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The 6 Biggest Deaths in Season Five of Game of Thrones

Season Five may not have been my favorite season of Game of Thrones, but even the show’s weaker seasons are still pretty darn good. As always, new characters both new and old continue to die, and this season had some deaths that would have big impacts on the show.

With the show entering a new period with most of the Five Kings dead, here are the six biggest deaths in Season Five of Game of Thrones.

#6- Mance Rayder, “The Wars to Come”

A former member of the Night’s Watch and the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder was able to unite the diverse Free Folk for a massive push to get past the Wall. Rather than through charisma or conquest, he united them with the simple truth that if they didn’t get south of the Wall, the White Walkers would kill them all. Despite his best efforts, he is defeated by the Night’s Watch and Stannis Baratheon and captured. Rather than bend the knee to Stannis, Mance chooses to be burned at the stake. Instead of dying in flames, he meets a merciful end via arrow to the heart, courtesy of Jon Snow.

Jon’s decision to mercy-kill Mance stems from the mutual respect and friendship that developed between the two during Jon’s time amongst the Free Folk. Inspired by Mance and his experiences with the Free Folk, Jon vows to protect Mance’s people from the White Walkers. Indeed, it’s Jon’s decision to give Mance a quick death that proves to Tormund Giantsbane and the other Free Folk that he can be trusted. He may be gone, but Mance’s will to protect his people lives on in Jon Snow.

#5-Myrcella Baratheon, “Mother’s Mercy”

Back in Season Two, Tyrion used his position as Hand of the King to send Cersei’s only daughter, Myrcella Baratheon, to Dorne to marry Prince Trystane. Against all odds, she and Trystane fall in love before Myrcella’s forced to return to King’s Landing at the behest of Jaime Lannister and Bronn. Tragically, she is poisoned by Ellaria Sand in vengenance for the death of Oberyn Martell, and she dies in Jaime’s arms.

What makes this death so tragic is that mere moments before, she reveals that she’s aware that her uncle Jaime is her biological father. Instead of being disgusted, she’s happy that he’s her father. For the first time, this gives Jaime the chance to be a father. Then she dies. I’ve seen some messed up things on this show, but that was one of biggest.

#4- Aemon Targaryen, “The Gift”

Despite being a Targaryen, Maester Aemon was relegated to being a side character during his time on the show. Having given up his royal heritage and a chance at the Iron Throne, Aemon chose to serve as the Maester of the Night’s Watch. There, he served as mentor to both Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly, but still lamented the fact that he could do nothing to help his only (known) living relative left, Daenerys. He ended up dying in his sleep from old age.

There are two main reasons why Aemon got on this list rather than other, more important people. The first is that he had helped to shape Samwell and Jon into the men that they would become. Second is the fact that he died of old age. On a show this blood-soaked, can you imagine how much of an achievement that is? He’s earned it.

#3- Stannis Baratheon, “Mother’s Mercy”

After Joffrey was revealed to be a bastard in every sense of the word, it seemed as though Stannis was the rightful king. Yet his actions over the series have shown otherwise. Killing his own brother to gain his army was bad enough, but at the end of Season Five, he was desperate enough to burn his own daughter to the Lord of Light. It was pointless in the end, as what few forces he had left were massacred by Ramsay Bolton, while Stannis himself was killed by Brienne of Tarth in revenge for his murder of Renly.

I never like Stannis, but after seeing him let his own daughter be sacrificed, I lost all respect for him. Anyone willing to do that to their own family doesn’t deserve to be a king. When the end came for him, all I felt was a mixture of pity and disappointment. As for Brienne, she managed to fulfill her vow to avenge Renly’s death. In Game of Thrones, it’s rare to see someone keep a promise like that.

#2- The White Walker, “Hardhome”

After managing to convince the Free Folk to join the Night’s Watch in the coming war against the White Walkers, it seems like things are finally going Jon Snow’s way. That feeling is immediately shattered when the White Walkers descend on the Free Folk settlement of Hardhome and kill almost everyone in it. In the midst of the rout, Jon Snow learns something that not even the White Walkers knew: while normal weapons shatter against the ice weapons of the White Walkers, Valyrian Steel doesn’t. Moreover, all it takes is being touched by Valyrian Steel for a White Walker to shatter, as shown when Jon Snow kills one in combat.

While the death of this nameless enemy may not seem as important, it’s probably the biggest revelation since Sam learned that Dragonglass kills White Walkers. There are multiple theories as to why Valyrian Steel can do this, but I think that it’s because dragons are somehow

#1- Jon Snow, “Mother’s Mercy”

One of the first things that Jon Snow did as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch was bring back as many of the Free Folk as he possibly could. Even though his brother’s knew that they needed all the help they could get for the fight against the White Walkers, members like Alliser Thorne and Olly couldn’t forgive the Free Folk. In one of the most shocking scenes in the entire show, members of the Night’s Watch mutinied and killed Jon.

While the show was just following what happens in the books, fans lost it when Jon died. He wasn’t just one of the show’s most popular characters, he was also one of the few left that were good. Watching him die was like getting your heart torn out. Thankfully, all would be made right with the world in the next season. But fans had to spend an entire year mourning the loss of the Bastard of Winterfell.

Agree with my picks? I’m not changing my top spot, though.

To see my favorite moments from Season Five, click here.

6 Biggest Deaths from Season 4 of Game of Thrones

You’d think that Game of Thrones would get tired of killing off characters after the Red Wedding, but it doesn’t. While the War of the Five Kings may be ending, the bloodshed doesn’t, as Season Four sees even more long-standing characters meet their fates. Some of them also happen to be people on my Game of Thrones hate list, too.

Four days remain until the final season of Game of Thrones premieres, and there are more characters who bite it. Let’s look at the six biggest deaths from Season 4 of Game of Thrones.

#6- Locke & Night’s Watch Mutineers, “First of His Name”

Back in Season Three, members of the Night’s Watch staying at Craster’s Keep got fed up with the poor way Craster was treating them. In response, they mutinied and killed Craster and Jeor Mormont, the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. In Season Four, Jon Snow leads a raid on the Keep, killing all the mutineers and free Craster’s daughter-wives. Unknown to all, one of the Night’s Watch members, Locke, was sent to find and kill Bran Stark on behalf of House Bolton, only to have his neck snapped by Bran when he warges into Hodor

The deaths of the mutineers was refreshing, but these deaths were important as a whole for several reasons. By leading the raid, Jon Snow not only proves himself as the leader that Jeor Mormont saw him to be, but avenges his mentor’s death and keeps the traitors form falling into the hands of Mance Rayder or the White Walkers.

Meanwhile, Locke’s death ensures that the continued survival of Bran Stark remains a secret, allowing him to travel northward to be trained by the Three-Eyed Raven.

