3. Shireen is sacrificed to the Lord of Light (GOT Season 5, Ep 9)

One of the most enduring criticisms of GOT is its depictions of violence against children. No scene exemplifies that more than the disturbing death of young Shireen, the only child of Stannis Baratheon. She is the metaphorical sacrificial lamb, innocent, blameless, but nonetheless sacrificed to the so-called Lord of Light by her father to ensure his victory in the War of the Five Kings. It’s a wrenching decision. We’ve come to delight in the precocious little girl who overcame greyscale with dignity and grit. It’s virtually unwatchable: Shireen is tied to a pyre and burned alive while her parents and soldiers look on. Her screams are heart-rending, and the scene is made even more tragic by her parents’ reactions. Stannis remains stoic but is clearly tormented; Selyse initially supports the sacrifice, but breaks down in horror and regret as the reality of their actions sets in. It’s a brutal and unforgiving killing, senseless, and ultimately futile.