Maandelijks archief: juli 2019

Game of Thrones

FreeFolk’s Top 50 greatest Game of Thrones characters (2019 edition)

Een reactie plaatsen

Game of Thrones has officially ended. I cannot believe I would ever have to stay this. Unfortunately, the epic television series did not stick the landing and left viewers behind with a bitter taste. But this does not mean that we should forget the earlier amazing seasons of Game of Thrones and the unforgettable characters they brought. It will be interesting to go through the fifty greatest Game of Thrones a month after the season finale has aired. Which character can we consider the “greatest” character now the show has wrapped up? And how did these characters evolve through the years in general?

I already want to thank everyone who took the time to vote for their 10 favourite characters. It is a difficult task to narrow your list of favorite characters down to only ten characters. So, a big thank you! I hope to see you all next time around again. If Blood Moon airs in 2020, I will probably wait until the season has aired so I can include these characters in the “Song of Ice and Fire Cinematic Universe”(SIFCU). For now, the list only includes characters of the television adaptation. Last year’s big five consist of the following five characters:

5 (5) ser Davos Seaworth

4 (7) Arya Stark

3 (4) Tyrion Lannister

2 (2) Jaime Lannister

1 (3) Jon Snow

Readers who want to consult the lists of previous years, can indulge themselves right over here.

Well, let’s count down!

FROM 50 TO 41: “KILLERS AND VICTIMS”

We open this year’s list with a re-entry. Missandei of Naath has not entered our list since 2015, in which she ended up at a remarkable 38th place. Her shocking and tragic death by the hands of The Mountain might be one of the main reasons why voters give her more attention this year. Even though she might have been one of the less important background characters in the series, her character provided the sweetness and purity we needed in such a harsh world. Missandei was loyal to Daenerys to the end, and it was heartbreaking to see her leaving the series this way. However, it makes me happy to see her being a part of the 50 greatest characters in the show as Nathalie Emmanuel did a remarkable job bringing sweet Missandei to life.

Missandei’s most memorable moment: Missandei and Grey Worm make love in one of the show’s sweetest and most sincere moments (season 7 episode 2: “Stormborn”)

2,98% of all voters thought that Missandei is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Is this really a coincidence? The Mountain ending up in a position so close to Missandei. The Mountain might be, arguably, the most evil guy the show has ever had. Having no redeeming qualities, the Mountain became literally a vicious monster throughout the show whose sole purpose is to slaughter people. His archenemy, his brother, Sandor Clegane, was the only one able to bring his brother to justice for the innumerable atrocities he committed. The confrontation between the Clegane brothers was undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments of season 8, even though it was majorly done to please fans as they have been longing to see Cleganebowl happening for years. Gregor Clegane re-enters the list at #49 and is the first villain we come across in this list.

Gregor’s most memorable moment: The final confrontation with his brother, Sandor Clegane, better known as “Cleganebowl” (season 8 episode 5: “The Bells”)

3,03% of all voters thought that The Mountain is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Another character that was close to Missandei is Grey Worm. Torgo Nudho and Missandei were two of the kindest characters in Game of Thrones and we wished for the best ending for these two. In all honesty, I thought that Grey Worm would be the one to perish and leave Missandei alone behind – however, it turned out to be the other way around. It was a heartbreaking moment for Grey Worm to see the woman he loved with all his heart being taken away from him. Since that very moment, Grey Worm turned into a vengeful, cold character that would want to see the world burning for what they have done to Missandei. Grey Worm’s arc proved to be quite tragic and it turned out he would play a much bigger and controversial role in the endgame than I expected. Perhaps due to all the controversiality of his character, he does not climb in our list and remains at place #46.

Grey Worm’s most memorable moment: Grey Worm valiantly fights the Undead during the Long Night, turning out to be one of the key characters to defeat the Army of the Undead together with the Unsullied. (Season 8, episode 3: “The Long Night”)

3,08% of all voters thought that Grey Worm is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

The last surviving Baratheon loses 9 spots this year. And I kind of understand why. Gendry was not given a lot to bite his teeth into. He did have a small (and forced) romantic arc with Arya that did go nowhere. He fought alongside the living party during the Long Night. As a reward, he was legitimized as “Gendry Baratheon” and was given Storm’s End. Gendry had a bland and predictable conclusion to his arc, which made his character even more unmemorable. Ever since Gendry came back in season 7, it seems like the writers of the show did not truly know which direction they had to go with him, which was sad, since Gendry was a nice and interesting character in previous seasons and he did have a lot of chemistry with Arya. He is, fortunately, alive and well, and still one of the fifty greatest characters in Game of Thrones.

Gendry’s most memorable moment: Melisandre performs a leech ritual on Gendry. (Season 3, episode 8: “Second Sons”)

3,13% of all voters thought that Gendry is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Another Baratheon on our list! It has been four years since Shireen Baratheon has made an appearance in this list as she re-enters at #46, proving to be all but forgotten. Shireen might belong to the most tragic characters in the show, being despised by her mother for her affliction, and being betrayed by the only person she loved: her father. Shireen’s arc was truly one to never forget. She was a kind-hearted, brightening presence in the show and it was very sad to see her dying in such a horrible way when characters such as Joffrey or The Mountain never had to suffer that much. The Known World can be so cruel sometimes. But I am happy to see our beloved Shireen once again belonging to the 50 best Game of Thrones characters.

