When it comes to the world of Game of Thrones, there are plenty of times when we, as fans, have collectively clutched our pearls because we are in so much pain at the idea of someone dying. Then, there are times when that one person does die, and everything changes forever.
From House of the Dragon to the world of Game of Thrones, some deaths are shocking while others shatter your soul.
When crafting this list, there are five deaths that stood out as especially soul-shattering. One of them just happened in the House of the Dragon season 3 finale.
Before we jump in, beware, there are spoilers ahead if you are not caught up on House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones.
Helaena Targaryen
If you’ve read Fire & Blood, you know that Helaena’s (Phia Saban) death was coming in House of the Dragon. That didn’t make it any easier for fans to deal with. In the season 3 finale, “The Treasons at Tumbleton,” Helaena is forced to stay in her room, locked away like a prisoner, while she works on a tapestry composed of images she has seen in her dreams.
One of these images just so happens to be her jumping to her own death outside her window in King’s Landing. And in one of the final shots, we see that she does exactly that, as she is impaled on the spikes below.
Helaena's death was foreshadowed throughout the series, especially whenever bugs, butterflies, and windows were involved. Even so, the scene is still a hard one to watch, as Helaena was really a victim in this civil war and never wanted anything to do with the power her family had.
Ygritte
When I first watched Game of Thrones, Ygritte’s (Rose Leslie) death was hands down the first time I actively felt something crack inside my chest. While there had been deaths before hers that certainly broke the internet in many ways, like Ned Stark’s (Sean Bean) death in season 1 or the infamous Red Wedding in season 3, this was the one that really got to me.
The death happens in season 4 episode 9, “The Watchers on the Wall.” It really comes out of nowhere because it’s during a battle against the Wildlings, and it looks like Ygritte might spare Jon (Kit Harington) after their time together, despite feeling betrayed by him when he returned to the Wall. However, she is shot in the chest by Olly (Brenock O'Connor) with an arrow from behind.
The scene of Ygritte dying in Jon’s arms is one that many, many fans think of when a heartbreaking death comes to mind. And one I just had to put on this list. My only consolation is that the actors are together and married in real life.
Shireen Baratheon
I don’t even need to get into why this is heartbreaking. Shireen Baratheon (Kerry Ingram) is burned at the stake by her father, Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), simply because he believed a sacrifice to the Lord of Light would help his trapped and starving army due to Melisandre (Carice van Houten) saying “royal blood” was needed to free them from the snow, but it only destroyed them further.
The death happens in season 5 episode 9, “The Dance of Dragons,” and just thinking about it now still bothers the heck out of me. Yes, Shireen had been a bit of a background character for a while because her father was ashamed of her for the Greyscale she was born with.
It’s the same thing with her as it is with Helaena. She was just a victim of her circumstances, and she didn’t deserve what happened to her at all.
Viserys I Targaryen
Honestly, his death isn’t necessarily as heartbreaking and shattering as the events that lead up to it in season 1 of House of the Dragon. While Viserys (Paddy Considine) wasn’t the best king (in my mind), he ruled during an era of peace and genuinely just wanted his family to be together. As he gets sicker, they try to keep up that front through dinners and attempts to get along, despite the chaos all around him.
At the end of it all, it was how he stood up for his daughter, even when he could barely stand or walk, for her place on the throne that absolutely shattered me. Viserys forces himself to be there for her through everything, even when he can barely speak. And only when he is physically unable to do so does he stay in bed until his death.
When he eventually passed in episode 8, titled “The Lord of the Tides,” it was still heartbreaking. He called out to his dead wife, Aemma (Siân Brooke), right before he died. I mean, come on. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.
Hodor
Last but not least, I’m giving Hodor (Kristian Nairn) a spot on here. Hodor dies in Game of Thrones during the season 6 episode, “The Door,” when he was protecting Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and his companions as they outran the wights. Hodor's death allows Bran to finally commence his training as the Three-Eyed Raven.
It’s not just a terrible death sequence that makes this heartbreaking. This is the moment where we also see the reason why Hodor is called "Hodor." In the past, he was traumatized by visions of the future where he had to “hold the door,” meaning the door that held back the Wights. It was a huge moment that connected so much of this story. It's definitely a moment that I'm still sad about years later. May Hodor rest in peace.
After you read the list, you know that there is no representation for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Honestly, there was only one death in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that might make this list, but I think I’ll wait for that series to keep going for one to truly break me.
In the meantime, you can relive all these painful (but extremely meaningful) deaths on HBO Max, where you can stream both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
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