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‘game of thrones’: 5 greatest battle speeches.

"Slay the masters" is good, but "Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let's go kill them" is better.

By Aaron Couch

Aaron Couch

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HBO’s Game of Thrones is poised to unleash what will likely be its most epic battle to date. 

In preparation for Sunday’s “The Watchers on the Wall,” we’re ranking our five favorite battle speeches. Not all of them end well, but they are all great in their own way.

Check them out below, and for more on the episode, see our theories of what will happen here.

5. Robb (Battle of the Whispering Wood) Season 1, Episode 9

“One victory does not make us conquerors. Did we free my father? Did we rescue my sisters from the Queen? Did we free the North from those who want us on our knees? This war is far from over.”

Why it’s entertaining, but not all that inspiring: This is Robb’s big chance to make a statement, and what does he do? Make it all about himself and his family. It’s also sort of a downer: “Hey guys, we just won a battle but who are we kidding? It hasn’t accomplished anything!”

PHOTOS: 10 Most Brutal ‘Game of Thrones’ Fights

4. Yara (Attack on the Dreadfort) Season 4, Episode 6

“They skinned our countrymen, and they mutilated my brother. Your prince. Your prince! Everything they’ve done to him, they’ve also done to you. As long as they can hurt our prince with impunity, the word ‘Ironborn’ means nothing.”

Why it’s better than Robb’s: Yara fires up her men using sort of the same idea: “My family has been wronged.” But she wisely appeals to the machismo of the Ironborn. An insult to their lord’s family is an insult to them. And one thing about the Ironborn: They do not take insults well.

3. Theon Greyjoy (Sack of Winterfell) Season 2, Episode 10

“You here that? That’s the mating call of the Northmen. They want to f— us. Well I haven’t had a good f— in weeks. I’m ready for one. They say every Ironborn man is worth a dozen from the mainland. Do you think they’re right? Ironborn will cry out our names as they leap onto the shores of Seagard and Faircastle. Mothers will name their sons for us. Girls will think of us with their lovers inside them. And whoever kills that f—ing hornblower will stand in bronze above the shores of Pyke.  What is dead may never die.”

PHOTOS: ‘Game of Thrones’: 20 Best Quotes

Why it’s quite good: Theon’s speech reflects some of his key characteristics. It’s inappropriately sexual and more confidant than it should be. Still, it’s quite rousing by the time it’s over. The problem? The battle ended with him knocked out and subsequently tortured for months at the hands of Ramsay Snow.

2. Daenerys (Siege of Astapor) Season 3, Episode 3

“Slay the soldiers. Slay every man who holds a whip. But harm no child. Strike the chains off of every slave you see.”

Why it’s great: Daenerys gives the best bait-and-switch in the shows history, tricking the slavers into trading 8,000 Unsullied for one dragon. Unfortunately for the slavers, the dragon remained loyal to Daenerys, while the Unsullied are also loyal to her — their new master.

1. Tyrion (Battle of the Blackwater)

“They say I’m half a man. But what does that make the lot of you? There’s another way out; I’m going to show you. Come out behind them and f— them in their asses. Don’t fight for your king, and don’t fight for his kingdoms. Don’t fight for honor, don’t fight for glory. Don’t fight for riches, because you won’t get any. This is your city Stannis means to sack. That’s you’re gate he’s ramming — and if he gets in, it will be your houses he burns, your gold he steels, your women he will rape. Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let’s go kill them.”

Why it’s the best: Despite being something of a joke around King’s Landing, the “half man” proved himself the most capable leader in the city. It’s easy to give great war speeches when you have dragons or are the handsome king of the north. Much more difficult to rally men when you’ve been ridiculed your whole life.

What’s your favorite Game of Thrones battle speech? What’d we leave off this list? Sound off in the comments, and stay tuned to THR.com/GoT after Sunday’s episode for a full recap and postmortem with director Neil Marshall .

Email: [email protected] Twitter: @AaronCouch

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‘Game of Thrones’: The 10 Best Speeches So Far (Video)

Words are powerful weapons in Westeros. Which “Game of Thrones” character wields them the best?

Love a good speech? “Game of Thrones” is the show for you. Here are the show’s 10 best. (And don’t worry, none are wedding speeches. Weddings don’t go so well on “Game of Thrones.”)

10.) “I’m not going to stop the wheel. I’m going to break the wheel.”

For much of her arc, Daenerys spends time listening to her counsel of talking heads, each with their own ulterior motives. In season 5, Dany’s declaration that she will raze the status quo marks a huge step forward. But are her grand visions for revolution too naive?

9.) Aemon Targaryen

The surprise reveal of Maester Aemon’s pre-Black identity is a key moment in Jon Snow’s journey to becoming Lord Commander. It also teases the test that will lead Jon to his (possibly) tragic final fate.

8.) “What is dead may never die!”

If Theon Greyjoy were in a Tolkien novel, this would have been the speech just before a glorious battle against the forces of Sauron. But this isn’t Middle-Earth, and the moment he ends his speech, Theon learns that the hard way.

7.) The Kingslayer’s origins

The most devilishly brilliant moments of this series come when it makes you sympathize with loathsome scumbags. Jaime Lannister is a murderous, incestuous cretin who introduces himself to us by crippling Bran. But after his harrowing journey with Brienne, he says a few words that almost make you forget that. Almost.

6.) “When you play the game of thrones…”

The most famous quote speech in the series, and for good reason. Cersei’s words to Ned Stark serve as a warning for the horrors that lie ahead. The wrong decisions will cost you your life.

5.) A eunuch’s vengeance

Lord Varys is a very mysterious figure in both the books and the TV show. For a while, his two defining traits were being a eunuch and having lots of connections. Here, Varys gets the chance to reveal more about himself, including his willingness to join in on the bloodshed around him.

4.) Cersei’s storytime

Like Jaime, Cersei gets a moment of humanity during a hard fall from grace. With the walls closing in on her and Tommen, she tells her son a tale to keep his spirits up and to remind him of his potential as a Lannister. For a brief moment, Cersei stops being a bloodthirsty queen and becomes a loving mother. 

