I thought they were hinting at Olenna being his great love. I know book-wise they are probably too far apart in age, but I can see the show implying that they are of the same generation. It kind of makes sense show wise--the woman he loved rejected him so he joined the Maesters, then later the Night's Watch.
One thing I love is how this episode made explicit what was being hinted all season about Slynt and Thorne. Both are Jon's enemies and there is plenty of mutual animosity. Thorne though, once he saw what was out there, was man enough to admit to Jon he was wrong. And Jon, to his credit was gracious enough to acknowledge that Throne as leader had to make the tough decisions that could very well be wrong, but still have to be made. They can hate each other, but still count on each other in when it counts. Then Thorne got to give the rousing speeches and fight like a badass. Slynt meanwhile blubbered about his command of the City Watch and hid with the woman and child.
I was a bit disconcerted at how much relief I felt when we cut back to Gilly and Slynt and saw that there was no rape, no attempted rape, no evidence that Gilly had to fight him off or anything. Just Slynt curled in a corner taking a nap like the coward he is. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful the show decided not to even hint at a rape even though everything about the circumstances seemed to point to one happening (frightened previously sexually victimized girl locked in a room with a sleazy coward with an overblown sense of his manliness, no one would probably interrupt them for hours), but I don't think my mind show default to "oh she's getting raped" so often.
Was that the smallest opening credits in the history of the show? Only five names: Jon, Sam, Gilly, Ygritte, and Tormund.
I think once I get over my disappointment at the lack of Stannis showing up and wondering how the hell the pacing is going to work for the finale, I'll appreciate this episode more.