Who should sit on the Iron Throne? If you were to ask Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) after the Game of Thrones Season 8 premiere, the answer is Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

It's likely Brandon Stark/The Three-Eyed Raven (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is also of this opinion as he insisted Jon learn the news that he is Aegon Targaryen, trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, and heir to the Iron Throne.

Jon has certainly shown a propensity to lead in times of crisis, and after being put up by others, found his way into high ranking positions that he's accepted (thanks Sam, and Lady Lyanna Mormont). Whether or not Jon has a desire to rule Westeros – or could, especially with King's Landing being full of lying, scheming characters – remains to be seen. Since he first became Lord Commander Mormont's (James Cosmo) steward back in Season 1, Jon has been committed to one main cause – defeating the Night King and the Army of the Dead.

But, should the living win, and Jon survive the fight, his true identity certainly creates a potential path to the Iron Throne.

Since Samwell had us all thinking about who should rule Westeros, following the Season 8 premiere, we're taking a look at Jon's ruling resume (we looked at Dany's rise to power earlier this week). But, since Jon didn't have an official title until Season 5, it's worth examining those moments when Jon listened and learned, and when he stepped up for others.

Season 1: Lessons Learned

Image via HBO

After arriving at The Wall in Season 1, Jon found he had trouble making friends, especially after humiliating Grenn (Mark Stanley), Pyp (Josef Altin) and Rast (Luke Barnes) during training exercises. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), though, helped Jon see that most of the young recruits didn't have the same advantages he did growing up – like learning from a Master at Arms. Benjen Stark (Joseph Mawle) also let Jon know he wasn't better than anyone when he shot him down for a ranger role.

Jon's first real act of leadership was defending Samwell, who'd been sent to the Night's Watch by his cruel father. Jon got Pyp, Grenn and -- with Ghost's help – Rast to lose their fights against Sam the next day. Watching this no doubt influenced Lord Commander Mormont who made Jon his steward (even if Jon needed Samwell to explain it was a role where he could be groomed for a position at the top).

GoT's Season 1 finale, though, brought about a questionable moment for Jon when he disregarded his vows and fled Castle Black after learning of Ned Stark's (Sean Bean) beheading. Luckily, the young men he'd made friends with caught him and reminded him of his vows. The next day, Jon received a further lesson from Mormont, who reminded him the fight against the undead was what was really important.

Season 2: Breaking a Vow

game-of-thrones-season-2-jon-snow-ygritte
Image via HBO

Season 2 brought the men of the Night's Watch to Craster's Keep where Jon got in trouble after following the horrible old man and seeing him give up his son to a White Walker. It caused a hell of a lot of chaos that forced the brothers from the Keep. Lord Commander explained to Jon that he knew what was going on, but they needed men like Craster, who despite being a monster, was a necessary evil they had to use to save rangers as they carried out their fight against the undead.

As his time beyond The Wall continued, Jon joined up with Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) on a mission to kill the Wildling leader Mance Rayder (Ciarán Hinds). Before that could happen, they ran into Wildlings and captured a redhead named Ygritte (Rose Leslie). Jon promised he'd kill her – only he didn't, and because of that, several of the rangers that had gone with Qhorin died looking for Jon. Qhorin also died (at his own suggestion) after the two were captured by Wildlings.

Season 3: Undercover Jon

game-of-thrones-season-3-jon-snow
Image via HBO

While pretending to be a Night's Watch deserter (to gather information about the Wildling army), Jon met Mance and Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju), climbed The Wall, and fell in love with Ygritte, but he also did his duty. He found out about their plans and lied about how many men were at Castle Black. Later, after climbing over The Wall with a small party of Wildlings, Jon revealed his true nature when he wasn't able to kill a man who spotted their group. All hell broke loose after that, and as Jon Snow fled, he broke Ygritte's heart.