3.) Khal Drogo’s gift

It’s hard to make a dramatic monologue work when you’re speaking in a fictional language, but that’s what Jason Momoa does in season 1. Khal Drogo’s promise to give his son the Iron Throne is delivered entirely in Dothraki and escalates from the words of a loving father to the battle cry of a vicious warlord.

2.) “Chaos is a ladder”

Littlefinger takes Cersei’s “game of thrones” speech and builds on it, weaving a metaphor that shows just how crafty he is. Everyone else in Westeros wants power, but Littlefinger wants more than that. He wants to see everyone squirm, and that’s what he gets as he speaks to Varys.

1.) “I did not kill Joffrey, but I wish that I had! “

There is no bigger star in “Game of Thrones” than Peter Dinklage , and his speech during Tyrion’s murder trial confirms it. The Imp finally unleashes all his repressed rage at the ingrates who have hated him and screwed him over despite his sacrifices for the greater good. “Game of Thrones” is about good people struggling to survive in an evil world, and in heartbreaking fashion, Tyrion openly announces his wish to stop being good and join the world in the darkness.

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'Game of Thrones': Tyrion's awesome trial speech script

Here's an exclusive look at the script for Tyrion Lannister's awesome trial scene from HBO's Game of Thrones. Writer Bryan Cogman tells EW of his scene from this season's sixth episode, "The Laws of Gods and Men" : "This is a moment we've been building to ever since the beginning. Every scene with Tyrion [Peter Dinklage], every interaction, was all leading up to this moment. The Shae [Sibel Kekilli] moment triggers what's been building up inside him his entire life. He was going to take his father's deal and go quietly and then decides he'd rather die than give in. But before he dies, he's going to tell them all what he really thinks of them. It's a fun trial scene, but really it's a scene about the Lannister family. … It's an incredibly physical acting performance from Peter even before he launches into his speech. The thing about Peter is there's probably 15 takes that we didn't use that you could have slotted in and it's equally incredible and an entirely different version of the same scene. I keep coming back to how piercing his gaze is throughout that speech, he's just stabbing daggers into every person he's talking to."

Below is the script (NSFW language). What's particularly cool about this is how so many of the subtle intricacies of Cogman's description were so clearly conveyed by the otherwise mute actors in the scene.

Game of Thrones finale coverage! See our five spoiler-free burning questions for Sunday's finale , and be sure to come to EW.com after watching for a deep-dive recap and several must-read post-episode interviews on what's promised to be the best Thrones finale yet.

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‘Game of Thrones': The 10 Best Speeches So Far (Video)

Who said “I’m not going to stop the wheel. I’m going to break the wheel” ?

What about “Chaos is a ladder” ?

Or “ I did not kill Joffrey, but I wish that I had! “ ?

Also Read: 'Game of Thrones' Actor Reveals New Character's Name

We know: These and other phrases echo through your mind as you sit through yet another corporate meeting or teamwork-building session in the Ford dealership break room. Why? Because these speeches work. Tyrion Lannister ( Peter Dinklage ) is a Niccolò Machiavellii for the premium cable crowd.

In this gallery, we’ll take you through some of his best speeches — and those of Cersei ( Lena Headey ), Littlefinger ( Aidan Gillen ), and other beloved (or maybe not beloved) characters.

But first: That Daenerys speech, right?

Also Read: Top 20 'Game of Thrones' Characters, Ranked (Photos)

For much of her arc, Daenerys ( Emilia Clarke ) spends time listening to the counsel of multiple talking heads, each with their own ulterior motives. In season 5, Dany’s declaration that she will raze the status quo to its foundations is a moment where she quietly takes another step into her potential as queen. But are her grand visions for revolution too naive?

Also Read: 'Game of Thrones' Just Gave Facebook Its Biggest 360-Degree Video Hit Ever

Welcome to our gallery of the 10 greatest “Game of Thrones” speeches. Raise a glass and prepare a toast — just not a wedding toast. Weddings don’t go so well on “Game of Thrones,” do they?

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TV’s Most Rousing Speeches, Ranked

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Friends! Romans! Countrymen! And, uh, anyone else who needs a little pick-me-up!

These are trying times. We’re all staying at home, keeping our social distance, worrying about the future and demolishing any bag of snack food that crosses our paths. Chances are, you’re not feeling super motivated to be your sharpest, most productive, hygiene-norms-observant self.

And that’s cool! If your best strategy for surviving the coronavirus crisis involves Netflix on your iPad and a newfound dedication to naptime, we salute you. There are no martyrs here.

On the other hand, if you’d like to get something done but are struggling to find the motivation, we feel you. A lot . And while it would be amazing to click some internal “go-getter” switch and have at the task at hand, that’s just not the reality for most of us.

A suggestion: Let’s let TV solve our problems for us! (What? It could work!)

We’ve combed through some of the small screen’s most inspirational speeches and monologues and gathered the top 18 in the gallery above. When you click on it, you’ll see rousing moments from your favorite series — including Game of Thrones ,  Grey’s Anatomy and The Flash —  ranked them from “wow, that was stirring” to “I CAN CONQUER THE WORLD!,” depending on how big a fire you need lit beneath you.

Click on the gallery above — or go to it directly here — to see the moments we’ve chosen, then hit the comments with any similar scenes you think we missed. Now, go get ’em, tiger!

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51 comments.

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Doctor Who’s speech at the Pandorica, tho? Matt Smith knocked it out of the park.

I came to the comments to say the exact same thing! It still gives me chills. That and the speech from Rings of Akhaten. Amazing!

Yes!! I came into the comments for this!

Hello, fellow Whovians. It’s nice to see you here in the comments! :)

You could fill this list with any number of speeches from Doctor Who.

My favorite is 12’s speech about war always ending by the 2 sides having to talk in. The Zygon Inversion.

Probably not going to be on the list, but my favorite has always been the speech Mayor Green gave to the entire town before they went into battle with New Bern. – Most of you have no idea what to do, or what’s coming. Some of you do. This isn’t a fight about land or about this town. This is a fight for our very existence. Pray for each other while you’re at it. Pray for the men and women of New Bern. Pray that God forgives us.

