Game of Thrones: Most heartbreaking deaths up until season 8

Season 3

The third season of Game of Thrones was a rough one for fans everywhere, if only because of the notorious Red Wedding scene during “The Rains of Castamere.” If Ned’s death didn’t shock viewers into the realization that no one in the series is safe, the Red Wedding certainly drove that particular point home.

Catelyn Stark

Whatever flaws she might have had, Catelyn Stark was one of the strongest mother figures on Game of Thrones. She stood by Robb through his entire rebellion, and she stayed strong after Ned’s death, doing anything necessary to ensure that her children would be safe. It’s horrible to think that she never saw any of her other children again as the result of House Frey’s betrayal at the Red Wedding.

Robb Stark

For the first few seasons of the series, Robb Stark provided hope that the North would be avenged for Ned’s execution. Robb was talented on the battlefield, and he would likely have grown into a decent king, though Walder Frey made sure that would never happen. Robb’s death was the result of his own missteps, but that didn’t make it any easier for fans to accept. He might have made a few poor choices, but he didn’t deserve the betrayal he received—or the death and mutilation that followed.

Talisa Stark

One more casualty of the Red Wedding, Talisa Stark had a brutal death at the hands of House Frey. It was hard enough to watch the series kill off a pregnant character who clearly had good intentions, but the fact that Talisa gets stabbed right in the stomach—right before Robb’s eyes—is tragic. Though Talisa’s death wasn’t the biggest of the Red Wedding, it was certainly the most gruesome.

Grey Wind

Many lives were lost during the Red Wedding, but did the Freys really have to kill Grey Wind? They definitely crossed a line there, and that alone would have justified Arya’s trickery last season. Good riddance.

Lord Commander Mormont

Jeor Mormont was an honorable man, and he led the Night’s Watch impressively. Like many of the good men on this show, Lord Commander Mormont was betrayed and killed by people he trusted, something that happened while they were at Craster’s Keep. It was a disturbing way for his character to go, and it was only made worse by the fact that none of the characters really had any time to mourn him afterward (though Jon does make the effort to avenge him, at least).