10 Most Disturbing Game Of Thrones Episodes

Game of Thrones reached legendary status for its disturbing moments, and these episodes prove it.

Shireen Baratheon Death Game of Thrones
HBO

Across its eight seasons, ground-breaking fantasy series Game of Thrones provided plenty of moments that caused shock, disgust, outrage, and left an undeniable impression on its audience... both good and bad.

With a vast expanse of characters, plenty of double-crossing and scheming as well as its infamous guts, gore and nudity, Game of Thrones was the show that had everyone talking. Introducing us to the cut-throat world of Westeros, it focused on the bloody battles and the political power plays that would eventually lead to someone taking the Iron Throne and ruling the Seven Kingdoms.

If there was one thing that fans of the series came to expect, it was that few would survive along the way, and crucially that it was never a good idea to get too attached to any characters, as this seemed to ensure they would meet a particularly grisly end.

From the very first episode to the divisive finale, Game of Thrones frequently pushed the boundaries, and in its eight-year run, there was no shortage of controversy and plenty of disturbing episodes. Whilst any one of its sixty episodes could feature in this list, these are the ones that truly made their mark...

10. The Mountain And The Viper (Season 4, Episode 8)

Shireen Baratheon Death Game of Thrones
HBO

In only a relatively short space of time, Oberyn Martell (played by the dashing Pedro Pascal) became a fan favourite. His swagger and charm immediately earned our allegiance, and whilst he had a dangerous streak, it appeared that he was one of the good guys.

Arriving in King's Landing to seek revenge for the rape and murder of his sister, Oberyn volunteers to be Tyrion's champion for his trial by combat and squares off against the Mountain. A man as large as his namesake.

It is impossible not to root for Oberyn, and against all the odds it appears that he has the upper hand. Our hopes are soon dashed however as his swagger and posturing leave him vulnerable to attack and the Mountain seizes his opportunity.

In a moment that stands up as one of the most gruesome deaths in the entire series, Mountain crushes Oberyn's skull in his bare hands, and we see it all in eye-popping detail. Undeniably disturbing, this is an image that will turn even the strongest stomach.

This episode remains one of the most disturbing for how effectively it lets us fall in love with this character before cruelly killing him off in the most brutal way. This episode almost serves the purpose of providing a warning for the series as a whole; you'll root for these characters with everything you've got, and then you'll watch them die.

Contributor
Contributor

I have been writing about film for almost 5 years, contributing to sites including WhatCulture, JumpCut Online, Cineworld, and Zavvi. I also host a couple of podcasts, JumpCast and Let's Jaws for a Minute. You can often find me on the internet evangelising about Disney or why Jaws is the greatest film ever made...