The Most Devastating Deaths in Game Of Thrones History, Ranked
If there’s one thing George R. R. Martin enjoys more than avoiding writing the end of ‘The Winds of Winter’, it’s killing off Game of Thrones characters. Those who have watched the HBO show know the most important rule is not to get too attached to anyone in Westeros, as they’re unlikely to make it out alive.
The same applies to House of the Dragon and the more recent spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Death is a part of life, as we all know, but in the worlds built by Martin, it feels all the more common and far more brutal.
While some of the more nefarious characters meet a suitably grizzly end that leaves us smiling and rubbing our hands, others simply do not deserve their horrible fates. With that in mind, here are ten of the most devastating deaths in Game of Thrones history, ranked by shock and brutality, just to make you grieve all over again. Naturally, heavy spoilers lie ahead!
10. Theon Greyjoy
Somehow, Theon Greyjoy makes it all the way through to the final season of Game of Thrones. Along the way, he is manipulated, ridiculed, emasculated, and tortured – most of which comes at the hands of Ramsay Bolton. Of all the characters in the show, few go on quite as emotional and conflicting a journey as Theon.
At times, we despise him – especially after he turns on the Starks and claims Winterfell for himself, killing two young boys in the process (pretending they are Bran and Rickon Stark). However, he redeems himself by protecting Sansa from Ramsay and joins the fight against the Army of the Dead in Season 8. It’s there that he finally pays the ultimate price, with the Night King thrusting a spear through his stomach. Despite his wrongdoings, Theon was a very troubled young man who was mistreated all his life, and we were sad to see him go.
9. Lyanna Mormont
Bella Ramsey may be better known as Ellie in The Last of Us now, but they first caught our attention as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. Thrust into power at such a young age, after the death of her mother, Lyanna leads House Mormont with maturity and ferocity beyond her years. She’s the first to recognise Jon Snow as the King in the North, pushes back against House Bolton, and constantly stands up to foes far bigger and stronger than she is.
It’s always sad to see young children die in Westeros – and it happens far too often for our liking – but for a girl who gives everything to the cause, who puts her life on the line to face the evil men and monsters in the kingdom, it’s all the more tragic when Lyanna is struck down. Still, she goes out fighting, and there’s solace to be found in that, at least.
8. Ned Stark
We spend much of Season 1 of Game of Thrones getting to know Ned Stark, the Lord of Winterfell. He’s a lovely bloke, with strong principles and a kind heart. But when he learns that Jaime Lannister is the true father of Cersei’s children, he is doomed. Accused of treason, Ned is forced to admit to his supposed crimes and swear allegiance to Joffrey Baratheon. Doing so would save his daughters, Sansa and Arya, but it still wasn’t enough to spare him from the wrath of Joffrey.
The malicious young king betrays his mother and the Small Council and demands that the Lord be executed. Ned’s death was the first signal to the audience that no character can ever be truly safe in Westeros; it was so cruel and shocking that it sparked all-out war in the Seven Kingdoms.
7. Oberyn Martell
Coincidentally, another actor who went on to bag a leading role in The Last of Us is also on this list. Indeed, Pedro Pascal’s scene-stealing turn as Oberyn Martell was an absolutely crucial step on his path to superstardom. He swaggered into the show and into our hearts with his fierce attitude, unrepentant libido, and charming wit. It’s incredible, really, that he was only in Game of Thrones for seven episodes, such was his huge impact.
Oberyn’s death in Season 4, Episode 8, is not only a bitterly disappointing one, given how desperate we were to see more of him, but it was one of the most gruesome deaths in the show’s history. When he takes on The Mountain in a trial by combat, Oberyn is agonisingly close to victory. But, with his foe at his mercy, Oberyn taunts him and demands a confession for the murder of his sister. The Mountain duly obliges, but not before gouging out Oberyn’s eyes and crushing his skull.
6. Hodor
For every nasty character in Game of Thrones, there is always another who is truly benevolent and virtuous, and very few were as pure as Hodor. He was a simple man who was absolutely devoted to House Stark, who ultimately gave his life to protect Bran. His life and death are incredibly complex, though, and that’s what makes his downfall all the more tragic.
