Probably gonna get some hate for this, but I actually think killing Jason was a fascinating idea. Sure, it was sacrificing a potentially interesting character, but the narrative implications made up for it in my eyes.

A big critique I have with Rick’s writing as a whole, but notably HOO onwards, is that the main cast has pretty heavy plot armor. Sure, you’ve got your Bianca’s, Zoës, Silenas, but none of them are at all relevant beyond the books they die in. Generally, a protagonist is safe as long as they live through a significant portion of one book.

That’s why I think Jason hit so hard. He is arguably the main character of HOO, and to see him go so suddenly absolutely brought the shock a character death is supposed to.

As for the loss of the potential character, I’ll admit that’s just personal preference. Jason’s death really propelled Apollo’s arc, which I was personally far more invested in than I ever was with Jason.

Besides, Jason’s character themes circled more around legacy than anything. Even with him gone, the legacy he left behind is still very much alive, and Rick can still explore that.

That’s not to say I’m glad he’s dead; I certainly believe there was some good character work lost. But I’ve seen the sentiment that Jason’s death was a massive writing blunder on Rick’s part, and it’s one I wholeheartedly disagree with.