverlands the four of them (Sam, Gilly, Brienne and Sansa) will run into Randall Tarly who will beat down his son over becoming a Maester (Sam doesn't want to be one in the books because of what his father would say) and will beat down Brienne over being a woman soldier.

Sam will be able to, at this point, tell Sansa he saw Bran and SHE will send a raven to “Jon” to look for Bran—Davos will see it and will instead go look for Rickon. Randall Tarly, in this interaction, will identify Sansa and know his DUTY is to send her to King's landing, so Brienne and Sansa will have to go into hiding, at which point they find the Brotherhood without Banners and Sansa begins the Stoneheart “revenge against Freys, Boltons and Lannisters plot. Brienne will buy in at first (avenging Lady Stark) but will quickly feel like she has sold her soul... however she is obliged to continue protecting Sansa.

 Sadly, I think Sansa's season ends up with her being captured by somebody intent on sending her back to Cersei. THIS is where I think Clegane Bowl comes in.

 Wait... isn't the Hound dead? (BIG SPOILERS AHEAD) Well yes... but Sandor Clegane has been saved by a septon and nursed back to health. I think Sansa may see him and when it is time for her to need a champion, THAT is who she names (and I think he beats his brother).

Sam and Gilly 

Will get on a ship in White Harbor or Maidenpoole and head to Old Town where Sam will take Gilly to his mum who is considerably nicer than his dad, then Sam will check in with the Maesters where some spooky shit goes down. (this is all as it was in Dance with Dragons).

While studying in Old Town Sam falls in with some Glass Candle Sorts, so he is in a good position to learn some secrets from the “fire” perspective (where Bran, north of the wall will learn the ice side of the story). Sam heard all Maester Aemon's words about Daenarys, so he will probably want to send her word of his death and his hopes for her. And I believe it is Sam who will put together the idea that if dragon glass and dragon steel are what defeats a whitewalker at a time, surely it is actual dragons that can defeat the lot of them.

Arya (SPOILERS from not only DwD but her Winds of Winter Chapter)

 While she has already had her murder of a list member (which she doesn't do until the Mercy chapter from Winds of Winter) the PUNISHMENT she got was the one from when she killed Daeryn, a Night's Watch man traveling with Sam (meant to earn their way through singing, but who instead deserts to whore)--her blindness is part of her training.

Blind Beth learns to use her other senses to spy and finally figures out that she can WARG (she wargs a cat to avoid the stick of the kindly man who keeps hitting her)--HE believes she has mastered her other senses, but what she has mastered is a different skill entirely. Still... works for her.

While she is blind she also has a return of wolf dreams (Nymeria)--she'd stopped having them when she crossed the narrow sea, presumably because of distance, but they come back—her senses strengthening. I think the show will show them this time around because I think Nymeria may give a couple assists to Sansa. When she masters the blindness, her sight returns and Arya joins a theater troop (this is where she is Mercy in the books--a casting call for an actress seems to confirm this) and she will kill another from her list. I think the result of this is she will be kicked out of the faceless men, so she will stow away on a ship bound for Westeros.

Davos needs a quest

Speaking of Davos... (yes, we were)

Casting calls look very much like House Umber will be featured. In the books Ser Too Fat to Sit A Horse Manderly sends Davos after Rickon (his price for helping Stannis) so I believe it is again Davos who will be going after Rickon.

And in the SHOW last we heard, Rickon and Osha were headed to the Last Hearth and the Umbers. There have been BOYS called for who sound like Umbers and there have been soldiers called for who sound like Umbers...

Art Parkinson (the young actor who played Rickon) has said “I'm not allowed to talk about it” when asked if he will be returning (talk about a yes in “don't tell anyone” speak)

 I think the northern houses are actually going to have a big rally to oust the Boltons. Nobody likes them. And there are many small mountain holdfasts with names like Liddle who are loyal to the Starks. Unfortunately, after ousting the Boltons, I think they are going to have to be front line against the army of the dead who will have to get through the wall...

 So what do I have left to cover? Dorne? 

 I think that is the only one, so let's just do it.

