TV Series: Game of Thrones (Characters)

Now I will describe the many characters of Game of Thrones and give a brief synopsis of each one. One of the great things about TV shows is the character development that you cannot quite experience in a 2 hour film. With a total of 73 episodes averaging 45 minutes per show, there is plenty of character content to dive into. And I believe each character in this series is extremely multi-layered, with complex stories. Even the heroes in this show are flawed.

I felt the show was quite unique in demonstrating females as the stronger lead characters which makes for a rather new perspective. The female protagonists and antagonists demonstrated clear empowerment, such as Daenerys, Cersei, Sansa, Arya, and Brienne. The men on the other hand I felt were a bit more gentle and naive such as John Snow, Jamie and Tyrion Lannister, Robb, Bran, and Rickon Stark, and of course the various eunuchs (Grey worm, Varys, and the Unsullied). While these men still demonstrated honor and valor I hardly felt they were true driving forces. This is of course a minor detail but still one of the things that made Game of Thrones so unique. 

Another theme I found quite interesting was the uncertainty of each character, which often saw evil triumph over the good. Examples such as the death of Ned Stark, the Red Wedding, the death of Oberyn, the sacrifice of Shireen, and the death of John Snow. There is a message here there that even good, pure, and honorable people can die at any moment, and that is the sad truth of life. It is not always the fairy tale endings we see in the movies. I found this dark theme to be quite unique and enticing which ultimately made for an even more dramatic and unpredictable series. And to be fair is perhaps the producers' reasoning behind the ending. 

The producers of this show had a clear intent to do things the unconventional way, for example empowering women, cripples, eunuchs, or dwarves. Too often have we seen a white strong male as the lead hero of a show or movie. It seemed John Snow was meant to be that character, yet not quite. It seemed he was the obvious choice to defeat the Night King, but not quite. Instead it was the young girl Arya who was the savior of the north. It was the wicked Cersei who was the main antagonist. It was Daenerys who was the most powerful. And it was the handicapped Bran who became king of the Iron Throne. All of this was shocking stuff and another example of what made the characters so intriguing.

House Stark

• Ned Stark (played by Sean Bean in 10 episodes)
• Cateyln Stark Tully (Played by Michelle Fairley in 26 episodes)
• John Snow (played by Kit Harington in 62 episodes)
• Robb Stark (played by Richard Madden in 22 episodes)
• Sansa Stark (played by Sophie Turner in 59 episodes)
• Bran Stark (played by Isaac Hempstead Wright in 40 episodes)
• Arya Stark (played by Maisie Williams in 59 episodes)
• Rickon Stark (played by Art Parkinson in 14 episodes)
• Benjen Stark (played by Joseph Mawle in 6 episodes)
• Lyanna Stark
• Maester Luwin (played by Donald Sumpter in 14 episodes)
• Rodrik Cassel (played by Ron Donachie in 13 episodes)
• Talisa Stark (Played by Oona Chaplin in 11 episodes)
• Lyanna Mromont (Played by Bella Ramsey in 9 episodes)
• Robett Glover (Played by Tim McInnerny in 5 episodes)
• Rickard Karstark (played by John Stahl in 5 episodes)

House Lannister

• Tywen Lannister (Played by Charles Dance in 27 episodes)
• Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Heady for 62 episodes)
• Jamie Lannister (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in 55 episodes) 
• Tyrion Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage in 67 episodes)
• Joffrey Lannister (Played by Jack Gleeson in 26 episodes)
• Tommen Lannister (Played by Dean-Charles Chapman in 18 episodes)
• Myrcella Lannister (Played by Aimee Richardson in 8 episodes)
• Kevan Lannister (Played by Ian Gelder in 12 episodes)
• Lancel Lannister (Played by Eugene Simon in 16 episodes)
• Meryn Trant (Played by Ian Beattie in 17 episodes)
• Gregor Clegane (Played by Hafbor Julius Bjornsson in 17 episodes)
• Sandor Clegane (Played by Rory McCann in 38 episodes)
• Podrick Payne (Played by Daniel Portman in 35 episodes)
• Grand Maester Pycelle (Played by Julian Glover in 31 episodes)
• Grand Maester Qyburn (Played by Anton Lesser in 22 episodes)

House Targaryen

• Aerys II Targaryen
• Rhaegar Targaryen
• Viserys Targaryen (played by Harry Lord for 5 episodes)
• Daenarys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke in 62 episodes)
• Jorah Mormont (played by Iain Glen in 52 episodes)
• Brynden Rivers
• Missandei (played by Nathalie Emmanuel in 38 episodes)
• Grey Worm (played by Jacob Anderson in 34 episodes)
• Daario Naharis (played by Michiel Huisman in 18 episodes)
• Barristan Selmy (played by Ian McElhinney in 25 episodes)
• Khal Drogo (Played by Jason Momoa in 10 episodes)
• Doreah (Played by Roxanne McKee in 11 episodes)
• Rhaegal
• Drogon
• Viserion

House Baratheon

• Robert Baratheon (Played by Mark Addy in 7 episodes)
• Stannis Baratheon (Played by Stephen Dillane in 24 episodes)
• Renly Baratheon (Played by Gethin Anthon in 8 episodes)
• Selyse Florent (Played by Tara Fitzgerald for 10 episodes)
• Shireen Baratheon (Played by Kerry Ingram for 10 episodes)
• Gendry (Played by Joe Dempsie in 24 episodes)
• Melisandre (Played by Carice van Houten in 29 episodes)
• Sir Davos Seaworth (Played by Liam Cunningham in 42 episodes)
• Brienne of Tarth (Played by Gwendoline Christie in 42 episodes)

