Game Of Thrones: 10 Most Satisfying Moments
9. A Mother's - And A Wolf's - Love ('The Kingsroad')
The first true blow fans of Game of Thrones suffer may be the execution of Ned Stark, but even before then, we see that this show will pull few punches. That becomes clear at the end of the very first episode when Bran is thrown from a tower by Jaime Lannister after the young Stark catches Jaime and Cersei having sex.
Catelyn keeps watch over her comatose son, and she's by his side when an assassin hired by the Lannisters moves in for the kill. He pulls a knife on Bran, but Catelyn jumps on him, fighting any way she can to protect her son. She even grabs the blade with her bare hands, suffering gruesome injuries in the process. While she can't stop the assassin herself, Bran's direwolf, Summer, strikes the deathblow.
Catelyn, sadly, is a character who's become better remembered for her death than for her life, but this scene shows just how strong she always was. The show has made it a priority to lionize Ned Stark following his death, but Catelyn was no different than her husband - she was tough with the grit of the North and never afraid to take action, yet overflowing with love for her family. That's what being a Stark is all about.
The newest member of the family, a wolf named Summer, also shows that he's made of similar mettle. Given a home and a companion of his own, the animal - as filled with loyalty as the family who bears his image - strikes swiftly and decisively, melting hearts as he tears throats.