Predicting what's to come after 'A Dance with Dragons'

There have been opinions and speculations circulating everywhere on what will happen in the seven kingdoms with the start of the new season. And the next GOT episode is finally here. There's no doubt about it, the focus for most is certainly on Jon Snow’s powerfully shocking death scene in A Dance With Dragons, one that eerily resembles the mutiny of Caesar via Shakespeare. And the question that’s been on everyone’s minds is: Is Jon Snow really dead? After scouring the internet, here are the top fan theories for this answer:

1. He's Dead

A dark and sobering answer after a horrific display of murder. The only way this can be true is if we remember that there was a significant amount of death early in the show and we had definitely invested our emotions and feelings into those characters too. However, none of us really believe that he’s dead, especially because so many questions are still unanswered about his life, lineage, and his larger role in the story.

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2. Enter the White Walkers and the Wights

What will happen to the body of Jon Snow if he is dead? In

3. The Power of Warging and the Dire Wolf

Even though Snow is presumed dead, we know that he can warg into his dire wolf, Ghost, and survive for a while longer. In the show, we only see Snow laying against the cold ground as the blood spreads around him, but in the book, Snow utters one last word, something that must be on his mind as he fades into the darkness: Ghost. Is it possible we will see his eyes turn white as he enters his second life through the dire wolf?

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4. The Lord of Light and the Resurrection of Azor Ahai

[mks_pullquote align=left" width="800" size="24" bg_color="" txt_color="#1e73be]“If we lose, the night will never end.”[/mks_pullquote]

Azor Ahai is a legendary figure thought to wake dragons from stone and reforge his great sword, Lightbringer to defeat the darkness and the Others.  Forged with the blood and spirit of his wife, Nissa Nissa, legend has it that “There will come a day after a long summer when the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour, a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him.”

Milisandre, the Red Lady, told Stannis that he was chosen to lead as per the legend of Azor Ahai. Stannis was obviously not the legend’s hero, since he died at the hands of Jamie Lannister. At one point, she looks into the fire to ask the God of Light, R’hllor to see Azor Ahai and sees a strange vision. She responds, "I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai and R'hillor shows me only snow." A double-meaning, perhaps? Furthermore, she just so happens to be conveniently located at the Wall at the close of the finale to complete her blood magic rituals and revive Snow just like Beric Dondarrion, and make this legend a reality.

The discussion continues. Which do you think will happen after the Season 6 premiere? Add a comment below and keep the discussion going.