Mark’s deathbed speech to Jackson about telling someone you love that you love them, even if it burns your life to the ground, should be on this list.

Dan Rydell’s speech in the second episode of “Sports Night,” turning what was supposed to be a CSC-mandated apology for comments he made in an interview into an apology for what he felt his role in his brother’s death.

Not only was it moving, but it immediately sent a message that this wasn’t the run of the mill sitcom ABC probably expected when they ordered it.

For me, favourite speeches are Babylon 5: Sheridan: We have come home! Babylon 5: Londo: They made the Minbari fight for every inch of space. M*A*S*H: Pierce: Yankee Doodle Doctor Star Trek TNG: Picard: With the first link the chain is forged. (“The Dru SEAL Team: SEAL Team: The SEAL credo (episode “Say Again Your Last”)

For Babylon 5, I was thinking of Delenn’s speech in Severed Dreams. “Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!”

But, alas, TVLine consistently does not acknowledge that Babylon 5 even existed unless a cast member dies.

Peter Capaldi’s war speech in The Doctor Who Zygon Inversion episode is spectacular

I posted that, too!

Battlestar Galactica has one of the best speeches in TV history, but not the one you mentioned.

President Laura Roslin : No. Not now. Not ever. Do you hear me? I will use every cannon, every bomb, every bullet, every weapon I have down to my own eyeteeth to end you. I swear it! I’m coming for all of you!

That speech made by the amazing Mary McDonnell gave me goosebumps and still does. I would follow her into certain death any day of the week.

Chris in the Morning’s election day speech in the brilliant “Northern Exposure” episode “Democracy in America,” which includes the following:

“My friends, today when I look out over Cicely, I see not a town, but a nation’s history written in miniature. Inscribed in the cracked pavement, reverberating from every passing flatbed. Today, every runny nose I see says “America” to me. We were outcasts, scum, the wretched debris of a hostile, aging world. But we came here, we paved roads, we built industries, powerful institutions… Of course, along the way, we exterminated untold indigenous cultures and enslaved generations of Africans. We basically stained our star-spangled banner with a host of sins that can never be washed clean. But today, we’re here to celebrate the glorious aspects of our past.”

I loved “Northern Exposure.”

Matt Smith gave many amazing speeches during his run as the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who. I like many of the speeches on this list. Mr. Feeny’s made me cry when it first aired. Buffy also was great at the speeches. But, there were many from the Eleventh Doctor that were better than some on this list. The speech at the end of his very first episode was the start of a great number of impressive performances. My other favorites include the speech from The Pandorica Opens and also the one from The Rings of Akhaten. His last speech before he regenerates into Twelve has some of my favorite lines of any character ever. It just about killed me when he said “I will always remember when The Doctor was me” and then looked at the camera. I know there are far too many great speeches out there to include all of the best in this list. But, Matt Smith had many to choose from and will hopefully be on any similar list in the future. Or, maybe we just his greatest speeches ranked in a list of their own!

Game of Thrones!……Nuff said😉

I was excited when I saw Buffy on here, but I would’ve gone with her famous “power” speech in Checkpoint (5×12). Still get chills thinking about that one!

The speech in the series finale where she’s talking about all of the potential slayers getting the power of the slayer and says something like every girl who can stand up, will stand up. That one gets me every time.

I agree. I get chills from that scene every single time.

I don’t know if it is because I am re-watching Community for the millionth time (thansk Netflix) but I wish there was an entry about Jeff Winger here. And Meredith “pick me, choose me, love me” speech in Grey’s got me everytime.

As far as Grey speeches, I also think Meredith’s “You don’t call me a whore” should be on the list.

My top three missing from this list in no particular order. 1. Jeff daniels in The Newsroom pilot 2. Live together, Die Alone from Lost 3. Paul Giamatti’s rant about dog poo that isn’t really about dog poo from Billions.

I’ll surprise no one and go for a Person of Interest speech. Michael Emerson’s speech to Samaritan. I’m going to kill you, I have to decide how may of my rules I’m going to break to get it done. S05E10 The Day The World Went Away. Also includes a near perfect musical segue in to the Nine Inch Nails song that the episode is named after.

There are a number of great speeches by the various Doctors on Doctor Who, but the speech by the Twelfth Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, just before he regenerates is marvelous. It includes this line, “Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.”

And from the NCIS Season 14, Episode 13, Keep Going, Jimmy Palmer’s speech to the young man who was trying to commit suicide, and he tells him that “He (the young man) is that something good…” Also the tag line for the episode, “When you’re going through Hell, keep going.”

The “going through hell, keep going line” made me think of the letter Father Mulcahy writes to his sister the sister:

“It doesn’t matter if you feel useful going from one disaster to another – the trick I guess is to just keep moving.”

Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Woman often made me want to stand up & cheer. Three standouts for me? “THAT was the night the lights went out in Georgia” speech in The Beauty Contest, dressing down the photographer in The Photo Shoot & informing Ray Don his attention was not wanted or needed in the pilot ep.

Yes! How could Julia Sugarbaker not be included in a list of great TV speeches?

Another vote for Julia Sugarbaker’s “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia? https://youtu.be/FOllz6eGbXI

A thousand times yes! This what I came here to say. Can’t believe they left our Julia.

Suzanne gave a couple of goods ones as well. Her acceptance speech for the ‘most changed’ award at her reunion was great. But my favorite was a short but sweet one where she told off a “low-level bureaucratic usherette” when Julia got her head stuck in a staircase at the governor’s mansion.

Angel’s epiphany speech.

Angel : Well, I guess I kinda worked it out. If there’s no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters… , then all that matters is what we do. ‘Cause that’s all there is.

God bless you butter… Also Adama… Bartlett… Joe west…. Some powerful speeches here

I find it a little odd that Jon Stewart is the only nonfiction speech on the list. It’s also jarring to see a speech about a real life tragic event be ranked as less rousing than speeches dealing with fictional situations. There’s enough impactful and moving late night speeches to make a separate list from fiction.

