Man, I still remember the shock when Jojen Reed bit the dust in 'Game of Thrones'—Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s exit was abrupt! From what I gathered, his departure was purely story-driven. The showrunners had a habit of trimming characters once their arcs served their purpose, and Jojen’s fate was sealed when Bran reached the Three-Eyed Raven. The Children of the Forest’s attack was brutal, but it made sense narratively. Brodie-Sangster’s performance was hauntingly gentle, though—I miss his dynamic with Meera.
Rumors swirled about scheduling conflicts, but he’s never confirmed that. Honestly, I think he dodged a bullet leaving before the later seasons’ chaos. He went on to crush roles like Benny Watts in 'The Queen’s Gambit,' so no regrets. Still, part of me wonders what a warg-heavy Jojen subplot could’ve been…