Who dies in Game of Thrones?

## The short version: almost nobody is safe

Game of Thrones kills off a huge number of named characters across its eight seasons, plus countless soldiers and civilians in wars, massacres, dragon attacks, and the destruction of King's Landing. So there is no neat, complete list that fits on one page. The big deaths people usually mean include Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, Viserys Targaryen, Khal Drogo, Renly Baratheon, Robb and Catelyn Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Oberyn Martell, Tywin Lannister, Stannis Baratheon, Hodor, Ramsay Bolton, Margaery Tyrell, Tommen Baratheon, Littlefinger, Theon Greyjoy, Jorah Mormont, the Night King, Cersei and Jaime Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen. The show builds its reputation on making major characters feel vulnerable. Ned's death in season 1 is the moment many viewers realize the usual TV rule — that the apparent hero will always be saved — does not apply in Westeros.

## The early deaths that set the tone

Season 1 starts clearing the board fast. Viserys Targaryen dies in S1E06, "A Golden Crown," when Khal Drogo pours molten gold over his head. Robert Baratheon dies from wounds after a boar hunt in S1E07, "You Win or You Die"; the hunt was pushed toward disaster by Lannister interests. Then comes the defining shocker: Joffrey orders Ned Stark beheaded in S1E09, "Baelor," even though Ned expects to be allowed to join the Night's Watch. Khal Drogo dies in the next episode, "Fire and Blood," after his wound becomes infected and Mirri Maz Duur's magic leaves him in a near-empty state. Season 2 adds Renly Baratheon, killed by Melisandre's shadow assassin in S2E05, "The Ghost of Harrenhal," and Qhorin Halfhand, who lets Jon kill him in S2E10 so Jon can infiltrate the wildlings. These deaths establish that politics, magic, and bad choices can all be equally deadly.

## The Red Wedding and other brutal mid-series losses

The Red Wedding in S3E09, "The Rains of Castamere," is probably the show's most infamous massacre. Walder Frey betrays the Starks during what should be a protected guest-right celebration. Robb Stark is shot and stabbed, his pregnant wife Talisa is murdered, and Catelyn Stark has her throat cut after watching her family die. Many northern and Tully allies are killed there too. The following season has no shortage of major losses. Joffrey is poisoned at his own wedding in S4E02, "The Lion and the Rose"; Olenna Tyrell and Petyr Baelish are behind it. Oberyn Martell dies when Gregor Clegane crushes his skull in S4E08, "The Mountain and the Viper," despite Oberyn seeming close to victory. In S4E10, "The Children," Ygritte dies in Jon's arms, Jojen Reed is killed by wights, and Tyrion kills both Shae and his father Tywin. Tywin's crossbow death is especially important because it blows apart the Lannister family's old power structure.

## Season 5 and 6 wipe out whole families

Season 5 is grim even by Game of Thrones standards. Stannis has his daughter Shireen burned alive in S5E09, "The Dance of Dragons," hoping to win better weather for his march. The choice destroys what is left of his family: Selyse dies by suicide, and Stannis is defeated soon after. In S5E10, "Mother's Mercy," Myrcella Baratheon dies from Ellaria Sand's poison, while Brienne kills Stannis after his defeat. Jon Snow is also stabbed by Night's Watch mutineers in that episode, but his story is not over. Melisandre resurrects him in S6E02, "Home." Season 6 brings Hodor's heartbreaking death in S6E05, "The Door," as he holds the tunnel door against wights so Bran and Meera can escape. Rickon Stark is shot by Ramsay in S6E09, "Battle of the Bastards," and Ramsay is later fed to his own hounds by Sansa. Cersei then kills Margaery, Loras, Mace Tyrell, Kevan Lannister, the High Sparrow, and many others by blowing up the Great Sept of Baelor in S6E10. Tommen dies by suicide afterward.

## Deaths in the final war against the dead

Season 7 removes several more longtime players. Daenerys burns Randyll and Dickon Tarly alive in S7E05, "Eastwatch," because they refuse to bend the knee. Thoros of Myr freezes to death beyond the Wall in S7E06, and Benjen Stark dies saving Jon from wights. The Night King kills Viserion and raises him as an undead dragon. Littlefinger finally faces consequences in S7E07, "The Dragon and the Wolf," when Sansa passes sentence and Arya cuts his throat. The Battle of Winterfell in S8E03, "The Long Night," takes Theon Greyjoy, Jorah Mormont, Lyanna Mormont, Beric Dondarrion, Eddison Tollett, Melisandre, undead Viserion, and the Night King. Theon dies defending Bran, completing his long redemption story. Jorah dies protecting Daenerys, the job he has devoted his life to. Arya kills the Night King with her Valyrian steel dagger, and his destruction instantly wipes out the White Walker army and the wights linked to him.

## Who dies at the very end — and who survives

The final three episodes are packed with deaths. In S8E04, "The Last of the Starks," Euron Greyjoy's fleet kills Rhaegal, and Cersei has Missandei executed. Varys is burned alive on Daenerys's order in S8E05, "The Bells," after he tries to support Jon's claim instead. During Daenerys's attack on King's Landing, Euron dies fighting Jaime, Qyburn is killed by the reanimated Gregor, and Sandor and Gregor Clegane die together when the Hound takes his brother into the collapsing Red Keep. Jaime and Cersei are crushed beneath the Red Keep's ruins. Finally, in S8E06, "The Iron Throne," Jon kills Daenerys because he believes her conquest will bring more mass death. Drogon melts the Iron Throne and carries her body away. Jon does not stay dead: his season 5 murder was temporary. Other apparent exceptions include Gregor, who is mortally wounded by Oberyn but reanimated by Qyburn, and Beric, who is revived several times before dying for good in "The Long Night." Arya, Sansa, Bran, Tyrion, Sam, Davos, Brienne, and Jon all survive the finale.