Fiction Pick: Eleven’s big speech at the end of his first Doctor Who episode made me absolutely believe someone as young as Matt Smith was a dangerous ancient alien.

Non-Fiction Pick: Craig Ferguson’s opening monologue eulogizing his father was beautiful.

Non-Fiction Pick: Craig Ferguson’s opening monologue eulogizing his father was beautiful. . Oh, absolutely. I also remember he had a great one talking about the importance of voting.

Yes! Love this list!

The trouble with many TV show speeches is that they can come across as soap-boxing. The writer is so caught up in preaching their own ideology that it ruins the show.

There is no way you can post a list like this and not have Will Mackavoy’s “not the greatest nation in the world” monologue from The Newsroom S01E01 as the top entry.

Absolutely!

this is populer program

James Corden’s closing song and performance the night his show premiered. It was everything that is: good, properly right and entertaining about tv.

I have to go with David Letterman’s entire opening monologue for the first post-9/11 show. Can’t believe that was not top of the list

Also his first show back after his bypass surgery.

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70 best game of thrones quotes from the books and tv series.

Well, whether you loved or hated the hotly contested final season of HBO's Game of Thrones series, we can bet on one thing: you're sad to say goodbye to Sunday nights spent watching the Seven Kingdoms battle it out for the Iron Throne. True, we do have The Winds of Winter — the sixth installment in the book series — to look forward to, but we've already been waiting 8 years and its unclear when the wait will end.

So, to tide you over in between the end of the TV series and the wait for the continuation of the book series, here are 70 of the best Game of Thrones quotes — half from the books and half from the show. Of course, many of the quotes from the TV show section originate in the books, but they were just delivered so flawlessly by the actors, we had to give HBO some credit.

And fair warning: this post does contain spoilers.

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Best Game of Thrones Quotes from the Books

1. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." — Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

2. " A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is." — Ned Stark, A Game of Thrones

3. " Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?' 'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.” — Bran & Ned Stark, A Game of Thrones

4. " Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities.” — Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

5. "' Don’t call me Lord Snow.' The dwarf lifted an eyebrow. 'Would you rather be called the Imp? Let them see that their words can cut you and you’ll never be free of the mockery. If they want to give you a name take it make it your own. Then they can’t hurt you with it anymore.'" — Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

6. " Fear cuts deeper than swords." — Arya Stark, A Game of Thrones

7. " Laughter is poison to fear." — Catelyn Stark, A Game of Thrones

8. " Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word." — A Game of Thrones

9. "' The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends' Ser Jorah told her. 'It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace.' He gave a shrug. 'They never are.'" — Jorah Mormont and Daenerys Tagaryen, A Game of Thrones

10. "The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die." — Ned Stark, A Game of Thrones

11.  "The things we love destroy us every time, lad. Remember that." — Commander Mormont, A Game of Thrones

12.  "They say night’s beauties fade at dawn, and the children of wine are oft disowned in the morning light." — Barristan Selmy, A Game of Thrones

13.  "We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy." — Aemon Targaryen, A Game of Thrones

14. "What do we say to the Lord of Death? Not today." — Syrio Forel, A Game of Thrones

15.  "What is honor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms . . . or the memory of a brother's smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy." — Master Aemon, A Game of Thrones,

16.  "When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." — Ned Stark, A Game of Thrones

17.  "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” — Cersei Lannister, A Game of Thrones

18.  "Why is it that when one man builds a wall, the next man immediately needs to know what's on the other side?" — Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

19.  "Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy." — Jon Snow, A Game of Thrones

20.  "Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness." — Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

21.  "Winter is coming." — A Game of Thrones

22. "I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid." — Tyrion Lannister, A Clash of Kings

23.  "People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up." — Tyrion Lannister, A Clash of Kings

24.  "When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say." — Tyrion Lannister, A Clash of Kings

25.  "Every man must die, Jon Snow. But first he must live." — Ygritte, A Storm of Swords

26.  "Drifting snowflakes brushed her face as light as lover’s kisses, and melted on her cheeks. At the center of the garden, beside the statue of the weeping woman that lay broken and half-buried on the ground, she turned her face up to the sky and closed her eyes. She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell. The taste of innocence. The taste of dreams." — A Storm of Swords

27.  "The way the world is made. The truth is all around you, plain to behold. The night is dark and full of terrors, the day bright and beautiful and full of hope. One is black, the other white. There is ice and there is fire. Hate and love. Bitter and sweet. Male and female. Pain and pleasure. Winter and summer. Evil and good.” She took a step toward him. “Death and life. Everywhere, opposites. Everywhere, the war.” — Melisandre, A Storm of Swords

28.  "We look up at the same stars and see such different things." — Jon Snow,  A Storm of Swords

29.  "Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and her father, even Sansa. Needle was Winterfell's grey walls, and the laughter of its people. Needle was the summer snows, Old Nan's stories, the heart tree with its red leaves and scary face, the warm earthy smell of the glass gardens, the sound of the north wind rattling the shutters of her room. Needle was Jon Snow's smile. He used to mess my hair and call me "little sister," she remembered, and suddenly there were tears in her eyes." — Arya Stark, A Feast for Crows

30 .  "Who knows more of gods than I? Horse gods and fire gods, gods made of gold with gemstone eyes, gods carved of cedar wood, gods chiseled into mountains, gods of empty air . . . I know them all. I have seen their peoples garland them with flowers, and shed the blood of goats and bulls and children in their names. And I have heard the prayers, in half a hundred tongues. Cure my withered leg, make the maiden love me, grant me a healthy son. Save me, succor me, make me wealthy . . . protect me! Protect me from mine enemies, protect me from the darkness, protect me from the crabs inside my belly, from the horselords, from the slavers, from the sellswords at my door. Protect me from the Silence." He laughed. "Godless? Why, Aeron, I am the godliest man ever to raise sail! You serve one god, Damphair, but I have served ten thousand. From Ib to Asshai, when men see my sails, they pray." — Euron Greyjoy, A Feast For Crows

31.  "'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,' said Jojen. 'The man who never reads lives only one.'" — Jojen Reed, A Dance with Dragons

32.  "Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come." — Vow of the Night's Watch, A Song of Ice and Fire

Haven't read the books yet? Get started now! By the time the next one is published, you will likely have already caught up.