#5- Ygritte, “The Watchers on The Wall”

Some of the greatest love stories end in tragedy, or so the story goes. While infiltrating the Free Folk, Jon Snow and Ygritte end up falling for each other. That makes it hurt even more for both when Jon chooses his loyalty to the Night’s Watch over love for Ygritte. Despite vowing to kill him during the Battle of Castle Black, Ygritte hesitates when she has the chance, leading her to be killed via arrow by Olly.

Despite being on opposite sides, Jon Snow and Ygritte truly loved each other and were heartbroken over the fact that they may have to kill each other. Jon remains devastated by Ygritte’s death, making it one of the hardest of the many losses he’s experienced throughout the show. It would be years before Jon’s able to move on from her death. Regretably, the next girl he ends up falling for is his (unknowing) Aunt.

#4- Lysa Arryn, “The Mockingbird”

Game of Thrones hasn’t focused that much on the Vale or Lysa Arryn, but it’s clear to everyone that she’s not mentally sound. When she discovers her new husband, Petyr Baelish, kissed her niece, Sansa Stark, Lysa comes close to throwing the poor girl out the Moon Door. While Littlefinger seems to calm her down by pretending to say that he loves her, he reveals that he’s only ever loved her sister, Catelyn Stark. He then proceeds to push Lysa from the Moon Door to her death.

Aside from showing how manipulative Littlefinger can be, Lysa’s death scene reveals one of the biggest mysteries of the show: the death of Jon Arryn. Lysa says that she was the one who posioned her husband, then lied to Catelyn and said the Lannisters were responsible. All of this was done on the orders of Littlefinger himself. Meaning, all the deaths and chaos that have occurred since the start of the show were because of Littlefinger’s machinations. What a jerk.

#3- Oberyn Martell, “The Mountain and the Viper”

You had one job Oberyn, and that was to kill the Mountain. When Tyrion demands a trial by combat for being accused of Joffrey’s assassination, Prince Oberyn Martell volunteers to be his champion against Cersei’s champion, the Mountain. While Oberyn easily gains the upper hand over the Mountain, he lets his desire to hear the man confess to raping and killing his sister, Elia Martell, and her children with Rhaegar Targaryen. As a result, the Mountain crushes his skull like a grape.

Oberyn’s death was one of the most brutal on the show, and that’s saying something. Aside from sentencing Tyrion to death for a crime he didn’t commit, Oberyn’s demise has far-reaching consequences. It practically dooms any hope of an alliance between the Lannisters and Martell, and leads to even greater death and suffering in the following seasons.

#2- Joffrey, “The Lion and the Rose”

After his Uncle and Grandfather secured his place on the Iron Throne, Joffrey solidified his power by marrying Margaery from the powerful House Tyrell. Yet in the midst of his wedding feast, Joffrey started choking to death without any warning. Despite the assistance of those present, Joffrey died in his mother’s arms.

It may have been the start of a new round of bloodshed and carnage, but fans of Game of Thrones practically danced in the streets in celebration. Joffrey was a rare type of villain in fiction: the kind universally despised by the fans. His death sparked an avalanche of memes and reaction videos celebrating the monster’s death. I can’t think of anything else to say, so here’s a reaction video from Sean TankTop on YouTube:

#1- Tywin Lannister, “The Children”

All his life, Tyrion has been emotionally abused by his cruel father, Tywin Lannister, who refuses to acknowledge any of his merits simply because he’s a dwarf. The straw that broke the camel’s back, though, was letting him be framed for the murder of King Joffrey, sentencing him to death, and even turning the woman he loved against him. Pushed to his breaking point, Tyrion escapes and then kills his own father while he’s on the toilet.

I won’t lie, I respected Tywin Lannister a great deal for being one of the smartest characters on the show. For all his success at gathering power, it was his failures as a father that did him in. His death would ultimately cause chaos in King’s Landing and enabled the rise of the Sparrows. Even so, watching the jerk die still put a smile on my face.

Agree with my picks? Send me your best reaction video to Joffrey’s death.

Click here to see my favorite scenes from Season Four.

The 6 biggest deaths from Season 3 of Game of Thrones

If I could divide Game of Thrones into a play or a movie series, then I think Season Three would be the end of the first part. One of the bloodiest seasons in the show, this saw a lot deaths across the board, with major, secondary, and minor characters all biting it. By season’s end, a lot of players had been taken out of the game.

Let’s just ignore the obvious pick for the number one spot, though, and remember that this season had a lot of other deaths. Here are the six biggest deaths for Season Three of Game of Thrones

#6- Ser Jeor Mormont, “And Now His Watch is Ended”

Ser Jeor Mormont was an important secondary character in the early seasons of the show. At the start, he was Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, becoming Jon Snow’s mentor, and even giving him his family’s sword, Longclaw. He essentially molded Jon into the leader that he would become. But Game of Thrones has a habit of killing off good men in awful ways. When members of the Night’s Watch mutiny at Craster’s Keep, Jeor is murdered by the mutineers in the process.

This death had a big impact on our two main characters in the Night’s Watch, Samwell and Jon. Without Jon or Jeor to protect him, Sam is forced to fight his own battles and become more of a warrior. As for Jon, Jeor’s faith in him proves to be well-placed, as he becomes the leader the Night’s Watch needs in the fight against Mance Rayder’s army, and eventually, one of the leaders Westeros needs for the fight against the White Walkers

#5- White Walker, “Second Sons”

In Season Two, Jon discovered that Craster had been sacrificing any sons his daugther-wives bore to the White Walkers in exchange for safety. Even after he was killed, the White Walkers intended to collect on that deal, coming after Gilly and her newborn son. Samwell Tarly managed to step up to protect the woman he loved, and slew the White Walker with a dragonglass dagger.

Aside from giving Sam the first of several badass moments, this was a pivotal moment in the show. Until now, the White Walkers appeared invincible. Having learned their weakness to dragonglass, Sam would bring that knowledge back to the Night’s Watch and humanity. That was the first step to preparing for the coming war against the White Walker.

#4- Beric Dondarrion, “Kissed by Fire”

After the Hound slays the leader of the Brotherhood without Banners, Lord Beric Dondarrion, in a Trial by Combat, everyone’s shocked to see Beric stand up, alive and unharmed. Apparently, the Red Priest, Thoros of Myr, has the power to bring Beric back from the dead. Even more shocking is the fact that this is the sixth time that he has done it.

Game of Thrones has already delved into the supernatural before: dragons, wights, White Walkers, and blood magic. But this was one of the craziest things that I had ever seen on the show. It started to make me believe that the Lord of Light may be real, and that he’s playing a role in the events of the show.

