Jon Connington Appreciation thread

[arek]

One of the best new characters introduced in ADWD.

Admire the man for not doing a Tywin Lannister/Hoster Tully to Stoney Sept town. He could have easily burned the entire town to the ground but didn't want to be a butcher. Tywin wouldn't have hesitated to do that and Hoster Tully put entire villages to the sword during Robert Rebellion.

After he got his army he from Essos to Westeros pretty quick (take a lesson Dany).

He was one of the best things in ADWD (after Reek, Davos). And is also tragic considering the grayscale.

He like Barristan will also prove invaluable for more info on Roberts Rebellion.

Know like other characters he has bad points aswell, but I admire the mans loyalty to Rhaegars memory and his willingness to raise his son (Connington doesnt doubt the lads parentage for a second).

Thoughts?

[Jem]

Hmmmm....while I certainly don't dislike the guy, I don't know how praiseworthy he is.

If he had managed to kill or capture Robert he could have ended the Rebellion then and there and saved the lives of an untold number of people. Is that worth killing or injuring the few hundred (?) people from that one town? Maybe? In any case, it could have won the war for his beloved Rhaegar, so really it should have been worth it for him to raze the town to the ground to find Robert.

I don't really admire his devotion to Rhaegar's memory because it is blinding him. Jon has made himself vulnerable by his love of Rhaegar combined with his guilt over his stuff ups during the Rebellion. This makes him easy to manipulate by others (ie Varys and Illyrio).

I am interested to see what Jon knows about the pre-Rebellion era (ie Rhaegar's obsession with the PtwP prophecy) but to be honest, I don't really trust Jon as a reliable narrator because I feel that his strong emotions and the emotional investment he has in the whole Aegon situation clouds his judgement.

[Ser Wun Wun]

I find him to be a particularly tragic character. He is obviously trying to redeem himself for failing Rhaegar, but I don't think Aegon is actually Rhaegar's son. So if Jon becomes a political player like I think he will, Connington might actually end up fighting against Rhaegar's true son, which I find really depressing.

I can't even imagine what he is going to do if he finds out about R+L=J. Refuse to believe it? Turn on the boy he's practically raised? I'm fascinated to see where his story goes, but I really don't see it ending well. Which is a shame because, despite his gruff persona, he actually seems like a good guy.

[Stallion That Mounts Texas]

Its all about redemption for JC. He was simply too young and too eager for glory to be the hand of the king (as Tywin correctly pointed out). However, as we have seen there is no doubting his ability. His years abroad have made him wiser and more seasoned.

He did not think to burn Robert out of hiding because he wanted the glory of facing Robert himself. But he also fought back fiercely against the rebels (wounding Hoster Tully and killing the Jon Arryns heir) and retreating in good order. Had Aerys not jumped the gun, its likely he could have joined Rhaegar and helped win the battle of the Trident.

He is now the perfect Hand for Aegon and also the main reason I think Aegon will sit the iron throne (for a while at least). I expect the success he has had so far to continue.

[Fire Eater]

I find him to be a particularly tragic character. He is obviously trying to redeem himself for failing Rhaegar, but I don't think Aegon is actually Rhaegar's son. So if Jon becomes a political player like I think he will, Connington might actually end up fighting against Rhaegar's true son, which I find really depressing.

I can't even imagine what he is going to do if he finds out about R+L=J. Refuse to believe it? Turn on the boy he's practically raised? I'm fascinated to see where his story goes, but I really don't see it ending well. Which is a shame because, despite his gruff persona, he actually seems like a good guy.

Yeah, he is very hard on himself, and blames himself for Rhaegar's death. His guilt has made him into a harder person, Tyrion notes that Connington had supped on hate himself. He plans on killing Tommen and Myrcella in his quest to seat Aegon on the Iron Throne. I too foresee him possibly coming into combat with Jon who shares his name, ironic given he thought he would not fail Rhaegar's son, yet tries to kill him.

[Frey Pie]

Yeah, he is very hard on himself, and blames himself for Rhaegar's death. His guilt has made him into a harder person, Tyrion notes that Connington had supped on hate himself. He plans on killing Tommen and Myrcella in his quest to seat Aegon on the Iron Throne. I too foresee him possibly coming into combat with Jon who shares his name, ironic given he thought he would not fail Rhaegar's son, yet tries to kill him.

I never though about the possibility of Rhaegar and Lyanna naming their son after his best friend.....probably should read the threads as i assume its entrenched somewhere within.

I always thought JC was a big screw up just like the other hands of Aerys.ADWD totally changed my opinion of him.Its terrible that he has greyscale and so wont live long but that also adds to the story,same as it does to all tragic figures in ASOIAF.As a matter of interest how long will he live with greyscale?

[Rose of Winterfell]

I find him to be a particularly tragic character. He is obviously trying to redeem himself for failing Rhaegar, but I don't think Aegon is actually Rhaegar's son. So if Jon becomes a political player like I think he will, Connington might actually end up fighting against Rhaegar's true son, which I find really depressing.

