Even in the book, it was hardly such a surprise... The book is a long foreshadowing that Ned is doomed, like Jon before him. The tone of the series (even by that point) is realistic and bleak, you don't expect many will get as lucky as Tyrion at the Eyrie, and the storyline of Asoiaf is pseudo-historical. It's a genre in which the deaths of important players is required to move plot along by reshuffling the board.
As for the TV viewers... It's not the first time important characters leave a story early one way or another, all the more on HBO, and in historical dramas in general it's not so common on American TV networks, granted (but it's been done before, and quite a few times in fact). International viewers have seen this done even more often, for e.g. One of the most popular British dramas (Spooks) has been killing off (or grtting rid in other ways) of it's cast on a regular basis, starting with it's lead in season 3...
No doubt many will be surprised Ned isn't saved in some way, but I don't think it will make as much media noise as some fans think it will.
As for the TV viewers... It's not the first time important characters leave a story early one way or another, all the more on HBO, and in historical dramas in general it's not so common on American TV networks, granted (but it's been done before, and quite a few times in fact). International viewers have seen this done even more often, for e.g. One of the most popular British dramas (Spooks) has been killing off (or grtting rid in other ways) of it's cast on a regular basis, starting with it's lead in season 3...
No doubt many will be surprised Ned isn't saved in some way, but I don't think it will make as much media noise as some fans think it will.
Game of thrones Season 1, episode 9 -DO NOT READ BEFORE SEEING "Baelor"!
13/06/2011 03:09:34 AM
- 1789 Views
That's not the finale..
13/06/2011 03:25:03 AM
- 770 Views
What in the world would they do with him?
13/06/2011 04:51:12 AM
- 691 Views
I had no idea to be honest
13/06/2011 02:31:07 PM
- 772 Views
Spoilers for next episode, deviation from books (major book spoilers through SoS)
13/06/2011 09:08:46 PM
- 926 Views
By the way, what's up with Drogo dying due to that small wound?
13/06/2011 12:59:49 PM
- 707 Views
That kind of sucked
13/06/2011 03:12:54 PM
- 905 Views
I don't think it will make that much of a wave...
13/06/2011 02:09:35 PM
- 831 Views
This guy says otherwise
13/06/2011 09:00:33 PM
- 789 Views
been waiting for weeks to see Larry William's reaction to Ned's death...priceless
14/06/2011 07:55:05 AM
- 728 Views
Help?
13/06/2011 02:32:32 PM
- 628 Views
Re: Help?
13/06/2011 03:16:07 PM
- 863 Views
I am sorry but you are wrong, Ned does talk to Yoren and meets Arya in the books
14/06/2011 12:14:01 AM
- 704 Views
Wow, that was well done.
13/06/2011 04:26:56 PM
- 725 Views
Sibel Kekilli, really? That could get interesting.
13/06/2011 05:45:59 PM
- 761 Views
The final scene was done very well IMO
14/06/2011 01:20:17 AM
- 818 Views
It was a great episode.
14/06/2011 07:26:50 PM
- 761 Views
Was there someone who "convinced" Joffery.....
14/06/2011 09:29:10 PM
- 524 Views
In the books it is also hinted that somone did.
14/06/2011 09:34:54 PM
- 624 Views
No actually it was all Joffrey
14/06/2011 09:56:43 PM
- 615 Views
Re: No actually it was all Joffrey
14/06/2011 10:19:35 PM
- 661 Views
Curious.
14/06/2011 10:26:25 PM
- 738 Views
It was a very subtle hint that Littlefinger having helped Joff along this line of thinking.
14/06/2011 11:57:13 PM
- 759 Views
Go by the rule: if they can't work out who did it, it's subtle, it's Baelish *NM*
15/06/2011 10:52:43 AM
- 453 Views
So... Baelish is Jon Snow's mother? *NM*
17/06/2011 11:52:42 AM
- 332 Views
What's subtle about a bimbo running off with a married guy because he's cute, sensitive & artistic? *NM*
17/06/2011 09:49:55 PM
- 413 Views
Yep. P+B=J. Petyr actually fought Brandon because he was jealous OF Cat. *NM*
21/06/2011 12:36:52 AM
- 401 Views
Let's just be clear here.
21/06/2011 01:08:45 AM
- 670 Views
Well...
21/06/2011 10:22:15 AM
- 651 Views
that explains why he only watched the whores playing, and didn't join! gotta keep the secret!!
21/06/2011 04:40:49 PM
- 788 Views
Sansa?
17/06/2011 03:40:15 PM
- 758 Views
I don't understand your question
17/06/2011 03:53:48 PM
- 717 Views
Re: I don't understand your question
17/06/2011 03:57:52 PM
- 1088 Views