#3- Kraznys mo Nakloz, “And Now His Watch is Ended”

This man was one of the Good Masters, the Ruling Slave Master Elites of the city of Astapor. Under him, thousands of people were enslaved and subjected to horrible conditions. Then he made the mistake of trying to look down on Daenerys Targaryen. After tricking him into trading all of his Unsullied slaver-warriors in exchange for her dragon, Drogon, the Dragon Queen has him burned to death while the Unsullied kill all the other slave masters.

From the moment this man appeared, he had stuck his nose down on Daenerys, insulting her in Valryian and thinking she was just some stupid woman. The moment when he realizes that not only could she understand what he was saying, but tricked him, his face gives off a look of pure fear. We all shared that smug look on Daenerys’ face as Drogon barbecued the guy.

#2- Richard Karstark, “Kissed by Fire

When the North decides to declare itself independent, Rickard Karstark is one of the first of the Northern Lords to call Robb Stark the King in the North. As time went, his faith in his king waned. Frustrated at Robb’s decision to break his promise to marry Walder Frey’s daughter and losing two of his sons in the war, Rickard murdered two boys from House Lannister in cold blood. This led to Robb executing him for treason, but not before Rickard renounced him as his king.

While Rickard Karstark may have been a minor character, his death would have a big impact on the show. Without him, a good portion of Robb’s army left to return home, leaving him without enough men to continue fighting. This led Robb to return to ask Walder Frey for help, and that led to the horrible events that were to come..

#1- Everyone at the Red Wedding, “Rains of Castamare”

Where do we even begin with this? To start off, Walder Frey said he was willing to reopen his alliance with Robb Stark if his maternal uncle married one of his daughters. As it turns out, the wedding was a trap. The Freys, aided by the Stark’s own bannermen from House Bolton, turned on their guests, and slaughtered almost all of them. Just watch the video.

Even before I started watching Game of Thrones, I had heard about the Red Wedding. It’s one of the most famous moments in recent television history. A good part of the Stark characters were killed off, their army was destroyed, and the balance of power in Westeros had gone to the Lannisters. It also put all the people responsible for the massacre on my hate list. No other scene was as famous in Season Three as the Red Wedding.

Agree with my picks? Let me know what your favorite deaths were from this season

Click here for my favorite moments of Season Three.

My 7 Favorite Moments from Game of Thrones, Season 3

As Game of Thrones entered its third season, the War of the Five Kings was well underway, and the field was always shifting. Renly Baratheon was dead, while his brother lost his chance at the Iron Throne. Sansa was still a prisoner in King’s Landing, but no longer engaged to King Joffrey. The North was in chaos thanks to the Ironborn, while Daenerys sought an army to take the Iron Throne. On top of that, the White Walkers were not only real, but they getting stronger with each passing day, yet no one in the Seven Kingdoms noticed.

Season Three gave us some of the show’s best moments, and by the end of is, a good chunk of the cast would be written off the board. With five days remaining until the beginning of the end, here are my 7 favorite moments from Season Three.

#7- Sam Kills a White Walker, “Second Sons”

I talked about this in my counterpart to this post, so I will just say why I like it. I like Sam. He could stand to lose some pounds, sure, but he’s got one of the biggest hearts of anyone on this show. And when people need him the most, he’s always stepped up. And he ends up being more of a fighter than people give him credit for. I hope he and Gilly get to spend the rest of their days together, oaths or not.

#6- Jaime Loses his Sword Hand, “Walk of Punishment”

After being held captive by Robb Stark for more than a year or so, Jaime Lannister found himself a free man. Catelyn Stark entrusted Brienne of Tarth to get him to King’s Landing in exchange for Sansa’s freedom. At the start of Season Three, though, the pair were captured by Bolton soldiers. When Jaime tried to defend Brienne from being assaulted, the soldier’s leader responded by cutting of Jaime’s sword hand.

The loss of his sword hand marked a key moment in Jaime’s character development. Much of his identity was tied with him being the best swordsman in Westeros. While he did re-learn how to use a sword, everyone knew that he wasn’t as strong as before. This experience greatly humbled Jaime, though, setting him on the road from being the arrogant jerk he started off as to the hero he would become.

#5- Podrick the Sex God, “Walk of Punishment”

Podrick Payne may not be the smartest, strongest, or bravest fighter in Westeros, but his good-nature and honesty have won him a lot of good friends. After saving Tyrion’s life during the Battle of the Blackwater, Tyrion decides to thank him by giving him a reward: getting him laid at a brothel. To Tyrion and Bronn’s surprise, he comes back with the money he gave Pod: they did it for free.

I found this scene to be both hilarious and fascinating at the same time. Somehow, Podrick is so good at pleasing women that they refused payment. It also reminded of the only other guy in fiction that I know of that can satisfy women to that extent. Granted, he ends up doing it in his sleep, but he’s good-natured like Podrick.

#4- “Chaos is a Ladder” “The Climb”

Littlefinger and Varys are the two biggest spymasters in the entire show, with eyes and ears virtually everywhere in the show. Yet they both have different motives behind their actions: Varys works for the good of the people of the Seven Kingdoms, while Littlefinger works to gain power for himself. As the two verbally spar in the throne room over the nature of the realm and chaos, Littlefinger delivers a monologue on how “chaos is a ladder” that anyone can use to gain more power. Not everyone succeeds, but those who do will be rewarded for the climb.

We all knew Littlefinger was the last person you’d want to trust, but his motives were never made clear before now. This monologue showed how he has used the War of the Five Kings to gain more power for himself: by causing trouble, then letting everyone else tear each other apart over it. This ends up foreshadowing future revelations that Littlefinger is responsible for more of the events of the show than people realize.

What makes this scene so great is what happens towards the end. As Baelish continues his speech, we then cut to the dead body of his prostitute Ros, killed by Joffrey for spying for Varys. This scene is then immediately followed by the sight of Ygritte and Jon Snow’s group climbing up an abandoned section of the Wall. Driving the metaphor home with a literal example of a difficult climb was an amazing story-telling decision.

#3- Olenna Tyrell’s First Appearance, “Dark Wings, Dark Words”

After Margaery becomes engaged to Joffrey, her grandmother, Olenna Tyrell, comes to King’s Landing to help oversee the preparations for their wedding. One of the first things she does, though, is speak with Sansa to learn more about what Joffrey’s like. After initial hesitation out of fear of being overheard, Sansa comes out and admits the truth: Joffrey’s a monster. Olenna is unsurprised, just disappointed

From the moment we first see her, I had one thought about Olenna Tyrell: “Man, she is sassy as hell. Holy cow, I like her!” Cunning and witty to a fault, Olenna’s everything that Cersei Lannister wishes she could be: someone who’s good at the game of thrones. I can’t tell how many times a sharp remark from her made me smile. She may not have been on the show as much as others, but she was one of the best players the game had to offer.

