Navigating the rich and complex world of Westeros throughout Game of Thrones often means coming face to face with tragedy, heartbreaking loss, and shocking betrayals. As fans revisit the series, certain episodes stand out for their emotional intensity, leaving viewers grappling with a range of powerful emotions long after the credits roll.
Whether it’s the loss of a beloved character, or a dramatic shift in motivations, these episodes have etched themselves into the minds of audiences all over the world. As a result, these 10 episodes are particularly difficult to rewatch, each of them offering a controversial, unforgettable or gut-wrenching experience.
10 “The Winds of Winter”
Season 6, Episode 10
In the season six finale, “The Windows of Winter,” several pivotal events unfold. In order to avoid her trial and take the Iron Throne, Cersei Lannister blows up the Great Sept of Baelor. This results in the deaths of numerous key characters, including Margaery and Lora Tyrell, as well as the High Sparrow. It’s regarded as one of the show’s best episodes due to how well it’s executed and sets up the conflicts for the later seasons, though it’s still a challenging rewatch.
The Horrific Consequences of Cersei’s Actions
For example, while the explosion of the Great Sept is an intense and thrilling watch, the aftermath has some seriously heartbreaking consequences. Cersei’s son, Tommen, tragically takes his own life after Margaery dies. It’s made even more harrowing when you consider the amount of other innocent lives lost in the explosion. On the plus side, the episode also shows Arya Stark finally getting her revenge on Walder Frey for the Red Wedding.
9 “The Mountain and the Viper”
Season 4, Episode 8
Tensions continue to rise in “The Mountain and the Viper,” which is centered around the anticipated trial by combat between Tyrion Lannister and The Mountain. Tyrion chooses Oberyn Martell to be his champion for the trial, who is seeking vengeance against the Lannisters and The Mountain for murdering his sister, Elia. As the trial unfolds in the capital of King’s Landing, Tyrion’s fate hangs in the balance as it takes a shocking turn.
Oberyn’s Arrogance Defeats Him
The episode is particularly challenging to rewatch due to its intense and gut-wrenching climax. Despite Oberyn’s impressive combat skills and apparent victory over The Mountain, his arrogance leads to his demise. As he stands over The Mountain, he is pulled to the ground, where his skull is then crushed by The Mountain’s bare hands. Given that Oberyn became a fan favorite, his death is one of the most upsetting and frustrating on the show, especially given its brutal nature.
8 “Mhysa”
Season 3, Episode 10
For various reasons, “Mhysa” is considered to be one of the best episodes of Game of Thrones. Most predominantly, it features significant developments in Daenerys Targaryen’s character arc, as she liberates the slaves in Yunkai. This moment quickly became one of the most iconic moments in Game of Thrones, as Daenerys shows how capable she is of outsmarting those who underestimate her, setting herself up as a promising leader.
Ramsay’s Brutality Is Truly Shown
However, despite its uplifting moments, “Mhysa” is difficult to watch due to a torture scene involving Theon Greyjoy. Upon first watch, while gruesome, it’s hard to feel sympathy for Theon due to how he treated the Starks. But in the final few seasons of Game of Thrones, he has an incredible redemption arc which placed him back in the hearts of many viewers. As a result, watching him suffer at the hands of Ramsay is incredibly difficult to sit through a second time round.
7 “Baelor”
Season 1, Episode 9
“Baelor” is perhaps the most pivotal episode in the entirety of Game of Thrones. After being caught attempting to expose the truth behind King Joffrey’s real father, Ned Stark is placed on trial for his crimes. Various characters converge on this event, including his daughters Arya and Sansa. As tensions rise and alliances are tested, Ned finds himself at the mercy of King Joffrey and the Lannisters.
A Death That Shook Thousands
Although Ned is promised mercy if he confesses to treason, Ned is beheaded on the orders of Joffrey in a gut-wrenching turn of events. This brutal and unexpected act not only marks a significant loss for House Stark, but it also kick-starts the game of thrones. What makes “Baelor” so difficult is that Ned has good intentions behind all of his actions, and watching the people of King’s Landing cheer at his death is heartbreaking, especially as his claims were truthful.
6 “The Queen’s Justice”
Season 7, Episode 3
Significant advancements are made in “The Queen’s Justice,” as Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen finally meet on screen for the first time in Game of Thrones. Together, the pair negotiate an alliance against the threat of the White Walkers, with Daenerys promising to help the North so long as they bend the knee. In King’s Landing, however, Cersei, now queen, begins enacting her own form of justice against her enemies.
An Eye for an Eye
Euron Greyjoy, who has pledged allegiance to the Lannisters, proves his devotion to Cersei by capturing Ellaria and her daughter, Tyene. Previously, Ellaria murdered Cersei’s daughter Myrcella with poison, leading her to do the same thing to Tyene. However, what makes it hard to rewatch is that Cersei does so by chaining them both up in a dungeon, forcing Ellaria to watch as she murders her daughter and leaving her alone with her corpse.
