Honorable Mentions: Hold the Door (The Door, Season 6)
This scene holds a special place in every Game of Thrones fans heart, losing arguably the most innocent and beloved character of the show. This scene digs even deeper into our emotions by showing us that this moment, due to Bran’s warging, and the white walkers following closely behind, is what makes Hodor into who he is. Seeing him go from saying “hold the door” while flopping on the ground, to hearing him slowly shift to saying “hodor,” leaves the audience shocked, with goosebumps, and tears.
5. Oberyn Martell Loses to the Mountain (The Mountain and the Viper, Season 4)
What makes this scene so special is all the implications based on who wins the trial by combat. Any normal Game of Thrones fan is rooting for Tyrian and Oberyn Martell over Cersei, Tywin, and the mountain. Not only is there tension between Tyrian and the rest of his family that wants him dead, but Oberyn has some issues he wants to settle with the Mountain. Seemingly too quick for the Mountain, taking him down with stabs to many different areas, Oberyn begins to get cocky, gloating and wanting the Mountain to admit to his transgressions against his sister. Next thing you know Oberyn is receiving the news he wanted to receive, but not before getting his head busted open by the Mountain. This scene will leave you from excitement for Tyrian and Oberyn, to absolute shock… and nausea. This is definitely one of the most gruesome and disappointing scenes in the entirety of the show.
4. Jon Meets the Night King (Hardhome, Season 5)
“Hardhome” is such an important episode because it’s the first time we get to see a battle with the white walkers. Not only is this an unreal action sequence, but we also learn how to kill a walker. In the moment we think that Jon, and all of humanity, is in despair and won’t ever be able to defeat the walkers, Jon pulls the bunny out of his hat and uses Dragonglass to kill one of the walkers. Jon narrowly escapes, but this piece of info is essential for the future. The final shot of this episode, the Night King raising all of his new, undead soldiers, will definitely leave any fan nervous with goosebumps.
3. Cersei Bombs the Sept (The Winds of Winter, Season 6)
In the season six finale, Cersei decides ensure her safety against the High Sparrow and his minions by executing her most diabolical plan of the show. Cersei, not known for dealing with consequences, decides the best way to rid of her problems is by blowing up the sept in which her trial was going to take place. In this moment of selfishness, she kills hundreds, if not thousands of people with the massive explosion, also showing no care for her citizens who were affected by the destruction. Additionally, this scene only brings more surprises with the shocking suicide of King Tommen, and Cersei knowing that she is to blame.
2. Red Wedding (The Rains of Castamere, Season 3)
This scene towards the end of season three is what most consider to be the most shocking scene in television history. Killing off what were the two main protagonists at this point of the show, this was a shocking blow to most fans of the show. Many viewed Robb Stark, the white wolf, as the savior of Westeros, until we all simultaneously received a similar knife to the gut.
1. Ned’s Head Cut Off (Baelor, Season 1)
Towards the conclusion of the opening season of the world-renowned show, we are given what is arguably the most shocking occurrence in the history of television. A show, which was having an extremely successful first season, decided to kill off its main character. This scene set the course for the rest of the show in letting its audience know that no one is safe, and that this is going to be an even wilder ride than thought possible.