 Dorne is a hot mess. That said, in the books they really ARE set up for a coupe. A sandsnake to the citadel, one to the small counsel, one to a sept in King's Landing. They are eyes and ears everywhere. In the books they actually are supporting Dany, and since Tristane can no longer marry Myrcella in the show (I think in the books they will wed and rule between Tommen and Aegon), the Targaryens make the most sense for them. I think they will actively undo Lannisters. Tristane, once rescued, will be offered to Dany for Dorne's support. I'm not thinking that will go as well as they plan.

End of Season 5 and Book-Informed Season 6 Predictions: Essos (Dany, Meereen, Bravos)

NOTE:  My guesses and context include book spoilers and some theorized fan theories. Do not read if you object to spoilers, even though very little of this is sure—prophecies can be tricky things, after all.  

This image is called Daenarys and Tyrion and Wine (all is right)

Dany and Tyrion 

I have adored these two (possibly half-siblings) getting to know each other, becoming impressed with each other, realizing they might be a good team. And in spite of a few inconsistency questions, if I stop over-analyzing, I really loved the fighting pit scene and Dany taking off on Drogon. Tyrion is now a believer. Never again can he play full skeptic about what Dany is capable of.  

Now for predictions, we have to split in two:   

Dany Season 6 She is surrounded by Dothraki. Leaving her ring “bread crumb” for Jorah and Daario to find, they still are likely to take Dany to Vaes Dothrak, where widows of Khals are supposed to live out their lives as a sort of wise counsel. Honored, but in a way, enslaved, as leaving is not an option.  

From HERE, I think Drogon will rescue here.

Here is why from Mirri Maz Duur: 

"When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east," said Mirri Maz Duur. "When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before." 

 The sun, in this prophecy, is thought to be Quentin Martell (not in the show, Dorne has a sun with a spear on its sigel) who comes to Dany with a letter regarding a marriage contract (but she has already promised to marry Hizdar). Quentin, in an attempt to impress her, tries to free Viserion and Rhaegal and is instead burned to death… so he rose in the west (Dorne) and set in the east (Meereen).

The seas going dry are probably the Dothraki grass sea. (has not happened yet, but certainly could as the climate changes.

Vaes Dothrak is described as a mountain by Dany. And if a certain dragon set the whole thing on fire, the ashes would indeed blow in the wind.

Finally: In the books, before she is surrounded, she seems to miscarry (in spite of thinking she is barren)   Now I don’t see Drogo actually returning like he was but I do believe at some point all these conditions will be met in the books--maybe it is her doom--maybe she will die in childbirth an return to Drogo. It was very common in the 15th century, which seems about the equivalent. If it happens, it will be at the very end (and Jon's son).

 So what does that mean for the show in season 6? 

I think she will be taken to Vaes Dothrak and rescued by Drogon and somewhere in there is the epiphany that SHE isn’t needed to rule Meereen. She freed them. She can leave Greyworm and Missendei to rule and it is time for her to go to Westeros. The Dothraki, seeing her power with her dragon, will join to follow her, giving her the only army in the world bigger than the army of the dead. The season will end with her taking this army back to Westeros.  

Enter Euron Greyjoy (well not now—back there a ways—it is HIS ships that give her Dothraki army their ride)

 A pirate is being cast for next year. In the books Euron has been exiled. He returns home THE SAME DAY his brother Balon dies under suspicious circumstances. Balon is Theon and Asha’s (Yara) father—self declared king (the same one who banished Euron). So with Theon missing, Euron and Asha/Yara have a King’s Moot (contest) for who inherits rule and Euron wins, promising… catch this… that he has a horn that can control DRAGONS so he will deliver all of Westeros to the Iron Born. In the book there is a second brother and they split up (the 2nd not happy about it) but I think in the show, Euron will head toward Dany, intent on marrying and ruling Westeros with her.  The proposal will go something like this:  "You've got dragons, I've got the horn to control them. Let's go kick ass."

Quaithe is a priestess from Asshai, a shadowbinder

Want another Dany Prophecy? 

This one from Quaithe

No. Hear me, Daenerys Targaryen. The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun’s son and the mummer’s dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal."   

Glass candles are how the people in Asshai “see” (much like Greenseers and the Weirwoods)

The pale mare is plague (grey scale in the show)

Euron is the kraken, Dark Flame is potentially Mocorro (a red priest with Euron)
Lion is Tyrion
Griffin is Jon Connington (not in the show)
Sun’s Son (I mentioned above—Quentin)
And Mummer’s Dragon (probably Aegon—not truly a Targaryen, but also not in the show)

 She is reminded to remember her visit to the house of undying.