#2- Jaime Admits the Truth, “Kissed by Fire”

Throughout Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister was more commonly known by his moniker “Kingslayer”. He got it for breaking his Kingsguard oath and killing King Aerys Targaryen, but his reason was left unclear. After being humbled by his time in captivity and the loss of his sword hand, Jaime admits to Brienne the truth.

When it became apparent that Robert’s Rebellion was going to succeed, the Mad King ordered his pyromancers to place wildfire underneath King’s Landing. He planned to burn everyone and everything in King’s Landing; he thought he would be reborn from the ashes as a dragon. Jaime, horrified, chose to put an end to the Mad King before he commit genocide.

For me, this moment made me rethink my opinion of Jaime. Don’t get me wrong, his winning personality and sleeping with his sister wasn’t doing him any favors. A knight breaking their oaths is a serious crime in Westeros. But given that Aerys was planning to kill hundreds of thousands of people, I think that Jaime was justified in killing him, saving all those people in the process.

From then on, my initial hatred of Jaime turned into a grudging respect as he began to transition from being the villain we first saw into someone willing to defy his sister to do what’s right and protect the Seven Kingdoms. If Westeros survives the Great War, I hope people will come to see him as a hero. He’s made a lot of mistakes, but he’s more of a knight than most of the people in the show.

#1- The Red Wedding, “The Rains of Castamare”

I don’t think I need to explain anything about this choice, or what happened. Even before I started watching the show, I had heard about the infamous Red Wedding. There have been references to it and parodies in pop culture by who knows how many people. Whenever I see something similar about to happen in fiction, I call it “A Red Wedding Scenario”. This was easily the most important scene from Season Three.

What’s more, the impact of this scene would have a long-reaching impact on the show and House Stark. They lost Winterfell for years, and any members that weren’t already running had to go into hiding. It would be another three seasons before the Starks got their justice for this horrific event, and it would be glorious.

Do you agree with my picks? What were your favorite moments from Season Three that didn’t make it on this list? Let me in the comments below!

Click here to see my six favorite deaths from Season Three. The number one pick will not surprise you.

My 7 Favorite Moments from Game of Thrones, Season Two

Whereas Season One saw the breakdown of order in the Seven Kingdoms, Season Two of Game of Thrones starts off with the drums of war already playing. And heads are going to roll like there’s no tomorrow.

While Season One was good, I think Season Two is where Game of Thrones began to find its foothold and define what it was. With a second season, the story began to be bolder in what it tried to adapt from the books, and it was made all the better for it.

With six days left until Season Eight, let’s go back and look at my 7 favorite moments from Season Two of Game of Thrones.

#6- Purging of Robert’s Bastard’s, “The North Remembers”

It’s an open secret in King’s Landing that Robert Baratheon was not a faithful husband. King Robert often visited taverns and brothels to sleep with any pretty girl in a futile attempt to fill the hole made by the fact that he lost the woman he loved to a Prince. As a result, he ended up having at least a dozen bastard children, who all had a better claim to the Iron Throne then Joffrey. To keep his throne secure, Joffrey ordered the Gold Cloaks to kill every one of Robert’s bastards in King’s Landing.

I was disgusted by the fact that Joffrey was willing to murder babies simply because they existed, but I couldn’t help but smirk at how his PR would take a huge hit. He was already on thin ice for killing Ned Stark and starting the War of the Five Kings, but this made him sink even further. Most importantly, though, is the fact the bastard that mattered the most, Gendry, slipped through Joffrey’s fingers. Hopefully, he will live through Season Eight and become the next Lord of the Stormlands.

#6- Jon and Ygritte’s First Meeting, “the Old Gods and the New”

How can we forget the fiery Ygritte, Jon Snow’s first great love? While scouting for the location of the Free Folk’s camp, Jon Snow’s group gets attacked by Free Folk scouts. They kill all but one, only for Jon to be shocked to find out it’s a woman. Despite attempting to kill her, Ygritte manages to lead Jon away from his group, leaving them alone together as night falls.

From the moment they first meet, Ygritte was aware that Jon found her attractive, and uses that to mess with him on several occasions. By Season Three, the two had fallen in love with each other, which made their separation all the more heart-breaking. On a meta note, their actors, Kit Harrington and Rose Leslie, got married in June 2018. Assuming they don’t split up in the future, it will be like Jon and Ygritte getting their happy ending. Plus, if they ever have kids, this will make for one heck of a story on how they met.

#5- Brienne of Tarth introduced, “What is Dead May Never Die”

After fleeing King’s Landing in the wake of Robert’s imminent passing, Renly crowns himself as King of the Seven Kingdoms, on the basis that he’d be a better king than his brother Stannis. Next time we see him, he’s already amassed a huge army and secured an alliance with the Reach by marrying his boyfriend’s sister, Margaery Tyrell. Said boyfriend then gets his butt whooped by a mystery knight. Imagine everyone’s shock when it’s revealed that Ser Loras was beaten not by a man, but a woman: Brienne of Tarth.

Westeros has had its fill of strong women, from Olenna Tyrell to Daenerys Targaryen. Only a few have taken up a sword in battle, and Brienne’s one of the best. Despite being looked down on for her gender, Renly was right to recognize her for her skill as a warrior first and foremost. Since then, Brienne has proven to be among the best fighters in the series, even beating the Hound in combat. When the White Walkers invade, she’ll be fighting there on the frontlines

#4- Riot in King’s Landing, “The Old Gods and the New”

Just when people thought Joffrey reached the pinnacle of pointless cruelty, he lowered the bar yet again. While returning to the Red Keep, a mob of commoners starts throwing insults at Joffrey. When he gets hit in the face with manure (which, admittedly, most people would be pissed at), Joffrey loses it and orders his guards to “kill them all”. This leads to a full scale riot in King’s Landing as Joffrey’s guards are nearly overwhelmed by the mob.

This moment reinforces the fact that, even if he was Robert’s son, Joffrey is not fit to be King of anything. King of fictional morons, maybe, but I doubt that all the Patrick Star’s and Homer Simpsons would put up with him either.

This scene filled me with a mixture of disgust and shock. We all knew that Joffrey was an idiot, but no one thought he’d be dumb enough to start a city-wide riot. Adding on to the list of trauma she went through, Sansa was almost raped by some of the rioters while Joffrey refused to look for her. When Joffrey eventually died, I felt no pity for him whatsoever.

#3- “The Queen Mustn’t Know”, “What is Dead May Never Die”

After being made Hand of the King in his father’s abscence, Tyrion had found himself undermined by his sister at every chance she got. Realizing that someone on the Small Council was ratting on him, Tyrion comes up with a clever way to find out who the mole is. He tells each member of his plans to wed Myrcella Baratheon, but gives a different man for each one. When Cersei predictably gets mad at him, she inadvertently gives away her informant: Grand Maester Pycelle.

