There have been scores of shocking moments on Game of Thrones, including some stunning character deaths. The first big one is still talked about to this day: the beheading of Ned Stark (Sean Bean) in season 1. For new viewers, seeing the man they assumed was the hero of the saga dying in such a brutal manner before the end of the first season made it clear no one was safe.
After that, the series kept up the out-of-nowhere deaths, often in horrific ways like the Red Wedding. However, one death viewers celebrated was the execution of Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aidan Gillen) in the season 7 finale, “The Dragon and the Wolf.”
It’s a wonderful sequence and even better when you realize how Littlefinger’s death is a brilliantly written mirror to Ned’s own passing.
Why Littlefinger deserved to die
In so many ways, so much of the chaos of Game of Thrones can be traced back to Littlefinger. The manipulative power player went out of his way to sow seeds of mistrust and discontent, all to further his own ambition. He betrayed Ned to the Lannisters, setting up his death without remorse while still holding a torch for Ned's wife Catelyn.
Littlefinger kept up his games, whisking Sansa to “safety” only to murder her aunt Lysa and mold Sansa into his puppet. Taking her to the North to marry Ramsey Bolton was another move by Littlefinger, and even after Sansa was freed of that situation, the schemer wasted no time asserting himself, trying to make it seem Arya was plotting against her sister in order to turn them against each other.
What made it all worse was that Littlefinger wasn’t doing this for his nation, his clan, or even pride. He was doing it for his own ego and greed, holding no loyalties to anyone but himself, and was always so smug in his control. That’s why his downfall was so satisfying.
How Littlefinger and Ned’s deaths are wonderful mirrors
Comparing the deaths of Littlefinger and Ned offers a fascinating mirror not only to each man’s fate, but also to how they showed the two sides of Westeros society. Ned believed Joffrey would want him to bend the knee and pledge loyalty and was ready to do that to save his family. Joffrey ordering his death shocked even the young king's mother, Cersei Lannister. It was a move no one expected.
Meanwhile, Littlefinger assumed he was watching Sansa put Arya on trial, only to realize too late that he was the one in danger. Few moments are as satisfying as Sansa laying out the accusations of murder and treason, and coldly intoning, “how do you answer…Lord Baelish?” Littlefinger’s complete bafflement was priceless.
There’s also how this showcases each man’s inability to read the room. Ned’s biggest flaw was assuming the elites of King’s Landing held to the same ideas of honor as in Winterfell. It’s why he trusted Cersei to do the right thing to protect her children’s secret parentage, or Littlefinger to live up to his word and support King Robert's final wishes for the Iron Throne to pass to Ned as regent. Sadly, Ned realized too late that it didn’t work that way.
In contrast, Littlefinger was playing his usual political games in a realm where people held to honor are always direct. He also failed to realize the games around him weren't working the way he thought. Arya plotting against Sansa made no sense because Sansa knew her sister never cared about being a lady, so obviously, this was a plot by Littlefinger. Basically, the player got played because he didn’t grasp that the playing field had changed.
Finally, there’s how each man faces their end. Ned knows his surprise execution is wrong, but holds as much dignity as he can while accepting his fate. Littlefinger? After realizing he can’t weasel his way out of it, he literally falls to his knees and begs for mercy, proving himself a coward. His last words are a plea just before Arya slits his throat to cheers from the audience.
In short, Ned met his end with dignity and grace even as he was outwitted by putting too much trust in others. Littlefinger died begging as a coward after his games blew up in his face. One can only imagine Ned smirking at how Littlefinger paid for his actions in the end.
There are so many wonderful elements in Game of Thrones, yet the way the Ned and Littlefinger deaths mirror each other so well is a genius touch. It makes rewatching the show all the better, and is a great example of why this fantasy epic stands the test of time.
Game of Thrones is streaming on HBO Max. The new spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, premieres on January 10.