Copyright Screen Rant
Game of Thrones is best known for its complex array of characters: here are the 20 best in the show's history. Despite Game of Thrones' divisive ending, the HBO show is still one of the most culturally impactful TV stories ever crafted. The first seven seasons see Game of Thrones ranked as one of the best TV shows of all time to this day. The impact the show had on modern pop culture is so vast that several fantasy shows tried to be the next Game of Thrones, with some even still vying for that title. That includes some Game of Thrones spin-offs, which continue trying to reach the lofty heights of the original series. Oftentimes, shows fail to rival Game of Thrones, primarily due to the latter's best aspect: its characters. Yes, Game of Thrones had a soaring budget, epic battle scenes, political intrigue, forbidden relationships, love stories, comedic moments, and violent drama, but these things only succeeded due to the characters at the show's center. While it would be impossible to rank every single character in Game of Thrones, given the show's immense scope, 20 stand out as the fan-favorites. These characters are not necessarily the most morally good, either, as even the most deplorable people can be outstanding characters. Be they heroes or villains, here are Game of Thrones' 20 best characters, ranked. Bronn Ser Bronn of the Blackwater is as low as this, despite being an excellent character, as there is less substance with him. If Bronn can be described as anything, it is comedic relief. He is a competent warrior with a tongue as sharp as his sword, but, from his introduction in season 1, his scenes skew on the funnier side. This remains throughout Game of Thrones' entirety, even in its bleaker final seasons. Just how funny Bronn is, the dynamics he has with characters like Podrick, Tyrion, and just about anyone else, for that matter, and Jerome Flynn's performance allow him to crack the top 20. If there were more dramatic heft to his character, he would be higher. As he is, though, the sheer enjoyment of Bronn’s presence allows him to rank as one of Game of Thrones’ best characters, just in 20th spot. Jorah Mormont Like many others in Game of Thrones, Jorah is a complex man who was exiled from the Seven Kingdoms for selling poachers into slavery. Jorah then took up his role as the aid to Daenerys Targaryen. Throughout Game of Thrones, Jorah's loyalty to Dany never wavered, making him a rare man of honor. His battle prowess and political knowledge make him extra competent, and his unrequited love story, stint with Greyscale, and tragic death in the final season make him overly sympathetic. Jorah Mormont is a great Game of Thrones character, but he doesn't rank higher as he receives slightly less focus than others, as is to be expected with a show of this size. In seasons 6 and 7, particularly, Jorah is mostly absent, aside from a few standout scenes and moments. For this reason, other characters rank above him. Stannis Baratheon Men of true honor are hard to come by in Game of Thrones' world, which is what makes Stannis Baratheon so compelling. Before season 2, Stannis keeps himself to himself, content to let the passing of the crown circulate among his family as the laws state. It is only when he discovers his genuine claim to the throne that he gets involved. This makes Stannis easy to root for in early seasons, despite also rooting for his enemies, like Tyrion. Stannis ranks lower than some others, though, as his storyline begins to spread thin going into Game of Thrones season 5. These later plots do involve some compelling aspects, regardless. His devotion to the throne and reliance on religion to get there, resulting in his daughter's murder, is one such aspect. This allows Stannis to typify Game of Thrones' morally gray characters better than most by the end of his four-season run. That said, his ending is admittedly abrupt, and Stannis simply doesn't have the compelling longevity of others to rank higher. Robert Baratheon Robert Baratheon has one of the shortest roles on this list, appearing only in Game of Thrones season 1. This lack of screentime alone proves how great a character he is, given his rank as the 16th-best in Game of Thrones. Mark Addy is excellent at all facets of Robert's complex personality. Addy has the authority needed to make Robert Baratheon the king of Westeros, physically and figuratively, the conflicting impatience for political intrigue, the hilarious comedy as an old friend of Ned Stark, and the presence of someone who used to be one of the finest warriors in the Seven Kingdoms. As he is in season 1, Robert simply wants to live the remainder of his life as happily as he can and cares little for politics, making him surprisingly human. For this reason, he ranks above some of those with more screentime, as his death is suitably tragic and the inciting incident in the Game of Thrones' main conflicts post-season 1. His small screen time in comparison to his ranking says a lot, but it is still the main factor in why Robert Baratheon is not ranked higher as one of Game of Thrones' most elite characters. Davos Seaworth Davos Seaworth, in