This exchange shows off how Tyrion Lannister is one of the smartest people in the Seven Kingdoms, and why he’s one of my favorite characters. Tricking three members of the Small Council, two of which run the biggest spy networks in the show, is an insanely impressive feat. Even Varys is willing to give him props for what he did, saying “Well played, my lord Hand”.

The icing on the cake to all this is that pissed Cersei off beyond belief, and I find that extremely funny.

#2- The Battle of Blackwater, “Blackwater”

I couldn’t choose just one moment from this episode, so I just picked the whole thing.

The culmination of the events of the entire season, the penultimate episode saw Stannis Baratheon launch an all-out assault on King’s Landing in order to take the throne he saw as his (No one cares that Daenerys is still alive, I guess). With Joffrey incapable of doing anything helpful, it is up to Tyrion to lead the outnumbered defenders of the city. Stannis’ forces came close to breaking through the gates, with Stannis himself making it onto the ramparts. In the end, though, the arrival of the armies of Tywin Lannister and House Martell force him to retreat.

This episode marked the first time Game of Thrones ever attempted a large-scale battle, making it one of the most ambitious undertakings in the history of TV. With a good portion of the series cast, and the inclusion of hundreds of extras, made for an episode on par with a Hollywood blockbuster. The best part, though, is that this is just a taste of what was to come in future seasons. And Season Eight is looking to have battle scenes on par with the Battle of Helm’s Deep from Lord of the Rings. I can’t wait!

#1- The White Walkers Are Real, ”
Valar Morghulis”

After the climactic battle that occurred in the last episode, what could Game of Thrones possibly do to top it for its season finale? Set the fans up for even crazier moments. And this was the moment where we finally saw the face of the true enemy.

As Samwell Tarly and the other members of the Night’s Watch are out scouting, they are terrified when their Brothers blast their horns three times, heralding the approach of the Wights and White Walkers. As Sam is left behind, he is terrified to see a horde of Wights advancing on the Night’s Watch encampment. It gets worse. At the head of the undead legion, riding a zombified horse, is a White Walker.

We had only caught brief glimpses of the White Walkers. This would mark the first time that we had ever seen a White Walker in its entirety; not even the books had done this. And they are like something straight out of a horror film. Their gaunt and icy appearance, those supernaturally blue eyes, and a language that sounds like the cracking of ice. This is the evil that the Seven Kingdoms would eventually have to face, and it is absolutely terrifying to see.

Do you Agree With My Picks? Here are my Picks for Biggest Deaths of Season Two.

6 Biggest Deaths in Season 2 of Game of Thrones

With Ned Stark’s wrongful execution at the hands of Joffrey, any chance of peace in the Seven Kingdoms went up in smoke. Now the War of the Five Kings has begun, and lots of people are going to die.

Season Two of Game of Thrones continued the momentum that started in the first, as the war for Westeros began in earnest. More people began to drop like flies, and here I am, trying to talk about it. With six days left until the final season begins, our look back continues with the 6 biggest deaths in Season Two of Game of Thrones.

Now, in the immortal words of the most useless King in Westeros: KILL THEM ALL!

#6- The High Septon, “The Old Gods and the New”

This guy was a nobody, at least to us viewers. In Westeros, he was the head of the Faith of the Seven, making him the Seven Kingdoms equivalent to the Pope. Not even that title was enough to save him, though. After Joffrey’s stupidity causes the Riots in King’s Landing, the starving refugees surround the unfortunate man and then tear him to pieces.

I think that this death is important because it shows just how far Westeros has fallen since King Robert’s death. The people are so desperate that, if given the chance, they would attack the royal family and nobility. Even the leader of their religion, which is a big part of their lives, isn’t safe from their baser instincts. Everyone watching shared Tyrion’s terrified look.

#5- Qhorin, “Valar Morghulis”

This guy was one of the best members of the Night’s Watch, and he had the battle scars to prove it. Nicknamed Qhorin Halfhand after losing most of the fingers on one hand fighting a Freefolk, Qhorin was said to be able to survive an entire winter Beyond the Wall by himself. Considering how that’s where Freefolk, Giants, and the White Walkers live, that’s an impressive feat.

In the end, Qhorin ends up dying at the hands of Jon Snow, though of his own volition. When both were captured by Freefolk, Qhorin pretended to try and kill Jon so that he would be in place to spy on the enemy from within, then sacrifices himself as the last piece of the puzzle.

Qhorin’s sacrifice would lead to Jon’s story arc among the Freefolk throughout Season Three. This would ultimately lead to Jon deciding to save them from the true enemy, the White Walkers. The Freefolk would return the favor time and again, become some of Jon’s biggest allies in the fight against the White Walkers. Your death was not in vain, Qhorin.

#4 -Pyat Pree, “Valar Morghulis”

From the moment I first saw Pyat Pree of the Warlocks of Qarth, I thought he was a creep. My feelings became justified when the Warlocks and Xaro teamed up to take over Qarth and imprison Daenerys and her infant dragons. Their plan was to keep them locked up forever and use the dragons inherent connection to magic to strengthen their power. Daenerys just said one word to them: dracarys. And Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion burn the jerk down.

This death is important on a number of levels. First, this marks the first time that Dany’s dragon children kill a person. That’s the equivalent of them taking their first steps. Second, it let’s everyone, and I mean everyone know that if they think they can use Daenerys Targaryen for her power, they will die. Having spent most of Season Two relying on the help of others, Daenerys finally lets everyone know who the boss is.

# 3- Billy and Jack “A Man Without Honor”

Another example of two nobodies whose deaths had a big impact on the show. After Bran and Rickon manage to escape Theon’s occupation of Winterfell, the man begins a desperate search to get them back. To the North’s horror and rage, it appears that he flat out killed them, putting their burned corpses on display for all to see.

In reality, though, Bran, Rickon, and their group had doubled back and hid in the crypts of Winterfell. The boys Theon killed were two orphans that Bran sent to a nearby farm.

The deaths of these two would have huge ramifications, both good and bad. On the one hand, everyone in Westeros thought Bran and Rickon were dead, letting them move around easier. On the other hand, everyone in Westeros thought they were dead. Catelyn died thinking all her sons were dead. While Rickon would later die by Ramsay Bolton’s hands, Bran would survive to play a key role in the war against the White Walkers. As for Theon, he deeply regrets what he did, and now seeks to atone for his sins. Rest in Piece, Billy and Jack

# 2- King Robert’s Bastards, “The North Remembers”

What do you do when you’re King and want to want to keep that crown on your head? Kill off everyone who may have a better claim to the throne than you. When Joffrey learns that his “father”, Robert Baratheon, had dozens of illegitimate children in King’s Landing, he has the Gold Cloaks kill any in the capital they can find. He feared, correctly I may add, that his enemies would say they had a better claim to the Iron Throne than he did.

