A Game of Thrones debate over whether Viserys Targaryen or Ned Stark’s death was more impactful prompts thoughtful and passionate responses from fans.
A Game of Thrones debate about whether King Viserys’ or Ned Stark’s death was more impactful prompts passionate responses from viewers. Both characters, one King and one Hand of the King, died in the first seasons of their respective shows, Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon. Executed by the newly crowned King Joffrey Baratheon for treason, the honorable Ned Stark’s death was one of the most shocking moments in the history of television. In the prequel, the benevolent King Viserys Targaryen’s death was less much sudden, as he slowly deteriorated due to a leprosy-like disease.
The Twitter account @westerosies recently posed the thought-provoking question: “Which death was more impactful, Ned Stark in Game of Thrones or Viserys Targaryen in House of the Dragon?” As a result, a debate erupted and sparked a series of thoughtful and passionate responses from fans, many of whom interpreted the question differently in terms of emotional impact or impact on the plot. See a sampling of the responses below:
@BayouBun suggests that Ned’s death was more impactful because it elicited intense anger at Joffrey.
@Decbrochill says Ned “was the bigger loss of character by a mile,” though Viserys’ death was more impactful.
@narutosdurag says, “Viserys’ death began a downward spiral for his house but Ned’s began a much quicker and devastating destruction of Westerosi nobility.”
@SJTimes13 says Ned’s death was “one of the most important deaths in fiction.”
@LewSidRaps says “Viserys’ death divided a house,” though “Ned Stark’s death divided all of Westeros.”
@MovieFilesLive says Ned’s death had more of an emotional impact, but in terms of the story and Westerosi history, Viserys’ death was more impactful.
@KingSessi echoes this sentiment, saying Viserys’ death was more consequential, though Ned’s death is more “impactful to the viewer.”
@theKYingredient says Ned’s death is more impactful “by a mile” because it “set the tone” of the show.
Viserys & Ned’s Deaths Were Both Impactful
King Viserys and Ned Stark’s deaths were both tremendously impactful in their respective shows and in terms of overall Westerosi history. Therefore, it’s difficult to determine which one had more of an impact per se. The death of King Viserys, which occurred first chronologically, sparks the succession crisis which leads to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. This conflict eventually kills all their dragons and leads to the beginning of the end for their house.
While Viserys’ death divided a house, Ned’s death may have had more of an impact on the political landscape of Westeros. His execution essentially starts the War of the Five Kings, which is waged for the next few seasons of Game of Thrones. In terms of emotional impact, Ned’s death had more shock factor and set the tone for the brutal and unpredictable nature of the Game of Thrones universe. The death of Viserys was equally emotional to see the benevolent king wither away, though it was much less shocking since it was stretched out over an entire season.
