CinemaBlend HBOâs Game of Thrones is one of the most influential television shows of all time. The sweeping epic fantasy is based on George R.R. Martinâs A Song of Ice and Fire. Both the show and novels are known for their penchant of killing off major characters without the skip of a beat. Fans of the show (and books) may remember that one of the more shocking deaths came at the end of Season 1. Those of us who were floored by the death of Ned Stark arenât alone, however. Sean Bean, who played the Stark patriarch in the show, recently shared exactly what was going through his head, before his character was due to lose his own.