You Win Or You Die: Ranking the 99 Game of Thrones Deaths

Image credit: HBO/Helen Sloan

Lady

Ned Stark’s death is often the subject of your standard “This is when we knew there is no reasonable god on this show” conversation, I, however, must contest that this moment actually lies in Lady’s death. When a series starts killing off beloved pets, you know you’re in for a merciless ride. This is why “Does the Dog Die?” is a real, functioning website. Because the people need to know.

Despite the fact that she would undoubtedly win the blue ribbon at any dog show, Lady the direwolf is instead killed under false accusations. Arya’s wolf, Nymeria, rightfully attacks Joffrey, who goes all Draco Malfoy post-hippogriff attack in Prisoner of Azkaban about it. Cersei demands retribution, and Robert is too useless to show Sansa some kindness in the wake of his son’s douchebaggery. Thus, Lady’s life ends almost as quickly as it had begun.

Lady’s death affects Sansa not only emotionally, but narratively. The direwolf would have protected Sansa against her assailants—Joffrey, Meryn Trant, Ramsay, perhaps even Littlefinger, who’s not to be trusted. Of course, any one of them would have had Lady killed eventually. But her absence resonates in Sansa’s solitude throughout most of the series. Sansa’s allies are few and far between, and tend to be rather powerless to help her. There is always a bigger bully on the playground who spoils plans for Sansa’s well-being. She has been well and truly left alone, so excuse me for a moment while I rewatch her reuniting hug with Jon for the umpteenth time.

If it makes anyone feel better, Sophie Turner (Sansa) adopted the dog who portrayed Lady. So it’s almost like she never died in the first place.