many ways, is almost an amalgamation of Jorah and Bronn. He has the quick wit of the latter and the kind-hearted loyalty of the former. This makes Davos immensely easy to like as he aids Stannis Baratheon and, later, Jon Snow, in their respective journeys. Unlike Bronn, though, Davos has his share of depth. His backstory as the Onion Knight highlights his goodness, as does his relationship with Shireen, Stannis' daughter. The scene in which Davos confronts Melisandre, Stannis' red witch, about Shireen's death is one of the show's best dramatic moments and performances by Liam Cunningham. Davos' steadfast loyalty and depth make him a great Game of Thrones character; he just doesn't get as much screentime as those above him. Oberyn Martell Another short but ever-so-sweet role in Game of Thrones is Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell. Oberyn is introduced with a swagger and confidence that make him seem nigh-on unbearable. However, as he grows to bond with Tyrion, unveils his motivations behind being at court, and enacts his vengeance, he becomes immediately easy to root for. Pascal's performance and sheer screen presence are a big factor in this, but Oberyn has some of the best moments in what is undoubtedly Game of Thrones' best season: season 4. Oberyn's impartial nature in Tyrion's trial makes him instantly more likable than Tywin, Cersei, and those trying to wrongfully convict Tyrion. His speech to Tyrion about why he will be his champion is overly moving, and his battle against the Mountain is one of Game of Thrones' best and most shocking duels. Again, screentime reduces Oberyn's ability to rank any higher on this list. That said, his overwhelming confidence, charming charisma, excellent fight scenes, and the fact that he has some of the standout moments in Game of Thrones' standout season earn him a place on this list. Joffrey Baratheon Joffrey is proof that the best Game of Thrones characters are not always the nicest. For over three years, as the show's first four seasons aired, and even long beyond that, Joffrey Baratheon was perhaps the most hated TV character in history. What ranks Joffrey this high, though, is how much audiences loved to hate him. Jack Gleeson was impeccable in making audiences loathe Joffrey, from his overt acts of violence to his petulant tantrums and startlingly dark cruelty. We humans are more drawn to good characters, explaining why Joffrey doesn't rank higher. As a villain, though, Joffrey Baratheon more than earns his place here. Sansa Stark Sansa begins Game of Thrones as a spoiled, naive girl who believes the world is full of fairy tales. She eventually grows into a colder, more cunning, certified player of the Game of Thrones. For this transition alone, and how naturally it plays out, Sansa ranks above the other Game of Thrones characters beneath her. From their introduction to their ending, characters like Jorah, Bronn, Davos, Robert, Oberyn, Stannis, and Joffrey do not change all that much. They are who they are, and while they are tested sometimes, they don't undergo significant transformations. As such, Sansa's massive change renders her a better Game of Thrones character. Sansa's change may not be as important to Game of Thrones' narrative as other characters' are, meaning she does not rank any higher. Nonetheless, Sophie Turner's excellent performance takes Sansa from an annoying child to a complex, competent leader whom audiences root for the most by the time of Game of Thrones season 5 and beyond. Brienne of Tarth As a sheer force of will, Brienne of Tarth is a standout Game of Thrones character. She is smart, honorable, loyal, kind, and a complete badass to boot. Brienne also has the genetic disadvantages of being a woman knight in a man's world, making her an underdog that audiences find it easy to support. Her interactions with Catelyn Stark and Jaime Lannister make for two of the best relationships in the entire show, especially the latter. While Brienne may not get the screentime she needs to go beyond this placement, everything Game of Thrones shows of her makes her one of the show's best characters, who also has one of its best fights against The Hound. The Hound It feels fitting to rank The Hound/Sandor Clegane here, given his intense battle with Brienne in season 4 is one of Game of Thrones' most brutally visceral. Beyond his physical moments, The Hound is just an excellent character. He is complex, initially introduced as a scary lapdog for the royal family. Once he defends Sansa, Blackwater Bay, Tyrion, and aims an entirely cathartic "F*** the king" at Joffrey, though, he becomes much more sympathetic. This is only added to by his protection of Arya and the immensely enjoyable back-and-forth they have. The Hound is a rare character who is very straightforward, with some of the best lines in the entire show. He then has a tragic history with his brother, which leads to their eventual battle becoming one of the few rewarding conclusions in Game of Thrones' disappointing final season. For these reasons, offset by his being more of a side character in most seasons, it is easy to rank The Hound around the middle of this list.
