10 Most Shocking Moments in Game of Thrones, Ranked
This list is not for the faint-hearted, obviously.
10. Ned Stark's Beheading (Season 1, Episode 9)
In an act that essentially defined "Game of Thrones" as the "Trust no one. Not even the main character is safe" show, Ned Stark met his end at the hands of the petulant King Joffrey. We watched, mouths agape, as the honorable Ned Stark was accused of treason and, in a cruel twist of the narrative blade, decapitated in front of his horrified daughters. We were all Sansa and Arya in that moment, experiencing an icy shock of disbelief. From that moment, we knew, as viewers, that Westeros was not a place for happy endings.
9. Red Wedding (Season 3, Episode 9)
Ah, the Red Wedding – a moment of television history that saw an uptick in the sales of jaw-droppingly surprised reaction GIFs. Robb Stark, his pregnant wife Talisa, and mother Catelyn were mercilessly slaughtered during what was supposed to be a celebratory occasion.
Just when you thought a wedding in Westeros might actually be about love and joy, the infamous phrase "The Lannisters send their regards" echoed chillingly, and the color red took on a whole new meaning.
8. Joffrey's Purple Wedding (Season 4, Episode 2)
Speaking of weddings, let's not forget the "Purple Wedding." The cruel, despised King Joffrey was finally silenced... by a poisoned goblet of wine. As viewers, we felt a confusing cocktail of emotions. Relief? Absolutely. Shock? Unquestionably. Guilty pleasure? No comment.
The moment was made even more jarring by the fact that the poisoner turned out to be Olenna Tyrell, the seemingly harmless matriarch of House Tyrell, proving that even sweet old ladies in Westeros are not to be trifled with.
7. Oberyn Martell's Death (Season 4, Episode 8)
Prince Oberyn Martell, the charismatic, quick-witted "Red Viper," quickly became a fan favorite. Which, given this show's reputation, should have been a big red (or should I say, viper-green) warning sign. His death was as shocking as it was gruesome.
In a trial by combat against The Mountain, Oberyn was winning until he let his guard down, leading to an eyepoppingly brutal ending. Fans everywhere learned that hubris in Westeros gets you more than a slap on the wrist; it gets your skull crushed.
6. Jon Snow's Death (Season 5, Episode 10)
And last for this batch of heart-stoppers, Jon Snow's death. Betrayed by his Night's Watch brothers, our beloved bastard of Winterfell was stabbed multiple times in a scene reminiscent of Julius Caesar's betrayal. The phrase "For the Watch" still echoes hauntingly in our ears. Of course, Jon's demise was a gut-punch. But the shockwave went seismic when Melisandre brought him back to life in the following season.
5. Hodor's Sacrifice (Season 6, Episode 5)
In an emotionally gut-wrenching reveal, we discovered that Hodor's limited vocabulary wasn't just a quirky character trait, but the result of a time-travel brain-melting incident. As the White Walkers and their army descended upon Bran and co., Hodor, real name Wylis, was tasked with holding the door to provide a crucial few seconds for escape.
Simultaneously, in a vision of the past, young Wylis collapsed in a seizure, repeatedly crying "Hold the door!" which tragically morphed into "Hodor." This revelation, coupled with Hodor's heroic sacrifice, was as shocking as it was heartbreaking.
4. Cersei's Wildfire Plot (Season 6, Episode 10)
Cersei Lannister's wicked cunning was showcased in all its devastating glory during the explosive finale of Season 6. Facing a trial by the High Sparrow at the Great Sept of Baelor, Cersei chose a different path – blow the entire Sept (and its occupants) to smithereens with hidden caches of wildfire.
As the green flames engulfed the Sept, incinerating major characters like Margaery Tyrell, the High Sparrow, and Loras Tyrell, we sat in shock, our expectations for the storyline obliterated. The sequence ended with Cersei calmly sipping her wine, watching the destruction she had orchestrated.
3. Littlefinger's Trial and Execution (Season 7, Episode 7)
Just when we thought Petyr Baelish, aka Littlefinger, had successfully sowed discord between the Stark sisters, we got a classic GoT rug-pull. In an unexpected turn of events, Sansa and Arya revealed they'd been playing Littlefinger all along. What seemed like a trial for Arya turned swiftly into an accusation against Baelish.
His shock mirrored our own as Sansa listed his betrayals and crimes, ultimately sentencing him to death. Arya, in her signature style, wasted no time executing him, providing a satisfying end to one of the most manipulative characters in the series.
2. The Night King Falls (Season 8, Episode 3)
In the epic Battle of Winterfell, it was not Jon or Daenerys who dealt the killing blow to the Night King, but little Arya Stark. With a move as quick as a cat and with Valyrian steel in hand, Arya managed to shatter the icy monarch into a thousand pieces, effectively obliterating the army of the dead. This was a moment that left us wide-eyed and open-mouthed, a shocking conclusion to a long-built narrative arc.
1. Daenerys Targaryen's Mad Queen Turn (Season 8, Episode 5)
The downfall of Daenerys Targaryen was perhaps the worst of ‘em all. The shocking moment when Dany, astride her dragon, decimated King's Landing, innocent civilians and all, remains one of the most controversial turns in the series. What made this moment particularly shocking was the stark (no pun intended) transformation of Daenerys from a beloved, justice-seeking character into a reflection of her mad father, solidifying her tragic arc (and making most of the fans bitter for what feels like eternity.)