11. Criston beats Joffrey Lonmouth to death (HOD Season 1, Ep 5)
As far as murders go, Joffrey Lonmouth’s death at the hands of Ser Criston Cole of the King’s Guard is rather conventional, though shocking nonetheless. Criston is cast as a sympathetic naif, all googly-eyed for Princess Rhaenyra after they spend a night together. He thinks he’s in love, but is rebuffed—Rhaenyra will wed a closeted Laenor to fulfill her royal duty, though she wouldn’t mind keeping Criston for booty calls. He’s crushed. Who can blame viewers for rooting for him, the strapping underdog with the broken heart? But when Laenor’s lover Joffrey makes some ill-advised remarks to Criston about their shared indiscretions with the bride and groom, Criston snaps, battering Joffrey with unrelenting blows until he is dead. It’s a ghastly turn, entirely unexpected, stark evidence that it’s always the quiet ones that you need to watch out for.
