These are the moments that made Game of Thrones one of the biggest shows of all time. Premiering 15 years ago, Game of Thrones rose from HBO's intriguing fantasy series to a pop culture phenomenon that changed television forever. With many Game of Thrones spinoffs and the continued popularity of the franchise, it is one of the most iconic shows ever to hit the small screen.
Throughout the eight seasons of Game of Thrones, certain moments stood out as truly unforgettable and cemented it as something that audiences have never seen before. These moments surpass even the show itself, becoming part of the cultural conversations and having long-lasting impacts all these years later.
- Arya kills the Night King
- Cersei's walk of shame
- Joffrey's death
- Jon's resurrection
- Bran being pushed from the window
- Cersei blows up the Sept of Baelor
- Tyrion's speech
- Blackwater
- "Hold the door"
- The Mountain vs. the Viper
- Daenerys becomes the Mother of Dragons
- Jon Snow faces down the Bolton army
- The Night King raises his army
- Ned Stark is killed
- The Red Wedding
Arya kills the Night King
Clearly, the final season of Game of Thrones was met with a mixed response, but that doesn't mean it was not still filled with iconic moments. The battle against the White Walker army was hyped up to be a massive moment in this final season, even if it was over faster than fans expected or perhaps hoped. Yet the moment the Night King is taken out remains a huge crowd-pleaser.
Though some expected that Jon Snow might be the hero to finally take out this supernatural villain, it made sense that it was Arya Stark who killed the Night King. She had proven herself a stealthy killer, and the epic moment of her dropping the dagger and catching it with the other hand, only to drive it into the Night King's stomach, was a huge victory.
Cersei's walk of shame
It is always fun seeing villains get what is coming to them. However, when it comes time to see Cersei Lannister face a very public humiliation, the show does the unexpected and actually makes us feel sorry for her. Seeing her march through the streets naked, and she is spat on and verbally abused, gives Cersei a sense of vulnerability we've never seen.
It is a harrowing sequence performed expertly by Lena Heady, as her defiance gradually fades into heartbreak. Of course, the scene is made all the more memorable with the chiming of the bell and the constant repeating of “Shame!” which lent itself to countless parodies.
Joffrey's death
The death of Joffrey Baratheon was something every fan had been waiting for since the first season. When the time finally came, the show managed to make it as memorable as it should have been while also subverting a lot of expectations. Joffrey was not the kind of villain to die in battle; instead suffering the indignity of choking to death at his own wedding.
It is one of the most memorable deaths in Game of Thrones, drawn out to show how much the sadistic young king suffers. It was also the rare death on the show that had audiences actually cheering. They had been through so much heartbreak over the series that this was a triumph.
Jon's resurrection
Not every major moment on Game of Thrones is necessarily fondly remembered. The death and resurrection of Jon Snow remains a controversial storyline in the show, with many fans suggesting it didn't actually add anything to the character and actually removed some of the stakes. However, the sequence of Jon returning is undeniably iconic.
After almost an entire year of fans speculating if Jon was really dead for good, it wasn't until Episode 2 of season 6 that the show took steps to actually bring him back. Regardless of the fact that many of us guessed the outcome, the sequence does a great job of drawing out the tension until that unforgettable moment when his eyes open and he gasps.
Bran being pushed from the window
The first episode of Game of Thrones had to do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of world-building and introducing the massive cast of characters. However, it also managed to deliver one of the greatest cliffhangers of the series that made sure fans would be tuning back in for the next episode.
The reveal that the queen, Cersei Lannister, was having an affair with her own brother, Jaime Lannister, was the first big shock and proved the show was going to go to some wild places. Ending with Bran Stark being pushed out the window only added to the intensity of the moment with Jaime's haunting line, "The things we do for love," becoming a key line of the series.
Cersei blows up the Sept of Baelor
Cersei Lannister was one of the most detestable characters in the series, but she also made audiences root for her success at times. When facing her own trial that could bring her down, the audience was not so much looking forward to the punishment she had long deserved, but rather seeing how she would manage to get out of the dire situation.
Indeed, she did have a plan, and it did not disappoint. Cersei's revenge scheme plays out in an epic, long sequence with foreboding music building to the wild moment when she blows away all of her enemies at once. It was a thrilling display of just how dangerous Cersei really is.
