Highlights
- Characters like Khal Drogo and Stannis Baratheon showcase complex transformations from villains to heroes through their actions and relationships.
- Sansa Stark's evolution from naive teenager to strategic player highlights the unpredictable nature of character development in Game of Thrones.
- Daenerys Targaryen's tragic descent into madness serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power in the quest for the Iron Throne.
Game of Thrones was one of the biggest TV shows of the 21st century, famed for its jaw-dropping twists, politicking, and captivating battles. In the hit HBO fantasy show, the ensemble cast of characters have been praised for their variety and performances, as they depict individuals from all over Westeros who each contribute heavily to the narrative.
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Due to the nature of the story, which features tons of conflict and warfare, there are several characters that many consider to be polarizing, with these characters often found to have good and bad moments throughout their progression in Game of Thrones.
7 Khal Drogo
A Brutal Warlord Who Assaulted Daenerys Targaryen
- Debut: "Winter Is Coming" Season 1, Episode 1
Khal Drogo is a character who has become a fan favorite for many, famed for his badass attitude and appearance as he leads the Dothraki. Played by Jason Momoa, Drogo is often viewed as polarizing, with the character starting as an abuser of his new wife, Daenerys Targaryen, treating her as a slave for his own pleasure.
Drogo's behavior changes as he spends more time with Daenerys, and the two become a formidable couple as they lead the Dothraki throughout Season 1 before the Khal's untimely death.
6 Sansa Stark
The Only Stark Who Learns To Play The Game
- Debut: "Winter Is Coming" Season 1, Episode 1
As part of House Stark, Sansa Stark became a character audiences root for due to her family being the "heroes" of the story. Despite this, Sansa has not always been looked upon fondly in Game of Thrones. At the show's beginning, Sansa is shown to be a snobby teenager keen on marrying the repulsive Prince Joffrey Baratheon. After suffering at the hands of Joffrey, audiences empathize with the trapped noble, as Sansa is stuck in King's Landing under the prying eyes of the Lannisters.
As Sansa grows up and escapes King's Landing, she starts to play the game, with the eventual Lady of Winterfell undermining her siblings Jon Snow and Arya Stark. During Daenarys' downfall, Sansa is one of the biggest perpetrators, as she reveals Jon's heritage to people in positions of power, such as Tyrion Lannister and Varys. Despite her scheming, Sansa remains loyal to her family by doing her best to protect the ones she loves.
5 Stannis Baratheon
The Rightful Heir To The Throne Put Too Much Trust In A Red Priest
- Debut: "The North Remembers" Season 2, Episode 1
Stannis Baratheon is a character who goes through many ups and downs during Game of Thrones, falling victim to the whispers of a red priest while in pursuit of the Iron Throne. Stannis' push for the crown comes after Ned Stark's letter revealing that Robert Baratheon's children were all illegitimate. While Stannis is the rightful heir to the Throne, his hardened personality makes it difficult for the people in Westeros to back his cause.
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With Melisandre at his side, Stannis performs acts that alienate his supporters and ruin his family, with the sacrifice of his daughter, Shireen Baratheon, being heart-wrenching, and the final straw for many viewers. Despite being led astray by Melisandre, Stannis was an effective commander and an honorable man who still cared for his daughter, showing he had some good in him.
4 Theon Greyjoy
A Coward Who Sought To Reclaim His Honor
- Debut: "Winter Is Coming" Season 1, Episode 1
Early in Game of Thrones, Theon Greyjoy emerged as one of the show's most prominent villains, with the House Stark steward being famed for his betrayal of Robb Stark when he holds Winterfell hostage. After being captured by the Boltons, Theon becomes a slave for Ramsay Bolton alongside Sansa, with the pair being brutalized by the eventual Warden of the North.
As his redemption begins, Theon helps Sansa escape from Winterfell, with the pair going their separate ways as Theon seeks to reclaim his honor by helping his sister, Yara Greyjoy, claim the Iron Islands. Theon's story comes full circle when he returns to the North for the Battle of Winterfell, where he dies protecting Bran Stark from the Night King and the White Walkers.
3 Daenerys Targaryen
A Rags-To-Riches Ascent To Become The Mad Queen
- Debut: "Winter Is Coming" Season 1, Episode 1
As one of the main protagonists, Daenerys ascends from nothing to become one of the most powerful rulers through her impressive leadership skills and her three dragons, the only such creatures in Westeros. Along her way to becoming the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Daenerys amasses support by freeing many slaves from captivity, earning her title "The Breaker of Chains".
Despite her goodwill actions, Daenerys' desire for the Iron Throne leads to her downfall, as she kills thousands of innocents in pursuit of her father's crown. Daenerys' descent into madness causes her to transform into her father, with the reveal of her lover Jon Snow's heritage tipping her over the edge.
2 Catelyn Stark
The First Lady Of Winterfell Caused Strife For Robb Stark And Jon Snow
- Debut: "Winter Is Coming" Season 1, Episode 1
Catelyn Stark is renowned for being highly divisive, with the Lady of Winterfell causing issues for many despite being the wife of the adored Ned Stark. As a member of House Stark, Catelyn acts as a senior figure in Robb Stark's council. However, she eventually betrays her son by freeing Jaime Lannister in hopes of getting Arya and Sansa back in return.
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In addition, Catelyn is known to have treated Jon extremely poorly when he grew up in Winterfell, with Catelyn despising him for being Ned's illegitimate child. Even with Catelyn's faults, many consider her as a cornerstone of the Starks, with her death at the Red Wedding being an emotional scene for audiences who would mourn her loss.
1 Jaime Lannister
The Kingslayer Committed Many Atrocities But Also Fought For Redemption
- Debut: "Winter Is Coming" Season 1, Episode 1
No character in George R.R. Martin's fantasy world of Westeros is as polarizing as the Kingslayer and knight, Jaime Lannister. In Game of Thrones, Jaime goes through phases of good and evil, with the character immediately becoming a villain through his near killing of Bran after pushing him from a tower window. After terrorizing the beloved Starks, Jaime undergoes a transformation, and his time with Brienne of Tarth turns him into a man of honor as he saves her from being assaulted, leading to Jaime losing his hand as a result.
Jaime's relationship with his brother, Tyrion, is heartwarming, with Jaime being the only person to respect Tyrion despite his dwarfism. Even though he charters a better path, Jaime still possesses a dark side, like when the Kingslayer assaults his sister, Cersei Lannister, right next to Joffrey's dead body. Jaime continued to dance between good and evil until his eventual death, as he perished with Cersei in his arms during Daenerys' invasion of King's Landing.
Game of Thrones
- First Episode Air Date
- April 17, 2011
- Where to watch
- HBO Max
- Spin-offs
- House of the Dragon
