Who's death? (SUPER MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGH AFFC)

[Wiggum]

Had the biggest impact on you?

Initially I'd probably have to say Lady or Ned, just because I hadn't read anything like that before. I was flat out stunned.

Joffrey's death may come in second, because I'd never thought I'd be so damn happy to see a young boy die a painful death.

Tywin's was great, just plain great.

Donal's was sad, just plain sad.

So was the Old Bear's and The Halfhand's.

And Ygritte (whatevah hatas)

The Red Viper was unfortunate, but even if you dislike it, it was a damn compelling chapter.

Im indifferent about Drogo.

I never really cared for either Robb or Cat, so their death wasn't all that emotive to me, but the Red Wedding is about the best chapter of fantasy that I've ever read.

So......I'm going to say, Joffrey. I hated that little SOB, and nothing made me happier than to see him choke.

I'm evil.

You?

 

[Culhwch]

I'd say Ned's, closely followed by the Red Wedding, and then Donal Noye's last stand. Ned's was devastating, because it was really the first time (bar Lady) that Martin stands up and says, 'This isn't happily-ever-after fantasy. People will die.' Because that just isn't what you are expecting, coming from a standard fantasy background. And Martin just crafts these characters so well, it really hits hard when they die. There's only one or two other books that have affected me emotionally as much as these ones have.

 

[Wiggum]

Just in thinking about it though, after I posted this thread, I'm not sure why Donal's death get's me more than the Old Bear's death.

I was far more attached to Mormont than Noye, but more touched by Noye's death, even though we didn't see it.

 

[The Ace]

'My sweet baby,' chucked off the tower. The one time I agreed with him. I'd've thrown her off myself long before.

 

[Boaz]

Wiggs, without thinking too much about this subject (I gotta get back to work in a minute and then I'll think about it), I have to agree that all of your assessments were (excuse the pun) dead on for me... 'cept for Lady. But the biggest impact was Eddard. I've said it before, but that really hooked me.

Did you guys ever see the movie Executive Decision? Not a great movie, but when Steven Seagal, a big star in the early-mid nineties, died fifteen minutes in... I was hooked.

Any writer that's not afraid to realistically allow a leading character to meet his demise early on will get my attention that there probably will be more to come. It's like when the captain of a ship announces, "Now hear this, now hear this..." the death of a major character is a call for the reader to wake up and pay attention.

Martin outdid himself with the Red Wedding. I remember thinking this is not happening!

Though there were a few deaths that I did not see coming. Lysa's death was surprising, though I'm not sorry to see her go. Arys' death also caught me off guard... I figured he was going to be Lancelot, oops! Dontos' death was very abrupt... he outlived Joffrey by mere minutes.

Mayhaps the most shocking were the second hand reports of Davos' execution and Loras' lying on his deathbed. But we don't know yet if either are true.

 

[devilsgrin]

they've been mentioned above, but The Red Wedding and Ned's execution were gobsmacking for me.
Ned's was unexpected in the extreme (especially considering Ilin Payne actually obeyed Joffrey - king or not his Regent had the authority there).

and the Red Wedding - Boaz says it best- this is not happening. was exactly what i was thinking at the time too.
I didn't like Catelyn, but i loved her POV. the abrupt ending that she had ended one of the only POVs i never skip during re-reads.

 

[viZion]

I remember feeling outraged when Lady was killed. However, I was absolutely floored when Eddard died. I actually read it over a few times to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting what was happening. There were plenty of shocking deaths after it in the series but Eddard's still stands out to me as having the biggest impact.

 

[Culhwch]

I remember feeling outraged when Lady was killed. However, I was absolutely floored when Eddard died. I actually read it over a few times to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting what was happening. There were plenty of shocking deaths after it in the series but Eddard's still stands out to me as having the biggest impact.

For the longest time I thought, 'No, it wasn't him, it couldn't be him, it was someone else...' But wasn't someone else...

 

[Hilarious Joke]

The death of Catelyn especially at the Red Wedding, because poor Arya was so close to being reunited with her. I felt gutted, and like Boaz and devilsgrin I couldn't believe it was happening.

 

[Rainswept]

Eddard no question. It was the first and so you didn't see it coming. It really got me because back then I was reading a lot of R. A. Salvatore who has a very annoying habit of "killing" someone in every book, but then most of the time they are either not really dead or come back to life.

Another shocker for me was Dany losing her child after the big prophecy had been made over it.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Another shocker for me was Dany losing her child after the big prophecy had been made over it.

I'd forgotten about that one, yes that definitely surprised me.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

I still don't believe Davos is dead. I'll believe it when I see his corpse. More likely is that he's off in some obscure northern dungeon.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

That's what I reckons. And also I think we'll be getting a Theon POV back in ADWD.

 

[Tysha]

I agree with everything above - Ned's death the most shocking, cos' then, you are just an innocent reader thinking that it's a fantasy book and you are safe

Oberyn's death was very shocking to me, I don't know why, but I couldn't believe it's just happened. I couldn't understand how GRRM could make such an interesting character with so much potential and then kill him, just like that...
And Renly... Renly too

 

[Culhwch]

I still don't believe Davos is dead. I'll believe it when I see his corpse. More likely is that he's off in some obscure northern dungeon.

I'm still betting on the Manderly's and Stannis (via Davos) banding together, and the news was a ruse...

 

[Wiggum]

Yeah, I forgot about Renly.

Although I wasn't a fan of his foppery, I was really surprised when he got offed.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I'm going to have to go with Ned as well. Just did not see that coming or expect it at all, but it certainly did grab my attention. I kept thinking in the remaining few chapters something would explain what happened and that Ned didn't really die.

 

[Boaz]

I figured Renly had to die, but I did not expect him to die in that manner.

I also forgot about Rhaego, Dany and Drogo's son. That was surprising after the prophecies. It makes me wonder about Melisandre's prophecies.

Just looking over this thread makes my head spin. The sheer volume of formerly important characters is mind boggling. The world of ASOIAF is a truly nasty, brutal, and short lived place. Death is very real. I fear for my two favorite characters, the Lannister boys. So far, Martin has avoided killing Jaime and Tyrion, but how much longer can this continue? I fear for Jaime.

How Aemon lived so long is a mystery... mayhaps it's because he did not get involved.

 

[Wiggum]

Jaime an Tyrion give some of the best banter in the book, whether together or apart.

I have a feeling that from a writer's standpoint, they're almost his muse when things get blocked up in his head.

They may well both die, but I really can't see it.

 

[Eulalia]

Wiggum you called it perfectly, from my POV!

I'll be more crushed if Tyrion, Arya and Jaime die, which makes me nervous.

I would enjoy the demise of Cersei, Roose and Walder, although the last two would help against the Others.