****Spoiler Alert****
The final season of Game of Thrones will premier April 14 on HBO.
Between the deaths, bloody battles, love scenes and the politics, Game of Thrones is chock full of shocking moments. Here is a list of my top 5 defining moments of the series so far.
5.) The Birth of the Dragons
Daenerys Targaryen believes she is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne in Westeros.
Because of war, she was forced to relocate to a strange land when she was a baby. We see her journey as she is sold to the Dothraki by her brother and is married to Khal Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki.
At their wedding reception she is gifted three dragon eggs. The Targaryen family used to own dragons many years before, but, at this time, there were no living dragons. Daenerys fully believes that she can bring these eggs to life.
Khal Drogo dies and is set on a pyre to burn, which is the Dothraki tradition. Daenerys has the eggs placed on the pyre and walks into the flames. After the fire dies, Daenerys walks away, unscathed, carrying three baby dragons.
This is the first time we see the true power of Daenerys and that she is not a force to be reckoned with.
After being sold, raped, abused and used, we see her triumph. She did what no one said was possible and brought the dragons back to life.
4.) The Red Wedding
This is the first time Game of Thrones broke my heart.
After Robb Stark broke his promise to marry one of Walder Frey’s daughters, he goes to the Frey’s home to ask for forgiveness. To keep the peace, Starks’s uncle took his place and married one of the girls. Fans were sure all was right in the world and that Stark would continue to be the king in the North.
However, at the wedding reception, the Frey’s band starts playing “The Rains of Castamere” which is the Lannister family song. This always means trouble.
Men come out and stab Robb’s pregnant wife in the stomach, Robb is shot down with arrows, and Catelyn Stark, Robb’s mother, has her throat slit.
I was absolutely devastated when this happened. Stark was one of my favorite characters; it also helped that he was very easy on the eyes.
Almost everyone who has watched Game of Thrones was taken aback by the Red Wedding. It is such a tragic moment, which is why it earned the number four spot on my list.
3.) Jon Snow’s Resurrection
Jon Snow was stabbed to death by some of the brothers of the Night’s Watch for letting Wildlings cross through the wall.
We’ve seen previously that through the “Lord of Light” that men have been brought back to life. Due to Game of Thrones’ history, few expected Snow to be brought back to life.
The directors said that when Snow came back to life, they wanted his face to show the stages of grief in reverse. His face showed true terror and confusion.
This moment is pivotal because we see that Snow has a much bigger purpose left in the world. Without his rebirth, the North could have remained under Ramsay’s control and Sansa probably would have died.
2.) Ned Stark’s Death
Ned Stark’s death earned the number two spot on my list for the sole purpose that it set the precedent for the entire show.
Most shows keep the main characters alive through thick and thin. If they die, it is usually later in the series or at the very end.
Ned was a just man and was easily likable. As I was watching season one, I couldn’t help but love the character.
Ned is sentenced to die for treason by King Joffery, and Sansa begs Joffery for her fathers life. Joffery tells Sansa that if Ned confesses to be a traitor, he will spare his life and that he will go to live out the rest of his days as a brother of the Night’s Watch.
Cersei even tells Joffery that this is a very good idea, and Ned is brought before the people at the public square to confess his crimes. Joffery sentences him to be killed and Ned is beheaded right in front of his two daughters.
I was in complete and utter shock when I saw this scene. It proved that Game of Thrones doesn’t play and no one is safe.
1.) Jon Snow is actually a Targaryen
All of Snow’s life he believes he is not a true Stark child.
In the first few seasons, the viewers are lead to believe that Ned brought Snow home from the war and that he was born out of adultery.
Later on, through visions we see that Snow is actually the child of Ned’s sister Lyanna. The viewers still do not know who the father is at this point.
Finally, in season seven, we find out that Snow is actually a Targaryen and is Aegon Targaryen’s son. Aegon is Daenerys’ older brother.
With this revelation, we know that Snow is the true heir of the Iron Throne. This sets up a major point for the upcoming season which is why it earned the number one spot on my list.
Though these are the moments I chose to be on my list, there are several other defining moments in Game of Thrones such as Hodor’s death, Joffery’s death, Cersei burning down the Sept of Baelor and many more.
Tune in to HBO at 7 p.m. April 14 to watch the beginning of the end.
Jon Snow sitting on the Iron Throne. | Photo Credit/ HBO