Best Game of Thrones Quotes from the TV Series

33. "I need you to become the man you were always meant to be. Not next year, not tomorrow, now." — Tywin Lannister, Season 1

34. Ned Stark: "Tell me something, Varys who do you truly serve?" Varys: "The Realm, my Lord. Someone must." — Season 1

35. "It's a neat little trick you do. You move your lips, and your father's voice comes out. — Robert Baratheon, Season 1

36. "You love your children. It’s your one redeeming quality. That and your cheekbones." — Tyrion Lannister, Season 2

37. "Some people are fortunate enough to be born into the right family. Others have to find their own way." — Petyr Baelish, Season 2

38. "The storms come and go, the big fish eat the little fish and I keep on paddling." — Lord Varys, Season 2

39. "Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some are given a chance to climb, but they refuse. They cling to the realm or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is." — Petyr Baelish, Season 3

40. "It’s not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it, if it were easy." — Tyrion Lannister, Season 3

41. "If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention." — Ramsay Bolton, Season 3

42. "Show too much kindness, people won’t fear you. If they don’t fear you, they don’t follow you." — Stannis Baratheon, Season 3

43. "You’re mine as I’m yours. And if we die, we die. But first we’ll live." — Ygritte, Season 3

44. "I think mothers and fathers made up the gods because they wanted their children to sleep through the night." — Davos Seaworth, Season 3

45. "A man with no motive is a man no one suspects. Always keep your enemies confused. If they don’t know who you are or what you want, they can’t predict your next move." — Petyr Baelish, Season 4

46. "Nothing isn’t better or worse than anything. Nothing is just nothing." — Arya Stark, Season 4

47. "The world is overflowing with horrible things, but they’re all a tray of cakes next to death." — Olenna Tyrell, Season 4

48. "I was nothing at all. And when you’re nothing at all, there’s no reason to be afraid." — Samwell Tarly, Season 4

49. "They’re dragons, Khaleesi. They can never be tamed. Not even by their mother." — Jorah Mormont, Season 4

50. "It's a big and beautiful world. Most of us live and die in the same corner where we were born and never get to see any of it. I don’t want to be most of us." — Oberyn Martell, Season 4

51. "You’re a hateful woman. Why have the gods made me love a hateful woman?" — Jaime Lannister, Season 4

52. "It’s always changing, who we’re supposed to love and who we’re not. The only thing that stays the same is that we want who we want." — Ellaria Sand, Season 4

53. "All I ever wanted was to fight for a lord I believed in. But the good lords are dead and the rest are monsters." — Brienne of Tarth, Season 5

54. "The past is gone for good. You can sit here mourning it’s departure, or prepare for the future." — Petyr Baelish, Season 6

55. "They’ve made us both stronger, all of them. They have no idea how strong we are. No idea what we’re going to do to them. We’ve always been together. We’ll always be together. We’re the only two people in the world." — Cersei Lannister, Season 6

56. "Everyone who makes a joke about a dwarf’s height thinks he’s the only person ever to make a joke about a dwarf’s height." — Tyrion Lannister, Season 6

57. "Leave one wolf alive and the sheep are never safe. When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey." — Arya Stark, Season 7

58. "I don't plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me. I might be small, Lord Glover. And I might be a girl. But I am every bit as much a Northerner as you. And I don't need your permission to defend the North." — Lyanna Mormont, Season 7

59. "He's a clever man, Your Hand. I've known a great many clever men. I've outlived them all. You know why? I ignored them. The lords of Westeros are sheep. Are you a sheep? No. You're a dragon. Be a dragon." — Lady Olenna to Daenerys Targaryen, Season 7

60. "So many men have tried to kill me, I don't remember all their names. I have been sold like a broodmare. I've been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods, not in myths and legends. In myself. In Daenerys Targaryen." — Daenerys Targaryen, Season 7

61. Sansa: What do dragons eat? Daenerys: Whatever they want. — Season 8

62. "Love is the death of duty." — Jon Snow, Season 8

63. "Love is more powerful than reason. We all know that." — Tyrion Lannister, Season 8

64. "Many underestimated you. Most of them are dead now." — Tyrion Lannister to Sansa Stark, Season 8

65. "Hound: You left me here to die. Arya: I robbed you first." — Season 8

66. "Tyrion: The last time we spoke was at Joffrey’s wedding. A miserable affair. Sansa: It had its moments." — Season 8

67. "Eddison Tollett: Stay back! He's got blue eyes! Tormund Giantsbane: I've always had blue eyes!" — Season 8

68. "Daenerys Targaryen: We could stay a thousand years; no one would find us. Jon Snow: We'd be pretty old." — Season 8

69. "We don't have time for all this. The Night King has your dragon. He's one of them now. The Wall has fallen. The dead march south." — Bran Stark, Season 8

70. "Missandei: My people are peaceful. We cannot protect ourselves. Grey Worm: My people are not peaceful. We will protect you." — Season 8

Looking for your next epic fantasy read? This blog post has 12 books similar to Game of Thrones that you're sure to enjoy. Or check out our Guide to the Witcher Books for another fantasy series recently adapted to TV.

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Game of Thrones: The Nights Watch, Explained

• The Night's Watch was founded 8000 years before the events of Game of Thrones to combat White Walkers during the Long Night.
• The Night's Watch consists of men from all over Westeros, and they are sorted into one of three distinct roles.
• Since being founded, The Night's Watch has significantly diminished in status

For all the lore that Game of Thrones covers, there are still many parts of Westeros and its history that never get a true explanation. Take, for example, the Night's Watch. They are an order stationed on the mysterious superstructure known as the Wall to guard the realms of men against the dangers that lie to the North. In the show, fans got to see how the Night's Watch protected the Seven Kingdoms from Wildlings, only for the White Walkers to slowly emerge as the true threat.

