I’m sure someone’s pointed out by now but it always gets me how much Jon genuinely looked up to Elias. Even when he revealed his hand in The Coming Storm, Jon still stops to ask… Elias, am I still human? Such a vulnerable question. To someone who just told him that he was a captive. And earlier in the series, how Jon’s demeanor changed whenever Elias walked in, becoming more professional, more nervous, eager to please. His words in episode 1, the first thing he did after introducing himself was say that Elias had given him this position. How Jon remembered his schedule and habits, how they had the same coffee preferences, how Jon went to him for advice and insight. He admired Elias.
Maybe through all his little tests in season 3, a little part of Jon was still trying to impress. The frustration built up, yes, but maybe there was a part of him that was pleased by the validation from his mentor. It must have been confusing to have those emotions in such conflict – the hatred and the craving.
It’s really interesting to consider how much Jon and Elias are foils, two sides of the same coin. Their drive, their obsession. They orbit each other. It’s perfectly evident how obsessed Elias is with Jon, but it’s fun to remember that it really goes both ways.