From a young age, the only word uttered by Hodor was his name – or at least, what people suspected was his name, based on how it sounded. When he dies in Season 6, Episode 5, all is revealed. It turns out Bran had caused a seizure in a young Hodor through the process of warging, entering his mind with a message from the future that translated to “Hold the door.” And Hodor did just that, sacrificing himself to prevent a horde of wights from getting to Bran and Meera.
5. Myrcella Baratheon
The bitter relationship between the Lannisters and the Martells caused a lot of pain and suffering. Not only did that conflict give us Prince Oberyn’s cruel death, but it also led to the assassination of Cersei and Myrcella. After spending time in Dorne with Oberyn’s former lover, Ellaria Sand, Myrcella is given a farewell kiss and boards a ship back to King’s Landing with Jaime Lannister.
Just as she’s out of sight of the Dorne peninsula, Myrcella tells Jaime that she knows he is her real father and that she is happy she is the product of his and Cersei’s incestuous relationship. Then, her nose pours with blood, and she dies in Jaime’s arms. That kiss from Ellaria was not one laced with affection, but with poison. She bided her time, but eventually repaid the Lannisters for pushing Oberyn to his death.
4. Viserys Targaryen
We interrupt this run of Game of Thrones deaths to focus on one of the most important and painful moments from House of the Dragon. Much like Ned Stark, we spent Season 1 of this spin-off getting acquainted with one of the more noble men in Westeros, King Viserys Targaryen, before seeing him perish. However, this death really didn’t come as much of a shock, but it was still just as upsetting.
The devoted father to Rhaenyra and loving husband to Allicent Hightower grew weaker and weaker by the episode due to his mysterious, flesh-rotting disease. He eventually died with Allicent by his side, and not only were his final moments heartbreaking, but they also changed the course of history in the kingdom, with one fateful misunderstanding causing a fiery civil war.
3. Baelor Targaryen
I know Baelor Targaryen’s death had to happen, but that doesn’t make it any easier to come to terms with. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has taken everyone by surprise, not least of all for the way it’s instantly made audiences feel something for the characters. While Dunk and Egg are the main focus, Baelor made quite the impression before being killed in Episode 5 during the Trial of the Seven.
His involvement in the trial was full of predictable tropes – the underdog being helped by a dashing hero storming into a battle he has no need to participate in, before falling tragically in the final moments – but it was still so effective. The fact that his death was accidentally caused by his own brother, someone he loved and was so proud of until the end, makes it all the more devastating. Yet again, we’ve had a wonderful character taken away from us far too soon!
2. Robb, Talisa, and Catelyn Stark
For my money, there has never been a more shocking, scintillating episode of Game of Thrones than Season 3, Episode 9, titled ‘The Rains of Castamere’. More commonly known as ‘The Red Wedding,’ the chain of events here left my jaw on the floor and me feeling sick to my stomach, as the day of celebration for Robb Stark and his new wife turned into a bloody massacre.
During the wedding feast at Walder Frey’s castle, the mood shifts on a knife’s edge as Roose Bolton puts into action a cruel plot masterminded by the Lannisters to take out House Stark. Robb sees his pregnant wife slain, along with his army, before he and his mother, Catelyn, are finished off, too. It’s a crazy moment in the show, underpinning the fact that love stories in Westeros simply cannot have a happy ending.
1. Shireen Baratheon
There aren’t many characters in Game of Thrones who you can describe as truly innocent, but Shireen Baratheon was certainly one of them. That alone makes her murder a heartless one, but the fact that her death was caused by her own father, and that it was all for nothing, makes it the most harrowing moment in the entire show.
Desperate to push his army into Winterfell to claim the North, Stannis Baratheon was encouraged by Melisandre to make a sacrifice to end the snowstorm standing in his way. It was his daughter who paid the price, with the kind young soul burned at the stake. This horrible act does clear the snow, but it also causes Stannis’ army to desert him, his wife to hang herself, and the Bolton forces to crush the Baratheon cause. George R. R. Martin, you’re a monster!