Shireen’s most memorable moment: Shireen is betrayed by her parents and burnt at the stake. (Season 5, episode 9: “The Dance of Dragons”)

3,38% of all voters thought that Shireen is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

And again another re-entry on our list! No one but Commander Mormont makes a return to the top 50 best Game of Thrones characters. Jeor Mormont was a very likable character. He was a righteous and strong leader, being one of the few trustworthy men in Westeros. It is a bit sad that Jeor never saw the man his son had become and instead remembers him as a traitor who tainted the Mormont name. Jeor had, like many other likable characters, a tragic and undeserving death. Even six years after his death, we still remember Jeor Mormont as one of the best characters in the show. He even peaks this year at #45.

Jeor’s most memorable moment: Jeor gives Longclaw to Jon Snow as a reward for saving his life (Season 1, episode 9: “Baelor”)

3,53% of all voters thought that Jeor is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Since the fourth season, we all thought that this creepy guy would be the final and darkest villain of the series. Well, it turned out that our expectations were subverted. The Long Night, which was anticipated during the very first season, turned out to be over and done in one episode. While the Battle of Winterfell was a cinematic masterpiece, the narrative was underwhelming and unsatisfying for such a long build-up. The result: The Night King loses a lot of credibility and while season 8 should have been his season (he could easily have ended up in the top 20 if he has had much more effect on the endgame), he loses 5 spots this year. He remains part of the fifty best Game of Thrones characters, but c’mon, this icy creep should have ended up much higher…

The Night King’s most memorable moment: The Night King raises a new army of undead after the massacre at Hardhome (Season 5, episode 8: “Hardhome”)

4,23% of all voters thought that The Night King is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

For three years, it seemed that Mance was slowly leaving the list. This year, he strikes back and climbs 6 spots, ending up in the highest position he has ever been in the history of the top 50 greatest Game of Thrones characters. Although Mance Rayder was a pretty minor character, Ciarán Hinds wonderfully brought the character to life and made him quite memorable despite his limited screentime. Mance was by no means a villain, he only tried to do what is best for his people. In many regards, Jon looked up to him, and ended up liking him and trying to safe his life. Whether Jon will take over Mance’s role as King-Beyond-The-Wall is a question that never might be answered, but Mance’s influence on Jon’s character is indisputable. Mance Rayder ends at #43.

Mance’s most memorable moment: The King-Beyond-The Wall refuses to bend the knee for King Stannis as he does not want his people to fight in another war (Season 5, episode 1: “The Wars To Come”)

4,27% of all voters thought that Mance Rayder is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

The first huge surprise on our list is Samwell’s massive decline in popularity. Samwell Tarly was steadily climbing up in our list for three years and even reached the top 15 last year. This year, however, he loses 27 spots (!), and ends up at #42. Samwell had an important role to play in the seventh season, but season 8 was, like many other characters, a downer in Samwell’s arc. He did not do anything memorable, other than telling Jon about his parentage, making Gilly pregnant, unbelievably surviving the Battle of Winterfell, and becoming the maester of the Red Keep after the Last War. His character’s relevancy rather stopped in season 7, as he should have been perished during the Long Night. But his character remains one of the most likable ones in the show and I am a bit upset to see him lose so much popularity.

Sam’s most memorable moment: Sam enters the library at the Citadel as his dream of becoming a maester is about to come true (Season 6, episode 10: “The Winds of Winter”)

4,32% of all voters thought that Samwell Tarly is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Hot Pie is certainly a force to be reckoned with on our list. Ever since 2016, he is slowly but surely making his way to the top 40 and he almost reaches it this year. And it is quite surprising since Hot Pie did not appear in season 8. He only has appeared in a handful of episodes, but he provided the right amount of comic relief the show needed. There have even been circulating the most ridiculous theories about Hot Pie being Azor Ahai. We might all assume that Hot Pie will live a long and happy life at the Inn at the Crossroads. He ends up at #41 in this year’s edition.

Hot Pie’s most memorable moment: Hot Pie gives Arya some homemade direwolf bread as the two part ways (Season 3, episode 3: “Walk of Punishment”)

4,36% of all voters thought that Hot Pie is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

“FROM 40 TO 31: HEROES AND HEROINES”

One of the show’s nicest characters that is often overlooked is Dolorous Edd. Edd has been part of the show since season 2 and was one of Jon Snow’s closest and most loyal friend throughout the show. He was a man of little words, but they could always count on him, no matter how dark the night turned. Edd gave his life protecting his friend Sam and ended up being a true shield that guards the realms of men. Edd climbs four spots again and ends up in the exact same position he ended up two years ago. We may never see his like again. And now his watch has ended…

Edd’s most memorable moment: Edd valiantly fights the Undead during the chilling confrontation with the Night King at Hardhome (Season 5, episode 8: “Hardhome”)

4,47% of all voters thought that Edd is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Arthur Dayne has been a part of our top 50 since 2016, after he was introduced in season 6. Given Arthur’s limited screentime (which was no more than a few minutes), it is amazing what impression the guy left behind. Arthur Dayne came across as one of the best swordsmen we have ever seen in the show, and we are looking forward to learn more about this character in possible future prequels. It would be a waste to not explore such an interesting character. Rhaegar Targaryen’s loyal swordsman climbs 4 spots in our top 50 and ends at #39.

Arthur’s most memorable moment: The Sword of the Morning fights Ned and co. and easily cuts his opponents down with his two swords (Season 6, episode 3: “Oathbreaker”)

4,52% of all voters thought that Arthur is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Another climber in our list: Brynden Tully, otherwise known as “The Blackfish”. Brynden only appeared in two seasons, however, the actor did an amazing job with what his character was given, owning every scene he was in. Brynden was a witty and honorable character, and we felt sorry for him after the consequences of the Red Wedding. While Brynden was an amazing character, his death scene remains one of the most underwhelming ones in the show. Brynden climbs a remarkable eight spots this year and ends at #38.

