The "next Game of Thrones" is a phrase that's been thrown around often on the heels of HBO's hit fantasy series, but networks seem just as eager to deliver the next Red Wedding. The Red Wedding is one of the most memorable incidents in all of Game of Thrones. Indeed, Robb and Catelyn Stark's deaths in "The Rains of Castamere" left viewers reeling long after the credits rolled, setting the bar high for on-screen tragedies going forward.

And with many shows trying to be the next Game of Thrones, it should come as no surprise that many have attempted to deliver the same shock and sadness as "The Rains of Castamere." Even HBO's House of the Dragon spinoff has its own version of the Red Wedding, though this installment points to a harsh truth about these attempts to replicate the incident. Although it makes sense to want the same level of excitement that the Red Wedding generated, most of the efforts to match it are falling short.

Every Show Wants To Have The Next Red Wedding After The Game Of Thrones Episode's Success

Many Episodes Try To Recapture Its Shocking Brutality

"The Rains of Castamere" is the highest-rated Game of Thrones episode on IMDb, and it's easily one of the show's strongest installments. The fact that people still talk about it, more than a decade after the episode first aired, is a testament to its success. And when other shows' major events are compared to the Red Wedding, it's meant to imply a similar level of devastation and excitement. It happens surprisingly often, with SlashFilm comparing The Handmaid Tale season 6's wedding massacre to Game of Thrones, and Decider dubbing 1923's second-to-last installment its "own Red Wedding."

Even House of the Dragon wasn't immune to this, as many hyped up season 2's adaptation of Blood and Cheese as the franchise's next Red Wedding. The Last of Us season 2's major death also sparked such comparisons; it seems to happen any time a huge tragedy is anticipated. However, very few of these television events truly elicit the massive response to Game of Thrones' best episode. In fact, constantly referencing the HBO series while discussing other shows' big incidents might even be setting them up for failure.

The "Next Red Wedding" Comparisons Set A Lot Of TV Shows Up For Failure

Game Of Thrones Sets A High Bar That Most Fall Short Of

The Red Wedding is a major moment in recent pop culture history, but comparing every television tragedy to the incident ensures that none of them stand out as special. In general, Game of Thrones became such a phenomenon because it was unique when it was airing. It was one of few fantasy shows to gain mainstream popularity and boast high production quality. And its unflinching approach to killing off major characters — something it can thank George R.R. Martin's books for — was slightly less common.

It feels unfair to compare certain episodes to this one, as it sets viewer expectations far too high.

Now, it feels like TV shows are all attempting to outdo one another when it comes to shock value and brutality. This makes it incredibly difficult for any of them to leave a distinct impression, which is something "The Rains of Castamere" never needed to worry about. Additionally, Game of Thrones' Red Wedding unfolds at the peak of the series, with many other factors contributing to its success. It feels unfair to compare certain episodes to this one, as it sets viewer expectations far too high.

Why It's So Hard For Other Series To Replicate Game Of Thrones' Biggest Tragedy

There's Not Enough Build-Up & They Don't Feel Distinct Anymore

Beyond most new series not standing out as much as Game of Thrones, there are a couple other elements of the Red Wedding that are proving difficult to recapture. For one, the emotional impact is much greater in "The Rains of Castamere" because we've been given time to know these characters, and we've been led to believe they're the series' heroes. Those with knowledge of the books know what's coming, but otherwise, Robb's and Catelyn's deaths feel totally unexpected and devastating.

Compared to a series like The Last of Us, where the biggest death only builds on a single season of getting to know the character, it's not surprising the emotional punch isn't as powerful. House of the Dragon also doesn't allow viewers to grow attached to Helaena or her children before delivering its Blood and Cheese scene. And shows like The Handmaid's Tale may match the Red Wedding in of brutality, but the feeling of the incident is different, as the villains are the ones on the receiving end of the violence.

Many of these shows also don't have the same wide reach as Game of Thrones.

Many of these shows also don't have the same wide reach as Game of Thrones. This means that, even if their big incidents do live up to the Red Wedding, they're less likely to become water cooler talk at work. "The Rains of Castamere" was lucky because it happened at a time when Game of Thrones was blowing up and had given viewers plenty of reason to be invested in its characters. Added to the series' unique nature, these things set the Red Wedding up to be a success that's hard to repeat.

Source: IMDb, SlashFilm, Decider