Game of Thrones: Most heartbreaking deaths up until season 8

Season 2

The second season of Game of Thrones certainly ups the ante when it comes to killing off characters, though it stands out from the other seasons in one significant way: It kills just as many people as the later seasons, but there are significantly less major deaths that occur at this point of the series. Still, even the side characters of Westeros are worth mourning.

Renly Baratheon

The death of Renly Baratheon is probably the biggest to occur during the second season of Game of Thrones, and it’s an upsetting loss. Despite his occasional arrogance, Renly was a decent person and one of the better contenders for the Iron Throne. He was a kind person to Brienne, to his brothers, and to the Starks. When Melisandre and Stannis set a shadow on him, they eradicated any chance of a truce between the Starks and the Baratheons, and they threw the Tyrells into a difficult situation, forcing them to side with the Lannisters.

Yoren

Yoren gained fans’ respect when he chose to rescue Arya from King’s Landing, whisking her away under the guise of having her join the Night’s Watch. He planned to deliver her to Winterfell instead, but the Kingsguard got in the way of that plan. They attacked Yoren and his recruits, taking Yoren’s life in the process. It really is a shame that the Night’s Watch always seems to lose its best men.

Lommy

Lommy was another casualty of the Kingsguard’s assault on the traveling Night’s Watch recruits, and even if he was a bit of a jerk when he was introduced, he definitely didn’t deserve to die the way he did. He begged for mercy, but the Lannister men put a sword through him instead. The silver lining is that Arya paid them back eventually, but it won’t bring Lommy back from the dead.

Ser Rodrik

Ser Rodrik was one of the most loyal supporters of House Stark, and he died proving his allegiance to their family. Rodrik remained devoted and brave, even when the Ironborn demanded that Theon take his head—a messy affair given how blunt the boy’s sword was. But Rodrik stayed strong, and his parting words to Bran and Rickon broke every fan’s heart: “Hush, now, child. I’m off to see your father.”

Maester Luwin

Another one of the Starks’ dedicated servants, poor Maester Luwin was killed when the Ironborn sacked Winterfell looking for Bran and Rickon. To make things even more heartwrenching, Luwin wasn’t even that upset to die. Instead, his main concern was that the Stark brothers were safe.