The Royal Families Of The Seven Kingdoms: Part 6

The Royal Families of The Seven Kingdoms: Part 6

By Jota Saraiva

Fire and Ice. Ice and Fire. That's how it is.

It's been a while since I drew any Jonerys art, I really missed them...🔥❄

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Jon the future Father

An early hint that it's Jon and not Robb who is destined to carry on the line of House Stark is how GRRM chooses to portray them with children, especially their younger siblings.

It's Jon who advises Bran, gently guides Rickon, comforts and encourages Arya, who is shown jubilant when Bran wakes, who worries about his sisters. It's Jon who gave Bran a fish to take home, Jon who tells Tyrion to comfort Rickon with the promise of "all my things".

GRRM could have given Robb similar scenes to interlink with the way his younger siblings idealize him in his absence. But we get no such thing. He is overwhelmed with Rickon's distress, receives comfort from Bran rather than giving it, leaves Bran behind in the woods, is given zero interaction with his sisters and only mentions them to complain about Sansa's lettter, compassionlessly unable to comprehend her obvious situation. He'll go on to refuse to trade for them, remains focused on his role as Ned's avenging son, rather than as protector of his living family.

While Robb needs an "heir", it is Jon who is described to have dreamed of "children". It's not Robb who mirrors Jon in what he would name his sons, that was only ever Jeyne, the only one whose grief is shown over the lost opportunity. "He liked that, I think." She isn't even sure.

Robb is a warrior king, but GRRM utterly avoids showing him in a position that could be interpreted as fatherly. And he never gets to live long enough to become a father to the next generation of Starks. GRRM makes sure to emphasize that his enemies prevented it from ever happening. He remains the Young Wolf forever.

Jon, meanwhile, is shown in a paternal caring light in his very first appearance.

Jon likes children. He is good with children. He wants children. This matters because of the massive role parenting styles play in the books. Tywin's children are monsters because he made them that way. Ned's children are resilient because he and Catelyn raised them responsibly, lovingly, in spite of some failings.

Jon being emphasized to have the skillset to raise children well is a very important signal that he is fit to have a hand in the next generation of House Stark, that his presence and influence will be not just possible but vital. It's not his "blood and seed" that is required, it is his whole person.

Context is always important, remember. Because context tells is that it's funny when Tormund says Jon is prettier then both his daughters, because Tormund is in fact not a big mega creepy weirdo and merely thinks Jon stands out compared to someone like him who looks like a gigantic, orange bearded, wild eyed, drunk lumberjack.

But when Craster says Jon's prettier then half his daughters it is probably the creepiest, grossest thing anyone's ever said to Jon in his entire life. What is that supposed to mean Craster, stay away from him dear lord.

So... I commented on someone's post that asked if Book Jon was called a "pretty boy" or if that was only a show thing. I said that I remembered Tormund saying something like that in the books and that I'd find the quote and report back. Except I didn't like the post or reblog it, I just commented so... I can't find it anymore and forget who asked. But! I did find the quote! So if you are out there op, here it is:

“What did you say to him? Was that the Old Tongue?” “Aye. I asked him if that was his father he was forking, they looked so much alike, except his father had a better smell.” “And what did he say to you?” Tormund Thunderfist cracked a gap-toothed smile. “He asked me if that was my daughter riding there beside me, with her smooth pink cheeks.” ~ A Storm of Swords, Jon II

Of course it could just mean he looked like a girl, not necessarily a pretty girl. But I feel like that's splitting hairs at this point. It could go either way, so the show is not wrong, book headcanon/interpretation of plainness is not wrong. Live and let live haha that will never happen lol. But regardless, Tormund's book comment can absolutely be taken as a fantasy medieval "pretty boy" comment. It doesn't have to be. But it could lol. I don't know if there are any more comments like that in the books. There were probably more comments like this in the show because Kit is pretty. But I think saying Kit was "miscast" because he was "too pretty" is maybe going too far- but that's just my opinion. (Hilariously I see a lot of posts about Harry Collett being a great fancast for book Jon Snow and though I agree... he also kind of looks a lot like Kit to me... literally a pretty boy... I'm sorry lol.)

Ryan Kopel as Aeron Bracken in House of the Dragon Season 2 behind the scenes.