There were two things you could count on whenever a new series of Game of Thrones was announced – there would be a lot of sex and a lot of death. But can you recall how each of these Game of Thrones characters died?
Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin wanted the series to feel like historical drama as much as epic fantasy. The story has many parallels with European history and is perceptibly set in the Middles Ages.
Martin’s imagined historical tale revolves around the noble families of the Seven Kingdoms as they fight for control of the Iron Throne. As such, Martin did not hold back on vivid scenes of brutality with a side serving of sexual violence.
The primary action takes place in the Seven Kingdoms of Wetseros – The North, The Vale, The Riverlands The Westerlands, Dorne, The Reach, The Stormlands, as well as The Iron Islands. Leading the violent atrocities are the noble houses of Stark, Arryn, Tully, Baratheon, Lannister, Tyrell and Martell, plus Greyjoy and Targaryen, who are each pursuing ultimate power or self-interested vendettas.
The program featured an ensemble cast, many of whom were among TV’s highest paid actors throughout its run. The supporting cast is one of the longest in television history. Getting the call to be on Game of Thrones wasn’t a sign that you should clear your schedule, however, as your character would likely be killed off just as soon as they were introduced.
But while Game of Thrones’ abundant violence became a bit of a punchline as the series wore on, Martin and series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss explored a prodigious variety of violent deaths. Many characters lost their lives in medieval conflict, but we also saw characters beheaded, defenestrated, burned alive, stabbed in the belly, attacked by wolves, poisoned and encased in gold.
How did these Game of Thrones characters die?
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