While it did help secure his hold on the Iron Throne for a while, Joffrey’s purge of Robert’s Bastards backfired and hurt his and the Lannister’s image, badly. It also drove the point home that anyone with royal or noble blood in them, even if they didn’t know it, had a target on their back.

Despite Joffrey’s efforts, though, he missed one: Gendry the Blacksmith. As of the start of Season Eight, Gendry is the last surviving descendant of House Baratheon. If the show is willing to let it happen, then Gendry will live to become Gendry Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands. That’s my hope at least.

#1- Renly Baratheon, “The Ghost of Harrenhal”

Of all the deaths in Season Two, this one had the biggest ramifications. Renly Baratheon was the youngest of his siblings, and unlike Robert and Stannis, he was never a warrior. Yet when Robert was about to kick the bucket, Renly was the first to try and grab the Iron Throne. And he took a huge chunk of the Baratheon forces with him.

When it became apparent that Renly was willing to fight his own brother Stannis (and probably win), Stannis was willing to resort to using blood magic to assassinate Renly in his own camp. Thus, the first of the Five Kings fell.

Renly’s death was both shocking and a game-changer. It led to Stannis gaining control of most of the Baratheon forces, and we know how that turned it. On a personal level, it led to Brienne dedicating herself to avenging her King’s death, something that she would eventually do. No one knew it at the time, either, but it was the beginning of the end of House Baratheon.

Do you agree with my picks? What deaths do you remember the most from Season Two? Let me Know!

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The 6 Biggest Deaths in Season One of Game of Thrones

It’s as Cersei Lannister once said: “When you play the game of thrones, you either win or you die”. Whether it was the original book series or HBO’s legendary adaptation, that statement rings true to this day. In the world of George R.R. Martin’s epic, no character, no matter how important they are, is safe from death.

With a week until the premiere of the final season of Game Of Thrones, we’re taking a look back at the best deaths for every season. For this series, there are a few ground rules: one, any deaths had to occur on screen for all to see. Two, they have to effect the plot in some significant way.

Let’s kick off the carnage at the very beginning with Season 1.

#6- Gared and Waymar Royce, “Winter is Coming“

These guys were two of the first people that we were introduced to in Westeros. They also hold the dubious distinction of being the first of hundreds of people to die in Game of Thrones. While riding beyond the Wall, they come across the grisly site of freefolk decapitated and arranged in a sacrificial circle. They are then promptly killed by a Wight and White Walker.

Considering what’s about to happen in the finale, the deaths of these two are important in the grand scheme of the show. The demise of these two members of the Night’s Watch serve as a warning, not only to an oblivious Westeros, but to the viewers: that an ancient evil is about to return.

#5- The Catspaw, “The Kingsroad“

The first person on our list was only on screen for a few minutes, but he had a big impact on the show. Hired by an unknown client to kill a comatose Bran Stark, he nearly succeeded. Thankfully, his faithful dire wolf Summer was there to rip his throat out.

Even in death, this guy had a big impact. The mystery of who hired him, or why he had a rare, valyrian steel dagger with him, would helped stoke the conflict between the Starks and Lannisters. To this day, it’s still unknown who hired him, though it’s implied that it was, in fact, Littlefinger.

#4- Lady, “The Kingsroad“

Remember how each of the Stark children had a pet direwolf? There were six at the start of the show. By Season 8, there are only two left. And Sansa’s was the first to go.

When Nymeria attacks Joffrey to defend Arya and her friend, the spoiled prince and Cersei demand that Nymeria be put down. Since Arya forced her to run away, Cersei forces Ned to kill Sansa’s direwolf in Nymeria’s place. This incident would mark the beginning of Arya Stark’s hatred for both Joffrey and Cersei Lannister, something that continues to this very day. That, in turn, led Arya down the path that she he has taken.

#3- Viserys Targaryen, “A Golden Crown“

This one is actually a personal favorite of mine. From the moment he appeared onscreen, Viserys Targaryen made everyone hate him by being a waste of space. He spent years emotionally and physically abusing Danaerys, then forced her to be married off to Khal Drogo against her will. All of this was done for his own benefit and reclaim the Seven Kingdoms he saw as his.

Viserys arrogance proved to be his undoing, as he drunkenly threatened to take back his sister and her unborn child. Luckily, Khal Drogo proved to be a protective husband, and gave Viserys a crown of molten gold as punishment.

His death, aside from the first of several jerks in the show (I keep a list), also marked an important moment in Daenerys’ character development. She began to truly see herself as a dragon, and that she would do everything that her brother could not. And by the gods, has she!

#2- Robert Baratheon, “You Win or You Die“

While it’s technically breaking the rules, we will make an exception for King Robert, considering the impact his death has on the show. After spending years drinking and indulging himself, Robert’s mortally wounded off screen by a boar, and then later dies of his injuries.

King Robert’s death is ultimately what pushes the realm into the War of the Five Kings. This leads to the extinction of several great houses, tens of thousands of people dead, and Westeros a land divided as the White Walkers prepare to invade. Closer to home, it’s revealed that Cersei orchestrated her husband’s death by getting him too drunk to fight. This would lead to Joffrey becoming king, and the chaos that followed.

#1- Ned Stark, “Baelor”

Ah, Ned Stark, the first of far too many good people to die. After being betrayed by Littlefinger and arrested on false charges of treason, Ned’s forced to lie and proclaim the bastard Joffrey as the rightful king in order to save his daughter Sansa. This does not save him, though, as Joffrey then impulsively orders him executed anyway.

Joffrey’s execution of Ned Stark makes things far worse in Westeros. The Starks now refuse to bow to the Baratheon’s or their Lannister puppet masters, setting the realm on the path to a war that nearly tears it apart.

Even back when Game of Thrones was still a book series, this moment came as a shock. Ned was the main character, and killing off the main character seemed unthinkable. His death helps the books and the show prove a point: no one, no matter how important, is safe.

Do you agree with my picks? What deaths from Season One do you think were most important?

Click here to see what I thought the big moments were for the season

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My 7 Favorite Moments from Game of Thrones Season One

We are now at less than a week before the final season of Game of Thrones premieres on TV, and I have been looking back on the show’s run. So many twists and turns since the beginning of the show. Come to think of it, There aren’t that many people from Season One that have made it all the way to the end. The survival rate on this show is incredibly low.

Having looked back at seasons past, I decided to take a look at my favorite moments from each season. To start us, let’s go back and talk about the seven moments that I thought were game-changing, or in this case, game-defining in Season one of Game of Thrones.