The Undying call her "mother of dragons" and "child of three" and tell her some prophesies, saying "three fires must you light... one for life and one for death and one to love... three mounts must you ride... one to bed and one to dread and one to love... three treasons will you know... once for blood and once for gold and once for love..."   

Let’s break that down. Child of three? This is unclear. Mother of dragons however, is not.

"three fires must you light... one for life and one for death and one to love... [pyre that birthed her dragons, not sure if the others have been lit yet but the second may be her burning of the Dosh Khaleen at Vaes Dothrak which I think earns her back a real Khalizar which she can ride into Meereen and enforce her peace]

three mounts must you ride... one to bed and one to dread and one to love... [Silver (her wedding gift from Drogo ridden to her wedding bed), feasibly Drogon #2 though Euron's ship may be it, and the last not yet fulfilled or may  be Drogo once she masters him],

three treasons will you know... once for blood and once for gold and once for love..." [Mirri Maz Dur is probably the first, the second in the books may be Brown Ben Plum and the final I am guessing will be Daario or MAYBE Jon (if he has to sacrifice his love to become Azor Ahai—she is feasibly a very fitting sacrifice and I can see these two falling in love)]

But I'm digressing here. It is in sheer speculation mode...

 So what of Tyrion?

In the books he hasn't met her yet. In the show it is clearly setting him up to play Barristan Selmy's role of keeping peace and ruling while she is gone. I believe he will be GOOD at it and by the time Dany returns with her Khalizar, Greyworm and Missendei will be set to rule and Tyrion will go to Westeros with Dany. I believe Euron, being Euron, will take them through Asshai where it is prophecied Dany will find TRUTH. Maybe that truth is that Tyrion is her brother. Maybe that truth is that Rhaegar has a living son... (maybe she will THINK that is Aegon, but it is not) Anyway, all a bit fuzzy, but those are the things I am incorporating into my speculation.

End of Season 5 and Book-Informed Season 6 Predictions: the Jon Bit

How can it be book informed if the show has caught up to the books?

Well see, it's not QUITE caught up (Sam has story, Arya has story, the Ironborn haven't had ANYTHING yet), but more than that, I am using some prophecy and vision stuff. Also, there are interviews, casting news, and such, plus I've read the Winds of Winter Chapters that have been released, though I think only Arya's chapter will affect what I have to say about her season 6. Sansa and Theon are in too different a place from their book plots and Barristan is dead on the show and Arianne never existed...

 I am going to go by MC/Area rather than season 5 then 6 because I think it's more coherent that way... I will break this into a couple parts that go together because otherwise it may get way too long. I will begin with the one everyone is talking about because its prominence in the media means it is a timely topic.

JON SNOW (and Bran, Melissandre, and the white walkers) 

Jon's story has been the most interesting all season. The politics at the wall, the hints at Jon's parentage, all of it, but these last three episodes were really amazing. Hard Home, in particular, episode 8, only managing to get a fraction of the wildlings onto the ships, battling the wights and then the white walkers, Jon managing to kill one of the white walkers with his valyrian steel sword... just amazing.

Then there was all the shade thrown at Jon when he showed up at the wall with all of them and let them through, leading right up to the final episode in which his brothers killed him as a traitor.

The News Part: There has been a great deal of effort by show creators and Kit Harington to say Jon is DEAD. He will not be on the show next year. All carefully worded like he's been fed lines... like maybe he is legally required to say them... Yet there is a rumor Kit has been seen in Belfast and he certainly hasn't cut his hair, which only in December he was complaining about. Now I can see why he had to keep it through Sunday, but if I were him and wanted to squash rumors and get all that extra fluff off my neck for summer, I would have made my appointment for Monday morning...

The final authority on the matter though, is George RR Martin, who in 2011 said:

“If there’s one thing we know in A Song of Ice and Fire is that death is not necessarily permanent.”
 and
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So why did you kill Jon Snow?

GEORGE R.R. MARTIN: Oh, you think he’s dead, do you?

