As a huge TV fan, I’m still amazed by how much of a hold Game of Thrones has on everyone, even fifteen years after it first aired. Despite the controversial ending and that rough final season, HBO’s world of Westeros is still thriving with shows like House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Honestly, very few fantasy series have come close to matching the impact of George R.R. Martin’s creation and its incredible adaptation.
A key reason for the lasting popularity of Game of Thrones is its boldness in taking chances with its characters and plotlines. Many other shows in the same genre avoid risks, making them less impactful. Game of Thrones demonstrated this willingness to take big chances early on, and it paid off with its most-watched episode ever.
Game of Thrones’ Greatest Episode Takes a Massive Risk
IMDb users consistently rank “The Rains of Castamere,” the ninth episode of Game of Thrones‘ third season, as the show’s best. With an impressive 9.9/10 rating, it’s considered one of the highest-rated episodes in television history. Fans remember the episode for its shocking betrayal and massacre of Robb Stark, his wife, his mother, and many of his soldiers by Lord Frey, who was secretly allied with the Lannisters.
Even thirteen years later, “The Rains of Castamere” remains one of the most shocking episodes in television history. While book readers knew the tragedy was coming, many viewers who only knew the story through the show were completely stunned. Up until that point, Robb Stark had appeared to be the ideal hero to liberate the Seven Kingdoms from the oppressive Lannisters. That’s why the sudden and brutal slaughter of Robb and everyone with him was so devastating.
After this point, the show completely lost the audience’s ability to predict what would happen. Characters could die at any time, plots took unexpected turns, and happy endings seemed impossible. While Game of Thrones always featured shocking deaths, the sudden fall of Robb Stark and his army was particularly impactful. These unpredictable moments became the show’s defining characteristic, even though the final season and its controversial ending damaged its overall reputation.
As A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gains traction, the memorable moments from the original series are overshadowing its weaker parts. The episode “The Rains of Castamere” was a bold move by the creators of Game of Thrones, as they risked losing viewers after killing off a beloved main character. Fortunately, that risk paid off, and no other fantasy show has managed to replicate that success.
Fantasy TV Needs More Massive Risks
The most popular episode of Game of Thrones offers a valuable lesson. “The Rains of Castamere” showed the show wasn’t afraid to make bold choices to keep the story exciting and avoid becoming predictable. Unfortunately, many newer fantasy series hesitate to take similar chances with beloved characters, and there’s a clear reason why.
Today’s stories, even outside of genres like fantasy, often prioritize creating large, interconnected franchises. This focus means characters, settings, and backstories are treated as valuable assets. As a result, shows are hesitant to kill off important characters, even in surprising or dramatic ways – think of how Robb Stark died in “The Rains of Castamere.” A deceased character simply can’t star in their own series or keep viewers engaged in the current one.
Comic books experienced a similar problem years ago, where characters couldn’t truly die because it might upset fans. Now, a strong emphasis on building franchises is leading fantasy TV—and other genres too—towards safer stories. This means shows aren’t taking as many risks as Game of Thrones did. Consequently, series like The Wheel of Time and even The Witcher can feel watered down and lack impact.
It’s no surprise that even fifteen years after its debut, Game of Thrones and its related shows are still the most popular fantasy series on television. Any new show hoping to achieve similar success should study what made Game of Thrones so groundbreaking, starting with the infamous episode, “The Rains of Castamere.”
While fantasy TV has the skill to create another hit like Game of Thrones, it currently lacks the courage to tell truly risky and character-driven stories. Until a show dares to do that, Game of Thrones will likely continue to be the most beloved fantasy series ever made.
Game of Thrones is available to stream on HBO Max.
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2026-02-12 06:43