10 Awesome Game Of Thrones Moments That Made Us Cheer

Game of Thrones is a show that loves to shatter our expectations and leave us devastated, killing characters who in any other story would make it to the end and take out all their enemies. "If you want justice," the show tells us, "you've come to the wrong place."

But that's not always true, and the show does have its fair share of traditionally satisfying moments. Yes, as hard as it is to remember when we're watching a beloved character get his teeth knocked out and face smashed in, things can actually go right in Westeros every once in a while. Sometimes, every so often, the right person gets a victory.

And while the show is often pretty focused on the excellent dialogue, with many of the best scenes just being characters having conversations, the series also has occasional bursts of action that often rival anything in a big summer blockbuster. We have everything from trials by combat to large scale battles to tavern brawls over really delicious chicken.

This week's episode, Hardhome, was a pretty great example of that, and one of the series' finest hours. It was full of high-stakes action, super tense fights, and genuinely great moments of catharsis.

From all throughout the show's five seasons, and amidst all of the horrible bleakness, let's take a look at the best, most badass moments in the series that have made us cheer. 

After Ned's shocking and sudden death, we really needed a victory, and in the Season 1 finale we got something pretty close to that.

In this truly amazing scene, Robb and his men are trying to figure out their next step. Some say they should rally behind Renly, joining their forces with his. They could also join up with Stannis, perhaps.

But suddenly, Jon Umber stands up and declares, "here's what I say to these two kings," spitting on the ground. He says Renly and Stannis are no kings, and there is only one king he wishes to bend the knee to: Robb Stark. Robb stands up and, as the Stark theme swells, all of Robb's men slowly begin to draw their swords and bend the knee, declaring for the King in the North. Even Theon pledges his loyalty to Robb, in victory and defeat.

After we finish the previous episode really wanting the Starks to take revenge on the Lannisters for Ned's death, this scene is so cathartic and needed, and it's actually kind of beautiful seeing all these brave men rallying together for justice. We're so ready after this to see the Starks kick some ass. Of course, the Red Wedding makes this scene pretty sad in retrospect, but at the time, it certainly seemed like Robb was about to do some great things.