Brynden’s most memorable moment: Brynden meets Jaime Lannister and puts him in his place. (Season 6, episode 7: “The Broken Man”)

4,82% of all voters thought that Brynden is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Lyanna Mormont is one of the few characters in the list who was introduced in one of the later Game of Thrones seasons. Her popularity, however, has been decreased after season 8, which is quite remarkable, since most people were fine with the storyline Lyanna had been given in season 8. She had always been a minor character, so I was fine with her being given a fair amount of screentime to have a memorable ending to her arc. Lyanna died in a way that was justified for her character: not holding back for anyone or anything. The little giant-slayer loses five spots this year and ends up in a respectable 37th position.

Lyanna’s most memorable moment: Lyanna uses her last ounce of energy to kill off a giant wight. (Season 8, episode 3: “The Long Night”)

5,91% of all voters thought that Lyanna is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

The most enigmatic character in the show is without any doubt Jaqen H’ghar. We don’t know who he really he is or what he wants. We don’t know anything about him. We are, however, grateful that he trained Arya Stark to become a such a powerful assassin who appeared to take out the personification of death himself. Is that why Jaqen always believed in Arya Stark? Did he see something greater in her? Jaqen has been flipping back and forth for several years now and climbs one more spot this year, ending at #36. I am sure he will always remain one of the show’s most fascinating characters and that we will keep seeing him back in these lists.

Jaqen’s most memorable moment: Jaqen H’ghar gives Arya a Faceless coin and tells her to find him in Braavos . (Season 2, episode 10: “Valar Morghulis”)

6,26% of all voters thought that Jaqen is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Maester Aemon was certainly one of the gentlest people in Westeros. He was one of the genuine friends of Jon and Sam in Castle Black and provided them with his wisdom throughout their journeys. It is sad that Aemon was never able to meet his last relatives, even when one of the last living Targaryens was with him all the time. It does comfort us, however, that Aemon died peacefully with people who truly loved him. This year, Aemon Targaryen climbs again five spots and finished in 35th position.

Aemon’s most memorable moment: Aemon reveals his identity to Jon Snow . (Season 1, episode 9: “Baelor”)

6,61% of all voters thought that Aemon is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Khal Drogo may have lasted only one season, but his character has not been forgotten at all. And this list is the ultimate proof. Drogo reaches his peak at #34 this year. Although he has only been in 10 episodes, Drogo had a memorable arc. He was introduced as a barbaric chieftain who treated Daenerys like a sex slave. We did not feel respect for this guy at all. But once the season progressed, his character turned more likable and we actually felt sorry for his fate, even though he enslaved lots of innocent people. Khal Drogo remains one of Game of Thrones’s most interesting “villains” and it is great to see him rising on our list, even though he left the series a very long time ago.

Drogo’s most memorable moment: Mago dares to confront Drogo, which he would have regretted later. (Season 1, episode 8: “The Pointy End”)

6,86% of all voters thought that Drogo is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Last year, Catelyn Stark lost two spots. This year, she takes back what is hers and regains her 33th position. Throughout the first third seasons, Catelyn Stark has been a major character who was brought to life by the wonderful Michelle Fairley, undoubtedly one of the strongest actresses the show has had. Catelyn Stark was a very sympathetic character who’s main purpose was to try anything in her power to keep her children safe. Catelyn had a horrifying arc. Her husband was taken from her, her two daughters were hostages of their enemies and she deemed her two youngest sons to be dead. If that was not worse enough, she witnessed her son being stabbed in the heart in front of her. Catelyn may have been gone for several years now, but our hearts still bleed for her.

Catelyn’s most memorable moment: Catelyn tells Talisa the emotional story about how she felt guilty once for wishing Jon Snow dead (Season 3, episode 2: “Dark Wings, Dark Words”)

7,21% of all voters thought that Catelyn is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Melisandre’s popularity throughout the last few years somewhat stagnated. I expected Melisandre to end up in the top 30 at least, since her epic scenes during the Long Night, so I am a bit disappointed that she did not end up higher in our list. Melisandre proved to be one of the MVP’s during the Battle of Winterfell and we have never cheered so much for her character as we did in previous seasons. Melisandre might even end up being one of the most controversial characters in the show. Carice Van Houten did an amazing job with Melisandre as she made the character consistently fascinating even after seven seasons she appeared in. Melisandre’s scenes in season 8 even turned out to be one of my favorites in the final season. As of 2019, she falls back to the 32th position.

Melisandre’s most memorable moment: Melisandre ignites the arakhs of the Dothraki during the Long Night (Season 8, episode 3: “The Long Night”)

7,40% of all voters thought that Melisandre is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Undoubtedly one of the kindest and most loyal characters in the show: Podrick Payne. Podrick’s journey in the history of our list is very remarkable. Each year, Podrick manages to gain popularity, which is not a given since he has a handful lines of dialogue and limited screentime each season. We all feared for the squire’s life during the Battle of Winterfell, as he was certainly high on everyone’s list of “characters that will die in season 8”. Podrick beat the odds and climbed the ladder to become a member of the kingsguard. Also on our list, Podrick is unstoppable. Will he reach the top 30 next year?

Podrick’s most memorable moment: Podrick surprises everyone with his chilling version of “Jenny of Oldstones” (Season 8, episode 3: “The Long Night”)

7,55% of all voters thought that Podrick is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

“FROM 30 TO 21: KINGS AND QUEENS “

Ever since Beric made his comeback in season 6, he became a part of the top 50 greatest Game of Thrones characters. It was a bit weird to see Beric hanging around without Thoros of Myr in the final season, but it was fun to have him spend more time with the Hound. Beric proved to be an important part in the “chain” which lead to the moment where Arya took down the Night King. Beric honorably sacrificed his final life to let Arya escape and we will be forever grateful for that. Beric Dondarrion was a great fighter and a kind companion to have around. He might have had a small part in the show, but it has been a very memorable one nonetheless. He climbs four spots this year and opens our top 30.