House Tyrell

• Olenna Tyrell (Played by Diana Rigg in 18 episodes)
• Mace Tyrell (Played by Roger Ahston-Griffiths in 13 episodes)
• Loras Tyrell (Played by Finn Jones in 21 episodes)
• Margery Tyrell (Played by Natalie Dormer in 26 episodes)

House Martell

• Doran Martell (played by Alexander Sidig in 5 episodes) 
• Oberyn Martell (Played by Pedro Pascal in 7 episodes)
• Trystane Martell (Played by Tony Sebastian in 5 episodes)
• Ellaria Sand (played by Indira Varma in 13 episodes)
• Obara Sand (played by Keisha Castle-Hughes in 8 episodes)
• Nymeria Sand (played by Jessica Henwick in 8 episodes)
• Tyene Sand (Played by Rosabell Laurenti Sellers in 9 episodes)

House Bolton

• Roose Bolton (Played by Michael McElhatton in 20 episodes)
• Ramsay Bolton (Played by Iwan Rheon in 20 episodes)
• Bowen Marsh (Played by Michael Condron in 10 episodes)
• Myranda (Played by Charlotte Hope in 8 episodes)
• Walda Bolton (Played by Elizabeth Webster in 5 episodes)

House Tully

• Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully (Played by Clive Russell in 7 episodes)
• Catelyn Stark Tully 
• Lysa Tully (Played by Kate Dickie for 5 episodes)
• Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (Played by Aidan Gillen in 41 episodes)
• Edmure Tully (Played by Tobias Menzie in 9 episodes)
• Robert Arryn (Played by Lino Facioli in 9 episodes)
• Yohn Royce (Played by Rupert Vansittart in 13 episodes)
• Walder Frey (Played by David Bradley in 6 episodes) 

House Tarly

• Randyll Tarly (played by James Faulkner in 5 episodes) 
• Dickon Tarly (played by Tom Hopper in 4 episodes)
• Samwell Tarly (played by John Bradley in 48 episodes)

House Grejoy

• Balon Greyjoy (Played by Patrick Malahide in 4 episodes)
• Yara Greyjoy (played by Gemma Whelan in 16 episodes)
• Theon Greyjoy (played by Alfie Allen in 47 episodes)
• Euron Greyjoy (played by Pilou Asbaek in 9 episodes) 

Nights Watch

• Jeor Mormont (Played by James Cosmo in 12 episodes)
• Maester Aemon
• Yoren (Played by Francis Magee in 7 episodes)
• Janos Slynt (Played by Dominic Carter in 15 episodes)
• Allisor Thorne (Played by Owen Teale in 19 episodes)
• Bowen Marsh
• Eddison Tollett (Played by Ben Crompton in 34 episodes)
• Olly (Played by Brenock O'Connor in 17 episodes)
• Rast (Played by Luke Barnes in 12 episodes)
• Maester Aemon (Played by Peter Vaughan in 11 episodes)
• Locke (Played by Noah Taylor in 8 episodes)
• Karl Tanner (Played by Burn Gorman in 4 episodes)

The Wildlings

• Mance Ryder (played by Ciaran Hinds for 5 episodes) 
• Tormund Giantsbane (Played by Kristofer Jivju in 33 episodes)
• Ygritte (Played by Rose Leslie in 17 episodes)
• Craster (played by Robert Pugh for 5 episodes) 
• Hodor (played by Kristian Nairn in 23 episodes)
• Gilly (Played by Hannah Murray in 27 episodes)
• Lord of Bones
• Orell (played by Mackenzie Crook) 
• Osha (Played by Natalia Tena in 16 episodes)
• Meera Reed (played by Ellie Kendrick in 16 episodes)
• Jojen Reed (played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster in 10 episodes)
• Wun Wun the Giant (played by Ian Whyte in 16 episodes)
• Styr (Played by Yuri Kolokolnikov in 4 episodes)

No allegiance

• Bronn (Played by Jerome Flynn in 37 episodes)
• Varys (Played by Conleth Hill in 46 episodes)
• The High Sparrow (Played by Jonathan Pryce in 12 episodes)
• Beric Dondarrion (played by Beric Dondarrion in 13 episodes)
• Thoros of Myr (played by Paul Kaye for 10 episodes)
• Syrio Forel (Played by Miltos Yerolemou for 3 episodes)
• Jaqen H'ghar (Played by Tom Wlaschiha in 17 episodes)
• Illyrio Mopatis
• Hizdahr zo Loraq (Played by Joel Fry in 8 episodes)
• Tycho Nestoris (Played by Mark Gatiss in 4 episodes)
• The Waif (Played by Faye Marsay in 11 episodes)
• Septon Meribald
• Septa Unella (played by Hannah Waddingham in 8 episodes)
• Shae (played by Sibel Kekilli in 20 episodes)
• Ros (played by Esme Bianco in 14 episodes)
• Hot Pie (Played by Ben Hawkey in 12 episodes)
• Anguy (Played by Philip McGinley for 6 episodes)
• Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Played by Nonso Anozie in 5 episodes)
• The Night King (Played by Vladimir Furdo Furdik in 5 episodes)
• Archmaester Ebrose (Played by Jim Broadbent in 4 episodes)
• Pyat Pree (played by Ian Hanmore in 4 episodes)
• Three Eyed Raven (Played by Max von Sydow for 3 episodes)