All 73 episodes of Game of Thrones, ranked worst to best
6. “Baelor,” Season 1, Episode 9
This is the episode where Ned Stark gets his head removed from his body, teaching every new fan of the show to never get too attached to anyone. A slew of other major events set many of the other characters on paths they will follow for the rest of the series.
The night before battle with the Starks, Tyrion meets his future mistress Shae, and after a night of drinking, reveals probably the worst childhood story you’ve ever heard. Think having to do your homework was bad? At age thirteen, Tyrion met Tysha, a woman Jamie and Tyrion save from rapists. But after falling in love and marrying her, Tyrion learns from Jaime that she was just a prostitute hired to deflower him. And then, to teach his son not to marry below his station, Tywin orders a barracks full of Lannister guardsmen to rape his new wife, and then orders Tyrion to do the same. Ouch. Bronn swears he’d kill the man that did that to him, and Tyrion brushes it off, even though Tyrion will of course later kill Tywin. Bronn the fortune teller!
And the foreshadowing continues. In order to move quickly south, Robb sends his mother Catelyn to negotiate with Walder Frey, because she “has known Lord Walder since she was a girl. He would never harm me.” Well Catelyn, wait until Season 3 and let us know how that turns out. The bargain works, however, and Robb is able to move through Frey’s territory and capture Jaime Lannister in a surprise attack. Did anyone else notice the snow on the ground in this scene? Anyways…
All this leads up to the scene at the Great Sept of Baelor, where Ned Stark is dragged before a bloodthirsty crowd, all of whom assume he’s a traitor. Arya is in the crowd, and Sansa is on the steps, standing beside her beloved Joffrey, believing her prince to be merciful. Despite getting the confession he wanted, Joffrey orders Ned’s head removed, much to the shock of everyone, including the members of his own Small Council.
Even as the executioner puts Ned’s head on the block, first-time viewers still con’t believe what is about to happen will happen. Sean Bean is the most well-known actor on the show. He’s the main character. He’s a good guy for crying out loud. He’ll get pushed aside at the last minute by some companion who was hidden in the crowd.
And then Ned dies. Welcome to Game of Thrones.
