The 10 Best Characters in Game of Thrones

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With new Game of Thrones spinoffs airing and on the horizon, we're looking back at one of the biggest TV shows ever.

Join us as we count down the ten best characters in Game of Thrones' history. HBO's epic fantasy drama may have premiered over ten years ago, but we still think about these guys daily.

Bronn

You know where you stand with Bronn, a man motivated by one thing: gold. That's refreshing in a world beset by duplicitous backstabbers who switch allegiances on the fly. Jerome Flynn's sellsword merely sells his sword to the highest bidder — the clue's in the name.

Ramsay Bolton

The worst (human) villain in Game of Thrones history belongs to a family that flails its enemies alive. Its house banner is literally a man getting his skin ripped off. His vile ways are what made season 6, episode 9's incredible Battle of the Bastards resonate. Simply, everyone was dying to see his demise, and Jon Snow delivered by feeding him to his own dogs.

Brienne of Tarth

The most honorable knight in Westeros doesn't have a bad bone in her body. She vowed to protect the Stark children for Catelyn, and she does just that, even besting the mighty Hound in one-on-one combat. Plus, Gwendoline Christie's character even managed to turn Jaime Lannister back into a good guy. That takes some doing.

Samwell Tarly

While Brienne of Tarth is nothing if not virtuous, she still has blood on her hands. The same can't be said of John Bradley's Samwell Tarly, the entirely pure-of-heart best friend to Jon Snow. He puts others first, and manages to survive the full eight-season run, showing that not everyone in Westeros has to be awful.

Littlefinger

Master manipulator Petyr Baelish, otherwise known as Littlefinger, lies his way through life. Everything he says is to advance his position in some way. Aiden Gillen's character maneuvers himself into an advisor role to Sansa Stark. Sansa works out his true nature by season seven, however, revealing his crimes in a dramatic trial and having sister Ayra slit his throat.

Varys

Where Littlefinger lies his way to the top, Varys is more about controlling those around him. His biggest attribute is his network of spies and informants Varys like to call 'little birds'. It's Conleth Hill's slippery, unassuming character who you feel wields the true power in Westeros. That is, until Daenerys orders her dragons to fry him.

Oberyn Martell

Oberyn Martell is responsible for one of the most memorable deaths in Game of Thrones' history, getting his entire head crushed like a watermelon by The Mountain in a trial by combat. The Red Viper of Dorne only lasted a single season, introduced and eliminated in season 4, but Pedro Pascal's performance oozed charismatic charm.

Olenna Tyrell

Few manage to play the game like Olenna Tyrell. She's the oldest character on this list, which goes to show her superior powers of durability. This is a world where most people don't live past 50. Olena's greatest feat is meticulously organizing the assassination of Joffrey Baratheon in season four when she poisons him at his own wedding, later revealing her involvement in season seven.

Daenerys Targaryen

Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen is a character so good, 1 out of every 16,477 baby girls born in 2021 were named Daenerys, according to Datayze. She has the ultimate hero's journey, starting as a naive weakling at the mercy of the world before discovering her true strength (along with an army of warriors and three powerful dragons) and bending the world to her will.

Tyrion Lannister

One of the richest and most complex TV characters ever. Peter Dinklage rolls both hero and villain into his performance as Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf who uses intelligence to overcome prejudice. He has the smarts of Varys, the integrity of Daenerys, the selflessness of Samwell, and the bravery of Oberyn. That's why he's taken home an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors' Guild award for his unforgettable performance.

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