#7- The White Walker Cometh, “Winter is Coming”

Despite being based on Medieval Europe, the world of Game of Thrones is also steeped in the supernatural, whether its inhabitants know it or not. As fans of the franchise are well aware of, the biggest threat to Westeros isn’t the Game of Thrones, but the White Walkers. The cold opening to the first episode gave fans a glimpse into the icy monsters that have been gathering in strength Beyond the Wall, and seeing them kill two of the three members of the Night’s Watch sent investigate is terrifying.

One of the big plot points of the show is the fact that few people, even in the Night’s Watch, believes that the White Walkers are real. The deserter from the Night’s Watch tries to tell Ned Stark of the threat, but even he doesn’t believe it. Westeros is now preparing to fight for its existence, but this moment was a foreshadowing of what was to come.

#6- Direwolf Puppies!, “Winter is Coming”

There were a lot of other scenes that I could have chosen, but my reasoning is simple: I love puppies; I love babies in general. Ned Stark and his sons come across the body of a dead stag and direwolf, along with her six pups. After Jon convinces him, Ned agrees to let his children adopt one of the direwolves for themselves.

Cuteness aside, I love this scene for being rife with symbolism and foreshadowing. The sight of the stag and direwolf having killed each other foreshadows the coming conflict between the Stark’s and the “Baratheon’s”. More importantly, is what this moment has to do with Jon Snow. The fact that it was Jon who persuaded Ned a subtle hint to his heritage notwithstanding, the discovery of Ghost reflects the struggles Jon went through. Without a mother in his life, he had to learn how to grow up quickly, and that made him strong, it made him who he is now, a man worthy of being a king.

#5- Tyrion’s Trial By Combat, “A Golden Crown”

Poor Tyrion went on quite a number of adventures in Season One, but I think the one I liked the most was his trial by combat in the Vale. After Catelyn Stark wrongly accuses him of pushing Bran out a window, she takes him to her sister in the Vale to punish him. Tyrion then makes the most hilarious confession before demanding a trial by combat. The battle that follows sees the mercenary Bronn defeat Lysa Arryn’s champion in combat.

Aside from Tyrion being hilarious in this scene, this moment marks the official start of the beautiful bromance between Tyrion and Bronn. They may be on opposite sides now, but it’s clear they still care about each other’s safety. Plus, Bronn’s underhanded but smart method of fighting his opponent is a big “screw you” to the idea of “fighting with honor”. When you’re fighting at a disadvantage, that’s stupid and will get you killed.

#4- A Crown for a King, “A Golden Crown”

From the moment I saw Viserys Targaryen, I knew that if he ever became King, he’d run Westeros into the ground. Everyone knew it; even Daenerys admitted it. But Viserys was too full of himself, too much like his father to see his faults. Then he had the arrogance to threaten to take back his sister, and kill her unborn child, right in front of her husband.

I personally loved this scene because it shows just how much Khal Drogo had come to love his wife. I could almost see the daggers in his eyes when Viserys threatened her and their unborn son. More importantly, it was a reminder about killing one’s enemies. A clever man does not need to use a sword to kill someone, which Viserys failed to understand.

#3- Ned Learns the Truth, “A Golden Crown”

One of the reasons that Ned Stark chose to become Hand of the King for Robert was so that he could investigate the death of their mentor, Jon Arryn. His only clues were his last words, “the seed is strong”, and a book on the history of the noble families of the Seven Kingdoms. But it’s only a passing remark by his daughter Sansa that makes Ned realize the truth: that Robert and Cersei’s children are bastards born out of incest.

The look of sheer shock on Ned’s face when he figures it out is priceless. Shock aside, this is the moment where everything changes. The revelation that Joffrey’s a bastard child is the spark that ignites the War of the Five Kings that would see most of the show’s cast die, Ned included. Hundreds of thousands dead because of a lie.

#2- Ned Stark’s Execution, “Baelor”

This was the single biggest mistake that Joffrey made, and he made a lot of mistakes in his life. After being arrested on false charges of treason, Ned Stark is forced to forgo his honor in order to protect Sansa’s life. He then proclaims that Joffrey’s the one true king, hoping that he will be exiled to the Wall. Then Joffrey stupidly orders for him to be executed anyway.

Ned Stark could be considered the main character of Season One of the show, so killing him off was just as shocking as it was in the book. Ned’s death backfires on Joffrey and sets the Seven Kingdoms against each other. Nice job breaking it, your majesty!

#1- Daenerys Reborn, “Fire and Blood”

Hands down, this was my favorite moment from the first season of the show. After being forced to put her comatose husband out of his misery, Daenerys is left with only a handful of followers. Whereas most people would give up, what does Dany do? She lights a funeral pyre for Khal Drogo, places her three dragon eggs and the woman responsible on it, and then walks into the flames. The next morning, she’s found nude and unharmed… with three baby dragons.

This scene is my favorite because it’s symbolic on multiple levels. Watching Daenerys walk into the flames and emerged naked but fine reminds me of the legend of the Phoenix: they burn themselves in flames before being reborn in the ashes. Gone was the timid girl we were introduced to in the first episode. In her place stood a young woman fit to be a queen.

This moment is also symbolic of the rebirth of House Targaryen. The world had thought that House Targaryen was finished: no armies, no allies in sight, and only one member known to be alive. But when I saw Dany emerge with her baby dragons, I heard a voice in my head, telling me that House Targaryen was not finished yet. And that Game of Thrones was truly destined for greatness.

Do you agree with my picks? Check out my six favorite deaths from the first season here!

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Eight days. In eight days, winter will come to TV. And it will be one of the greatest nights in the history of entertainment. And I am going to be there watching it through to the end.

I may not have been one of the people who watched Game of Thrones from the beginning, but I have caught up on everything that has happened in the show. All the death, love, loss, murder and betrayal since the first episode. Then I thought about how I should honor the beginning of the end for one of the greatest achievements in TV history.

That is what this is for. Starting tomorrow, I will going back to each season of Game of Thrones as we count down to the premiere. Each day will have two articles: one counting what I thought were the big deaths for each season, and the moments that I thought defined the seasons. It all leads up to Sunday, April 14th, where I will reveal my favorite things in Game of Thrones. To clarify, that means:

• The best villains on the show
• My favorite death scenes
• My favorite characters
• and more!

Let the games begin! See you tomorrow!

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Talking about the Trailer for the Final Season of Game of Thrones

Eight years. Tens of millions of fans the world over. A show that helped define a decade of TV. A story that can stand among the greatest in the history of mankind. In just one month, its the beginning of the end for Game of Thrones.

But before we do all of that, I want to talk about the trailer for the final season and what I think it could mean for the characters, while reflecting on how far they’ve come for the GoT Final Season

Arya Stark

Arya Stark is, and has always been, a fighter. From the beginning it was clear that she was not meant to live the kind of life that society expected of her. She’d rather swordfight with the guys than knit or that stuff.