Beric’s most memorable moment: Beric combats the Hound during a fiery confrontation in a cave (Season 3, episode 4: “And Now His Watch Is Ended”)

8,15% of all voters thought that Beric is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones’s gentlest giant finishes in 29th place, which is two spots lower than last year. Hodor has made an appearance in the list ever since he tragically died during the Night King’s confrontation with the Three-Eyed Raven. Hodor might be one of Thrones’s most iconic characters and should be an integral part of list of the best GoT characters. “Hold the door” never sounded so tragic before… Since having terrible things happen to good people is one of Game of Thrones’s many trademarks, they could not have sweet Hodor walk away with a peaceful death. Instead, his fate was terribly undeserving and I fear we will never be able to fully get over this. Hodor, the hero we were promised!

Hodor’s most memorable moment: Hold the door! What else? (Season 6, episode 5: “The Door”)

8,21% of all voters thought that Hodor is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Finally after four years, Ygritte returns to the top 30 best Game of Thrones characters. And she totally deserves it. Ygritte was a funny, interesting and sincere character, and Jon Snow’s greatest love throughout the series. There was so much chemistry between the two that the actors even fell in love with each other in real life. Ygritte turned out to be one of the few wildling women we got to know in Game of Thrones. She also provided one of the most famous catchphrases in the show (“You know nothing, Jon Snow”). This year, she climbs 5 spots and ends up at #28.

Ygritte’s most memorable moment: Ygritte climbs the Wall and kisses Jon Snow atop of the Wall. (Season 3, episode 6: “The Climb”)

8,85% of all voters thought that Hodor is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

The second biggest surprise in this year’s list is Sansa Stark! Sansa’s popularity reaches its lowest point as she gets kicked out the top 20, in which she had been a part for four years. According to many fans, Sansa’s character got quite unlikeable in season 8, which is also reflected in the results of this list. Even though, she had been through a lot and we cheered for her when she became a stronger version of herself, she has now become too self-assured and even unsympathetic character. She even proves to be capable of betraying her own family. Whether her attitude towards Daenerys was justified or not, is also open to discussion. For now, the Little Bird seems to have lost her status of “fan favourite” and ends up in a shockingly low position at #27.

Sansa’s most memorable moment: Sansa arrives with the Knights of the Vale to save Jon Snow and wins the Battle of Winterfell (Season 6, episode 9: “The Battle of the Bastards”)

9,05% of all voters thought that Sansa is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

We can all agree that the writing of season 8 deeply hurt the arcs of many great characters. After Sansa and Sam’s steady decline in the their characters’ quality, Bronn is the third one to feel the consequences. Bronn’s arc in season 8 was horrible. He basically had no storyline at all and him being part of the Small Council by the end of the series finale did not make any sense. However, I keep remembering Bronn as a witty and extremely likable guy who brought me the exact amount of comic relief whenever it was needed. Bronn’s season 8 character was only a poor imitation of himself, which was quite sad. It hurts to see his character going this direction in our list and is even more shocking considering that he almost made the top 10 for two consecutive years. Bronn loses 15 (!) spots and finishes in the 26th position.

Bronn’s most memorable moment: Bronn decides to become Tyrion’s champion during the latter’s trial by combat at the Eyrie and defeats ser Vardis (Season 1, episode 6: “A Golden Crown”)

10,44% of all voters thought that Bronn is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Another one of the old goldies who rise in our last, possibly because of the season 8 effect. However, Barristan Selmy is indisputably a great and interesting character. It is remarkable that he keeps climbing in our list. In 2015, he only ended in the 43th position, and look where he stands today! It is a pity that we never got to see more of Barristan Selmy in combat and I still hope that we will see a younger version of him in one of the future prequels. Such a legendary knight demands to be seen in action on the small screen. Barristan Selmy keeps surprising and ends up at #25. Will he enter the top 20 next year? I would not be surprised…

Barristan’s most memorable moment: Ser Barristan saves Daenerys’s life and vows to never fail her family again (Season 3, episode 1: “Valar Dohaeris”)

12,53% of all voters thought that Barristan is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

If there is one character I would rather not want to see again, it is Ramsay Bolton. Ramsay is – arguably- the most evil character we have seen in Game of Thrones and no other death has felt more satisfying than his. Ramsay was an interesting, well build-up villain with more layers to his character, in contrast to villains such as Euron Greyjoy who are rather one-dimensional. Iwan Rheon did a terrifying job, and I even fear the guy will continue giving everyone the creeps no matter the show or film he is in. Ramsay also seems to benefit from the season 8 effect and reaches his peak at #24.

Ramsay’s most memorable moment: Ramsay makes his real identity known to Theon and brings him back to the Dreadfort (Season 3, episode 4: “And Now His Watch Is Ended”)

14,02% of all voters thought that Ramsay is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

And here’s yet another major character from season 8 whose popularity decreases this year. However, Tormund’s character got one of the more consistent storylines that stayed true to his character, and he got a fitting conclusion to his arc. Season eight’s Tormund became even more comical than the previous ones and he gave us some unforgettable moments with the love of his life, Brienne. Tormund is one of those characters whose popularity slowly increased through the seasons as he grew out to be a fan favourite among fans. It is a pity that we did not see more of him fighting during the Long Night. Tormund loses four spots this year and does not belong to the top 20 greatest Game of Thrones anymore. He ends at #23.