In addition. the Night's Watch was severely undermanned and barely a shadow of the mighty force it had once been. All of this poses the question of how they came to be the way they are, as well as the true purpose of their organization. Fortunately, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels provided fans with a plethora of answers regarding the Night's Watch that Game of Thrones never got to cover.

The Origins of the Night's Watch

• The Night's Watch was founded 8000 years before the events of Game of Thrones .
• Legend says the Night's Watch formed to push the White Walkers back into the far North, but these rumors are unconfirmed.

This Forgotten Targaryen Warrior Is Game of Thrones' Most Important Legend

In truth, the Night's Watch may very well be the oldest order in Westeros. It certainly has the longest known lifespan, surviving not only the Long Night, but the Fall of the First Men, the invasion of the Andals, and the Targaryen Conquest . According to legend, the Night's Watch was founded around 8,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones during a period known as the Long Night — a period where the White Walkers (or "Others" as they are properly known in Martin's books) invaded Westeros and wreaked havoc. The Night's Watch was formed to combat the Others, and in a legendary conflict known as the Battle for the Dawn, the Night's Watch apparently managed to drive back the Others.

Shortly after their victory, a Brandon of House Stark , usually thought to be Brandon the Builder, constructed the Wall to defend the realms of men. While the Others had been defeated, they were not truly destroyed and many feared what their return would mean. The Night's Watch was stationed at the Wall and its many fortresses to keep guard in the event the Others did return. Unfortunately, millennia of duty without a hint of their true foe's presence caused the Night's Watch to slowly lose sight of their original mandate, instead becoming more focused on fighting the Wildlings who lived North of the Wall.

It wasn't until decades after Aegon's Conquest that the Night's Watch truly began to decline. It was Jaehaerys Targaryen who began the policy of offering the Night's Watch as a way to avoid being punished for crimes committed within the Seven Kingdoms. This increased the Watch's numbers significantly, especially when considering how many enemies House Targaryen had at the time, but it also diminished the quality of men who joined. Prior to this, joining the Night's Watch was considered an honor, a sacrifice made in the name of duty to Westeros. Now, that honor had been sullied by those who saw joining up as a preferable choice to being beheaded.

The Structure of the Night's Watch

• The members of the Night's Watch are sorted into one of three roles : Stewards, Builders, and Rangers.
• Overseeing the entirety of the Night's Watch is the Lord Commander, who is the highest-ranking member of the organization.
• Anyone can be voted in as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, regardless of their prior status.

One of Game of Thrones' Best Fighters Was Much Different in the Books

The Watch is not a particularly complex organization. At the height of its power, the Night's Watch boasted an impressive army of ten thousand men who all garrisoned the fortresses lining the Wall. All of these men swore neutrality when it came to matters of politics. The Night's Watch duty was to guard the realm, not whichever king or queen claimed ownership of it. There was even an unspoken agreement never to discuss politics or previous allegiances among their own, allowing them to focus on their duties to the realm instead.

The Night's Watch is divided into three orders: stewards, builders, and rangers. Each of them plays a vital role in the management of the Watch. The Stewards essentially manage day-to-day affairs, making sure the order's members are fed, hunting and farming for food, and maintaining equipment among other things. The Builders are responsible for maintaining the nineteen castles the Night's Watch owns as well as the Wall itself, ensuring that neither falls into disrepair. Finally, the rangers are the main fighting force of the Night's Watch, going beyond the Wall to track and battle Wildlings — or, in rare cases, White Walkers.

At the head of the entire Night's Watch is the Lord Commander, who has the final say in all matters. Interestingly, the position of Lord Commander is one of the few democratically chosen positions within the entire world of Westeros . The brothers of the Night's Watch vote on the postion, and anyone can be nominated. While this role is typically filled by someone with a high-born background or some kind of training, it still means anyone can rise to the position of Lord Commander. This duty, much like the rest of the Night's Watch vows, is for life. A new Lord Commander cannot be chosen until the old one is dead.

The Night's Watch in the Modern Era

• The Night's Watch is barely functioning by the events of Game of Thrones , as evidenced throughout most of the show.
• The once proud order known as the Night's Watch has been reduced to little more than a penal colony, composed of the realm's worst criminals.

These Fan-Favorite Game of Thrones Characters Didn't Share the Screen Nearly Enough

Unfortunately for the Night's Watch, time has been its greatest enemy. With thousands of years passing since their original enemies fled into the deepest parts of the North, the Night's Watch have all but forgotten their original purpose. Compounding this issue is that as time passed, most of Westeros has largely come to disregard the Night's Watch and their efforts. Only the Northerners bother to remember the old days when things were darkest, but even they don't provide the support the order needs.

By the events of Game of Thrones , only three of the nineteen castles the Watch possesses are manned and attempts by the leadership to get the others running again have repeatedly failed. There are even some among the North who believe it would be better to give the land granted to the Watch to different lords so that they can better supply and defend the realm against Wildling attacks. The biggest problem for the Night's Watch is how remote the Wall is from the rest of the world. By the time news arrives from the Wall of any imminent danger, it is usually too late, with whatever threat the Night's Watch is facing either already there, or already gotten past them.

In the modern day, the Night's Watch is viewed as a more benevolent form of exile for criminals who are desperate to avoid execution or a convenient location to ditch legitimate sons from families with too many members. The purpose of the Night's Watch was once duty and sacrifice, but by the time Jon Snow joins them , it has become a joke of what it once was.

Game Of Thrones

Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for a millennia.

Release Date April 17, 2011

Cast Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke

Main Genre Drama

Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rating TV-MA

Creator David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Production Company Home Box Office (HBO), Television 360Grok! Studio

Number of Episodes 73

Network HBO Max

Streaming Service(s) HBO Max

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The best Game of Thrones seasons, ranked

HBO has multiple incredible shows . After all, as the cable network’s slogan goes, it’s not television, it’s HBO. However, few of the network’s originals can compare to the juggernaut that was Game of Thrones . Developed by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and based on George R. R. Martin’s literary saga A Song of Ice and Fire , the show followed multiple feuding noble families struggling to sit on the Iron Throne and rule over the war-torn continent of Westeros.

