Game of Thrones revolutionized the tv landscape in the new millennium. Arriving at the height of the Golden Age of Television, Game of Thrones introduced audiences to the violent planet of Westeros, employing a distinctive mix of higher fantasy and political intrigue that produced the show irresistible for mainstream audiences. Thrones redefined the which means of “event television,” rising viewership with every single season and ending its run as a single of the most acclaimed and profitable series in modern day tv history.

Although the show did not stick the landing with its now-infamous ending, some elements remained untouched regardless of the negativity surrounding the final seasons. Mainly, the stellar cast of morally ambiguous and fascinating characters that produced Thrones a hit in the initial location remains acclaimed by critics and fans. Indeed, Game of Thrones featured a significant ensemble of ruthless and complex figures that immediately became vital and fan favorites, cementing the show’s legacy regardless of all the challenges that followed in later seasons.

Game Of Thrones

Release Date

April 17, 2011

Creator

David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Seasons

8

Watch on Max

30 Ramsay Bolton

Played by Iwan Rheon

Game of Thrones had no shortage of terrific villains. However, Ramsay Bolton is arguably the worst, a character utterly devoid of sympathy without the need of a redeemable bone in his physique. The bastard son of Roose Bolton, Ramsay debuts in Season 3 and rises to arguably come to be the show’s most important antagonist in Seasons 5 and 6.

Played by the underrated Iwan Rheon, Ramsay is a single of the show’s most a single-dimensional characters: he is pure evil. However, there is an intriguing and even admirable high-quality to such a simple characterization. Rheon tends to make Ramsay hatable and fearsome, a brutal but riveting character that became the world’s most hated figure and loved every single second of it.

29 Lyanna Mormont

Played by Bella Ramsey

Long ahead of she fought zombies alongside Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsay was stealing the show as the infallible Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. The young Lady of Bear Island, Lyanna is a big supporting character in seasons 6 by way of 8, an outspoken ally to the Starks and a passionate defender of the North.

Unfortunately, Lyanna does not obtain a great deal character improvement and becomes one thing of a gimmicky figure in the final season. However, Ramsay remains such a sturdy and purposeful figure on screen that viewers can not assist but fall beneath Lyanna’s spell. She perishes in the extended-awaited however eventually disappointing fight against the Night King, depriving Westeros of her talent and strength as a young but productive leader.

28 Mance Rayder

Played by Ciarán Hinds

Known as the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder was as soon as a member of the Night’s Watch, but defected and managed to unite the warring Wildling clans and the final of the giants into a single fighting force. He made use of his expertise of the Night’s Watch to launch a huge assault on the Wall so that his people today could escape the White Walkers, but was eventually defeated by the timely arrival of Stannis Baratheon.

Though Mance did not have a lot of screentime in between Seasons 3 and 5, his scenes had been usually memorable thanks in significant portion to Ciarán Hinds‘ acting. Mance is a incredibly charismatic and sensible leader who only desires to spare them from death, and was prepared to die rather than supply his people today as soldiers for Stannis’ wars. More than something, he valued freedom and private decision, which left a lasting effect on the people today who knew him, such as Jon Snow. – Tyler B. Searle

27 Tormund Giantsbane

Played by Kristofer Hivju

Of all the members of the Free Folk, none left really as significant of an effect as Tormund Giantsbane. An unmatched warrior and raider of terrific renown, Tormund is a fierce supporter of Mance Rayder, believing he will be the a single to save them from the terrifying White Walkers. This hope is shattered when Mance is killed, but he types a new alliance with Jon Snow.

Kristofer Hivju has a ball playing Tormund as a boisterous man with a sense of humor matched only by his ferocity. Whether it really is laughing at a single of his personal exaggerated stories or splitting open the skull of his enemy, Tormund commits completely to his selected path and under no circumstances diverts till it really is carried out. That mentioned, he knows when to stand down rather than retain fighting, and is a lot more than satisfied to turn enemies into mates if they prove themselves worthy. – Tyler B. Searle

26 Samwell Tarly

Played by John Bradley

Born the eldest son of famed basic Randyll Tarly, Sam had none of his father’s courage or stomach for blood. When all his attempts to toughen Sam up failed, Randyll sent him to the Wall, so his younger brother could inherit Horn Hill. Sam initially struggled as a recruit but produced some mates who helped help him and encourage his clever thoughts.