Tormund’s most memorable moment: Tormund and the Hound’s funny dialogue during the infamous wight hunt (Season 7, episode 6: “Beyond the Wall”)

14,32% of all voters thought that Tormund is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Since his death in season 5, Stannis’s popularity kept decreasing each passing year. It is almost unbelievable that he belonged once to the top 10 greatest Game of Thrones character. After years of falling back, I am glad to see the Stannis Baratheon gaining some popularity once again. His character remains a very controversial one, especially after his terrible actions in season 5. However, Stannis himself proved to be a decent human being at some points in the show and was one of the few leaders who actually cared about what is going on in the realm. Stannis’s unsatisfying conclusion to his arc in season five might have foreshadowed D&D incompetence to explore beyond G.R.R.M’s source material. Stephen Dillane did an excellent job throughout the series, however, and gave us one of the most complex characters in the show. He finished in 22th position this year.

Stannis’s most memorable moment: Stannis arrives with his army of sellswords at the Wall and finishes the war between the Freefolk and the Night Watch himself (Season 4, episode 10: “The Children”)

16,06% of all voters thought that Stannis is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Robb Stark’s character has been attempting to enter the top 20 since 2016, and continues failing to do so. He only reached the top 20 once in 2015. Robb’s character might be gone from 2013, but that does not mean that it does not hurt when we think back about the Red Wedding and the injustice that was done to Robb and his family. At the night of his death, the Young Wolf even learnt that he was about to become a father, as if we were not traumatized enough. At least, Arya avenged her brother and mother by slaughtering all of the male Freys herself. The North remembers! Robb ends at #21, a number he has been circling around forever.

Robb’s most memorable moment: Robb is proclaimed King in the North by the Northern Lords (Season 1, episode 10: “Fire and Blood”)

16,31% of all voters thought that Robb is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

THE TOP 20 GREATEST GAME OF THRONES CHARACTERS OF 2019

“FROM 20 TO 16: MANIPULATORS AND MANIPULATED “

Game of Thrones’s most memorable villain has not been forgotten at all (unfortunately). This little shit became instantly one of the most hated characters on the TV screen ever. Joffrey Baratheon is another iconic GoT character and deserves a high spot in this list. The former King of the Seven Kingdoms manages to enter the top 20 after five years. And he deserves to do so, as he is one of the aspects that made Game of Thrones such a great and entertaining show in the first place (and merely thanks to Jack Gleeson’s terrific acting skills). For now, Joffrey ends up at a respectable 20th place.

Joffrey’s most memorable moment: Joffrey gets poisoned at his own wedding right after proclaiming that he has won the War of the Five Kings (Season 4, episode 2: “The Lion and the Rose”)

16,90% of all voters thought that Joffrey is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Varys has been an amazing character throughout seasons 1 up to 4. Ever since he left King’s Landing, the showrunners got a bit lost when it came to Varys’s narrative. The interesting schemer and counterpart to Littlefinger’s character got reduced to nothing less than a bystander whose relevance was greatly diminished, which was quite sad, since Conleth Hill did such amazing things with the script he was given in earlier seasons. Varys, however, went down scheming while fighting for the common good, so while I do think his conclusion is fitting for the character, I am sad that they did not allow the character to fully develop. Nonetheless, Varys remains a very likable and memorable character and well deserves a spot among the 20 best Game of Thrones characters.

Varys’s most memorable moment: Varys tells Tyrion the shocking story about his lost genitalia and how he worked his way up to exact revenge on the sorcerer (Season 3, episode 4: “And Now His Watch Is Ended”)

19,44% of all voters thought that Varys is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

It has taken five years for Jorah Mormont to reclaim a position in the top 20, but he has succeeded! Jorah was one of the fewer characters in season 8 to have a satisfying ending, and it feels great to see him rising in our list. His death scene with Daenerys and Drogon mourning for him was undoubtedly one of the saddest scenes in the series. Even though he made some mistakes in the past, I think we could fully forgive ser Jorah in the end as he did everything in his power to protect the queen he loves dearly. His father would have been proud of him. Ser Jorah proved to be a true Mormont, loyal and fierce. Lord Friendzone climbs five spots in 2019 and ends up at #18.

Jorah’s most memorable moment: Jorah is willing to sacrifice his life in Daznak’s Pit only to see Daenerys once again and ends up saving her life. (Season 5, episode 9: “The Dance of Dragons”)

19,84% of all voters thought that Jorah is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Margaery Tyrell is certainly one of the most interesting female characters among the list. She made her debut way back in season 2 and at first, it was hard to read her, and to understand if her intentions are good. However, over the course of the seasons, we learnt that Margaery is an excellent manipulator and adapts to any situation when needed be in order to gain more influence. Unlike Cersei Lannister, she did care for the common people. She even might be considered the best ruling queen we have seen in the series. This year, Margaery keeps her well-deserved 17th spot.

Margaery’s most memorable moment: Margaery is the only to not underestimate Cersei and warns everyone at the Sept of Baelor to leave before it is too late (Season 6, episode 10: “The Winds of Winter”)

21,28% of all voters thought that Margaery is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Well, Petyr Baelish one of the most interesting characters in the show and I was always looking forward to seeing how his character’s conclusion would play out. Like many other viewers, Littlefinger’s arc in season 7 did not satisfy me and he felt like a completely different character. The Machiavellian Littlefinger of the earlier seasons will always remain a very memorable character, and it would be a shame not to include him in the top 20 best Game of Thrones characters. He ends up at #16 this year.