8. Season 8 (2019)

7. season 7 (2017), 6. season 5 (2015), 5. season 1 (2011), 4. season 6 (2016), 3. season 3 (2013), 2. season 2 (2012), 1. season 4 (2014).

At its peak,  Game of Thrones was the biggest show on Earth, dominating award shows and scoring HBO the biggest ratings in its history. Across eight seasons and 73 episodes, the show shocked, scandalized, and thrilled audiences worldwide, cementing its place among television’s greatest achievements. However, even its most devoted fans can’t say it remained consistent throughout. Indeed, while some seasons were positively masterful, others were outright embarrassing, proving that when you play the game of thrones, there truly is no middle ground.

There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about  Game of Thrones season 8. To describe it, only one word is necessary: terrible. From the awful, rushed writing to the notoriously dark cinematography to the poor production values and careless staging, Game of Thrones season 8 is a trainwreck of spectacular proportions.

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If it weren’t for the incredible acting — thank R’hllor for Emilia Clarke — it would have no redeemable qualities. Don’t let the many subsequent think pieces fool you: it’s not good, it hasn’t aged well, and it’s still inexcusable. It’s terrible in just about every way that matters.

Season 7 is not much better than season 8. Following season 6’s spectacular ending, season 7 picks up with Daenerys arriving at Dragonstone, Cersei sitting on the Iron Throne, Sansa and Jon ruling the North, and Arya making her way to King’s Landing. In an effort to reduce the cast’s size, numerous characters make stupid mistakes and die in incredibly unsatisfying ways.

The biggest issue with season 7 is that you can feel the urgency to wrap the show as fast as possible. Characters stop making intelligent decisions, and the show starts disrespecting its in-world logic. Daenerys loses all her allies and two of her dragons because, otherwise, the show would be over in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Varys, Littlefinger, and Tyrion, arguably Game of Thrones ‘ most powerful and intelligent characters , become shadows of their former selves, doomed to always be one step behind everyone else. Season 7 is poorly written and even more poorly paced, resulting in a rushed and uneven viewing experience that feels like the perfect prelude to the even worse season 8.

Season 5 of  Game of Thrones is the earliest indication that the powers behind the show didn’t necessarily know what they were doing. The season marks a major departure from the books, with storylines shortened and mixed in an effort to keep things more streamlined. Major plots include Daenerys ruling Meereen with disastrous results, Jon becoming Lord Commander at Castle Black, Arya beginning her training in Braavos, Sansa getting married to Ramsay Snow, Tyrion journeying to Essos to meet Dany, and Cersei and Jaime dealing with the Sparrows in the aftermath of Tywin’s death.

Much of what makes season 5 seem weak is how much it pales in comparison to its masterful predecessor. The writing is weak, especially concerning the stories at Castle Black, and certain narrative choices come across as pure shock value rather than genuine attempts to progress the larger story. Season 5 does include a few incredible episodes, most notably  Hardhome , and a powerful season finale. Still, the season is overall uneven at best, and includes some of the show’s most gratuitous and needless plots, putting into question the writers’ abilities to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

“You win, or you die,” the tagline for Game of Thrones season 1 read, and boy, was it right. Fantasy icon and perennial victim Sean Bean starred as Eddard Stark, the noble head of House Stark, who abandons his spot as Warden of the North to serve as Hand of the King for his longtime friend, Robert Baratheon. Arriving at the capital city of King’s Landing, Ned becomes involved in a dangerous game of politics and treason.

Season 1 of  Game of Thrones stands out because it’s the only one with a clear protagonist. While the show would become a true ensemble as it progressed, season 1 is firmly centered around Ned, with Bean embodying the character’s heroic and honorable qualities to perfection. In addition, this season is Game of Thrones at its most contained and intimate, favoring politics and machinations over ambitious fantasy concepts — Daenerys’ dragons aren’t even hatched yet.

However, what it lacks in scope, it makes up for in narrative punch, clever writing, and a subversive approach to the usually clearcut fantasy genre. Season 1 of Game of Thrones laid the basis for everything that followed, allowing the show to grow into one of the most popular in television and doing most of the heavy lifting to introduce the complicated, yet fascinating World of Ice and Fire.

In more ways than one, season 6 is the ending of  Game of Thrones ‘ golden age. The plot sees Cersei plotting her revenge against the Sparrows, who are becoming more dangerous by the second. Meanwhile, Jon and Sansa rally the Northern houses against Ramsay, Tyrion struggles to rule Meereen while Daenerys is kidnapped by the Dothraki, Arya continues her training in the House of Black and White, and Bran begins his journey to becoming the Three-Eyed Raven.

Although far more uneven than its predecessors, season 6 of Game of Thrones soars on the strength of some of the show’s best efforts. Episodes like  The Door ,  Blood of My Blood ,  Battle of the Bastards , and  The Winds of Winter rank among the best of the 21st century, let alone  Game of Thrones . Ramin Djawadi’s score also reaches new heights this season, especially during the final episode, where the now-iconic tune  Light of the Seven plays during the explosion of the Great Sept of Baelor.

Season 6 is  Game of Thrones in overdrive, delivering one showstopping sequence after another without losing momentum. It expertly blends fan service and character development, setting the stage for an epic showdown that, sadly, would never come.

Season 3 of  Game of Thrones lives in perpetual infamy. It features the ending of the War of the Five Kings and the unexpected marriage between Sansa and Tyrion, which is orchestrated by Tywin. Jaime bonds with Brienne on his way back to King’s Landing, Jon spends more time with the Free Folk, Arya and the Hound form an unlikely relationship during their travels, and Daenerys slowly amasses an army of her own.

Solid and narratively coherent as it builds up to a harrowing finale, season 3 of Game of Thrones is riveting television. The duos of Jaime and Brienne and Arya and the Hound are surprisingly heartwarming, while Dany’s increasing influence in Essos cements her as a modern pop culture icon.