In a planet complete of energy-hungry men and women, from time to time audiences just want somebody who is morally excellent. John Bradley delivered that with Sam, who starts the story as a self-deprecating coward, but steadily finds his courage thanks to the help of his mates and by guarding his Wildling girlfriend, Gilly. In Season 3, he becomes the initial individual to kill a White Walker with an obsidian knife, which aids the Night’s Watch prepare for the coming war. – Tyler B. Searle

25 Robb Stark

Played by Richard Madden

The eldest Stark youngster was a single of Game of Thrones‘ earliest tragedies. Robb Stark had his father’s strength and the enjoy of his people today regrettably, he did not have the Stark’s honor, deciding upon to adhere to his heart and betray a kew alliance that eventually price him the war – and his head.

Richard Madden played Robb in the course of the initial 3 seasons of Game of Thrones. Commanding and impressive, Robb was the show’s de facto hero, a standard knight in shining armor with numerous important qualities vital to win the Iron Throne. Unfortunately, Robb was brief-sighted and foolish, traits that produced him an intriguing character but a lousy player in the game.

24 Ned Stark

Played by Sean Bean

Sean Bean was Game of Thrones‘ original hero. The honorable and noble Eddard Stark was a man of integrity and principle getting into a planet of betrayal and cruelty for which he was under no circumstances ready. The show begins with his appointment as Hand of the King to his close buddy, Robert Baratheon, and his journey to King’s Landing, a viper’s nest that eventually claims his life.

Ned was also pure to exist in the ruthless planet of Game of Thrones. His morals stopped him from playing the game, and his honor meant he had the worst poker face on each sides of the Narrow Sea. And when his infamous Television death was unexpected to numerous, there was no ending a lot more fitting for such a straight character in a show like Game of Thrones.

23 Stannis Baratheon

Played by Stephen Dilane

Stannis “the Mannis” Baratheon was Game of Thrones‘ ultimate dark horse. Robert’s unpopular but infallible brother was, in a lot more approaches than a single, the ideal decision to sit atop the Iron Throne. However, his close to-blind faith in Melisandre and his lack of influence in Westeros severely broken his claim.

Stephen Dilane was an inspired decision to play the stoic and inflexible Stannis, with the revered English actor bringing a sense of palpable discomfort to his portrayal that produced the character a lot more intriguing. Stannis hid numerous points that under no circumstances came to light, not even in the course of his most private moments. Honorable but far also proud, Stannis was a terrific instance of the dangers of hubris, particularly in the World of Ice and Fire.

22 Catelyn Stark

Played by Michelle Fairley

Game of Thrones is all about mothers. The show’s most essential figures are mothers attempting to do ideal by their youngsters even so, couple of had been as fierce or devoted as Catelyn Stark. The matriarch of the wolf clan, Catelyn was the great balance in between the Tullys’ dutiful nature and the Starks’ honor-bound life style. Catelyn lived for her loved ones, and her devotion normally led her down the incorrect path.

Despite her finest efforts, Catelyn played a important part in Robb’s demise. And however no other character was as passionately committed to a bring about as she was to Robb’s fight against the Lannisters. Cat is amongst Thrones‘ most tragic characters, a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind, unchecked enjoy, and a masterful tour de force for the underrated Michelle Fairley.

21 Joffrey Baratheon

Played by Jack Gleeson

Throughout the initial half of the 2010s, no name brought a lot more eye rolls, clenched teeth, and curse words than King Joffrey Baratheon. Arguably the most hated tv character from the previous decade, Joffrey was Cersei and Robert’s oldest son, who ascended to the Iron Throne following his father’s death. A spoiled and cruel brat, Joffrey was a nightmare, a stupid and vicious youngster who was all bark and no bite.

