“Game of Thrones” has a lot of characters, far too many to rank. So we’re picking 20, listed below in reverse order. If you don’t like our list, Littlefinger (who, spoiler alert, is in our Top 10) will poison your wedding cake.
20. Red Viper
His irascible lust distracted him from delivering the killing blow against the Mountain. A cautionary tale?
19. Jaime Lannister
The most desired man in the Seven Kingdoms, but he’s never been with any woman other than his sister. And now even she doesn’t really like him anymore. Which is points in his favor.
18. Ellaria Sand
Well, she has committed one of the greatest and most upsetting murders on the whole show …
17. Jaqen H’ghar
Jaqen H’ghar speaks in riddles, has many faces (and many bodies), and set Arya on the path to losing her eyesight even though he would have been burned alive if she hadn’t saved him. What a clown.
16. Tywin Lannister
The Lannister patriarch was killed by his hated dwarf son. Exactly what he deserved, though I secretly hoped he would at some point just be nice to his kids.
15. Jon Snow
Well, he’s dead. King of the dead ones. Definitely not coming back, ever.
14. Tyrion Lannister
Thinks with his penis. Which is okay because his penis is very smart.
13. Varys
Slightly smarter than Tyrion because he doesn’t have a penis.
12. Tormund Giantsbane
Has a great name, murder in his heart and a huge beard. Now he’s going to be in “Fast & Furious 8,” the next movie in my favorite film franchise. What’s not to like?
11. Daenerys
Commits most of the best murders on the show, thanks to those dragons. and they’re usually justified. Big bonus points for that.
10. Margaery Tyrell
Delightfully passive-aggressive toward Cersei all the time. She’s gonna be killed horribly at some point, but it will be worth it.
9. Brienne
Tall, kills a lot of men, is single and celibate, takes no crap from anyone and doesn’t play the game. A perfect counter to basically everything else on “Game of Thrones.”
8. Missandei
Best friends with Grey Worm, a eunich soldier. She doesn’t even have to friendzone him!
7. Littlefinger
Probably the smartest character on the show, but uses all that brainpower for evil. So he’s great, is what I’m saying.
6. Cersei
Yeah, she’s a terrible person, but she’s the product of a terrible father and terrible environment. Cersei is just trying to get by, and, well, for the ruling class that inherently involves a lot of murder. Shrug.
5. Arya Stark
Has an attitude and never thinks strategically, but somehow has managed to survive.
4. Olenna Tyrell
Makes a great joke about useless genitals, and constantly talks smack about everyone. My dream woman.
3. Bronn
Enters the show in the most “Game of Thrones” way possible: by stepping out of the background of a scene to kill a guy for Tyrion.
2. Melisandre
Lots of people think of Melisandre as the “sexy” main character, but she’s actually the “terrifying” main character. Remember that time she burned a child alive? That sucked.
1. Grey Worm
Just the best. Sad because his life sucks. Badass who kills a lot of his problems. Communicates a lot without saying much. Grey Worm seems like the kind of tragic “Game of Thrones” character who is going to have a brief moment of triumph before getting slaughtered. I hope that triumph is really good.
