20 Best Game Of Thrones Deaths (So Far)
10. Eddard Stark
Death By: Beheading --- Killed By: Ser Ilyn Payne
Eddard Stark, known by his family and friends as Ned, was the head of House Stark and Lord Paramount of the North. His arrest for treason for questioning the legitimacy of Joffrey Baratheon being the rightful successor provides an entertaining and thrilling end to season one.
While we thought that he would simply be exiled for admitting to treason (although the claims he made were true), Joffrey Baratheon decided to go ahead with the execution. To put it politely, Joffery is evil and sadistic - and it's clear here, as he forces Eddard's daughter, Sansa Stark, to watch the execution.
The death of Eddard Stark was important for the viewers to understand the personality of the future King, and although it's a death no-one wanted, it's a great way to make us stick around for season two. Not only that, you actually see his dismembered head fall for a second or two, before it switches to Arya crying, leaving viewers rather nauseous.