Season 4: A Leader Rises

game-of-thrones-saeson-4-jon-snow
Image via HBO

After arriving back at Castle Black, Ser Alliser (the Thorne in Jon's side) alongside Ser Janos Slynt, grilled Lord Snow on what happened when he was beyond The Wall. A more confident Jon – a hint at the man he'd become -- explained that the Wildling army was 100,000 strong, all united by Mance. Jon also admitted to sleeping with a Wildling girl, something Janos wanted him hanged for. But, Maester Aemon put that suggestion to bed.

After learning about the mutiny at Craster's Keep, Jon stepped up some more and told Ser Alliser they should head to the Keep because the mutineers were aware Castle Black had far fewer men than Jon told Mance. Jon gave an impressive speech to his brothers and got far more volunteers than Ser Alliser expected. Together, the group (with help from Craster's wives) solved the problem in "First of His Name."

A few episodes later, Jon and the men arrived back at Castle Black. Still lacking in any real power other than persuasion, Jon asked Ser Alliser to seal the tunnel to stop the Wilding giants. Thorne and his men refused.

"The Watchers on The Wall," the penultimate episode of Season 4, was a huge turning point for Jon. As the Wildlings attacked, Edd found a way to get the terrified Ser Janos to leave the top of The Wall, which left Jon in charge. Lord Snow proved to be a masterful general. He gave out smart orders, like sending Grenn and a few others to hold the gate. And, when there was trouble down below, he helped fight off the Wildings (including the Thenns).

After the battle at The Wall, Jon knew they'd lose when Mance attacked next, so he went beyond the gate to try and kill him. He was found out, but saved by Stannis Baratheon's (Stephen Dillane) army, which arrived in the nick of time. Jon also demonstrated he was growing in wisdom in the Season 4 finale after Stannis asked Jon what he'd do with Mance. Jon explained that Mance could have tortured him when he was Mance's prisoner. He also suggested taking the king beyond the wall prisoner and getting information out of him.

Season 5: Lord Commander Snow

game-of-thrones-season-5-jon-snow
Image via HBO

Mance refused to bend the knee to Stannis, so the king had Melisandre (Carice van Houten) burn him on a pyre. After Mance started to struggle, Jon made a bold move for a man with no power: He killed Mance with an arrow, honoring the King Beyond the Wall's wish not to die screaming in front of the people he worked so hard to unite.

As the season continued, Stannis offered Jon everything he dreamed of as a young man –- the Stark name and the title of Lord of Winterfell –- if he knelt and acknowledged Stannis as king. But, before Jon could refuse (and thanks to a rousing speech from Samwell), Jon became Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He turned Stannis down and subtly suggested it was time for the king's army to go (they couldn't feed them indefinitely).

In his first real act as a leader, Jon made a decision to try and save the Wildlings. At "Hardhome," Jon worked with Tormund to try and convince the elders to get their people on the boats and south of the wall. It was a tough sell from the pair, but while some refused, many got on the boats before the wights and White Walkers attacked, killing many.

In the season finale, Jon got back to Castle Black and paid the ultimate price for saving the Wildlings: His men killed him "for the watch."

Season 6: A King Rises

game-of-thrones-battle-of-the-bastards
Image via HBO

After Melisandre saved him from death, Jon stepped back into his Lord Commander role -- briefly. His last official act was to have the mutineers who killed him hanged, then passed the job on to Edd.

Before Jon had a moment to contemplate life outside of the Night's Watch though, he received a letter from Ramsay Bolton, who claimed to have his brother Rickon. Sansa, who was at The Wall, suggested they go to Winterfell, as the northerners would support Jon. He listened to her and took her advice, so they left The Wall to take back their home.

