Game of Thrones has no shortage of shocking, intense, and significant moments. Many of these moments are lifted straight from the show's source material--George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series.
This list is a guide to where fans can find some of these huge moments within the books. The Red Wedding is only the tip of the iceberg. It's worth exploring what the other most significant moments are, where they occur within the timeline of the books, and any notable differences between the events on the page and on the screen.
The Red Wedding: A Storm Of Swords
The infamous Red Wedding takes place in the third book A Storm of Swords. Readers experience the massacre inside the Twins through Catelyn Stark's point of view and briefly see the massacre outside the Twins through Arya Stark's point of view.
Not only does A Storm of Swords feature the union of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey that becomes known as the Red Wedding, but it also features the weddings of Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark, and that of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell. As such, those experiencing the story for the first time might be left guessing which of these weddings ends up being the bloody affair they've heard about, at least until they read the fateful Catelyn and Arya chapters.
The Mother Of Dragons: A Game Of Thrones
Both the first book and first season of the show end with the birth of the dragons. It's a huge moment for Daenerys Targaryen and changes everything about the game of thrones moving forward.
The scene shows how far Daenerys has come from the beginning of the story, hints at her potential moving forward, and raises many questions. It's the end of one story while also expanding the world-building and opening the door for countless possibilities. After this there is no doubt that she is truly the Mother of Dragons.
The Assassination Of Jon Snow: A Dance With Dragons
The assassination of Jon Snow serves as the final scene of season 5. It also takes place in one of the final chapters of the fifth book A Dance With Dragons. While the essence of the scene is the same in the show and the book, the leaders behind the assassination and the timing of it are a bit different. Alliser Thorne is the leader of it in the show and Olly--a character who doesn't exist in the books--delivers the killing blow. It happens not long after Jon lets the wildlings through the Wall.
Meanwhile, Bowen Marsh is the leader behind the assassination in the book. It happens after Jon receives a disturbing and threatening letter from Ramsay Bolton. This leads Jon to declare that he's going to ride south to attack House Bolton and that he welcomes the of any wildlings or brothers of the Night's Watch who want to him. Rather than let Jon risk the neutrality of the Night's Watch, Bowen Marsh and other of the Night's Watch assassinate their Lord Commander.
"You Win Or You Die.": A Game Of Thrones
Important character deaths and big dragon developments are often thought of as the most important moments, but this quieter scene between Cersei Lannister and Ned Stark is equally important. He confronts her about the truth of her children and offers her mercy. She confirms the truth and refuses to accept his mercy. Cersei tells Ned, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Such simple, yet powerful words go on to serve as one of the most important quotes throughout all the books and all the seasons of the show. It's one of the most memorable scenes in both mediums, a rare moment where the truth is laid bare and enemies are completely honest with one another before all hell breaks loose.
Sam Learns The Value Of Dragonglass: A Storm of Swords
They're known as Others in the books and as White Walkers in the show. In both mediums, though, Samwell Tarly is the first to kill one with a dragonglass dagger. This discovery has major implications for the larger story moving forward.
In the shows it happens with Sam protecting Gilly and her child after they flee from the mutiny at Craster's Keep. It happens much earlier in the third book while Sam and the other survivors from the Fist of the First Men are still trying to make it to Craster's Keep. An Other kills the Night's Watch steward Small Paul, but before the Other can kill Sam, he slays the terrifying creature with the dragonglass dagger. Sam's friend and Night's Watch "brother" Grenn is there as well and witnesses the death of the Other.
The Battle Of Blackwater: A Clash Of Kings
Just as the second season builds toward this conflict, so does the second book A Clash of Kings. The book sees the massive battle unfold from point of view characters like Tyrion Lannister, Davos Seaworth, and Sansa Stark.
Tyrion's POV shows what's happening with the Lannisters' forces, Davos's POV shows what's happening with Stannis's forces, and Sansa's POV shows what's happening with Cersei and the others taking refuge within the Red Keep. Seeing the battle solely from the perspectives of all likable characters makes it an even more intense experience.
Daenerys Rides Drogon For The First Time: A Dance With Dragons
The dragons had been around for nearly five whole books and five whole seasons, yet Daenerys had never ridden them. That changed when Drogon landed in Daznak's Pit. Daenerys mounts Drogon and rides on the dragon's back as he flies out of the arena. The show ramps up the stakes of the scene with the Sons of the Harpy trying to massacre Daenerys, along with all her allies and the freed slaves.
It's no less exciting in A Dance With Dragons, with the moment feeling epic in both mediums as Daenerys takes another step forward in becoming the Mother of Dragons and an unparalleled force in the game of thrones.
The Purple Wedding: A Storm Of Swords
The Purple Wedding is the nickname many fans have given to the wedding of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell. The nickname is derived from the poisoned wine that Joffrey drinks.
Joffrey felt like a character who would be around until the end. After the tumultuous events of the Red Wedding already happening in A Storm of Swords, it seemed unlikely that Joffrey's nuptials would also result in murder. These assumptions are all thrown out the window as Joffrey chokes to death after drinking the poisoned wine. While it happens a ways into A Storm of Swords, it occurred in only the second episode of the show's fourth season.
Tyrion Kills Tywin: A Storm Of Swords
Prior to this moment, A Storm of Swords had already featured the deaths of key characters like Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Oberyn Martell, Jeor Mormont, and Ygritte. The book pushed the envelope even further with Tyrion killing his father Tywin Lannister. It's a huge character moment for Tyrion, but it also has game-changing ramifications.
Tywin was seen as the real power behind the Lannisters. With Tywin gone, the Lannisters finally seem vulnerable, which gives many of their enemies the confidence to emerge from the shadows and challenge the Lannisters' hold on the Iron Throne.
Ned Stark's Execution: A Game Of Thrones
Ned Stark's execution is where it became abundantly clear that no characters would be safe in this story. By having this event take place in the penultimate episode of the first season and in the later chapters of the first book, fans had enough time to get attached to Ned and see him as the true hero and moral com of the story.
In the larger scheme of things it's still shockingly early in the overarching narrative, making his death feel even more jarring. It's not just done for shock value, though, but goes on to play a great deal of narrative significance, especially for characters like Arya and Jon Snow.