Game Of Thrones: 20 Most Shocking Moments Ever

by James Hunt

1. The Red Wedding

Red Wedding Game Of Thrones
HBO

Ned Stark’s death served as a warning: anyone can die. We listened, or so we thought. But we hadn’t really learned.

When Ned died, the story ostensibly transitioned to his eldest son, Robb. Ok, this makes sense: the father dies, and now we watch as his son - and widow - take revenge and win freedom for their people. Easy.

Again, with hindsight, maybe we should’ve seen it coming. But then, how could we? When Walder Frey mercifully agrees to a new wedding pact, how could we know what he’s really planning? When Robb, Catelyn, Talisa et al are given guest rights, how could we know that’d be broken? When Edmure goes off for the bedding, those doors slam shut, and the music shifts, even though, how could we know what horrors lay for this still inside the room?

We couldn’t, quite simply, and therein lies the neverending impact of the Red Wedding. It’s in those moments, which we now read as subtle clues, and signs of dread. The harrowing shock of Talisa being stabbed in her pregnant belly. The devastating sight of Robb, arrow in his chest, only able to mutter the word ‘mother’. And Catelyn, defeated in anguish, cutting the neck of a Frey wife, before hers too is cut. The scream doesn’t even have a chance to leave your throat. The tears burn your face. Ned’s death changed Game of Thrones. This changed TV.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.