Game of Thrones season 1 was filled with twists that defined the show as one where anything could happen. The acclaimed HBO fantasy series became a phenomenon largely due to its mind-blowing twists, like the Red Wedding or the reveal of Jon Snow's true parents. However, the show delivered those shocking moments right from the beginning.
Season 1 of Game of Thrones brought audiences into this fantasy world and let them fall in love with many of the characters before making it clear that no one is safe. From the epic moments that were game changing for the story to the early demise of some key characters, these huge twists from season 1 set Game of Thrones off on a wild start.
8. Maester Aemon's true identity
When introduced in season 1, Maester Aemon is presented as the kindly old master of Castle Black and one of the many anonymous members of the Night's Watch. However, he has a more prestigious background than many of his brothers in black, as he reveals to Jon Snow.
Maester Aemon is actually Aemon Targaryen, a member of one of the most powerful houses in Westeros. Aemon is even referred to in the prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a disappointment to the family. The reveal highlights the rich history of this world while also planting early seeds for the later reveal that Jon is also a Targaryen.
7. Maester Pycelle's act
Aemon is not the only maester in Game of Thrones who has a big secret. Maester Pycelle is shown to be one of the most useless members of King Robert Baratheon's Small Council. He is presented as a feeble and tired old man who is unfit for the position. However, Pycelle is more cunning than he looks.
In the season 1 finale, Pycelle is seen alone in his chambers for the first time, and he reveals the "old man" persona is just an act. He is far more limber and capable than he lets on, but uses this to disarm those around him. It is a fun little twist with no real consequence, but it shows how everyone in King's Landing is playing at some sort of deception.
6. Littlefinger betrays Ned
When Ned Stark comes to King's Landing, he is completely unsure who to trust. Unfortunately, he picks just about the worst person to side with in Littlefinger. With his long ties to Catelyn Stark, Littlefinger assures Ned that he is on his side, but when Ned tries to take the throne from Cersei, it is Littlefinger who puts a knife to his throat.
The twist may not be shocking to everyone, as Littlefinger never came off as a very trustworthy guy. In fact, he even points out to Ned that he literally told him not to trust him. However, the moment still packs a punch as it is a devastating loss for Ned and one that he seemingly cannot escape from, which sets up a bigger twist later.
5. Khal Drogo dies
Before Jason Momoa was a huge star in his own right, he stood out in a supporting role in Game of Thrones season 1. Momoa plays Khal Drogo, the feared Dothraki warlord who becomes Daenerys Targaryen's husband. With him by her side, Daenerys' claim to the Iron Throne suddenly becomes much more of a threat.
However, Game of Thrones likes to play against expectations, and this powerful warrior is undone by an infected wound. To see such a formidable character suddenly taken out before he actually got a chance to do anything was a real shock, and was one of the first of many examples of pivotal characters who get early exits.
4. Ned learns the truth
Despite knowing that Jon Arryn, the previous Hand of the King, was murdered for discovering some dark secret, once Ned gets to King's Landing, he starts digging into that same question. Ned might not be the greatest detective in Westeros, but he is sharp enough to see the signs and get to the bottom of it.
Finding several of King Robert's illegitimate children with brown hair, and seeing the long lineage of Baratheons with brown hair, Ned realizes that Joffrey and his siblings are not Robert's trueborn heirs. It is a secret that starts the war and puts the Iron Throne up for grabs.
3. Bran discovers Cersei and Jaime
The first episode of Game of Thrones had to do a lot of worldbuilding and introduce characters. However, it still managed to deliver a wild twist that would hook viewers immediately. When young Bran Stark was climbing the towers of Winterfell, he likely didn't expect to discover something that would throw the entire realm into chaos.
Bran stumbles upon Queen Cersei Lannister and her brother, Jaime Lannister, engaging in a passionate affair. The reveal is disturbing and stunning, but the twist gets even wilder when Jaime decides the best way to cover their tracks is by pushing Bran out the window. It launched the series on a memorable note, making it a must-watch show.
2. The dragons are born
While the White Walkers are introduced in the first scene of Game of Thrones, the supernatural aspects of this world are not as prominent as what's to come later. However, the final scene of the season drops a game-changing twist that cements the series as a true fantasy story while also setting up some huge excitement in season 2.
After walking into the burning funeral pyre for Khal Drogo, Daenerys Targaryen is revealed to be completely unscathed. However, the more shocking reveal is that she has three newborn dragons with her. The twist immediately establishes Daenerys as a powerful player in her own right, and this is the beginning of her reign.
1. Ned Stark's death
Game of Thrones season 1 did a smart thing with the casting of Sean Bean as Ned Stark. He was the biggest name in the massive cast and was promoted as the main character. All that made it all the more shocking when Ned was executed before the end of the first season.
The twist certainly took fans by surprise at the time, and looking back, it is a terrific bit of storytelling. It raises the personal stakes of the story and shifts the focus to the many other great characters. There is also no ignoring the pop culture impact of the death, with many shows, fromThe Last of Us to Succession, trying to replicate the same sort of impact from an unexpected death.
Game of Thrones premieres on April 17, 2011, and we're celebrating it's 15th anniversary all month long with retrospectives, deep dives, quizzes, and more! Embarking on a rewatch of the series? We've got plenty of reading material coming to help you get the most out of your return journey to Westeros.