If You're Mad That Jon Snow Abandoned Ghost, You're Not Alone

Jordyn Taylor
Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

From Men's Health

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4, "The Last of the Starks." If you don't want to know what happens, get out of here!

There were a lot of tragic moments on Sunday night's Game of Thrones (RIP Missandei!), but for some viewers, the most upsetting moment of all was how Jon Snow unceremoniously said goodbye to his direwolf, Ghost.

Ghost, you may recall, is the direwolf Ned Stark gave Jon Snow way back in season 1. You'd think Jon would have some attachment to his faithful pup - but apparently not, given how he hands him off to Tormund Giantsbane without so much as a boop on the nose.

About halfway through the episode, Tormund tells Jon he and the free folk are leaving Winterfell to return to the real North - ie, his native lands beyond the wall.

"That's where be belong," Tormund says.

"That's where he belongs, too," says Jon, turning to look at Ghost. "A direwolf has no place in the south. Will you take him with you? He'll be happier up there."

Jon says goodbye to Tormund, and then to his friend Sam Tarly. As he's getting ready to leave, he passes a whimpering Ghost - AND KEEPS ON WALKING! Ghost hangs his head in sadness. I have to say it's heart-wrenching, and I'm not even a full-blown dog person.

During and after the episode aired, viewers took to social media to complain about Jon and Ghost's goodbye, or lack thereof.

"It's clear none of the writers own dogs," proclaims one trending Reddit thread.

"How is Jon not going to go even speak to ghost before leaving, knowing he will never seen him again," u/DoctorHolliday wrote. "Ghost literally just went to war for you and there is supposed to be a bond with direwolves, but Jon just peaces out with a nod."

"The goodest can't even get a nose boop," said another.

Plenty of fans voiced their anger on Twitter:

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