Young actor Jack Gleeson did a stellar job portraying Joffrey, crafting a single of the worst and most frustrating portrayals of entitlement in current memory. Every viewer loathed Joffrey with a passion, to the point exactly where everybody cheered when the character lastly died in the course of his now-infamous wedding ceremony.

20 Podrick Payne

Played by Daniel Portman

Few characters in Game of Thrones are totally selfless: Podrick Payne is a single of them. Introduced as Tyrion’s loyal servant, Podrick saves his master’s life in the course of the Battle of Blackwater Bay and remains staunchly devoted to Tyrion’s service till his arrest. He then becomes Brienne’s squire, preserving his dedication to serving.

Podrick is a single of the show’s purest, kindest, and most sympathetic souls. In a planet as ruthless and savage as Westeros, people today like Pod are also uncommon to ignore. Daniel Portman played Pod with a youthful enthusiasm and naiveté that remained present even in later seasons, proving that Pod wasn’t prepared to shed his spirit or warmth regardless of all the betrayal and carnage he witnessed. Westeros requires a lot more people today like Pod.

19 Melisandre

Played by Carice van Houten

Game of Thrones had no shortage of femme fatales, but Melisandre was in a league of her personal. The shifting, mysterious Red Priestess arrives in Season 2 and severely alters the balance of the then-ongoing War of the Five Kings by birthing a shadow infant that kills Renly Baratheon. Melisandre remains a important figure all through the game, manipulating big players when pursuing an elusive agenda.

The brilliant Carice van Houten played Melisandre all through seven of the show’s eight seasons, becoming a single of its most fascinating characters. Melisandre is not only a single of television’s most effective witches but also an evasive and astonishing character who outplayed numerous of the show’s most prominent players. Thrones only showed glimpses into her background, leaving numerous queries unanswered and cementing her legacy as a single of Westeros’ most significant riddles.

18 Eddison Tollett

Played by Ben Crompton

Every buddy group has a single member who appears at points from a glass-half-empty viewpoint. For the Night’s Watch storyline, that member is Eddison Tollett or Dolorus Edd. Played by Ben Crompton, he supplied some a great deal-necessary comic relief thanks to his cynical and unfiltered sense of humor.

Edd is a single of Game of Thrones‘ a lot more underrated side characters mainly because of his pessimistic quips and his courage. Sure, he’ll complain every single second that he’s performing a mission, but when the chips are down, he under no circumstances runs from a fight and will not leave his mates to face danger alone. He even has some excellent leadership abilities, which leads to him becoming Lord Commander in Season 6. – Tyler B. Searle

17 Theon Greyjoy

Played by Alfie Allen

It would be disingenuous to contact Theon Greyjoy a victim. He is incredibly a great deal in manage of his actions, permitting his inexperience and ambition to get the finest of him. However, Theon remains a tragic character, a lost boy desperate for validation from a father he hardly knows. Divided in between his allegiances to his property and his affection for the Starks, Theon sets on a path of violence that leads to his downfall ahead of he atones for his errors.

Theon’s journey is amongst the finest in Game of Thrones. Alfie Allen‘s portrayal went years unnoticed ahead of the final seasons gave Theon a classic sacrificial arc that permitted him to show Theon’s broken psyche for everybody to see. What Allen did with Theon is nothing at all brief of masterful, creating him amongst Thrones‘ most layered characters, a divisive figure who audiences could simultaneously pitty, hate, and root for.

16 Jon Snow

Played by Kit Harington

Following Ned and Robb’s deaths, Jon Snow became Game of Thrones‘ de facto hero. The bastard of Winterfell sent to the Wall in the course of the show’s pilot episode, Jon spends most of the show away from playing the game, focusing on the fight against the Free Folk and the war against the White Walkers and the Night King.

In numerous approaches, Jon’s story was an island, separated from the most important action and single-handedly creating what would turn out to be the show’s endgame. Kit Harington did an impressive job carrying this duty, playing Jon like the ultimate embodiment of honor, duty, and courage. Jon may well simply be discarded as boring or a single-dimensional, but Harington portrayed him like a a single-man war, with numerous contrasting feelings – anger, need, worry, aggravation – raging inside him without the need of becoming permitted to come out for air.