Season one onwards, Arya went through a trauma conga line, losing her pet wolf, her father, mother, and brother, sometimes right in front of her. Seeing all this trauma forced Arya to grow up fast. With the help of the Faceless Men, Arya’s become a skilled fighter and assassin. Not going to lie, watching her kill Walder Frey and most of his sons was a satisfying moment

In the trailer, Arya claims that she looks forward to seeing this new face of Death, most likely meaning the White Walker. As good a fighter as she is, though, she’s never been in an actual battle before. Given how the first shots in the trailer are of her covered in blood and sweat, running through the darkened halls of Winterfell, I fear she may be in over her head.

Arya Stark is a survivor, but not even she may be ready for the White Walker. But remember what Syrio Forel told her all those years ago about they say to Death: “Not today.” Whatever comes next, she’ll go down fighting.

Bran Stark

You can barely even recognize the bright and energetic young boy that Bran Stark was at the start of the show. He lost the use of his legs thanks to Jaime throwing him out of the tower, and was ready to give up on life. Then he discovered his warging and greenseering powers, which gave him a new purpose in life.

After journeying Beyond the Wall, Bran trained under the Three-Eyed Raven to become his successor, and it shows. The experience of viewing so many past events has left him with few emotions. When Sansa tearfully hugs after seeing him for the first time in years, he didn’t even react.

Even so, I think that Bran still cares about his family. He certainly cares about the well-being of mankind, as he seems to be ready to use his powers to fight the White Walkers. I only hope that he can make it through the Long Night that is to come.

Jaime Lannister

There is no getting around it: when viewers (and book readers) first met him, Jaime Lannister came off as an arrogant pretty boy. Who was also in an incestuous relationship with his sister. While he is pretty arrogant, it’s not unjustified given his skill as a swordsman.

The events of the show, though, took him down several pegs. Losing to Robb Stark and enduring captivity at the hands of the Northerners, and then getting his hand cut off by the Boltons stooges. It humbled him a lot. It also revealed that he’s not as bad as everyone thought.

His infamous betrayal and killing of the Mad King was explained in a way that was not only understandable, but could even be justified. The events of the show, particularly his friendship with Brienne, steer him to becoming a man who keeps his promises. It’s this new outlook that leads Jaime to finally leave Cersei out of disgust for her actions. And I think that it’s about time.

As we see in the trailer, Jaime has kept his promise to fight for the living. Alongside the Northerners, Unsullied, and Dothraki he’s fought against, no less! And from the look of things, he’s going to be fighting right in the middle of the war against the White Walkers. He’s still one of the best swordsman in Westeros, but I fear that he’ll be vulnerable fighting with one hand. Jaime’s already come this far, but this fight may be his last.

Cersei Lannister

I’m going to be blunt here: I want Cersei to die. I’ve only been watching the show for two measly years. Other fans have had the show’s entire run to hate her; two decades if they started out reading the books. She is one of the few fictional characters that I loathe with every fiber of my being.

Cersei has always been a bad person, but she’s somehow gotten even worse during the show’s run. We could devote an entire list of all the horrible things she’s done, but near the top was blowing up the Sept of Baelor and killing hundreds of people. Not even the threat of the White Walkers is enough to curb her selfish narcissism. She plans on sacrificing half of Westeros to the Army of the Dead if it means she can keep her throne.

It seems that she’s holding true to her intentions in the trailer, remaining in King’s Landing where her only allies left are Qyburn, her Queensguard, and Euron. Euron seems to have hired the Golden Company like they planned, so she’s going to sit in King’s Landing and drink her wine while Westeros fights for survival.

Cersei Lannister’s managed to outlive most of her enemies and allies, but with Jaime gone, she has so few left to her. A lot of people are hoping to see her die, but the Mad Queen has cheated death before. I still hope she dies, though.

Rhaegal and Drogon

Considering how they’re dragons and not humans, it can be easy to forget how Drogon and Rhaegal are as much of characters as the rest of the cast. Since they hatched at the end of Season 1, the two dragons have grown from adorable little lizards into young adults ready to fight and die to protect their mother, Daenaerys.

The dragons are nigh unbeatable opponents, but as everyone learned last season, they’re not invincible. Viserion’s death at the hands of the Night King was a shock to the audience and to those present to witness it. If Daenaerys is mourning the loss of one of her children, then imagine how her two remaining dragons must feel.

Viserion’s death would have been the first time the dragons would know what it means to be truly powerless. They can wipe out entire armies, but they couldn’t save their brother. Now that brother has been reanimated as a wight to serve the Night King. They must be furious.

The two dragons are seen several times throughout the trailer, driving home the point that they will play a major role in the Great War. Both of them seem eager to fight, but will they be able to defeat their own brother, if necessary?

Daenaerys Targaryen

Daenaerys Targaryen has come so far since Season One. Gone is the timid girl who cowered under the yolk of her abusive older brother. In her place stands a proud Queen who’s determined to take back the Iron Throne, and will use everything she has to do so. At least, that’s how it was at first.

Since she arrived in Westeros, Dany’s learned of the ancient evil that’s threatening to overrun all of Westeros, and that she may be one of the people prophesied to save humanity. Now she’s seen the White Walkers, and watched as one of her beloved dragons was slain like it was nothing. Not even she can fight them alone, and will stand with those she once fought for the sake of the Seven Kindgoms.

The trailer seemed to be vague about how she will fight in the Great War, but it is certain that she will fight. Whether she will survive, though, is another matter entirely. People are saying that either she or Jon will end up dying in the fight against the White Walkers. And that doesn’t even bring up the elephant in the room..

Jon Snow

From the Bastard of Winterfell to the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch to the King in the North. Jon Snow has been through a lot over the show’s run, and has come into his own as a leader. More than anyone, he knows how dangerous the White Walkers are and what is at stake, and has devoted himself to defeating them. But there are things about Jon that not even he knows.

The end of Season Six confirmed the longtime fan theory that Jon was actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. The end of Season Seven built on that even further by revealing that Lyanna was never kidnapped. She and Rhaegar had fallen in love and secretly gotten married. Jon’s no bastard: he’s the rightful King of Westeros.

As shown in the trailer, Jon is going to be fighting on the front lines alongside his allies. If anyone can defeat the Night King and save the Seven Kingdoms, its Jon Snow. Even so, fans are worried that Jon may end up giving his life in order to save Westeros from an eternal winter. That, and there’s the fact that he and his aunt Dany are in love with each other. And that’s just history repeating itself.

In Conclusion

At this point, I think it’s fair to just put every character left alive on the chopping block. As we have seen in Game of Thrones, no one, not even a main character, is safe from death. And now death is at the gates of the living.

There are plenty of other characters that I did not have time to cover in this, but I had to limit this to the ones who were most prominent in the trailer. Whatever happens in April, history will be made.

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