Game Of Thrones: 13 Things You Learn Rewatching Season 1

3. Ned's Not An Idiot, But He Is VERY Naive - And His Death Is Still Shocking

While Season 1 quietly builds Jon and Daenerys as its two heroes - another thing that's more noticeable on re-watch is how it gradually shifts them into place for their heroic journeys - it's Ned Stark who stands as the central protagonist. That's why his death worked so well back then, and is why it still works now.

Even knowing that he dies, even after having seen the moment so many times and it becoming a part of the pop-culture lexicon, you still can't believe it actually happens. Rewatching, there's still a part of you that thinks he's going to get out of it because he's the hero. Sadly, he never does.

What makes this worse, in light of knowing where it ends up, is you can see just how many mistakes Ned makes. On first watch, this isn't as much of an issue because you assume he'll get out of it fine. But when you know he dies, and you see the way he wrongly trusts people to be as honourable as he is, you're left screaming at the television. He has a number of opportunities to do things differently. He's the Hand of the King, so he could establish much more power for himself before making a move. He could see through Littlefinger. He should DEFINITELY know Cersei isn't going to simply pack her bags and leave.

Ned's an honourable man and he does understand Westeros well, so it'd be a little unfair to call him an idiot. But when you rewatch, you see his naivety shine through. At the same time, though, it's balanced by knowing where his children end up. By the fact his children learn his lessons, and as they all come back to Winterfell, will honour his legacy.