Ned’s death shattered the “main character immunity” trope and set the tone for the rest of the series—no one was safe. It also sparked the War of the Five Kings.

🗡️ Which Episode Did Ned Stark Die? (No Spoilers Beyond That Point)

📺 The episode originally aired on June 12, 2011. ⚔️ The scene: Ned is publicly executed on the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing.

If you’re watching Game of Thrones for the first time (or just need a refresher), you already know the moment that changed everything.