Game of Thrones is masterful when it comes to foreshadowing major events, and the HBO series uses the same genius trick to cause two separate deaths over a period of seven episodes. It's no secret that many prominent characters die throughout Game of Thrones, but some of the most important losses occur during the program's first performance. These deaths are what kick off the series' central conflict and also set the show's brutal tone going forward.
While deaths like Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark may seem surprising at first glance, Game of Thrones in fact, it sets them up early. The series does this by weaving complex political alliances that give both characters implacable enemies to worry about. However, it also foreshadows such deaths more directly through seemingly unrelated scenes. There are two moments when Game of Thrones 1st season that uses animals to cause a character's downfalland they are surprisingly similar.
Game Of Thrones Pilot Used A Deer To Foreshadow The Starks' Death
The direwolf killed by the deer represents Ned's death
Ned Stark's death is one of the most pivotal – and shocking – moments in Game of Thrones, and is foreshadowed in the pilot episode. Ned and his sons find a deceased direwolf in the forest during episode 1, and that's how the Starks end up with their direwolf pups. However, the way in which the puppies' mother dies is significant: the adult direwolf is stabbed by the antlers of a deerwith the two animals killing each other. With the direwolf being the symbol of House Stark, and the stag representing the Baratheons, this is a very intentional detail.
The writing for the pilot episode is on the wall, with the direwolf heavily alluding to Ned's ultimate fate.
So soon Game of Thrones moment tells viewers what's coming, like Ned Stark – the “adult direwolf“in this scenario – dies because of the Baratheons in episode 9. Joffrey Baratheon is the one who orders his execution, and Robert is the reason why Ned is in King's Landing in the first place. If Ned hadn't become the Hand of the King by Robert King , things could have turned out differently for him. The writing has been on the wall since the pilot episode, with the direwolf heavily alluding to Ned's ultimate fate.
It also foreshadows the fates of other members of House Stark who become involved in the conflict arising from Robert and Joffrey, including Catelyn and Robb. The dead deer is not insignificant either. While knocking down the giant wolf, he still dies – something that can also be said of the Baratheons, whose antics led to the downfall of the Starks.
Game Of Thrones Used Foreshadowing Of The Deer's Death Later In The First Season
Tywin Lannister skins a deer in the same episode that Robert dies
Game of Thrones uses the death of an animal to foreshadow the death of Robert Baratheon as well, as Season 1's 'You Win or You Die' begins with Tywin Lannister skinning a deer. This gives him something to do while talking to Jaime, but the true meaning behind this scene is darker. While Tywin isn't directly responsible for what happens to Robert, this moment represents the lion overtaking the stag – or, more bluntly, House Lannister overtaking House Baratheon.
Cersei, of course, is the one behind Robert's fatal hunting accident, and Tywin's opening scene sets this up perfectly. It's no coincidence that it's located at the beginning of “You Win or You Die,” the same episode that features Robert's death. And the fact that Game of Thrones uses this tactic with Ned further suggests that it is intentional. The series has a habit of using its characters' sigils in this way, and it's clever inclusions like this that make it so fun to watch again.