I can't even imagine what he is going to do if he finds out about R+L=J. Refuse to believe it? Turn on the boy he's practically raised? I'm fascinated to see where his story goes, but I really don't see it ending well. Which is a shame because, despite his gruff persona, he actually seems like a good guy.

*sob* I actually have nothing to add to this, other than to say I agree. I wonder if he would turn on Aegon if he is fake and JonCon finds out. When he's looking at Aegon in the book he does kind of see him in terms of Rhaegar, saying his eyes are indigo rather than purple or something, so if he found out he had no connection to Rhaegar, maybe he would lose interest in the boy. By this point though they'll be well into a struggle for the throne and he'll be running out of time due to the greysacle-maybe he'll just become obsessed with getting revenge on the Lannisters and co.

[Corvinus85]

Hmmmm....while I certainly don't dislike the guy, I don't know how praiseworthy he is.

If he had managed to kill or capture Robert he could have ended the Rebellion then and there and saved the lives of an untold number of people. Is that worth killing or injuring the few hundred (?) people from that one town? Maybe? In any case, it could have won the war for his beloved Rhaegar, so really it should have been worth it for him to raze the town to the ground to find Robert.

Yes, but would the honorable and noble Rhaegar had thought if Jon had burned down Stoney Sept?

[Tourmaline Dragon]

I never though about the possibility of Rhaegar and Lyanna naming their son after his best friend.....

I’ve always assumed that if R+L = J is true then Jon’s true name may in fact be a traditional Targaryen name chosen by R&L. Lyanna may have told Ned his name but obviously Ned would have to give Jon another name that wouldn’t arouse suspicions.

[JJtheCrow]

Love the idea of JonCon having to choose between Aegon and Jon Snow.

[Guest]

I imagine this character was an easy one for George to write. Sprinkle in a little bit of Stannis' gruff, Ned's guilt, and Abner Marsh's regrets. He's also the only POV character who is suffering from an infectious disease which he is trying to conceal...kinda makes him interesting.

How do you think a JonCon, JonSnow meeting might play out?

[the Scorpion Knight]

I imagine this character was an easy one for George to write. Sprinkle in a little bit of Stannis' gruff, Ned's guilt, and Abner Marsh's regrets. He's also the only POV character who is suffering from an infectious disease which he is trying to conceal...kinda makes him interesting.

How do you think a JonCon, JonSnow meeting might play out?

maybe he'll ask how comes you and Aegon have the same nose

[Jem]

Yes, but would the honorable and noble Rhaegar had thought if Jon had burned down Stoney Sept?

Yes, but the honorable and noble Rhaegar would at least be alive (or at least would not have been killed by Robert). That is what I mean about JonCon's emotions interfering with his judgement.

[Frey Pie]

I’ve always assumed that if R+L = J is true then Jon’s true name may in fact be a traditional Targaryen name chosen by R&L. Lyanna may have told Ned his name but obviously Ned would have to give Jon another name that wouldn’t arouse suspicions.

True he could be named after Jon Arryn aswel i suppose.Jon Targaryen doesnt sound right at all!

[Tourmaline Dragon]

True he could be named after Jon Arryn aswel i suppose.Jon Targaryen doesnt sound right at all!

I thought of Jon Arryn too but remember there is also Jon Stark who was a King of the North before the War of Conquest so Ned may have deemed the name Jon a good name since not only was it his friend’s name it is also a Stark name too - not to mention one with royal connotations.

I agree Jon Targaryen doesn’t sound quite right! I’ll take a stab in the dark and guess that maybe Jon’s Targ name starts with the letter D since both Dany’s lovers have names that begin with D :laugh:

[Grip]

I liked him and I liked the pov of someone remembering the rebellion, that he was on the losing side makes it even more interesting. Its appareant though that to some extent he is still living in the rebellion, he doesnt seem to have any interest in Westeros besides securing a Targ on the throne and reclaiming his ancestral seat. His star will shine brigthly, but not for very long..

[ed Lannister]

with what has happened in his life i hope he has learned a great deal of lessons of how best to achieve the goals of his king(aegon) in westeros and become more like tywin and hoster.... to give longevity of rule for the kings they served for many years (post the dragons), most hands were more of the tywin type (prince viserys,brandon rivers,tywin,baelor breakspear,jon arryn) to deal with the treachery/rebellions in westeros and ensure the king is never usurped.

if he manages to act like any of the hands i listed and discard his way of handling things during his reign as aerys's II hand Aegon has a chance in winning and becoming king...

[Septon Meribald]

Connington is definitely a great character. The addition of him and Barristan can provide us with some much needed insight into the Targaryens. So far we have only heard the story from the side of the rebels.

[Ice Turtle]

I’ve always assumed that if R+L = J is true then Jon’s true name may in fact be a traditional Targaryen name chosen by R&L. Lyanna may have told Ned his name but obviously Ned would have to give Jon another name that wouldn’t arouse suspicions.

Yes, being called Jaehaerys or Daeron Snow wouldn't help much.

[Thendel]

To me, Jon Connington is the only reason I would have to support Aegon on the throne. He is an excellent foil to Aegon's hotheaded inexperience and will be an irreplacable part of securing the kingdom.

Not that I think that he will ultimately succeed, sadly.