Game of Thrones death list: Who dies in season 8 episode 5

Daenerys caused carnage with Drogon in the penultimate episode of the final series

*Major spoiler warning for Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5*

Game of Thrones fans may have been disappointed in the lack of major deaths that occurred during the battle at Winterfell, but the penultimate episode more than made up for it.

A number of major or key characters met their fates when Daenerys unleashed her wrath on King’s Landing, as a tearful Cersei watched on from the Red Keep.

While not all of the deaths took place in the way fans were expecting, the vast majority of them had been predicted for this episode, particularly given Miguel Sapochnik – who directed episodes including “Hardhome” – was at the helm.

Here’s a full list of the key characters who died in season 8 episode 5:

Varys

(HBO / Helen Sloan)

The moment he started talking about betraying Daenerys in favour of Jon Snow, fans guessed it was probably over for the Master of Whispers. It was ultimately Tyrion who turned him in, after the Hand of the Queen admitted telling Varys about Jon’s true heritage and claim to the Iron Throne.

It was definitely the most noble death on the show; Varys is seen calmly removing his rings before following Dany’s soldiers to the beach and meeting his fate: a calm, sinister “Dracarys” from Dany to Drogon.

Harry Strickland

Harry Strickland made his first appearance in the Game of Thrones season 8 premiere, alongside Cersei Lannister and Euron Greyjoy. He was the captain of the Golden Company, a mercenary group from Essos that Cersei hired to fight against Dany and Jon Snow’s army.

When he arrived, Harry Strickland brought 20,000 men and 2,000 horses with him (but no war elephants, which Cersei was annoyed about).

Harry didn’t actually get to see much of the action, in the end, given that Dany promptly blasts down the defending wall of King’s Landing to allow Greyworm and his troops to charge. Harry is cut down amid the ensuing carnage.

The entire Golden Company

The Golden Company’s motto is: “Our word is as good as gold.” Essentially meaning they have no loyalty and are all about whoever has the deepest pockets. So it wasn’t exactly a surprise when they laid down their arms after coming face to face with Jon Snow and Greyworm – all while Dany and Drogon caused havoc from overhead. Or when the Mother of Dragons went rogue, causing Greyworm to charge on the remaining (unarmed) troops and slaughter them all.

Euron

(HBO)

Euron Greyjoy seemed to go pretty quickly in the episode, only to resurface (literally) on the shores of King’s Landing just as Jaime Lannister was making his way up to the Red Keep. A bloody, face-crunching battle ensued between the two, with Jaime ultimately leaving Euron dying from the sword-shaped hole through his stomach. “But I got you!” Euron shouts after the mortally injured Jaime. “I'm the man who killed Jaime Lannister.”

Qyburn

As Daenerys reduces the Red Keep to rubble, Cersei and her company attempt to escape, until they come face to face with The Hound. Seeing his younger brother seems to trigger The Mountain, who refuses Cersei’s order to stay by her side. Qyburn, who was responsible for creating the zombie-like creature that used to be Ser Gregor Clegane, tries to intercede, which leads to the Mountain smashing his maker’s head on the steps.

The Mountain and The Hound

The Hound and The Mountain in 'Game of Thrones' (HBO)

It was the moment we’d all been waiting for. Cersei tiptoes past The Hound to make way for Cleganebowl: the battle to the death between brothers Gregor and Sandor Clegane. Fans finally got to see what The Mountain looks like beneath his helmet (not good). After proving that a sword through the stomach isn’t enough to stop him, he tries the same move on The Hound as with Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) – crushing his skull by pushing through his eyes. But The Hound manages to stab his big brother through the head, giving himself enough time to knock him through a crumbling wall and send them both tumbling into the burning pit below. In his final moments, The Hound vanquished his two biggest fears, of fire, and his brother.

Jaime and Cersei Lannister

(HBO)

They came into the world together and they left it the same way. Fans were likely disappointed that Melisandre's theory about Arya killing “brown eyes, green eyes, blue eyes” didn’t seem to match up, after using it to theorise that she would be the one to kill Cersei. Yet it was Daenerys who brought their world crashing down around them, ruining Jaime’s escape plan in the process.

Cersei sobs her final words: “I want our baby to live. I want our baby to live. Don't let me die. Please don't let me die. I don't want to die. I don't want to do. Not like this. Not like this. Not like this.” Jaime's calm response: “Look me in the eyes. Just look at me. Nothing else matters. Nothing else matters. Only us.” They embrace as the walls come crashing down, consuming them both.

Game of Thrones concludes with the final episode on 19 May, on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic and NowTV in the UK.