Now listen... I have been on discussion boards for about two years now. I've reread the books, and listened to them two more times. I am going to take George's word here because I think there are plenty of hints.

I believe Jon is DEAD, and that this is a good thing. 

 Say WHAT!?

Only by dying will Jon be released from his Night's Watch vows. Only by dying can he do what he needs to to find out who he really is and meet his destiny.

But he isn't going to stay dead. Here is WHY:

Jon Snow has an enormous mystery built up around his parentage that has had too much build for the character to just go away. It was established in the first book/season.

Sean Bean even let it slip at one point, "I've definitely got some unfinished business that needs to be resolved there," he argued. "I'm obviously not Jon Snow's dad. And you need that to be revealed at some point, don't you?"  

And if the ANSWER to this question is what everybody suspects—that Jon is a LEGITIMATE son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, then Jon IS the song of Ice and Fire—the name of the whole series—the only person to embody BOTH ice and fire. The only two magical family lines (well maybe excepting the Reeds) in the realm.

 Need proof... here are the vows... right there near the top...

It shall not end until my death

But ALSO (and this begins to approach the HOW of what happens next, there is a vision from Melisandre in the books:

The flames crackled softly, and in their crackling she heard the whispered name Jon Snow. His long face floated before her, limned in tongues of red and orange, appearing and disappearing again, a shadow half- seen behind a fluttering curtain. Now he was a man, now a wolf, now a man again. But the skulls were here as well, the skulls were all around him. 

 So Jon will be a man. And then a wolf. And then a man again. In the books the last word Jon says before he dies isn't his “eh tu, Brute,” statement of “Ollie”. The last thing he says is “Ghost.” And he doesn't feel the fourth blade goes in. Jon Snow has vacated his body...

It seems he is going to put his soul into that direwolf of his for safe keeping until somebody, like say, the conveniently timed Melisandre, can resurrect him. That said, I think there will be some obstacle—maybe they hide his body in the cold cells so she doesn't know where he is, or maybe she has to sneak away with him to somewhere safe before she can do it. Maybe she has to run from Davos who will surely be intent on destroying her when he learns what happened to Stannis and Shireen.

Jon and Bran?

I think Jon Snow will embody Ghost much of the season. And I think Ghost has some stuff to explore... like maybe a brother north of the wall... whose person is getting very good at seeing the past and great distance through the eyes of the heart trees. I think Bran will have a clue for where Jon can find the answer about his parents which will set Jon on a sort of quest. (you know... in addition to saving the world and all)

I think the ACTUAL resurrection of Jon Snow won't come until maybe the last episode.

 And did you see that last line of Mel's prophecy? Skulls all around him? In ANOTHER prophecy, one about Hard Home, it is very clear “skulls” are the way the wights (or others as they are known in the books) appear to her. So either he will be resurrected north of the wall or the army of the dead will have gotten through. It seems only logical, since the murder of Jon will have to lead to civil war among the watch, perhaps an attack by the wildlings, and nobody left who really understands what needs to be done to guard that wall.

Tormund and the Bear

Mild Spoilers, but probably not important

 This is a silly theory, but I think it's also fun, and fun is what I am all about at least part of the time. It's also an EASY theory...

Tormund tells his bear story

Tormund and the Bear 

 Tormund Giant's Bane tells stories, both in the book and on the show, about a love affair with a bear. The show version annoys Ygritte and she tells him he didn't f*&k a bear, but in the books it is rather a drawn out love story and Tormund says no woman ever gave him such strong sons.

Maege Mormont is a jolly woman

The Mormont Women and their Bear Lovers

When Robb Stark calls his banners to send men, House Mormont has no men... Joer was, at the time, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and Jorah has been exiled for selling poachers into slavery. Instead, two women come—Maege Mormont and her eldest daughter (leaving the younger daughter to rule on Bear Island). Maege tells Asha Greyjoy (in circumstances that WOULD be spoilery) that the Mormont women don't take husbands. When they wish to have children, they go out and lie with a bear. It makes for stronger sons. Do you see it? These tales have an awful lot in common and I happen to think they are actually the SAME tale... that Maege Mormont and Tormund Giant's Bane have a sort of “same time next year” love affair. Tormund is said to have climbed the wall hundreds of times, so he has had ample opportunity.