<P> Joanna Robinson of Vanity Fair credited Jon's much - discussed cliffhanger death as a primary factor behind Game of Thrones' subsequent 25% ratings increase for season 6 . Harington's performance in season 6 earned the actor his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination in July 2016 . </P> <P> Following the plot of A Game of Thrones, in season 1 Jon, the bastard son of Ned Stark, joins the Night's Watch . He arrives at the Wall, with his direwolf Ghost in tow, to find that the order is a shadow of its former self . Raised to be a talented fighter with a strong sense of justice and honor, Jon is at first contemptuous of his fellow recruits, who are mostly lowborn, untrained criminals and exiles . In "Lord Snow", he is persuaded by Tyrion Lannister to put aside his prejudices, and helps some of the others with their weapons training . Jon befriends Samwell Tarly, who is more an intellectual than a fighter . Jon takes his vows but is disappointed to be made steward to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont rather than a ranger in "You Win or You Die". Sam points out that he is likely being groomed for command . Jon saves Mormont from a wight in "The Pointy End", and in "Baelor" is given House Mormont's ancestral blade Longclaw, a sword made of Valyrian steel, in thanks . Jon learns of his father's execution for treason in "Fire and Blood", and though tempted to leave the Wall to help his family, his sense of duty ultimately compels him to stay . </P> <P> In season 2, Jon witnesses the wildling Craster, a man with many wives who marries his own daughters, sacrifice his newborn son to the White Walkers in "The Night Lands". Later, as part of a small scouting party led by Night's Watch ranger Qhorin Halfhand, Jon is tasked to kill a wildling prisoner, the woman warrior Ygritte . He finds himself unable to do so in "The Old Gods and the New", and she escapes, only to capture him with her comrades in "The Prince of Winterfell". Qhorin orders Jon to pretend to defect and join the wildlings to discover their plans . In "Valar Morghulis", Qhorin stages a fight and secretly instructs Jon to kill him to gain the wildlings' trust . Jon does, and is taken to meet Mance Rayder, the wildlings' King - Beyond - the Wall . </P> <P> In season 3, Jon pledges his loyalty to Mance and travels with the wildlings, learning that they intend to scale the Wall and force their way back into Westeros . Jon's feelings for Ygritte begin to intensify, and they have sex in "Kissed by Fire". When Jon refuses to kill an innocent man to prove his loyalty in "The Rains of Castamere", he is attacked by the other wildlings, but escapes . In "Mhysa", he is tracked by Ygritte, who shoots him with three arrows before he is able to escape again and return to Castle Black . </P>

Who does jon snow kill in season 2