"Game of Thrones" fans were shocked again during Sunday night’s episode, confronted with another one of the series' infamous plot twists with the death of a certain major character.

It wouldn't be a Westeros wedding without a little blood, after all. But before you continue any further, be warned, spoilers lie ahead.

We’ve seen numerous surprising moments over three seasons of this epic HBO fantasy, from Jaime Lannister pushing Bran Stark out a window and crippling him; to Jon Snow killing his mentor, Qhorin Halfhand, to gain the trust of the Wildings beyond The Wall.

But some scenes have been almost too shocking to believe. Here's a list of our top five "Game of Thrones" plot twists.


Eddard 'Ned' Stark's execution (Season one)

The patriarch of House Stark was a central figure in season one only to be killed off in episode nine, when boy-king Joffrey Baratheon reneges on his promise to spare Stark's life if he admits to treason and pledges his loyalty to House Lannister in front of a crowd. Daughter Sansa watches her father's beheading in horror, as do millions of "Game of Thrones" fans. This shocking plot twist foreshadowed the dark Lannister rule on the Iron Throne of Westeros and the doomed fate of House Stark.


Mother of Dragons (Season one)

Clever fans might have predicted Daenerys Targaryen becoming the mother of dragons but seeing her emerge from Khal Drogo's funeral pyre alive, and with three baby dragons, was shocking nonetheless. Her character struggled throughout season one to adapt to her arranged marriage to Drogo and integrate into the Dothraki tribe, but fans quickly learned not to doubt the tough and ambitious Daenerys Targaryen in her quest for the Iron Throne.


The Battle of Blackwater (Season two)

By season two there are multiple characters vying to take the Iron Throne from the Lannisters, including Stannis Baratheon, who just about succeeds. In the climatic episode "Blackwater," Baratheon’s troops lay siege to King's Landing as the Lannister army, led by fan-favourite Tyrion Lannister, struggles to defend it. Queen Regent Cersei Lannister has resigned herself to their fate and is preparing to commit suicide when her father, Tywin Lannister, shows up at the last minute and saves the day. Tywin Lannister’s reinforcements defeat the Baratheon army and the Lannisters live to see another day from the Iron Throne.


Red Wedding (Season three)

In "The Rains of Castamere," Robb and Catelyn Stark, along with Robb’s new bride, Talisa, meet their untimely demise at the hands of Walder Frey. Lord Frey orders his men to murder the Starks in retaliation for Robb Stark’s abandonment of Frey’s daughter, Roslin, who he had promised to marry. Frey orders the attack at the reception for Roslin’s wedding to Edmure Tully, the man to whom Robb unwisely pawned off his former betrothed. The gruesome act begins with Walder Frey sealing the doors to the banquet hall, trapping the Starks amongst his men. A pregnant Talisa is stabbed through the belly by a soldier while crossbowmen fire on the party. Roose Bolton stabs Robb Stark through the heart, telling him that "the Lannisters send their regards." Catelyn Stark slits the throat of Walder Frey’s eighth bride in retaliation before her own throat is slit by Black Walder Frey. The shockingly violent scene left fans talking.


Purple Wedding (Season four)

The second episode of season four had the gratifying moment fans have been waiting for since the execution of Ned Stark. Sadistic and murderous King Joffrey finally gets what is coming to him thanks to a cup of poisoned wine at the banquet for his wedding to Margaery Tyrell. After his uncle Tyrion Lannister refuses to duel a dwarf, Joffrey pours his cup of wine all over Tyrion's head and slices open a gigantic pie filled with pigeons with his sword. Joffrey eats a slice and chases it with some wine. He immediately starts coughing and collapses, with his face turning purple (which is why the scene is referred to as the Purple Wedding). Jaime and Cersei Lannister rush to save him, but Joffrey is already dead.

For now, we don’t know who is responsible. Leave your guesses in the comments.