Littlefinger’s most memorable moment: Littlefinger offers a glimpse of his strategies to Varys in one of the show’s finest monologues (Season 3, episode 6: “The Climb”)

21,63% of all voters thought that Littlefinger is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

THE TOP 15 GREATEST GAME OF THRONES CHARACTERS OF 2019

“FROM 15 TO 11: STRONG MEN AND STRONG WOMEN “

Last year, I was a bit mad that Theon Greyjoy was (undeservingly) kicked out of the top 20, so I am ecstatic to see him rising seven spots again this edition. Theon had, unlike many of his counterparts, a fairly satisfying conclusion to his character’s arc. He fully redeemed himself by freeing his sister from Euron, traveling back to Winterfell to fight along the Starks and protected Bran with his life. When his ending was imminent, he looked death right in the face and fearlessly tried to take down Westeros’ biggest threat himself to protect Bran. Theon had an amazing arc, and in my opinion, he even deserved to end up a bit higher. But I am glad that his character has returned to the top 20 nonetheless. He finishes in 15th position.

Theon’s most memorable moment: Theon sacrifices his own life to save Bran Stark and is fully forgiven for his past mistakes (Season 8, episode 3: “The Long Night”)

22,77% of all voters thought that Theon is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

It is a bit sad to see her popularity decreasing this year, but she still ends gracefully at #14. I was generally okay with Brienne of Tarth’s arc in season 8 and she even turned out to be one of the best characters in the final season, mostly thanks to Gwendoline Christie’s great acting. Brienne had, like Theon above, a wonderful arc. She had been striving for acknowledgement for all of her life and so it was a real tearjerking moment when she was knighted by Jaime Lannister. Her blossoming relationship with Jaime Lannister made it seem all turn out well for her character but that was until Jaime decided to return to Cersei again. Poor Brienne was left all alone again, but she ultimately ended up as one of the winners of the Game of Thrones, which is rare for such a honorable character.

Brienne’s most memorable moment: Brienne is knighted by Jaime Lannister right before the Long Night is about to begin (Season 8, episode 2: “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”)

24,21% of all voters thought that Brienne is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

The one and only king of The Seven Kingdoms (and of the Game of Thrones memes) does not stop to amaze us. Ever since season 2017, he took a massive leap forward in our list and did not stop climbing afterwards. King Bobby B remains one of the most memorable characters in Game of Thrones, providing some of the show’s funniest quotes. And now that season eight has come to an end, we might come to the conclusion that Robert was really not the worst king after all. And that does say one thing or another, doesn’t it? Robert only lasted 1 season, but the heritage he left behind is incredible. Will he enter the top 10 next year? Who knows. For now, he climbs another eleven (!) spots and ends up at #13.

Robert’s most memorable moment: Robert Baratheon arrives with the Lannisters at Winterfell and is reunited with the Stark family (Season 1, episode 1: “Winter is Coming”)

26,20% of all voters thought that Robert is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

This old lady is unstoppable. Since 2016, Lady Olenna has been gaining popularity and peaks at #12 this year. Olenna was by all means an amazing and unforgettable character. She owned every scene she was in and remained consistently interesting and enjoyable, even in lesser seasons. Olenna might be one of the most intelligent and cunning characters in the Game of Thrones universe and was one of the few people to truly rival Tywin Lannister. Olenna lost the war against House Lannister in season 7, but she did not fail to exact revenge on them. Even when she is faced with death, Lady Olenna is not to be silenced. She is one of GoT’s finest characters and I am really happy to see her ending up this high.

Olenna’s most memorable moment: Olenna confesses to Jaime that she has poisoned King Joffrey moments before her death (Season 7, episode 3: “The Queen’s Justice”)

26,35% of all voters thought that Olenna is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Another huge shock in this year’s list is Arya Stark! For three years, she had been part of the five best Game of Thrones characters of all-time, even peaking at 3 in 2015. This year, Arya Stark gets even kicked out of the top 10! Season 8 deeply scarred Arya Stark’s character and left many holes unfilled. Arya Stark has been, for instance, training to become a Faceless Assassin for about two seasons, and in the final season she never even makes use of her face-swapping ability. She was also given a particular storyline (facing off the Night King) while her character never had been involved in that storyline at all and which only served the purpose of shocking the audience. Not a good way to conclude such a beautiful character that we invested a lot of feelings in. It is heartbreaking to see Arya Stark leaving the top 10… She ends up at #11 this year, while she should have reached the top five easily if it weren’t for such a disappointing final season.

Arya’s most memorable moment: Arya returns to Westeros and murders Walder Frey, making good use of her Faceless training (Season 6, episode 10: “The Winds of Winter”)

26,55% of all voters thought that Arya is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

THE TOP 10 GREATEST GAME OF THRONES CHARACTERS OF 2019

“FROM 10 TO 6: LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS “

Oberyn Martell has been trying for five years to enter the top ten and this year he finally (!) succeeds in doing do. Even though Oberyn only appeared in a handful of episodes, his character was one of the most interesting and charismatic individuals we have encountered in the show. Oberyn was introduced in season 4 when he came to King’s Landing to deal with the ghosts of his past. And while he might have failed to exact revenge on Elia’s murderers, he set an unseen war between the Lannisters and Dorne in motion. Oberyn’s character gave us a lot of great hope for the introduction of House Martell and it is a shame that we never really got what we have wished for. At least, we can include one Martell in our last. And it’s an amazing one. Oberyn ends at #10.

