The Starks are amongst Game of Thrones‘ most compelling characters, however a few of their arcs are higher than others. Over the course of Game of Thrones’ eight seasons, the Starks face among the greatest losses — however the ones who survive till the tip of the sequence additionally see the best wins. As one of many Great Houses of Westeros, the Starks play a pivotal position in Game of Thrones’ principal storyline. They set a number of of the central conflicts in movement, they usually face the results of the political unrest that follows.

Unfortunately, among the Starks are characterised higher than others, leading to extra satisfying journeys general. Players like Jon, Sansa, and Arya get rather more display time than the likes of Rickon or Benjen, setting them up for extra well-crafted arcs. But even among the Starks who get satisfactory consideration all through Game of Thrones have flawed narratives. This is why some family members show extra standard than others.

9 Benjen Stark

Played By Joseph Mawle

Benjen is the least developed member of the Stark household, as he solely seems in a handful of Game of Thrones episodes. Ned Stark’s brother and the First Ranger of the Night’s Watch, Benjen makes impression in the course of the HBO present’s first season. He’s one of many few individuals who seems to be in Jon Snow’s nook, and he appears as honorable as his brother. Unfortunately, his mysterious disappearance removes him from the vast majority of the present — and regardless of the promise of fascinating developments on that entrance, Game of Thrones does little or no along with his character.

Benjen Stark does present as much as save Bran in Game of Thrones season 6, and he does the identical for Jon not lengthy after. Unfortunately, he is killed by wights when he protects Jon, and this prevents the sequence from digging extra totally into his character. Although Game of Thrones reveals a bit about what occurred to him past the Wall, it does not go deep sufficient into the lore surrounding his unusual state of being. The brevity of his character arc makes it the weakest of the Stark storylines, which is a disgrace, because it has a lot potential in season 1.

8 Rickon Stark

Played By Art Parkinson

Rickon is one other member of the Stark household who does not get sufficient improvement, and his age is partially in charge. Art Parkinson’s character is extremely younger when Game of Thrones begins, and this makes him much less able to being concerned within the general story. He spends a lot of the sequence trailing behind Bran, and his brother even leaves him behind on the finish of Game of Thrones season 3. Rickon disappears for a number of outings of the HBO present, and when he returns, he is used as bait and killed by Ramsay Bolton.

As Rickon is rarely explored as a person, this makes him really feel extra like a plot gadget than anything. Rickon’s arc is not precisely satisfying, and even his demise is highly effective due to the way it impacts Jon. Rickon may have been a greater character if the sequence took time to flesh out his persona. Unfortunately, Game of Thrones makes him probably the most mysterious of the Stark siblings. To be honest, that is true of George R.R. Martin’s books as effectively. The solely motive his arc is healthier than Benjen’s is that it does not promise extra, then fail to ship.

7 Bran Stark

Played By Isaac Hempstead Wright

Unlike his youthful brother, Bran Stark does play a pivotal position in Game of Thrones’ overarching narrative — although after season 8, it is exhausting to say if that is a constructive factor. Bran’s story begins strongly in Game of Thrones season 1, with the pilot’s ending twist leaving him unable to stroll. However, the sequence teases that he’ll fly, setting the boy as much as grow to be a determine known as the Three-Eyed Raven. This appears extremely necessary throughout Game of Thrones’ early seasons. Indeed, Bran’s journey past the Wall to uncover his future is a excessive level of his character arc.

Sadly, Game of Thrones does not deal with Bran turning into the Three-Eyed Raven effectively, because it fails to clarify the mythology behind this position as totally because it ought to. The sequence additionally does not provide sufficient perception into Bran’s emotions surrounding his destiny. Of course, the largest misstep of Bran’s character arc is when he is topped king in Game of Thrones season 8. This does not really feel earned, particularly since Bran doesn’t, in actual fact, have “a better story” than everybody else. It’s closely flawed, although its highlights rank it increased than Benjen’s and Rickon’s.

6 Catelyn Stark

Played By Michelle Fairley

Catelyn has probably the most middling character arc of your complete Stark household, because it does not have the most important flaws that narratives like Benjen’s and Bran’s do — but it surely additionally does not quantity to a lot. Thanks to Michelle Fairley’s sensible efficiency, Catelyn is a compelling and fiery character all through Game of Thrones’ first three seasons. The undeniable fact that she’s a power each time that she’s on-screen makes her narrative land above a number of others. But Catelyn spends most of her time in Game of Thrones advising Robb, who rarely heeds her steering.

Unfortunately, this implies Catelyn does not have as a lot bearing on Game of Thrones’ principal plot as she ought to. Some of her biggest moments within the sequence see her taking issues into her personal arms, however these situations are too few. And Catelyn perishes early within the HBO present, which means viewers do not get to see as a lot development from her as the opposite members of the Stark household. The undeniable fact that she does not return as Lady Stoneheart within the adaptation provides one other layer of disappointment to her story, stopping it from breaking into the highest 5 Stark narratives.

5 Robb Stark

Played By Richard Madden

Robb Stark’s Game of Thrones story can be shortlived, although his character arc feels symmetrical and satisfying, even when it ends in tragedy. The eldest of the Stark siblings, Robb finds himself topped King within the North following his father’s demise. He units out to avenge Ned, and he proves a powerful power on the battlefield. Unfortunately, Robb’s management expertise do not essentially carry over to political maneuvering. Game of Thrones hints that Robb is missing on this space, and this makes his betrayal and demise on the Red Wedding really feel like a becoming finish.

