11 unforgettable moments from 'Game of Thrones'

Bran Stark is an avid climber. But when he catches siblings Jaime and Cersei Lannister making love in an abandoned tower during one of his risky expeditions, Jaime pushes him out of the window to his "almost-death." Confined to a wheelchair thereafter, Bran's role becomes increasingly important role as the series progresses, until he is finally crowned ruler of Westeros.

The fact that even the series' heroes can be killed off at any given moment is clear in the first season itself. Eddard "Ned" Stark, Lord of Winterfell, is executed in a spectacular scene in front of his daughters for exposing Cersei and Jaime's incestuous relationship. Their son, the illegitimate young king Joffrey, then makes short work of him.

There must have been a sharp intake of breath among many viewers when Daenerys Targaryen stepped into fire. But she was found alive and well in the ashes the next day with three newly hatched dragons. Not only would they grow up to be Daenerys' beloved children, but they also served as powerful, murderous weapons against her enemies.

Described as "one of the most jaw dropping 10 minutes of TV," the Red Wedding is a massacre at the wedding feast of Edmure Tully, Lord of Riverrun, and Roslin Frey. Robb Stark, his wife Talisa, their unborn child and his mother Catelyn are brutally killed. And the conspiracy among Walder Frey, Roose Bolton and the Lannisters is probably THE plot twist of the entire series.

Even though viewers may not think much of Cersei Lannister and her diabolical ways, her walk of shame inevitably makes you sympathize with her. Because she messed with the militant clergy of King's Landing, they forced her to go on a walk of atonement — naked. She later gets even, by blowing up the religious guardians and their temple.

After Bran becomes paralyzed following his fall, Hodor becomes his indispensable companion. He not only carries him, but even saves his life in his final appearance in the series. He keeps the gate to the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven closed against the attacking wights until Bran escapes. Hodor's self-sacrifice is one of the series' most heart-rending moments.

Just when Jon Snow was starting to become one of the show's most important characters, his fellow Night's Watch members kill him because they thought he was a traitor who wanted to strike a pact with the Wildlings. Jon's death caused an outcry among GoT fans. Luckily, the red priestess Melisandre brings him back to life a short time later.

Back among the living, Jon Snow goes into battle against the sadistic Ramsay Bolton to reclaim his home of Winterfell. He narrowly escapes his second death, and eventually defeats Ramsay and literally throws him to his dogs. The Battle of the Bastards was so nerve-wracking and so lavishly produced that it deserves a mention on this list.

After the Ice Wall falls and the army of the undead moves through Westeros, the fate of all the living seems sealed. But Winterfell defends itself against the White Walkers and their leader. Finally, Arya kills the Night King with her dagger of Valyrian steel — and consequently the entire undead army. The world is saved.

Daenerys wants to topple Cersei off the Iron Throne and sets off with her army and the dragons towards King's Landing. Cersei capitulates in the face of the firepower of Daenerys' dragons. But she shows her no mercy and burns down the entire city and scores of innocent people in her manic quest for revenge. Cersei and Jaime are buried under the rubble.

Many "Game of Thrones" fans had certainly hoped for a different ending. But in the final episode of the series, Jon stabs Daenerys in front of the Iron Throne — while kissing her. Tyrion had previously convinced him that Daenerys was a threat to all of Westeros after her bloody vendetta against King's Landing. Killing his true love seemed to be his final resort.