Oberyn’s most memorable moment: Oberyn faces the Mountain in one of Game of Thrones’s most memorable trials (Season 4, episode 8: “The Mountain and the Viper”)

29,53% of all voters thought that Oberyn is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Three years in a row, Cersei Lannister opened the top 10 greatest Game of Thrones characters. This year, she leaves that honor to Oberyn. Cersei is a prime example of what a memorable villain should look like. Cersei’s arc from season 1 up to season 6 was unforgettable, what came after was disappointing. And season 8 was a terrible season for Cersei Lannister, and I felt really sorry that they have wasted such a talented actress as Lena Headey. Season 8’s Cersei was a parody of what her character used to be. And on top of all that, Cersei was given no more than a few lines this season. However, when we look back at the character in its entirety, she remains one of the most interesting and layered villains on TV ever. If season 8 had done her character justice, she could have entered top five this year. Too bad.. However, Cersei manages to climb to #9.

Cersei’s most memorable moment: Cersei blows up the Sept of Baelor and exacts revenge on House Tyrell and the Sparrows (Season 6, episode 10: “The Winds of Winter”)

31,62% of all voters thought that Cersei is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

The consequences of season 8’s poor writing are truly terrifying. Davos Seaworth, who was (and still is) one of the most sympathetic characters in the show, loses his top five position after maintaining the fifth place for three years. Davos’s character stopped evolving since the seventh season and became even less relevant in the final season. He might even be the most unmemorable character in the eight season and the conclusion to Davos Seaworth’s arc was outright unsatisfactory and poorly written. It is really a pity. Ser Davos could have been so much more as Liam Cunningham has put his heart and soul into the character. He ends up at #8 this year.

Davos’s most memorable moment: Ser Davos discovers that Shireen was executed and it breaks his heart in many pieces (Season 6, episode 9: “The Battle of the Bastards”)

38,09% of all voters thought that Davos is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones’s most unsatisfying character arc belongs to The Dragon Queen. Daenerys Targaryen was a role model for strong and independent women for many seasons and her whole arc build up to her reclaiming the Iron Throne in her family’s name. Seeing her becoming an underdeveloped villain in the last two episodes was thus no more than a huge disappointment in an character we invested so much hope in. Daenerys as a villain still feels unbelievable and unearned and it did not do her character justice. Considering that Daenerys even took the top spot two years ago, as her popularity peaked right after season 7, it is a pity to see one of the show’s most important character only ending in the 7th position.

Daenerys’s most memorable moment: Daenerys commands the Unsullied to slaughter all the masters while showing Kraznys that she is unlike everyone he is ever dealt with (Season 3, episode 4: “And Now His Watch Is Ended”)

Daenerys’s most memorable moment: Daenerys commands the Unsullied to slaughter all the masters while showing Kraznys that she is unlike everyone he is ever dealt with (Season 3, episode 4: “And Now His Watch Is Ended”)

39,03% of all voters thought that Daenerys is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Sandor Clegane was, without any doubt, given many of the best lines in the show. This grumpy, foul-mouthed warrior was the former bodyguard of King Joffrey and did not have any moral code when it came to murdering people. However, over the course of the seasons The Hound’s character started to transform gradually. When he was on the brink of death in season 4 and saved later, he began to question his existence and decided to fight for the greater good. Ultimately, The Hound proved to be a good character whose childhood was marked by his abusive older brother, the Mountain. In the end, The Hound was able to seek revenge on his brother, which cost his life too. For the third year in a row, Sandor Clegane nearly makes it to the top five.

The Hound’s most memorable moment: The Hound kills for some chicken (Season 4, episode 1: “Two Swords”)

39,73% of all voters thought that The Hound is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

THE BIG FIVE OF 2019

One of the most impactful arcs in Game of Thrones was certainly the one of Ned Stark. Ned Stark was in season 1 introduced as the main character in the series, and his death still remains the most iconic and game-changing one in the entire series. Ned might have been among the most honorable men in Westeros, and it made is us all sob when we witnessed how he was executed for telling the truth. Ned Stark’s death was the catalyst of the major Lannister-Stark conflict that lasted for seasons after his death. It is nice to see Ned returning as one of the big five after an absence of four years.

Ned’s most memorable moment: Ned Stark is executed by the false King Joffrey for treason as the scene became one of the show’s most iconic and pivotal moments (Season 1, episode 9: “Baelor”)

40,32% of all voters thought that Ned Stark is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Throughout Game of Thrones’s earliest seasons, Tyrion was consistently considered the greatest Game of Thrones character, and most of us would agree with this. During season 1 up to season 5, Tyrion was a very sympathetic character with the best lines and an highly interesting evolution in his arc. Tyrion was funny, kind, fascinating, and so much more. Since season 6, Tyrion’s arc went absolutely nowhere. His character got very much reduced to Daenerys’s sidekick who made one mistake after the other. Season 7 and 8’s Tyrion was uninteresting and sometimes even annoying. However, his dialogues with Varys remain one of the finest examples of how entertaining Game of Thrones can be. It is a pity that such a good character as Tyrion got wasted in the final season. Just like many other great characters, Tyrion’s character leaves a sour taste behind and we can feel that too in this list. Tyrion exits the top #3 again and ends at #4 this year.

Tyrion’s most memorable moment: A broken Tyrion murders his father after he falsely sentenced his own son to death (Season 4, episode 10: “The Children”)

41,96% of all voters thought that Tyrion Lannister is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Another huge disappointment that came out of the final season was Jon Snow. Jon’s character was slowly building up towards something great. For many years, theories have been circulating around the internet about Jon’s parentage, and it would make sense to have him ascend the Iron Throne eventually. However, the way his character reached it conclusion was all but believable and very unsatisfying. Even though the final season did not do him justice, we cannot just simply forget the time we have invested in this character. Jon was a honorable man who actually cared about the people of Westeros as he spent most of his time fighting the biggest “threat” to Westeros. In the end, he had to make the hardest decision anyone had to make, but it was the right one. Even if memory about him will slowly disappear, we will never forget the good deeds he had done and the great battle sequences he gave us in the show. Jon opens our top 3 this year and loses his first position, unfortunately.

