Most shocking House of the Dragon character death REVEALED
- New data reveals the character deaths which most shocked House of the Dragon fans, after the most recent episode left viewers reeling
- Google data from the month of a key character’s death was analysed to identify the biggest spike in UK searches
- The heartbreaking death of young Prince Jaehaerys takes first place, with character searches rocketing 1,816% after his final episode
- The most recent confirmed death (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen) ranked second
Data shows that the death of Jaehaerys Targaryen was the most shocking for House of the Dragon fans, as Google searches for the character rose by 1,816% on the day his final episode aired.
The analysis was conducted by tech experts QR Code Generator, who scoured UK Google Trends data from the month leading up to the characters’ final moments, identifying spikes in searches to assess the shock-factor of each death.
Some fans were expecting the brutal scene, which aired in the first episode of the second series, ‘A Son for a Son’. It took on a different form in the books, but the outcome was the same – a miscommunication led to the murder of the child prince.
In second, the most recent death in the show has fans grieving. Searches for Rhaenys Targaryen spiked by 1,603% after the last episode, ‘The Red Dragon and the Gold’ and though it played out similarly in the book, it still upset fans.
Prior to the latest episode, the most shocking death was the joint ending of twins Arryk and Erryk Cargyll, with searches for Arryk rising 500%, and Google searches for his brother up 354%.
When Ser Criston Cole’s scheme sent Arryk to slay Rhaenyra, the twins were forced to fight one another in an epic confrontation, testing their split allegiances. In defence of his queen, Erryk kills his brother then turns his sword on himself.
The fifth most shocking death took place in the first season of the show, with Vaemond Velaryon’s sudden death at the hand of Daemon taking viewers by surprise and causing a 313% rise in searches for the character.
In sixth, Rhea Royce, Daemon’s first wife, saw a rise in searches of 210% after her death. Though the couple famously did not see eye to eye or live with one another, Daemon’s decision to murder his wife was a shock to many viewers.
Seventh place goes to one of the saddest deaths of the show, Lucerys Velaryon’s death, which made for a dramatic and shocking season one finale.
After Vhagar, the biggest dragon in the show, ignores Aemond’s orders, the young prince is killed, leading to an escalation in the conflict. Rhaenyra’s maternal grief devastated fans and prompted a 171% rise in Google searches for the boy.
Ser Harwin Strong, the legitimate father of three of Rhaenyra’s children, takes eighth place, as searches for him rose by 168% after his final episode aired last season.
One of the saddest deaths in the show, though less surprising given its long build up, was Viserys Targaryen’s decline. Suffering from a type of leprosy, the King’s illness spanned the first season, with his death prompting a 165% rise in searches.
In tenth place, another of the show’s tragic deaths saw Laena Velaryon ordering her own dragon to execute her, to free her from an agonising childbirth which would ultimately have killed her. This prompted a 120% rise in Google searches.
The ten most shocking deaths in House of the Dragon, ranked
| Character | Google Searches Rise for the Character after their Final Episode |
| Jaehaerys Targaryen | 1,816.2% |
| Rhaenys Targaryen | 1,603.3% |
| Ser Arryk Cargyll | 500.0% |
| Erryk Cargyll | 354.6% |
| Ser Vaemond Velaryon | 313.2% |
| Rhea Royce | 210.6% |
| Lucerys Velaryon | 171.7% |
| Ser Harwin Strong | 168.8% |
| Viserys Targaryen | 166.0% |
| Laena Velaryon | 120.3% |
Speaking on the fan reactions to some of the show’s most heartbreaking deaths, CEO of QR Code Generator, Marc Porcar, said: “From the first series of Game of Thrones, the showrunners have been true to the work of George R. R. Martin, if not in plot, in spirit. The death of Ned Stark served to warn fans that they were not watching an ordinary show – no character is safe, and no happy ending is promised.
“House of the Dragon is no different despite being a prequel. We may know what happens in the text, or even from previous conversations between characters in Game of Thrones – but nothing is guaranteed.
“Though fans are mourning the deaths of some of their favourite characters, they will keep coming back to watch the rest of the series, as the shocking nature of the show is what makes it so special. Predicting any character’s next move is a challenge, which makes each minute of screen time even more exciting.”
For more information, visit QRFY.com.