5 “The Dance of Dragons”
Season 5, Episode 9
Out of every episode of Game of Thrones, “The Dance of Dragons” features one of the most tragic deaths. The episode sees several key events unfold, including Daenerys’ struggle to maintain control over Mereen, as well as Stannis Bratheon’s campaign to take over Winterfell from the Boltons, which leads to him taking drastic measures to achieve his goal.
Melisandre Manipulates Stannis to Do the Unthinkable
As the bad weather is affecting Stannis’s army’s resources, he allows Melisandre to sacrifice his daughter, Shireen. The scene is absolutely heartbreaking, as the young girl pleads for her parents to save her from being burned alive at the stake, as they stand and watch her suffer. It’s easily one of the most brutal deaths on TV due to the pure senselessness of it, and how it was all for nothing in the end.
4 “Beyond the Wall”
Season 7, Episode 6
“Beyond the Wall” is one of the most action-packed episodes of Game of Thrones, though it has faced many criticisms for its abundance of plot holes. The episode follows Jon Snow and a group of his closest comrades, as they head on a journey north of the Wall to capture a White Walker and prove their threat. As soon as the mission begins, it quickly becomes a desperate struggle for survival, as the group encounters the full force of the Night King’s army.
Daenerys Loses One of Her Children
What makes “Beyond the Wall” one of the hardest rewatches in Game of Thrones isn’t its poor writing, but rather the death of one of Daenerys’ beloved dragons, Viserion. Fans had watched Daenerys’ dragons grow from babies since the end of season 1, with her forming a maternal bond with each of them. Witnessing the death of Viserion was a heartbreaking loss not only for Daenerys, but also for the viewers watching, increasing the looming threat of the Night King even more.
3 “The Rains of Castamere”
Season 3, Episode 9
“The Rains of Castamere” features one of the most memorable events in television history, the Red Wedding, which traumatized thousands of viewers all across the globe. After Robb Stark goes against his promise to Walder Frey and marries Talisa instead, tensions begin to rise between the two houses until they reach a boiling point. Robb and Catelyn, along with their followers, attend a wedding at the Twins, where they hope to make amends with the Freys and secure an alliance. However, Walder is less than forgiving, with the Freys brutally slaying the Starks in a shocking massacre.
An Episode That Shocked the World
While the episode has incredible narrative significance and a dramatic impact, it is far too devastating to rewatch. Not only is the slaughter of Robb and Catelyn completely merciless, but the murder of Talisa, who was pregnant at the time, makes the sequence even more haunting. It’s one of the most emotionally devastating betrayals in both TV and film, and is enough to leave a lasting impact on viewers right up until Game of Thrones’ final episode.
2 “The Door”
Season 6, Episode 5
Throughout Game of Thrones, not much is revealed about the menacing Night King until “The Door”. A lot of the episode is focused on Bran Stark’s training to become the new Three-Eyed Raven, all while the Night King and his army close in on him. During the episode, it’s revealed that the Night King was created by the Children of the Forest in order to kill the men targeting them. However, the origin stories don’t stop there, as it also delves into the backstory of Hodor, one of the show’s most beloved characters.
Game of Thrones’ Most Tragic Death
It’s the revelation of Hodor’s past that makes “The Door” one of the hardest Game of Thrones episodes to rewatch. In a tragic twist, it’s revealed that Hodor’s inability to say anything other than “Hodor” is a result of a traumatic event in his childhood that occurred because of Bran’s time-traveling abilities. As Bran escapes the Night King, Hodor bravely sacrifices himself by holding a door shut against a horde of wights, making it arguably the most tragic death in the entirety of Game of Thrones.
1 “The Bells”
Season 8, Episode 5
Compared to other episodes on this list, “The Bells” is by far one of the most controversial. It is the penultimate episode of the series, following Daenerys and her forces as they arrive at Kings Landing for the final battle with Cersei Lannister. After seemingly causing Cersei to surrender, Daenerys goes fully mad, unleashing the full might of Drogon onto Kings Landing.
As she rides Drogon over Kings Landing, she burns thousands of innocent civilians below, resulting in the widespread devastation and loss of life. Beloved characters such as Arya and Jon Snow witness the massacre firsthand, fully highlighting the horrors of Daenerys’ actions.
A Tyrant Is Born
Because of its brutality, “The Bells” has various scenes that make it hard to sit through. One in particular shows Arya desperately trying to save a mother and daughter, who then die in each other’s arms. Additionally, many fans were left completely dumbfounded by Daenerys’ descent into madness, stating that it was too rushed. As a result, the aggravatingly poor writing makes a lot of Daenerys’ arc feel pointless, with many fans wishing the episode didn’t exist at all.
