Game Of Thrones: 20 Most Shocking Moments

14. Renly's Assassination

Not only was the shadow monster a surprise, but its purpose was utterly outrageous. At this point in the show, Renly Baratheon was looking like a genuine contender and a major player in the game, but that wouldn't last long. All it took was a rustling of his royal tent, and the shadow assassin struck at Renly, killing him instantly, before evaporating. It was an event which changed the entire complexity of the race for the Iron Throne, with arguably the front runner struck down before he even entered battle. It may not seem quite so shocking now due to the fact Renly was killed back in Season 2, but at the time, this was huge news.