is made Lord Commander of the Night's Watch at age sixteen, as a result of Samwell's scheming, political division in the Watch, and a general lack of better options. While Jon is a skilled leader, he pushes too hard in making unpopular decisions, because he believes that they're morally right. His decisions so enrage and frighten people that he ends up betrayed and stabbed by a group of his own men. It's left ambiguous whether or not he survives.

George R. R. Martin: Were they mistakes [by Jon]? I guess they were mistakes in some ways since they led to him losing control of part of his group. But it might have been wise and necessary decisions in terms of protecting the realm and dealing with the threat of the White Walkers. Im a huge student of history, and all through history theres always this question of whats the right decision. You look back with benefit of hindsight at a battle that was lost and say, The losing general was such an idiot. Was Napoleon a genius for all the battles he won? Or an idiot for losing at Waterloo? Partly Im reacting to a lot of the fantasy that has come before this. Ruling is difficult whether youre a Lord Commander of the Nights Watch or the King of England. These are hard decisions and each have consequences. Were looking at Jon trying to take control of Nights Watch and deal with the wildlings and the threat beyond The Wall.