If there was one thing Game of Thrones excelled at as a series, it was shocking the audience. The HBO fantasy series drew audiences in with its massive world-building and exciting characters. However, Game of Thrones became one of the most popular shows of all time because it was constantly surprising viewers with its wild story turns.
While Game of Thrones could thrill audiences, break their hearts, and even make them laugh out loud, the series was at its most memorable when it was leaving the viewers speechless. From unexpected deaths to shocking reveals to epic moments that took our breath away, these Game of Thrones moments were beyond words.
Tommen's leap
Tommen Baratheon was the third king we see sit on the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones and was seen as the most ineffectual. As a more kind-hearted and naive young man compared to the rest of his family, Tommen was a puppet being controlled by those who were truly in power. Unfortunately, Tommen came to this realization in a heartbreaking way.
Tommen had sided with the High Sparrow and agreed to allow his mother, Cersei, to be tried for her crimes. However, Cersei had other plans and literally blew up all her enemies. As Tommen looks out at the destruction his family has caused and the part he played in it, he calmly steps out the window and falls to his death. It was such a sudden moment that it was hard not to gasp.
Shireen is sacrificed
Shireen Baratheon was not a major character in the show, but she endeared herself to audiences. Despite being afflicted with greyscale, she was a happy child who taught Davos Seaworth how to read and even brought out some occasional warmth in her father, Stannis Baratheon. However, Stannis' ambitions were greater than his love for Shireen.
After being convinced by Melisandre that a sacrifice was necessary to ensure his victory, Stannis agrees to allow Shireen to be burned at the stake. It is a brutal death for such an innocent character, made worse by the fact that she was begging for her father to help her, only for him to watch her die. It was one of those moments that made people ask if Game of Thrones had gone too far.
Jaime loses his hand
Jaime Lannister had quickly cemented himself as one of the most despicable villains of the series, only to find redemption as the series continued. One of the early moments in this transformation was putting Jaime in a position in which the audience actually felt bad for him.
After being captured, alongside Brienne, by the Boltons, Jaime is threatened and beaten by his captors. It's clear he's in a bad situation, but it is still shocking when one of the guards suddenly chops off his hand. Jaime had a reputation as one of Westeros' best fighters, so it is a huge blow to his character, and the shock is hammered home by the abrupt cut to credits.
Arya kills Walder Frey
Revenge is something that always struck a chord with Game of Thrones fans, especially when the one getting the comeuppance was a real villain. In the aftermath of the Red Wedding, there were few villains as despised as Walder Frey, and fans were eager to see him get what was coming to him. However, it was hard to predict just how epic it would be.
After a feast, Walder is disgustingly talking to a servant girl while wondering where his sons are. The girl then reveals that the pie Walder is eating is actually made from his sons. With that, the girl takes off her face to reveal that it is Arya Stark, come to get revenge for her family. It was a crowd-pleasing surprise that not only celebrated Walder's demise, but also Arya's return to Westeros.
Jon is killed
By season 5, Game of Thrones had learned that no one on the show is safe, but that didn't mean they couldn't still be shocked. As deadly as the show was, Jon Snow was seen as the main character and one who could get out of many dangerous situations. However, Jon's time as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch made him many considerable enemies.
Lured into a trap, Jon is brutally stabbed over and over by his fellow brothers, who then leave him to die in the snow. It is true that there were many fans who never accepted that this would be the end of Jon Snow, but it was a big enough shock to end the season that there was some question whether this was a permanent death.
The wildfire ignites
The Battle of Blackwater in season 2 of Game of Thrones was a relatively small one in comparison to the massive blockbuster battles that would come later. However, it still holds up as an exciting and intense action-packed episode that features one show-stopping moment.
As Stannis Baratheon's ships near King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister shows off his skills as a military strategist, launching a single ship filled with wildfire. A single flaming arrow ignites the ship, and the water is lit up with a massive green explosion that destroys the majority of the fleet. It is an early sign that Game of Thrones could deliver on a scale not typically seen on television.
Bran discovers Cersei and Jaime
It didn't take long for Game of Thrones to deliver some shocking moments, as the first episode ends on a truly wild note. As Bran Stark is climbing the walls of Winterfell, he comes to a window where he finds Queen Cersei Lannister engaging in a passionate affair with someone who is not the king. Even more shocking, it is her own brother, Jaime Lannister.
It is an immediately disturbing reveal that raises the stakes of the story, as the truth of this could plunge the kingdom into war. However, the shocking moment hits even harder when Jaime decides to cover up the truth by pushing Bran out the window. It was an episode 1 ending that ensured everyone would be tuning into episode 2.
