Fans wanted Robb to succeed but that didn't mean it made sense that he would. What made the Red Wedding so great was how shocking it was while also seeming inevitable. Sadly, they seemed to take the wrong message away from its success. It also became clear that the showrunners noticed the excitement surrounding the Red Wedding and wanted to reach that same height again. As the ratings continued to rise episode after episode, the show got bigger in scale, defying what people thought could be done on a television series. This was a turning point for the show in terms of its popularity as well as its storytelling.
Overnight, it went from a popular fantasy show to the one series on television that was unmissable. These videos spread far and wide around the internet and helped the popularity of the show skyrocket.
They screamed at the sudden violence, sobbed at the death of fan-favorite characters, and cursed the show while also confirming that it did its job well. This led to countless videos of unsuspecting fans reacting in horror to the bloody betrayal. Martin's books knew this devastating moment was coming and they also knew it would catch non-book readers off guard. It also threw an unpredictable element into the show as Robb's march on King's Landing felt like such a central focus.Īll of these factors contributed to the impact of the Red Wedding, but it was the fans themselves that really sold it as an iconic moment in television history. The moment further cemented the idea that no one was safe in this show and that the villains often win by playing dirty.
But just like Ned, Robb trusted the wrong people, and his heroic journey was cut short in a shocking and brutal way. RELATED: Game of Thrones Was Always Going To End BadlyĪt this point in the story, Robb Stark was the hero most fans expected to avenge the death of his father, Ned Stark. But while the wedding festivities start off friendly enough, it ends up being a trap and Frey has Robb's army slaughtered, his pregnant wife stabbed to death and his direwolf killed before Robb and his mother Catelyn are executed as well. Though Frey initially abandoned Robb's cause after the King in the North broke their pact and married his true love Talisa, he agrees with the new deal which will see Robb's uncle Edmure Tully marry the Frey daughter instead. In need of help to defeat the Lannisters, Robb makes a deal with Walder Frey, the lord of the Twins who Robb had previously promised to marry his daughter thus bolstering Frey's power in Westeros. The Red Wedding is an event that takes place in episode 9 of the third season entitled "The Rains of Castamere." At this point, Robb Stark remains undefeated on the battlefield yet his army is dwindling. But as impactful as that moment was, it could also have played a big role in the eventual downfall of Game of Thrones. Perhaps the show's biggest moment was the infamous Red Wedding that is still regarded as a high-point in the series' run. Fans were raving about it as one of the greatest shows of all time and it was filled with unforgettable moments that helped it become the most talked-about pop culture item. However, there was a time when the show was the most popular thing on television. When discussed now, fans seem to still have a bad taste in their mouths from the lackluster final season. The legacy of Game of Thrones is one of the stranger ones in modern television history.