Three episodes in, and there has been House of the Dragon, the prequel spinoff to Game of Thrones. But HoTD has epic shoes to fill, considering that everything about the original is iconic, from the characters to the battle sequences to the quotes. Cersei Lannister had perhaps the most definitive quote when she said, "When you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die. There is no middle ground."
She was right. Game of Thrones proved that in a continent like Westeros, no one is safe, and everyone is guilty of something. The game is ruthless and dangerous, so it should come as no surprise that plenty of betrayals occurred throughout the show's eight seasons. From elaborate lies that took years to flourish to immediate betrayals that resulted in shocking deaths, these treasonous acts prove that Game of Thrones was the cruelest show on television.
Ellaria Sand & The Sand Snakes Betray Dorne
The Dorne plot in season 5 was among the show's worst. Ellaria Sand and Oberyn Martell's bastard daughters, known as the Sand Snakes, kill Prince Doran and Prince Trystane and take control of Dorne, all in pursuit of revenge against the Lannisters for Oberyn's death.
Ellaria's purposes are entirely selfish, and she's willing to risk her kingdom just to get her petty revenge. At least Oberyn was intelligent in his efforts to get justice for his sister, Elia, but Ellaria wanted all-out war and was willing to betray her Prince and kingdom to get it.
Jorah Mormont Betrays Daenerys Targaryen
Ser Jorah Mormont agreed to become a spy for Varys, hoping to achieve a pardon and return to Westeros. However, things changed when he met and fell in love with Daenerys Targaryen, eventually becoming completely devoted to her and her mission.
Still, Daenerys is understandably hurt when she discovers the truth; he is her loyal advisor and friend, her one constant companion through thick and thin, and discovering his betrayal hits her hard. She banishes Jorah from her side, but the loyal knight refuses to stay away and continuously returns to prove his worth. Jorah is one of Daenerys' best friends in Game of Thrones, eventually dying to protect her during the Long Night.
Theon Greyjoy Betrays Robb Stark
Few betrayals in Game of Thrones are as sad as Theon Greyjoy's deceit. While Robb Stark is away at war, Theon seizes Winterfell and chases Bran and Rickon out. Theon's dilemma is understandable, as he feels torn between his birth and adopted families. However, his actions are rushed and reprehensible, particularly his murder of two innocent farmboys.
Still, Theon atones for his crimes and dies a hero, protecting the boy he once stole from and the home he had rejected for so many years. Theon has one of the most tragic stories in the show, but he eventually earns his much-deserved redemption.
The Night's Watch Betrays Jon
Jon has a hard time in the Night's Watch. Half the people hate him, and the other half love him; there seems to be no in-between. His decision to let the Free Folk across the Wall earns him the scorn of a faction led by Ser Allise Thorner; the group stabs him in the season 5 finale and leaves him to die, though he is eventually brought back.
Jon genuinely considers them his brothers and knowing they killed him breaks his heart. Some fans might understand where Thorne is coming from, but his refusal to accept the Free Folk's help is still awful.
Littlefinger Betrays Sansa Stark
After helping her escape from King's Landing, Littlefinger betrays Sansa Stark by selling her to the Boltons. He knew Ramsay would torture her but didn't care because of his plans to eventually become Warden of the North. However, he didn't anticipate that she would escape without his help.
Marrying Sansa to Ramsay was one of Littlefinger's dumbest decisions in Game of Thrones. He underestimated her character and overestimated his influence on her, resulting in her losing complete faith in him. Littlefinger's power relied on anticipating everyone's moves while remaining undetected. By betraying Sansa, he exposes his true nature, eventually leading to his death.
Cersei Lannister Betrays The Tyrells
Short-sightedness was one of Cersei Lannister's main character traits. She never planned ahead, instead choosing to act and remove her instant threats without considering the future consequences. Cersei empowers the Sparrows to escape her engagement to Loras Tyrell and get rid of Margaery, imprisoning them on numerous charges.
However, Cersei's actions endangered the Lannisters' alliance with the Tyrells and backfired when she found herself also imprisoned by the Sparrows. Cersei's betrayal of the Tyrells showcased how poor a strategist she was, ultimately proving Tywin right about her not being as smart as she thought.
Shae Betrays Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister's love for Shae was honest, and she reciprocated his feelings. However, his mistake was not trusting her enough to explain the nature of things to her. Instead, Tyrion pushed her away, which only succeeded in angering her.
Shae's testimony during Tyrion's trial was one of the show's most painful betrayals. She was understandably hurt, but her words condemned a man she knew was innocent; worst of all, she did it out of spite. Shae turning her back on Tyrion was one of the show's most shocking moments and the perfect proof that words can be as painful as blades.
Littlefinger Betrays Ned Stark
Littlefinger is among the most complex characters in Game of Thrones. He is behind every major event in the series, being the main architect for the War of the Five Kings. His power is rooted in his knowledge and ability to anticipate everyone's moves, so betraying someone as honorable and honest as Ned Stark was easy for him.
Baelish's treachery was well-known in King's Landing, but Ned still chose to ignore his dubious reputation. Littlefinger is as guilty for Ned's death as Cersei and Joffrey. He was so cunning and clever that viewers couldn't help but ire him, recognizing him as one of the game's best players.
Walder Frey Betrays Robb Stark
Robb was an honorable man that still did what was necessary to win the war. He was more strategic than his father and Jon, and had the potential to be a great ruler. However, he was less honorable than Ned, which turned out to be his fatal flaw.
Walder Frey's betrayal of Robb at the Red Wedding might be the worst in the show. It was brutal and savage, displaying the worst aspects of Westerosi society. Robb was wrong to walk back on his word to Walder Frey, but he didn't deserve to die for it. There's a good reason fans often consider Walder Frey one of, if not the most hateful character in the show.
Daenerys Targaryen Betrays Herself
Daenerys Targaryen was one of the best characters in Game of Thrones. Neither fully good nor wholly bad, Dany walked a fine line between light and dark. She was capable of great cruelty toward her enemies, but she also showed restraint in earlier seasons, itting she didn't always know best and being willing to heed her advisors.
While Dany was ruthless and brutal, she also knew her worst qualities and actively worked to keep them in check; that was the nature of her character. Thus, seeing her give in to her worst impulses during the show's penultimate episode was nothing short of character assassination. Daenerys betrayed herself for no good reason, destroying her legacy in the process.