Jon’s most memorable moment: Jon Snow gives all of himself to save the North from Ramsay Bolton (Season 6, episode 9: “The Battle of the Bastards”)

45,54% of all voters thought that Jon Snow is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

For three years now, Jaime is trying to take the crown in this list. The Kingslayer is undoubtedly the most complex character in the show. He started the series as a downright unsympathetic villain, who even attempted to kill a child in order to keep his incestuous relationship with his sister a secret. As the seasons progressed, Jaime became more sympathetic and we even grew to admire him and wished to give that the show would give him a good ending with Brienne. However, Jaime and Cersei’s relationship is a force of nature and we could have expected that he would choose to save Cersei sooner or later. At least, he died in the arms of the woman he truly loved and he did not need to suffer in the end. Even though Jaime committed some atrocities, he himself got some terrible things happen to himself through the seasons, so we cannot stop to feel sorry for him somehow. Jaime Lannister might have been the ideal knight cliché villain in the beginning of the series, but he grew out to become an admirable and complex anti-hero. The question remains: will he finally reach the top next year?

Jaime’s most memorable moment: Jaime tells Brienne the truth about the Mad King’s death (Season 3, episode 5: “Kissed by Fire”)

47,09% of all voters thought that Jaime Lannister is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

THE BEST GAME OF THRONES CHARACTER

Well, this is a very pleasant surprise! I think we can all genuinely agree that Tywin got everything the “greatest Game of Thrones character” must have. Tywin might be a symbol for the good Game of Thrones years and since he left the series, the show went downhill too. Papa Lannister is (arguably) the most intelligent and best strategist in the series and knew how to play the Game of Thrones perfectly. He was the de facto ruler of The Seven Kingdoms for three seasons and even though he is a despicable human being, he still had a sympathetic side to his character. Charles Dance also never failed to impress on the show, so I am really delighted to see him taking the crown this year. Freefolk did a great job picking the greatest Game of Thrones! Tywin remains a very memorable and respectable character with well-written dialogues and a perfect arc to his character. Tywin embodies all the good about the series!

Tywin’s most memorable moment: Tywin oversees Tyrion’s trial in one of GoT’s best scenes (Season 4, episode 6: “The Laws of Gods and Men”)

54,15% of all voters thought that Tywin Lannister is one of the 10 best characters in Game of Thrones.

Again, thanks to everyone who took the time to vote for this poll. Every year, it is a pleasure to host these polls and I am always looking forward to the results. 2,011 members of the FreeFolk community voted this year, which is great! Also a special word of thanks to u/Ks427236 who stickied the post so all members were able to easily find out about this poll! I hope to see you all next year for another top 50, and perhaps, with new characters as Blood Moon might air in 2020. If Blood Moon airs next year, we will change the name of this list to the “top 50 greatest characters from the Song of Ice and Fire” Cinematic Universe (SIFCU). If the show does not air in 2020, then I will again host this poll during the beginning of July. Hope to see you all around then!

For everyone who wants to find out which characters did not make the top fifty and thus stranded in the top 100: indulge yourselves right over here!

  • 51 (58) SYRIO FOREL
  • 52 (63) ROOSE BOLTON
  • 53 (52) YARA GREYJOY
  • 54 (42) RHAEGAR TARGARYEN
  • 55 (51) MEERA REED
  • 56 (50) THOROS OF MYR
  • 57 (77) ALLISER THORNE
  • 58 (64) THE HIGH SPARROW
  • 59 (62) QYBURN
  • 60 (30) BRAN STARK
  • 61 (61) WUN WUN
  • 62 (68) RENLY BARATHEON
  • 63 (54) BENJEN STARK
  • 64 (74) WALDER FREY
  • 65 (66) DAARIO NAHARIS
  • 67 (72) OSHA
  • 68 (47) EURON GREYJOY
  • 69 (65) YOREN
  • 70 (93) DORAN MARTELL
  • 71 (79) ROS
  • 72 (76) GRENN
  • 73 (78) VISERYS TARGARYEN
  • 74 (69) EDMURE TULLY
  • 75 (89) KEVAN LANNISTER
  • 76 (53) LYANNA STARK
  • 77 (75) ELLARIA SAND
  • 78 (119) KINVARA
  • 79 (83) KARSI
  • 80 (90) GREATJON UMBER
  • 81 (106) MACE TYRELL
  • 82 (87) BROTHER RAY
  • 83 (103) QHORIN HALFHAND
  • 84 (67) MAESTER LUWIN 
  • 85 (70) KARL TANNER
  • 86 (71) THREE-EYED RAVEN
  • 87 (95) GRANDMAESTER PYCELLE
  • 88 (97) AERON GREYJOY
  • 89 (80) PYP
  • 90 (99) JORY CASSEL
  • 91 (84) MYRCELLA BARATHEON
  • 92 (112) SEPTA UNELLA
  • 93 (143) MATTHOS SEAWORTH
  • 94 (94) TOMMEN BARATHEON 
  • 95 (88) SHAE
  • 96 (96) JOJEN REED
  • 97 (110) LANCEL LANNISTER
  • 98 (107) RANDYLL TARLY
  • 99 (94) LYSA ARRYN
  • 100 (60) GILLY