Game of Thrones: Most heartbreaking deaths up until season 8
Season 5
The fifth season of Game of Thrones started off a bit slow, but things quickly intensified during the latter half. With Stannis’ army heading North and the Dornish desperate for revenge against the Lannisters, things were bound to get heated, and people were sure to die.
Shireen Baratheon
The death of Shireen Baratheon is probably the saddest of the entire series so far, and it’s definitely one of the hardest to watch. If any character deserved a happy ending, it was Shireen. She was kind and loyal, and her realization that her own parents were willing to burn her alive to win a war was a painful one. The worst part is that they didn’t even win. If anything, Shireen’s death doomed them further, making it even more needless.
Ser Barristan Selmy
Barristan Selmy was one of the most honorable characters to appear on Game of Thrones, proving himself a noble man during his time in the Kingsguard and during his time advising Daenerys. Daenerys cared for him as much as she cared for Jorah, Grey Worm, Missandei, and the rest of the people in her inner circle, and his murder by the Sons of the Harpy was both shocking and upsetting. His counsel has been sorely missed the past few seasons.
Maester Aemon
Maester Aemon is one of the rare Game of Thrones characters who lived a long life and died of natural causes, but that doesn’t mean fans can’t mourn his passing. After all, without Maester Aemon and Lord Commander Mormont, the Night’s Watch quickly fell to pieces, and we all would have preferred that hadn’t happened.
Myrcella Baratheon
Of Cersei’s three children, Myrcella is the one who turned out the best, showing none of Joffrey’s cruelty or Tommen’s passive nature. Kind and trusting, Myrcella’s bright personality shows during the episodes set in Dorne. Her happiness at returning home with Tristan, as well as her acceptance of Jaime as her true father, makes it that much harder when she’s poisoned on her way back to King’s Landing. It’s truly unfair that she was caught up in the tensions between the Lannisters and the Dornish, and she’s the last person who should have paid for Oberyn’s death.
Mance Rayder
Mance Rayder did what no one before him could: He united the Wildlings beyond the wall and rallied them against the Night’s Watch. While viewers couldn’t always get on board with Mance’s plans, it’s undeniable that he cared about his people. He certainly didn’t deserve to be burned alive by Stannis, and even Jon knew it. We were as relieved as anyone when Jon mercifully put an arrow through his heart, even if we were sad to see Mance depart.