Jon made some questionable decisions at the "Battle of the Bastards." He ignored Sansa and Davos' advice (Sansa warned Jon not to fall into Ramsay's trap, and Davos said they needed patience because the Boltons' forces were bigger). As soon as Jon saw Rickon running into the middle of the battlefield though, he rode his horse out there to get his little brother, and after arrows reined down on him (and killed Rickon), Jon's army had to rush into battle. Before anyone could say "Hodor!" Jon's side was surrounded and trapped, and all seemed lost. But Sansa's secret backup plan – the Knights of the Vale – saved them, though not before hundreds died.

And as the season closed out, something Jon couldn't have expected happened. Lady Lyanna Mormont gave a big speech and called him her king – and the men of the North followed her lead, naming Jon King in the North.

Season 7: Giving Up His Crown for the Greater Good?

game-of-thrones-season-7-episode-7-images-kit-harington
Image via HBO

Jon made a sensible decision at the start of Season 7 when he ordered everyone in the North to train men, women, boys, and girls to fight in anticipation of the war against the undead. But that wasn't his only big move to make as the new King in the North. He found out there was dragonglass under Dragonstone (thanks to a raven from Sam) around the same time Tyrion sent a letter about meeting Dany. So, Jon decided to go and meet Queen Daenerys, despite it being a very unpopular move.

Jon used his power as a king after Tyrion suggested they capture a wight and bring it to Cersei as the season continued (and after Jon's men were mining the dragonglass). Several men volunteered to help, but as Jon was about to go, Dany said she hadn't given Jon permission to leave. After several weeks of playing nice, this time around Jon asserted his power. "I don't need your permission, I'm a king," he told her. 

Despite his title, Jon put his life on the line once again, joining Tormund, Gendry (Joe Dempsie), The Hound (Rory McCann), Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer), Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and others on the mission to capture a wight. Although it was a costly trip (where he nearly died, and where Dany and her dragons helped save them – RIP Viserion), Jon picked up a valuable lesson. When he killed a White Walker, all of the undead around it cracked apart like glass.

On the ship back, Jon made a very serious decision about ruling. After Dany pledged to help them fight the undead and defeat the Night King, Jon called her "my queen."

The Season 7 finale brought a host of power players to the Dragon Pit in King's Landing for the demonstration with the wight. Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) said her side would help in the fight if the King in the North refused to take sides during the battle. Jon showed how much like Ned Stark he was though, revealing he'd already bent the knee to Daenerys – something Dany and Tyrion gave him a hard time for.

Jon's final move of the season (not related to his personal life) was to give Theon some forgiveness for what he'd done.

Conclusions

game-of-thrones-season-8-jon-dragon-riding
Image via HBO

Jon Snow had a rough Season 1, where he was forced to learn a lot of valuable lessons. Luckily though, he listened when Tyrion, Benjen, and Mormont shared important pearls of Westerosi wisdom. As a prisoner of the Wildlings in Season 2, he stayed true to his most important vows (even if it meant breaking Ygritte's heart). As the seasons carried on, we saw his impressive ability to command men in battle, and to really embrace the fight for the living – even though it burned bridges with his brothers in the Night's Watch.

However, Jon has shown he can be impulsive. Ramsay baited him at the Battle of the Bastards and Jon's mistake cost many lives. He also gave up his crown after knowing Daenerys for just a short while, something which didn't sit well with Northerners who are very weary of Targaryens. And they don't know he happens to be one!

Whether you think Jon is fit to be king, the rightful king or the king Westeros needs, two questions remain – would he even want the job? And, would he be any good at it? King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) was said to be fierce in battle, but a horrible king, and the man who raised Jon – Ned -- was so honorable, he didn't realize he couldn't trust people in the capitol until it was too late.

But maybe everyone should just compromise and take up Davos Seaworth's (Liam Cunningham) suggestion that Jon and Dany rule together...!

For more Game of Thrones, check out these recent articles:

game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-2-images-jon-arya
Image via HBO, Helen Sloan
game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-2-images-jon-sam
Image via HBO, Helen Sloan
game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-1-image-18
Image via HBO
game-of-thrones-season-8-episode-1-image-14
Image via HBO