15 Davos Seaworth

Played by Liam Cunningham

Introduced alongside Stannis, Davos Seaworth served as the angle to Melissandre’s devil, supplying the king strong suggestions and telling him the truth, even when it hurt. Sometimes he was even prepared to danger his personal life defying his king’s command, such as when he smuggled Gendry from Dragonstone, to attempt and spare Stannis from creating terrible choices.

Played by the wonderful Liam Cunningham, Davos presented maybe the most distinctive viewpoint on Game of Thrones, due to the fact he was transformed from a smuggler to a knight for assisting Stannis. This left him with a hefty dose of humility compared to the show’s extended list of prideful characters, and he wasn’t afraid to argue the ethics of what was becoming carried out to win the war. Unfortunately, the writers did not know what to do with him in the later seasons, exactly where Davos felt like an elevated background character. – Tyler B. Searle

14 Olenna Tyrell

Played by Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg

The mighty Olenna Tyrell was the matriarch of House Tyrell and a single of the finest players in the game. Arriving in season 3, Olenna is amongst Game of Thrones‘ most cunning characters she proves a mighty foe for Cersei, goes face to face against Tywin, outplays characters like Littlefinger and Varys, and goes down on her terms.

The late, terrific Dame Diana Rigg played Olenna like the ultimate English Dame: purposeful, bold, witty, simple, and proud. Olenna usually had the final word, delivering sharp words with a gentle smile and out-speaking Westeros’ cleverest minds. Often referred to as the Queen of Thorns, Olenna was amongst Thrones‘ most entertaining characters and a formidable player who played the game by her personal guidelines.

13 Tywin Lannister

Played by Charles Dance

House Lannister is the most effective in Westeros, all thanks to Tywin Lannister. The ruthless, Machiavellian, proud Lion of the Rock is arguably the show’s most intimidating character, a hugely intelligent and resourceful man whose mere name was sufficient to bring the most effective noble to their knees.

The spectacular Charles Dance brought Tywin to life, and was the only actor for the part. Commanding and subtly terrifying, Dance was stellar as Tywin, taking a single of the story’s most intriguing characters and adding layers of gravitas and goal into an currently wealthy characterization. Tywin’s hubris ultimately brings him down in Season 4, and the show’s wealthy, political angle dies along with him.

12 Varys

Played by Conleth Hill

Several characters in Game of Thrones are various from their book counterparts. Varys, the Spider, wasn’t a single of them, at least not in the course of the show’s early seasons. Portrayed by the revelation that was Conleth Hill, Varys was Westeros’ Master of Whisperers and a sturdy contender for the finest player in the game.

With a mysterious previous that viewers under no circumstances completely understood, Varys is an elusive and adapting figure who operates from the shadows. Varys is every single big theme in Game of Thrones embodied, and Hill beautifully portrayed him as a character of numerous truths, none of which was completely true. Varys’ characterization declined in later seasons, but Hill’s efficiency under no circumstances faltered, saving Varys from the mediocre ending numerous other characters suffered at the hands of the show’s writers.

11 Petyr Baelish

Played by Aidan Gillen

Along with Varys, Petyr Baelish was the finest player in the game if the Spider weaved the net, the tiny finger coiled it. Petyr is the architect of the show’s most important conflict, provoking the animosity in between the Starks and Lannisters that led to the War of the Five Kings and, according to most fan theories, whispering the secret that sparked Robert’s Rebellion.

It’s not an overstatement to say Littlefinger is the finest-written character in the novels. The show does ideal by him, with Aidan Gillen playing Petyr with the appeal of a vinegar-laced sweet. Yet, Littlefinger remains an enthralling figure, the Westerosi equivalent of a produced man who slithered across the shadows, climbing the unending chaos ladder that would take him to the top rated – ahead of bringing him down with a thunderous crash.