Entertainment

Every Epic Death Scene In 'Game Of Thrones' Season 6, Ranked Best To Worst

by Ani Bundel
HBO

Game of Thrones Season 6 ended just over a year ago this week. But with Season 7 still weeks away, how much do we really remember from last year? Who lived, who conquered, who told their story?

Wait, this is GoT. Let's ask the proper question: Who died?

Answer: a lot of people. Nearly three dozen named characters in all. Here's a rundown of all the murder and mayhem, ranking last year's deaths from the best on down.

Ramsay Bolton

The best death of the year. Not only because Ramsay Bolton made Joffrey look tame, but because of who delivered the blow.

Jon nearly beat Bolton to death, until he looked up at Sansa. Then he stepped back, and let her show she'd learned well from her husband.

Walder Frey (& Lothar & Black Walder)

The only death to give Ramsay a run for his money. Revenge pie turned out to be a dish best served at room temperature with a smattering of large toes, so Walder could enjoy both the visual of being forced into cannibalism and the taste of unwashed feet.

And in the end, he knew his death was at Stark hands, and the debt had been paid.

Olly & Alliser Thorne

Another revenge served cold, though that's mostly due to the weather. It was one thing for Olly to kill Ygritte right in front of Jon, but then he stepped up and delivered a stab to Jon's heart.

As for Alliser Thorne... mutiny? At his age? He should know better. Next time, boys, try not killing the man who's the son of a dragon.

Roose Bolton (& Walda & Child)

HBO

Roose Bolton was another from the Red Wedding on whom we've needed revenge. That it was identical to the stab wound he gave Robb, but by the hand of his own bastard son? Delicious.

The Stark-Bolton family sends their regards. We won't talk about how the dogs ate the baby.

Pycelle

Killing Pycelle separately in the finale was a nod to the scene from the books, where Varys' "Little Birds" murder him in much the same manner.

Next time, maybe he should try going to the Sept.

Smalljon Umber & BotB Deaths

Bolton should have crushed Jon Snow's forces to death. But Sansa showed up at the right time, with a calvary based army, and ruined everything, while Tormund killed Smalljon.

This one's almost as satisfying as watching her kill Ramsay with his own pups.

Khal Broskis

This one's for the girls Who've ever had a Khal break their heart Who've wished upon a dragon star When Westeros is very far

This one's for the girls Who need a horde to have their back Who dream of gettin' out of Vaes Dothrak All around Essos and the world This one's for the girls

The Waif

HBO

Did anyone like the Waif? When each of these action items is done by an unrelated party, one can tell it's not personal, it's business.

But having the same person do all of them on the show made unrelated instances take on a menacing tone. Next time, Waif, leave your problems at the door and your face in the hall.

Doran & Trystane + Areo Hotah

HBO

I like to think of these deaths as an apology for Season 5.

Balon Greyjoy

HBO

For years, readers wondered: Did Balon slip? Many whispered it was a Faceless Man who pushed him off that bridge.

Now we know. Theon's terrible father was killed by his equally terrible brother. Now, Yara has an insane uncle tweeting at 6 o'clock in the morning about the latest on the Iron Islands that Kraken and Friends are reporting, and how stories from the mainland are fake news.

Brother Ray (& Lem Lemoncloak)

HBO

Our "One Episode Wonder," Ian McShane arrived for just a single episode, then he was murdered by Lem Lemoncloak.

At least McShane made an impression during his short time on screen. Lemoncloak is only remembered because the Hound went after him to avenge Brother Ray.

Lady Crane

HBO

If Catelyn Stark played Cersei Lannister for a living....

Perhaps that's why Arya went rogue on the jobsite -- saving Lady Crane because she couldn't save her mother. But once a name has been entered into Salesforce, it is owed to the Many Faced God, so he can have that project marked complete.

The Blackfish

HBO

The man who missed the Red Wedding because he was answering the call of nature finally was allowed to go off and meet his maker.

In the end, he got to die with honor. It's more than will probably be said for Edmure.

Osha & Rickon & Shaggydog

Not Tonks! She was nothing more than a good sweet Hufflepuff girl who loved a werewolf.... Oh right, actually Osha wasn't sorted into Hufflepuff. But we know she would have been, had Hogwarts school district covered north of the Wall instead of stopping in Scotland.

As for Rickon, looks like Osha never taught him to run, baby run, baby run, baby run.

Tommen

Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry Mama's gonna make King's Landing's nightmares come true Mama's gonna put the Lannister insanity into you Mama's gonna keep you right here in the Red Keep She won't let you have Marg, but she might let you weep Mama's gonna keep baby from going to the Sept

Ooh, babe Ooh, babe Ooh, babe Of course Mama's gonna let the Wall fall....

Wun Wun

A giant can only be so much of a pincushion. If there was a VIP of the BotB other than Sansa, it would go to Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun, known to his friends as Wun Wun.

But despite his trendy ruff of arrows being as hipster as they come, firing one into his eye was just one too many. Sleep well, my gentle giant. Sleep well, and dream of large women.

Hodor & Summer & Leaf & The Three-Eyed Raven

Caught in a time loop of Bran's own making, this season's most heartbreaking deaths were those of Leaf, Summer, The Three-Eyed Raven... and Hodor.

All this had happened before, and all this will happen again. Hodor trapped in his own mind, being murdered by wights forever, holding the door in his own memory, so the boy who hadn't even been born yet could survive.

The Great Sept of Baelor Remodel

Tyrells and Lannisters and Sparrows, oh my! This scene was so spectacular, Ramin Djawadi broke out a piano. In one fell swoop, Cersei killed off:

  • Margaery
  • Loras
  • Mace
  • Kevan
  • Lancel
  • High Sparrow
  • Faith Militant
  • A goodly portion of the population that laughed at her at the Walk of Shame

Oh and these guys, who were killed by the bell. I believe their names were Zach and Screech?

I'm pretty sure Frey didn't even kill off that many people in the Red Wedding.

Is there any way that Game of Thrones can top this in Season 7? We can't wait to find out.