Robb’s storyline comes collectively believably, and it is one of many extra gripping Stark narratives all through Game of Thrones‘ eight-season run. Robb’s strengths and flaws are explored in depth, making him a well-developed and nuanced character. The principal downside with Robb’s storyline is that there is not extra of it. Viewers do not get to see him develop as a lot as characters like Arya or Sansa as a result of he is killed earlier than getting the possibility to. This places Robb’s arc someplace within the center, as it isn’t closely flawed but in addition not the sequence’ strongest.

4 Ned Stark

Played By Sean Bean

Ned Stark is simply round for a single season of Game of Thrones, but it surely’s sufficient to go away his mark on the sequence. The demise of Sean Bean’s character is the catalyst for all that occurs after Game of Thrones season 1, and his arc accomplishes every thing it must in that regard. Ned’s season 1 storyline establishes the Stark household’s position in Westeros and their common philosophy. It additionally units the stage for the struggle between the Starks and Lannisters, attaining quite a bit in simply 9 episodes.

Ned’s demise brings his storyline to a tragic shut, however he is vindicated by the Starks’ endings in Game of Thrones season 8. His surviving kids come again stronger than ever, proving that the pack actually does survive. With Sansa turning into Queen of the North and Bran turning into king, Ned primarily wins the Game of Thrones. His demise additionally proves the proper finish to his narrative, because it upends expectations and continues to focus on his values. Ned’s journey has few flaws to talk of, but it surely’s overshadowed by the Stark storylines that final your complete sequence.

3 Jon Snow

Played By Kit Harington

Jon Snow’s character arc has among the greatest flaws in Game of Thrones, but it surely stays one of the crucial compelling ones to look at. Jon begins the sequence believing he is Ned’s illegitimate son — a sentiment that is later confirmed fallacious. Despite his low standing in season 1, Jon ultimately turns into the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, reclaims Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton, and is topped King within the North. His journey is thrilling from begin to end, even when it loses a few of its luster by Game of Thrones season 8.

Jon is arguably the best hero in Game of Thrones’ story, and it is largely because of him that Westeros defeats the Night King and comes collectively on the finish of the present. Normally, this could make Jon’s arc the strongest. However, there are two main points with it. For one, regardless of all of the build-up to a showdown between Jon and the Night King, he isn’t truly the one who kills the villain in Game of Thrones season 8. The sequence additionally does not do sufficient along with his Targaryen heritage, even when it is becoming that he does not find yourself on the Iron Throne.

2 Arya Stark

Played By Maisie Williams

There’s little doubt that Arya is among the finest members of the Stark household, and her Game of Thrones journey is essentially satisfying. Arya will get precisely what she desires on the finish of Game of Thrones, turning into a warrior and explorer as a substitute of a woman. She additionally has many gripping storylines to get to that time. Everything from her travels with the Hound to her revenge on the individuals who wronged her household proves pleasing to look at. Arya grows rather a lot all through HBO’s fantasy sequence, and he or she solely turns into extra compelling as she does.

The principal factor that stops Arya from having the most effective Stark storyline is that her time in Essos drags on for a bit too lengthy. While her coaching with the Faceless Men has a large impression on Game of Thrones’ consequence — it is how she defeats the Night King and saves Bran — it may have been lower down. Still, that is a minor flaw within the grand scheme of issues. And Arya’s narrative bounces again from it rapidly, ending on a excessive be aware as she chooses life over vengeance and units sail for brand new adventures.

1 Sansa Stark

Played By Sophie Turner

Sansa is the Stark sibling that showcases probably the most development all through Game of Thrones’ run, going from a naive lady to a strategic chief. Although Sansa’s story begins off tragically, it is a pleasure to look at her be taught the ropes of Westeros’ cruel politics. It’s unlucky that Sansa suffers a lot in Game of Thrones’ early seasons, however this makes it extra satisfying when she outsmarts and outlives her abusers. It’s gripping to see her use the teachings that Cersei and Littlefinger educate her to her benefit.

Sansa actually steps into her personal throughout Game of Thrones season 6, when she and Jon take again Winterfell and get rid of Ramsay Bolton. Sansa turns into extra outspoken and takes on a bigger position within the North, making her Game of Thrones ending that rather more satisfying. Sansa most likely has the strongest conclusion of all of the Starks, as her being topped Queen within the North feels extremely earned. There are just a few flaws in Sansa’s story, however they’re fairly minor in comparison with its strengths.

Game of Thrones

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Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the idea for the award-winning HBO sequence Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the extremely divisive closing season of Game of Thrones, the sequence was adopted up by the prequel sequence House of the Dragon, which additionally obtained essential acclaim.

Cast

Emilia Clarke , Peter Dinklage , Sophie Turner , Kit Harington , Lena Headey , Maisie Williams , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Iain Glen , John Bradley , Alfie Allen , Conleth Hill , Liam Cunningham , Gwendoline Christie , Aidan Gillen , Isaac Hempstead-Wright , Rory McCann , Nathalie Emmanuel , Jerome Flynn , Rhys Ifans , Matt Smith , Graham McTavish , Fabien Frankel , Steve Toussaint , Eve Best , Emma D’Arcy , Matthew Needham , Olivia Cooke , Milly Alcock , Emily Carey

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