10 Shocking Deaths That Changed Game Of Thrones

10. Jon Arryn

Ok, yeah, technically (by which I mean literally) we don't see Jon Arryn die on the show, and are actually just introduced to him as a corpse. Nevertheless, in terms of deaths that changed the show, his absolutely warrants a mention.

Why? Because without Jon Arryn being killed, there would no Game of Thrones. His death is the catalyst for the entire saga. It leads to Ned becoming Hand of the King, and discovering the truth about Cersei and her children. That in turn leads to him notifying Stannis, which results in the War of the Five Kings, and countless other events connected back to Jon Arryn's death.

Even years later, when you'd assumed the dust on his coffin had settled, it was still impacting on the show, as it isn't until Season 4 that the true perpetrator of his death is revealed: his wife, Lysa, so she can be with Petyr Baelish. It helps reveal the madness of Lysa, ultimately playing a part in her death, and just how truly conniving Littlefinger is and what he'll do to climb the ladder.

Setting all of that importance aside, there's also the image above. It's all we see of Jon Arryn, but what a picture that is. It lasts, much like the legacy of his death, a lot longer than the character did.