The Most Brutal Game of Thrones Blindsides Ever! 

The Red Wedding (Season 3, Episode 9)
Good gods! It was the traumatic massacre that sent droves of Game of Thrones acolytes running to the mountains in horror. Long anticipated by fans of the books, ‘The Rains of Castamere’ was the penultimate episode of season three, and saw the brutal slaughter of the Stark family and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully. Coming at the callous hands of House Frey, the harrowing spectacle reportedly put many fans off HBO’s adaptation for good.

King Joffrey Drops the Axe on Eddard Stark (Season 1, Episode 9)
When the axe dropped on Eddard Stark, we knew we weren’t watching any run-of-the-mill fantasy. No, we were at the mercy of mediaeval sadist, George R. R. Martin – the author of the original novels that inspired the show. The humiliating public execution fanned the flames of King Joffrey’s vocal opponents (especially on Twitter), and provided one of the most shocking conclusions to a story arc in recent memory. It’s also easy to forget Petyr Baelish’s role in the affair, the Machevallian mastermind holding Ned at knifepoint in the throne room, saying ‘I did warn you not to trust me.’ Vale, Sean Bean – for perhaps the hundredth time in film history.

Mutiny at Castle Black (Season 4, Episode 9)
Jon Snow’s betrayal at Castle Black ranks as one of the more disturbing instances in Game of Thrones. The Lord Commander is murdered after freely allowing the Wildings to cross the Wall into the Seven Kingdoms, a strategy intended to reduce the growing numbers of White Walkers. Still, no good deed goes unpunished! It was a tough pill to swallow for Jon Snow fans (of which there are of course many), the curly-haired swordsmith providing the warm moral pulse to the icy series. Thank the gods for Lady Melisandre! 

Theon Sacks Winterfell (Season 2, Episode 6)
Despite his official status as hostage of Winterfell, Theon Greyjoy was treated more like family by the Stark clan, which made his betrayal all the more poignant. Returning to Winterfell with the army of House Greyjoy, Theon quickly sacks the Northern Stronghold for the Iron Island. Somehow, Theon’s story becomes even more macabre when he falls into the hands of Ramsey Bolton, who physically and psychologically tortures Theon until he becomes ‘Reek’. *Shudders in Greyjoy*  

Shae’s False Testimony (Season 4, Episode 6)  
It’s not surprising that Game of Thrones' more eviscerating moments involve the heart. A fan-favourite romance that blossomed in season three, Shae returns to King’s Landing for Tyrion’s court trial, where he is being charged with the murder of King Joffrey. Irate at her own percieved betrayal, Shae fasley claims that Tyrion and Sansa orchestrated the murder of Joffrey, and then preceedes to sleep with Tyrion’s father, Tywin. Betrayals don’t get much more sordid than that, folks. Thankfully, Tyrion gets one back on his father by sticking a crossbow between Tywin’s legs. Remember, ‘a Lancister always pays his debts’.