While the hit HBO series may not have ended strongly, these unforgettable Game of Thrones scenes are still strong enough to keep fans coming back.
HBO’s Game of Thrones became one of the biggest juggernauts in TV history, leading this adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s novels to create several iconic scenes. The series quickly became acclaimed for its deeply-layered worldbuilding, political intrigue, and branching storylines, culminating in landmark moments in each main cast member’s character arcs.
While season 8 was critically panned for how several key arcs finished, Game of Thrones has too many striking scenes of intense action, quieter dialogue-driven, and everything in between to forget. From the execution of Ned Stark setting the tone of the series for audiences to set-piece moments like the Battle of the Bastards, many of these scenes will stand the test of time.
10
The Execution of Ned Stark Was a Shocking Wake-Up Call
To this day, the execution of Eddard “Ned” Stark in the penultimate episode of Game of Thrones season 1 is one of the series’ most crushing scenes. After uncovering a bleak political conspiracy surrounding the death of John Arryn, the parentage of the “Baratheon” children, and the planned order of succession, the illegitimate King Joffrey I Baratheon puts Ned to the sword — and Ned’s own sword, no less.
Game of Thrones was already clearly conveying the punishing nature of the world of Ice and Fire. However, this shocking scene cemented in many audience members’ minds that no one in the show is safe and justice is difficult to find. Even Joffrey’s villainous mother was stunned, further elevating the gravity of the situation.
9
Daenerys Targaryen’s Rebirth as the “Mother of Dragons” Was a Milestone
By the time the series’ events are put into motion, Daenerys is among the last living members of the Targaryen family in Game of Thrones. Her life was grueling, and while her upbringing and endgame of her arc ended in a descent into tyranny that echoed her vile father’s, her rebirth as the “Mother of Dragons” in season 1’s finale was a superb plot milestone.
Daenerys Targaryen did what she could with the punishing hand forced upon her by her power-hungry brother Viserys and others. Seeing her rise from the pyre with three newly hatched dragons was a powerful sequence. This scene marked a turning point in her character arc, emphasized by the first appearance of dragons in ages.
8
The Red Wedding is Still One of the Most Grimly Iconic Scenes
Even by the show’s standards, the “Red Wedding” is still one of the most brutal series of deaths in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. After going back on his promise to marry one of Lord Walder Frey’s daughters in exchange for assistance in the war against the Lannister forces, Robb Stark, his wife Talisa Maegyr, and his mother Catelyn Stark are deceived and assassinated at what was believed to be a reconciliation.
Characters like Ned Stark being murdered already showed how unforgiving this world can be. Still, the deaths of Robb, his loved ones, and the rest of his supporters are one of the series’ most shocking moments. It’s not an easy scene to rewatch, but the visceral way these betrayals were carried out undoubtedly raised the plot’s stakes.
7
The Purple Wedding Was Justice in a World With Little
For many fans, the “Purple Wedding” was a long-awaited and deserved revenge for the preceding and infamous “Red Wedding.” Actor Jack Gleeson did an exceptional job of making Joffrey Baratheon a convincing and easy villain to hate, and his assassination at his wedding feast after being poisoned came at the right time.
One of the most satisfyingly ironic deaths in Game of
Thrones, the “Purple Wedding” death scene is memorable for being a rare example of a villain being forced to face justice in a world that often rewards them. The false king had committed a slew of crimes against humanity, with Ned’s young daughter Sansa Stark being one of many, and his grisly demise is not one fans will forget.
6
Tyrion Lannister’s Intense Trial Was a Standout Performance
Lord Tywin Lannister was one of the most imposing antagonists in the show, and that’s largely thanks to Charles Dance’s dominating performance. He and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister built an incredible tension between them, and the latter’s sham of a trial after being falsely charged with Joffrey’s assassination sees Tyrion rage against his cruel and vindictive father in front of an audience of nobles.