Tyrion's speech
The cast of Game of Thrones is filled with great performances, but Peter Dinklage has always stood out as the most acclaimed member of the ensemble. His performance as Tyrion Lannister gives us so many great moments. However, it is not hard to pick one scene that served as the highlight of this role.
Being accused of a crime he didn't commit, being betrayed by his family and friends, and being humiliated, we finally see what happens when he is pushed too far. It is a moment of fiery anger pouring out of Tyrion, questioning the injustice he has faced while ensuring he will not face it silently.
Blackwater
The first big battle shown on Game of Thrones proved that the show was going to expand the scope of television. Even though it is smaller in scale compared to the blockbuster moments that would come later, the moment the screen lights up with the green explosion of wildfire remains an epic moment from the series.
The spectacle served good storytelling and characters we cared about on both sides of the fight. It was thrilling, terrifying, and bloody. It was a promise of the kind of show that Game of Thrones could be and how it would change the perception that television was small.
"Hold the door"
No twist in Game of Thrones was more unexpected and heartbreaking than the reveal behind Hodor's catchphrase. Few fans expected that the gentle giant character would become one of the most tragic figures in the series, but this final sequence with Hodor still brings tears to the eyes of fans when they remember the reveal.
It is a gradual reveal, with the audience not completely understanding what is happening. It begins to take shape, and as it does, the emotional impact is devastating. The phrase "Hold the door" became another lasting reference that struck a chord with fans.
The Mountain vs. the Viper
Pedro Pascal has gone on to star in so many huge and acclaimed franchises since leaving Game of Thrones, but one moment still stands out as iconic in his career. Oberyn Martell was introduced as a new, charismatic, and fun character who fans were ready to follow for some time to come. However, his fight against The Mountain cut his time short.
The fact that Oberyn died was not as shocking as some other Game of Thrones deaths, but it is the way he died that has stayed with fans so much. The sudden brutality was wild even for Game of Thrones, and the showrunners clearly knew how to land a moment that would be hard to forget.
Daenerys becomes the Mother of Dragons
Season 1 of Game of Thrones still stands as a brilliant start to a series and ensured it would become one of the biggest shows on television. This is solidified with the game-changing final moments of the season that took the story to an entirely new level with the introduction of dragons.
It is a spectacular reveal to end the season on, bringing Daenerys Targaryen’s arc in season 1 to an epic conclusion. She suddenly became a true player in this game, and the world of the show was going to be changed forever.
Jon Snow faces down the Bolton army
Season 6 of Game of Thrones really marked a moment when the show went from the biggest spectacle on television to something that could rival any Hollywood blockbuster. The Battle of the Bastards really highlighted this, and the shot of Jon Snow standing alone on the battlefield as he faces down the charging cavalry remains one of the most iconic shots of the series.
It is a stunning and cinematic shot that was thrilling to behold. Even if Jon made some foolish decisions to put himself in that position, this remains one of his defining moments in the entire series.
The Night King raises his army
Season 5's "Hardhome" was a thrilling episode that changed the White Walkers from vague threats lurking in the shadows to terrifying villains who were going to conquer the world. It was also the first time the Night King was put front and center in the series, immediately proving to be an imposing and bone-chilling antagonist.
The image of the Night King staring out at Jon Snow as he raises his army of the undead is one of the most unforgettable and show-stopping moments of the series. The silence as the scene fades to credits further hammered home the eerie impact of the moment.
Ned Stark is killed
Still one of the most shocking moments in television history, Ned Stark's death cemented Game of Thrones as a must-watch show. The idea of killing off who was seemingly the hero of the series in the first season was a bold and exciting choice that immediately made Game of Thrones stand out as something special. It also changed the course of the entire story.
The moment shocked fans and spread beyond the show, even helping to kickstart the popular internet joke about actor Sean Bean's many on-screen deaths. It also gave the series the reputation that none of the characters were safe.
The Red Wedding
If Ned Stark's death made Game of Thrones a must-watch show, the Red Wedding turned it into the most talked-about show on TV. It remains one of the most iconic twists in television history and a devastating blow to all those fans who were hoping the show would have a happy ending.
The show boldly killed off Robb and Catelyn Stark while also ending the Starks' chances of taking the Iron Throne and achieving victory over their enemies. It is a moment that still has a huge impact and may never be topped in terms of the shock and devastation it delivered.
Winter Is Coming is celebrating the 15th anniversary ofGame of Thrones all month long with retrospectives, deep dives, quizzes, hot takes and more. Come with us on a return journey to Westeros!
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