The 20 Most Shocking Game Of Thrones Moments

Perhaps more than any other show this decade, Game of Thrones has reveled in its ability to wrongfoot an audience. Shocks come with each new season. It's a series that's constantly trying to catch its viewers off guard, butchering and beating up its key characters mercilessly in a constant, concentrated effort to surprise. Through six seasons, Game of Thrones has delivered far more than 20 shocking moments - this list could be expanded to 30, 40, 50 - but the number included here are all the same the very best in WTF-ery that TV has to offer. Many of the entries below involve murder and high profile deaths because, well, it's Game of Thrones, and as such are hugely spoileriffic. You have been warned..... 20) Tommen Takes The Easy Way Out "The Winds of Winter," Thrones' epic season six palate cleanser, carries more surprises than probably any other episode of the show. Together, showrunners (and this episode's writers) David Benioff and DB Weiss oversee a mass cast clearout, which in the case of many of said doomed characters feels necessary. For one character in particular, however, their goodbye just feels pointless and sad. Tommen, a good king who was never meant for George R.R. Martin's ruthless world, ends "The Winds of Winter" imprisoned in his chambers, effectively powerless and with his beloved wife dead at the hands of his own mother. His suicide - a silent jump out of the window - is shocking not just because of how sudden and unexpected it is, but because of how harshly it signifies that goodness and innocence have no place in Westeros. 19) Benjen's Alive! Remember Benjen Stark? Maybe not. He went missing at the beginning of season one, apparently lost in wildling territory, and was promptly forgotten seemingly by both the show and the characters therein. Benjen, it seemed, was to be a footnote to both Stark and Game of Thrones history. Then, at what was almost the end of season six, a character everyone had forgotten about just showed up out of nowhere to save Bran and Meera from a pack of ravenous wights. This unlikely hero was Benjen, but not quite as he was the last time we laid eyes upon him. Still, though now half-human, half-wight, it was all the same Uncle Benjen all right, here to save the day - almost six years since the show misplaced him somewhere north of the Wall. 18) Joffrey Misuses The Royal Scepter You want an example of how terrible Joffrey can be? Look no further than season two's "Garden of Bones." Before this episode, we'd seen people do bad things at Joffrey's behest - killing the butcher's boy, beheading a particularly well-loved main character - but the King himself was never actually an active participant. That changes in Garden of Bones, as Joffrey accepts his 'gift' of two prostitutes from Tyrion with characteristic malice - only this time he's very much involved in the brutalization, handing Littlefinger's favorite whore Ros a large, pronged royal scepter to insert into her fellow lady of the night. It's such an unspeakable act of violence that even this show - as hard R as they come - looks away. 17) Cersei's "Shame" Cersei's 'atonement,' as dictated by the High Sparrow and his Faith of the Seven zealots, lasts a whole six minutes. It's one of the most agonizingly protracted scenes on the show, consisting mostly of a stripped Cersei walking naked through the streets of King's Landing, mocked by her people and pelted with feces and rotten fruit, as a gloating Septa Unella rings a bell and repeatedly cries "shame!" It's a rare moment of vulnerability for the queen mother. Kudos in this scene goes to Lena Headey, who wordlessly conveys the feelings of a woman of strong resolve feeling the sudden shock of intense public humiliation, just managing to retain her shield of calm as she slowly crumbles on the inside. 16) Khal Drogo 'Crowns' Viserys Viserys Targaryen was never long for this world. He always had it coming: arrogant and dismissive of his Dothraki hosts from day one, there wasn't much chance he was going to see Game of Thrones through to the end. But, really, who suspected he was going to tap out the way he eventually did? Wrongly assuming Khal Drogo was dumb was Viserys' first mistake; thinking the Khal wouldn't pay any mind to Viserys threatening to kill his and Daenerys' baby was his last. Viserys, believing himself untouchable, rightly points out that blood cannot be spilled in Vaes Dothrak. Drogo gets around this little technicality by pouring a pot of steaming molten gold over Viserys' head - shedding no blood, and giving Viserys his long-desired "crown" as a parting gift. 15) Melisandre's Shadow Baby Our first real clue that Melisandre was no mere charlatan came halfway through season two. The Red Woman starts the show sounding suspiciously like some crank playing Stannis Baratheon for a fool; it's poor, skeptical Davos Seaworth that's forced to witness the true, terrifying power of the Lord of Light for the first time. Melisandre, alone with Davos, reveals a heavily pregnant belly underneath her robe, where only moments before she was very noticeably more un-pregnant. It's Stannis' child, born of their earlier tryst, but no ordinary baby: the Priestess moans, and out pops a snarling shadowy figure, clawing its way from Melisandre and into the world. A rare glimpse of magic in a fantasy show that tends to