Joffrey's death
Just like Walder Frey, Joffrey Baratheon was a villain fans couldn't wait to see get punished for his evil deeds. However, the show really took audiences by surprise in how they finally took out the spoiled and cruel young king. Rather than dying in battle or being killed by Arya in revenge, Joffrey is poisoned at his own wedding.
Game of Thrones was known for saving big moments like this in episode 9 of its seasons. This time, they delivered a major shock in episode 2. It is so shocking that it is hard to believe it is really happening at the moment, and when it is over, you can't believe that Joffrey is really finally dead.
Daenerys attacks the Lannister army
Daenerys Targaryen arrived in Westeros with a massive army and three full-grown dragons. It felt as though her path to the Iron Throne would be an easy one, only for her to suffer loss after loss. Just when it seemed like she might have been overhyped as a conqueror, she decided to take the fight to the Lannisters.
As Jaime leads his army back to King's Landing, Daenerys attacks with the Dothraki army and Drogon. It is the most one-sided fight in the entire series, as the Dothraki charge into battle fearlessly while the dragon burns everything in sight. It is a spellbinding display of power that immediately puts Daenerys back on top.
Cersei takes revenge
Cersei Lannister is not a character we are used to seeing in a losing position, but season 6 did find her with her back against the wall. The High Sparrow sought to hold her accountable for her crimes, and her own son, Tommen, was willing to let it be done. However, Cersei was not willing to go out without a fight, and she showed us why she is not one to be messed with.
As all her enemies gather in the Sept of Baelor, awaiting her arrival, Cersei puts her plan for revenge in action. She ignites the wildfire stored under King's Landing and blows the whole thing up, eliminating all her problems in one epic sweep. As much as she is the villain of the story, it is hard not to be impressed with how far she went.
The Night King shows his power
For the first five seasons of Game of Thrones, the White Walkers had failed to really establish themselves as a presence to be feared. They were shadowy enemies operating somewhere out in the frozen wastelands. However, when the Night King decided to show what he was capable of, it was a terrifying display.
As Jon Snow attempts to rescue the Wildlings from Hardhome, the White Walkers attack in devastating fashion. They control a massive army of the dead, with the Night King silently watching over it all. The eerie shot of the Night King staring out at Jon, raising his arms, and adding all the murdered Wildlings to his army was one of the most chilling moments in the series.
The Mountain kills Oberyn
The Mountain was set up to be one of the most imposing warriors in Game of Thrones, so the idea that Oberyn Martell was facing off with him in single combat was worrisome. However, Oberyn proves his confidence is well-placed as he evades his larger opponent and is able to strike quickly. It feels like Tyrion lucked out with his champion in the trial by combat.
However, the show plays against audience expectations once again as Oberyn's surprising skill leads him to get too comfortable. Just as The Mountain looks to be defeated, he strikes and kills Oberyn in brutal fashion. Not only was it shocking to see Oberyn die, but it was also to see just how gory his demise would be.
Hodor holds the door
Hodor was a loyal and friendly side character throughout the seasons without much attention really being paid to him. However, the one time he gets put front and center reveals the heartbreaking truth of what happened to him and why he can only say Hodor.
As Bran and the others try to escape the Night King, Bran wargs with Hodor while also looking back at when Hodor was a young boy. As the undead army attacks, Hodor is left behind to "hold the door." Gradually, we see how Hodor's last command works its way into the young boy's head, changing from "Hold the door" to "Hodor." The devastating reveal is totally unexpected and makes Hodor a truly tragic character.
Ned Stark is killed
The death of Ned Stark in season 1 of Game of Thrones was not just a defining moment in the series but also a game-changing moment in television overall. Positioned as the main character of the series, we expected to see many seasons of Ned dealing with the fight over the Iron Throne, only for him to be executed before the first season was over.
It was an iconic moment that was hard to accept for a long time. People theorized how Ned might have escaped or if Arya would somehow save him. Unfortunately, the reality was that Game of Thrones killed off this central character, and we all learned the lesson that no one in this show was safe.
The Red Wedding
Even with the forewarning of Ned Stark's death, many fans still weren't prepared for how vicious the show would be about killing off central heroes. Robb Stark seemed like the best option for the king of Westeros, but like his father, he was swiftly killed off, along with his mother, wife, and his army, virtually ending the Starks' campaign for the Iron Throne.
The entire Red Wedding was staged to maximize the brutal surprise. Robb seemed to have found an avenue for victory, Walder Frey seemed to have forgiven his past insults, and Arya was even close to reuniting with her brother and mother. The turn was heartwrenching and harrowing, leaving fans unable to grasp what just unfolded.
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