Tyrion Lannister is another key character in Game of Thrones who is dealt a cruel hand in life. Most of his family vilified him for the deaths of their mother and wife due to childbirth complications. Watching Dinkalge’s powerful performance as Tyrion seething with fury and berating the villainous figures conspiring against him was palpable off the screen.
5
Tywin Lannister’s Death by His Son’s Hand Was Deservedly Anticlimactic
Though the argument can be made that Cersei Lannister was more spiteful and vindictive of Tyrion for simply existing, the way the latter’s dark dynamic with his father ended was far more memorable. Following season 4’s “kangaroo court” trial for a crime Tyrion didn’t commit, he repaid a lifetime of abuse and neglect by assassinating the Lord Hand Tywin Lannister in the dead of night while he was on the toilet.
Like Joffrey’s death, the way Tywin met his end was incredibly ironic considering the powerful reputation this political figure had amassed, but that’s why it was so fitting. Tyrion firing a crossbow bolt at his father while he was in the bathroom was unceremonious, anticlimactic, somber — given the context — and perhaps even morbidly funny.
4
Hardhome’s White Walker Invasion is Chilling in Every Sense
For all the political subterfuge in Game of Thrones, the greatest threat of this dark fantasy saga was the looming White Walker invasion. The Night King threatened the world with a second Long Night, and watching Jon Snow and the Free Folk’s hopeless defense against their invasion of Hardhome was chilling in every sense of the term.
Jon was among the few to recognize the scale of the threat all life would face if they failed to act. The intense action, death, and destruction that followed his attempted diplomacy mission perfectly sold how dire the situation was — and would be. Ending with a quiet moment, Jon locks eyes with the Night King as he raises his army, which is a masterclass in creating genuine dread.
3
Jon Snow’s Assassination Was a Jaw-Dropping Cliffhanger
Jon Snow’s assassination was a shocking cliffhanger in the books, and the show’s adaptation conveyed that well also. After rising through the ranks as the Night’s Watch’s Lord Commander and surviving an invasion of Castle Black from the Free Folk, Jon is eventually assassinated by his comrades in arms for allying with those beyond the Wall in the first place.
This was one of the most bitter betrayals depicted in Game of Thrones, and it was even bolder to make it season 5’s final scene. Kit Harington’s portrayal of Jon Snow cemented the character as one of the best modern fantasy heroes, showing shades of his surrogate father Ned Stark’s sense of honor, humility, and leadership qualities, making his punishment for simply fighting for the greater good put fans on edge for an entire offseason.
2
Cersei Lannister’s Full Descent Into a Despot Queen Was a Strong Finale
Lena Headey’s portrayal of Cersei Lannister is one of several highlights of Game of Thrones, and the season 6 finale depicts one of the darkest landmark moments for the character. Just one episode after the brutally tense Battle of the Bastards, audiences watch Cersei execute a bombing on the Sept of Baelor using Wildfire to eliminate her political rivals — the religious zealots known as the Sparrows and most of the Tyrell family.
In this drawn-out and dramatic scene, fans see how meticulously cunning Cersei is at her worst. More importantly, however, it demonstrates how frightening the power she wields is now that the title of Queen of the Seven Kingdoms lets her indulge her most violent tendencies on a massive scale and with little restraint.
1
The Battle of the Bastards Was Nearly All Spectacle in the Best Way
Another of season 6’s most significant scenes was in the Battle of the Bastards. At that point, Iwan Rheon’s Ramsay Bolton successfully managed to top Joffrey as the most hated and terrifyingly convincing villain in Game of Thrones. This made the battle itself between Ramsay and Jon’s forces for the fate of the North all the more nerve-wracking, especially after the atrocities the former committed against Sansa and many other innocents.
The battle itself was brilliantly choreographed and masterfully shot, which helped make the scope of the skirmish and the severity of its violence feel intimate. The pummeling of Ramsay himself was undoubtedly cathartic. Still, the fight and shots, like Jon’s near-final stand against Bolton’s cavalry, made this extended sequence nearly all spectacle in the best sense.
