12. Oberyn’s death
Oberyn Martell’s arrival at King’s Landing was memorable to the say the least: he arrived early and proceeded to the nearest brothel, leaving Tyrion’s welcome party standing at the gates.
Too smooth
And he didn’t get much more accommodating. It was clear from the first that Oberyn hated the Lannister family and wanted nothing more than to exact vengeance for his sister’s death.
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Oberyn’s sister – Elia – had been married to Rhaegar Targeryan. When King’s Landing was sacked during Robert’s Rebellion, Elia was supposedly caught by the Mountain, who raped and murdered her and her children.
Oberyn was a skilled spearman
When Tyrion chose trial-by-combat in his defence against the accusation that he murdered Joffrey, it was Oberyn that stood for him.
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And Oberyn actually did a good job. He pretty much defeated the Mountain, slashing and dancing out of the way with his spear.
But not skilled enough
It was Oberyn’s absolute need for the Mountain’s confession that was his doom. We were all sat there screaming at the screen, “Just finish him. Just finish him.” But Oberyn never managed to finish the Mountain. He was grabbed, and whilst the Mountain confessed his sins, he caved in Oberyn’s skull. The blood-curdling scream omitted by Oberyn’s lover (Ellaria) even without the gore, is enough to make this one of the most shocking moments from the show.
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