keep it gritty, Davos' quivering reaction says it all. 14) Locke Takes Jaime's Hand Random acts of violence are peppered liberally throughout Game of Thrones. It's part of the makeup of George R.R. Martin's universe: anyone may die, or be horribly mutilated, at any moment. In season three episode "Walk of Punishment," it's Jaime Lannister's turn to feel the pain. Captured by Noah Taylor's psychopathic Locke and his band of murderous Bolton bannermen, Jaime probably thinks he's saved the day for himself and Brienne by bargaining, offering Locke jewels and Lannister gold. So, Locke unchains Jaime, and leads him to what he thinks is dinner - before kicking him to the dirt, brandishing a carving knife and cutting off his famed sword hand. Jaime seems just as stunned about the incident as we are. 13) Tyrion's Double Retribution It's difficult to say which is the most shocking of the two murders Tyrion carries out at the close of season four. Is it that of his father, or of the lover that betrayed him? The parent with whom he always shared a mutual loathing, or the scorned woman that almost got him executed for a murder he didn't commit? Tywin Lannister's demise is certainly one of the most memorable in Thrones death scenes - it gives us the sight of the great Charles Dance, killed by crossbow while sat on the privy. But we always sensed the animosity between him and his children would see one of the Lannister kids snap one day. Perhaps more shocking is Tyrion killing Shae, the love of his life, by strangling her with the golden chain he previously gave to her as a gift. 12) Stannis Sacrifices Shireen The moment where Stannis Baratheon's obsession churns into pure madness isn't entirely unexpected. For four seasons, we're witness to the would-be-king becoming evermore desperate, almost sacrificing his bastard nephew Gendry and his closest companion, Davos, as his lust for the throne increases and his chance of ruling Westeros begins to slip further and further away. Stannis' final undoing sees him sacrifice his own daughter, in one of the show's bleakest, most unsettling scenes. The sacrificial fire to the Lord of the Light burning Shireen to death is kept off-screen, but potentially more horrifying is Stannis' reaction, as his daughter screams and we see on his face the regret of a man who knows he's sold his soul for a crown. 11) Arya Feeds Walder Frey His Own Children Did Walder Frey deserve what he eventually got? Did he have it coming? Even those traumatized by the Red Wedding would find it hard to deny that Walder Frey's end is anything but gross, as Arya Stark finally puts all that faceless men training to use to feed Walder Sr. some son pie, before ending his life. "Where are my sons, Lothar and Black Walder?" he asks the serving girl. "Here my Lord," she replies, peeling back the pie crust to reveal the human filling. As Arya Stark coolly removes her mask before slitting the Lord of the Crossing's throat, we simultaneously lose one major player in King's Landing and see another come into her own in a way hardly fitting of the good Stark name. We all knew Arya wanted revenge - but who knew she wanted it this bad? 10) Ramsay Makes A Eunuch Of Theon Having seen what Ramsay was capable of already - toying with Theon by setting him free, then recapturing him and indulging in a casual bit of skin-peeling torture - we should have been ready for anything from the character. But the scene in which Ramsay castrates Theon (off-screen, but we feel it regardless) was still almost unbearable. It all begins innocently. Ramsay treats Theon to a night with two beautiful women, before interrupting, having his men hold Theon down, then proceeding to take a knife and remove Theon's manhood. The way Ramsay teases Theon after by eating a pork sausage in front of him serves only to compound the misery, and indicate further just how sadistic this Bolton bastard is. 9) Blowing Up The Sept In one move, Cersei's enemies are conquered, and her path to the throne is cleared. As Game of Thrones massacres go, Cersei's destruction of the Sept of Baelor and everyone within it might not be the hardest-hitting, but it may just be the single biggest mass execution in the show's history. We all suspected Cersei would have a plan to rid herself of the High Sparrow, Margaery Tyrell, her brother and father, and uncle Kevan Lannister - but few probably expected her method would involve taking them, half the Faith Militant and a good portion of King's Landing out all at once. That's where wildfire, unseen since the "Battle of the Blackwater," comes in. And as a single candle burns to the wick, all of Cersei's problems are explosively dealt with. 8) Jon Targaryen This one may have been a bigger shock if a widely-circulated theory hadn't already correctly predicted the outcome years in advance. For those who'd never heard of R+LJ, however, the revelation of what really went down in the Tower of Joy was still a major turning point. In a moment that has the potential to alter the series in a profound way, it's revealed that Jon Snow's parents are not really Ned Stark and some "tavern slut." Jon's mommy and daddy are really Lyanna Stark and Raegar Targaryen, only Ned Stark took the boy and raised him as his own to ensure Robert Baratheon wouldn't seek the child out and kill him. Now that we know Jon Snow is a Targaryen, things are about to get very interesting. 