Several aspects of Game of Thrones became iconic after the show's eight seasons on the air, ranging from the Iron Throne to the Winterfell weirwood to Littlefinger's dagger, which was key to the Battle of Winterfell. One iconic look from Game of Thrones that was less essential to the plot but all-important to some fans is of course Jon Snow with his long hair. After nearly a decade of Kit Harington with long hair, he almost looks strange with it cut short... as you can see for yourself below.
Back before he landed the role of Jon Snow, Kit Harington wasn't contractually obligated to keep his locks flowing long, and a recent Game of Thrones reunion video from HBO showed pre-Game of Thrones Harington with a very different hairdo. Judging by the cast's reaction, they were just as amused as we were watching! Take a look!
Note: the whole video is worth the watch, but if you want the first shot of Kit Harington with extremely different hair, jump to 0:37 mark!
Assuming that shot of Kit Harington with hair styled straight up off his head comes from around the pilot filming process, he was only 22-years-old and not anywhere near the levels of fame he'd reach once Game of Thrones became the global hit it did. The fresh-faced and fluffy-haired Harington was a source of hilarity among the cast assembled for the reunion moderated by Conan O'Brien.
The cast assembled for the reunion will at least include Sean Bean, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, and Isaac Hempstead Wright, although there are a few empty seats that suggest more cast members will join the reunion. Lannister siblings, perhaps? And/or Emilia Clarke?
Sean Bean didn't mention the Lannister or Dany actors when he first spilled the beans about the reunion, but it would be a shame if Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Emilia Clarke all missed the blast from the past of young Kit Harington. Especially Clarke, since she didn't get to film with the Starks during the early days of Game of Thrones!
Of course, there is one person whose immediate reaction at the sight of the fluffy short hair and fresh face wasn't overjoyed, and that was Kit Harington himself, whose reaction might actually be my favorite thing about the video. In case you missed it, check it out!
Maisie Williams' reaction in the bottom left of the screen is certainly delightful to behold, but Kit Harington immediately reacting by saying "FUCK OFF!" to his younger self for his hair choice (and/or the video editors who included the shots) was my biggest laugh after the image itself. You knew nothing, Kit Harington.
Of course, spending all those years with the Jon Snow hair didn't mean that Kit Harington wanted to keep it forever. The long hair was actually a giveaway back between Seasons 5 and 6 that Jon Snow probably wasn't dead for good, as Kit Harington grew out his hair when filming was set to begin again, and he had been contracted to keep his hair long for Thrones. In his words last year before production was officially done for good, "They own me."
Also last year, Kit Harington explained that he wanted to totally change his look after he was finally free to do what he wanted with his hair, largely to make himself "less recognizable as the character." He wound up shaving his beard before he cut the hair, but his hair was short by the time he hosted SNL. He must have worn a wig for when he played Jon Snow in a sketch that also happened to feature cameos from the stars of Law & Order: SVU!
If you want to cleanse your visual palate of short-haired Kit Harington, you can already watch Game of Thrones Season 8 on digital. There are some non-Game of Thrones options available now and in the not-too-distant future this summer as well worth watching.