7) "Hold The Door!" Is this the most emotional scene in Game of Thrones to date? Every fan, surely, had a soft spot for Hodor, the gentle giant who could only say one word - his own name - and who dutifully helped the escaping Stark children get as far on their journey north as they could. Unfortunately, as it turns out, even one as formidable as Hodor can be finished off by rampaging wights and the white walker threat. His end comes in a moment of self-sacrifice, holding the door shut between Bran and Meera and the wights coming to kill them - until he can hold no more. What makes the scene extra heartbreaking is the discovery that 'Hodor' is short for "Hold the door," a line the erstwhile Willis heard echo through time and was destined to forever repeat. 6) The Purple Wedding George R.R. Martin knows how to spoil a wedding. Luckily for fans, the events of season four's "The Lion and the Rose" offer more a cause for celebration than further reason to mourn. It is, of course, the long-awaited death of King Joffrey - killed by an unseen assassin as he toasts his own nuptials. The Purple Wedding, so nicknamed because of the color of Joffrey's dying face after consuming the poison slipped into his food by Olenna Tyrell, was a joyous moment for Thrones fans. After episode upon episode good guys buying the farm early, it was beginning to seem like the real villains of Westeros - like Joffrey - were never going to get their comeuppance. A shock moment, but a relief as well. 5) Hardhome "Hardhome" will go down as one of the best episodes of Game of Thrones ever - and it all hinges on the big shock moment waiting near the end of the hour. The viewer is lulled into a false sense of security, made to assume the threat in the scene comes from wildlings towards Jon Snow and his Night's Watch comrades. Jon and the Watch are north of the Wall, in Hardhome, in an attempt to make an alliance with the free folk. Nobody expects what comes next: a horde of wights, led by white walkers including the Night King, descending upon Hardhome to kill everyone - wildling, Night's Watch or otherwise - in sight. An intense battle in which we come to understand the sheer magnitude of the white walker threat ensues, before the episode ends in silence, with the Night King having claimed a vital free folk town within minutes. 4) The Mountain Breaks The Viper Oberyn Martell, we hardly knew ye. If there's a prize for most overkill death scene on Game of Thrones, Pedro Pascal's Dornish prince wins hands-down. His end is doubly shocking, however, for the fact that Oberyn - by the end of season four - was just beginning to look like the show's new hero, determined to avenge his sister's death. Not if The Mountain has anything to do with it. Ser Gregor Clegane is almost beaten by Oberyn, but the young prince's cockiness gets the better of him, as Ser Gregor trips him, smashes out his teeth and puts his thumbs through Oberyn's eyes. And then his head is smashed like a watermelon - and the Viper is no more. Season four's best new addition, snuffed out in a moment, just as his revenge story had begun. 3) Jon Snow's Watch Is Ended Jon Snow's resurrection in season six was never a big surprise, considering the press had sighted Kit Harington working on-set numerous times. The death before the rebirth at the end of season five, however, was one of Game of Thrones' true shockers. It was to nobody's astonishment that Ser Alliser Thorne led the rebellion against his eternal Night's Watch rival, but that half the Watch turned on Jon to corner and kill him still stings. Knife after knife is plunged into the new Lord Commander, then all we're left with is the sight of him bleeding out in the snow - another well-loved character apparently dead before his time. 2) Ned Stark Loses His Head An early indication that Game of Thrones was not your usual show came with Ned Stark - ostensibly our gallant hero and main character - sent to the great beyond at the end of the first season. Ned was the good guy, one of the few knights of honor in Westeros - surely, we all thought, he was going to survive to see at least another season. King Joffrey quickly put paid to that idea. Just as it appears Ned is to be pardoned by Joffrey and allowed to go free, the new king has a sudden change of heart - the former Hand's head will roll, in front of an audience including his two daughters no less. It was a depressingly unexpected moment that set the viewer to get ready for more of the same. 1) The Red Wedding Nothing tops this one. Even after the beheading of Ned Stark, the Red Wedding was an enormous shock. It's not just that two of the show's main characters since the pilot, as well as an emerging character pregnant with one of those leads' children, are assassinated in The Rains of Castamere. Prior to the Red Wedding, the show seemed to actually be laying the groundwork for these characters' future. Robb Stark, the king of the north, has a new wife in Talisa and a child on the way with her; Robb's just settled old grievances with his mother, Catelyn, one of the show's key figures; and Robb and his army are preparing for what appears to be a major final assault on his enemies. It was never to be, though: all are brutally massacred by Walder Frey, at the wedding of Edmure Tully. It's difficult to imagine any other show having the balls to do something so bold.