However, it’s the notorious and outright traumatizing Red Wedding that dominates any conversation about season 3. The event marked a turning point for Game of Thrones , as it killed off multiple main characters in a shocking and brutal sequence that challenged audiences’ expectations and changed television for good. Season 3 did a lot of things right, but in many ways, its legacy amounts to The Rains of Castamere , an episode that ranks among television’s all-time greatest ever produced.

Following the game-changing end of season 1,  Game of Thrones season 2 sets each character off in new and exciting directions. Tyrion serves as Hand of the King to Joffrey, attempting to prepare the city’s defenses for Stannis’ upcoming attack while dealing with Cersei’s machinations. Robb continues his war against the Lannisters, Jon ventures beyond the Wall, Arya travels with the Brotherhood without Banners, Theon takes over Winterfell, and Daenerys journeys to Qarth with her newly hatched dragons and what’s left of her khalasar.

Season 2 of  Game of Thrones greatly benefits from incredible dialogue, perhaps the best in the show’s eight years. Tyrion and Cersei share some of the best interactions in the show’s history, which are elevated even further by Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey’s one-of-a-kind chemistry. Similarly, Tywin and Arya form an unlikely, yet mesmerizing duo, with Charles Dance and Maisie Williams delivering some of the finest work on the show.

The season leads to the near-perfect episode Blackwater , which features one of the show’s most ambitious battle sequences. Overall, season 2 of  Game of Thrones is cohesive and satisfying, yet still shocking and unpredictable. It successfully expands the show’s lore, introduces new characters, and plants seeds that would blossom for years to come.

Game of Thrones undoubtedly peaked with season 4. The show’s fourth year featured massive storylines, from Joffrey’s death at the Purple Wedding to Tyrion’s subsequent trial for his apparent murder. Sansa finally escapes King’s Landing, Arya continues her journeys with the Hound, Jon prepares Castle Black against the Free Folk’s upcoming attack, and Daenerys takes over Meereen, abolishing slavery and sending Essos into political chaos and societal unrest.

Season 4 sees every aspect of  Game of Thrones operating at peak capacity. Every element, from the writing to the acting, directing, and staging, is spectacular, and the actors receive some of their strongest material. The season’s MVP is undoubtedly Tyrion, with Dinklage delivering arguably his finest performance in the show during the seminal episode  The Laws of Gods and Men . However, many other actors shine, including the new Mr. Fantastic, Pedro Pascal , whose Oberyn Martell is a highlight of the season.

Headey, Harington, Clarke, and Dance are also noteworthy, as are Gwendolyn Christie and the ever-underrated Natalie Dormer. Season 4 of Game of Thrones is the closest thing to perfection that we’ll ever see on our television screens, offering a daring, challenging, and utterly unforgettable narrative that cemented the show as a modern entertainment masterpiece — up until that point, anyway.

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"A Targaryen who sits the Iron Throne is not just a king or a queen. They are a protector of the realm,” Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen says to open the trailer. Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon are seen gaining allies for Team Black and readying their army for an attack. Their opponent is Team Green, led by Queen Alicent Hightower and her son, King Aegon II Targaryen.

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Game of Thrones: Every Character on Arya Stark’s List and Their Ultimate Fate

Arya Stark's list is a major part of her character trajectory, and it contains some of the most important names in Game of Thrones.

Arya Stark is one of Game of Thrones ' most fascinating characters. As a highborn girl, her destiny never points to marrying a wealthy lord and becoming a lady like her sister. Even as a child, she was attracted to weapons. However, her transformation is also one of the most unexpected.

Throughout eight seasons of Game of Thrones , Arya travels across Westeros and Essos, eventually becoming a professional assassin after being radicalized by the execution of her father. Because of her experiences, the youngest Stark daughter starts a list containing the names of the people to assassinate, which she recites each night to remind herself of her quest for vengeance. While the show depicts Arya assassinating some names on her list, many end up with other notable fates.

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1 polliver was the first name to be crossed from arya’s list.

Among the long list of men to kill, Polliver was among the first ones to taste Arya's sweet revenge. He served with Gregor Clegane, the Mountain , in the Riverlands and was among the men who attacked the Night Watch recruit marching party and captured Arya, Gendry and Hot Pie after killing Yoren. Polliver took Arya's sword, Needle, and used it to kill her friend Jimmy. Arya then added him to her prayer kill list.

Polliver dies the same way he had killed Jimmy. Arya reminds her enemy what had happened by repeating what he had said to her the last time, making Polliver the first official kill Arya conducted to cross a name from her list. This set her down a dark path that saw many more names crossed off.

2 Joffrey Baratheon Is Poisoned by Lady Olenna Tyrell and Littlefinger

10 best villains in game of thrones, ranked.

Joffrey Baratheon, like most people on Arya Stark's list, died before Arya could get to him. The petulant ruler landed himself on Arya's list when he ordered to have her father executed, but even before this dramatic development, he had already earned Arya's ire.

As a cruel and impulsive king, Joffrey met his own end when House Tyrell became involved with the Throne's affairs. Lady Olenna, after learning the truth about Joffrey , wanted a better king for her granddaughter to control. Olenna conspired with Littlefinger and poisoned Joffrey at his wedding, thrusting the realm into chaos once more.

3 Tywin Lannister Is Killed by His Son

Tywin Lannister was on Arya's list solely because he was at war with Robb. Arya wanted to kill him so that Robb would win the war. Her original plan was to name him as one of the three lives for Jaqen H'hgar to kill. However, her plan changed when she needed an exit for herself and her friends. Tywin walked away before Arya had a chance to have him assassinated.

The mighty Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister, dies at the hand of his own son, Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion murdered his father with a crossbow to the heart for sleeping with the woman he loved and trying to frame Joffrey's death on him. Having been treated as an unwanted child all his life, Tyrion's rage reached a boiling point. He confronted his father, murdered him and fled King's Landing.

4 Meryn Trant Is Slaughtered in Braavos

10 funniest game of thrones quotes, ranked.

Meryn Trant is one of the few people on Arya's list who is killed by Arya herself. Meryn Trant has been a knight in the Kingsguard since King Robert I Baratheon . Despite priding himself as a Kingsguard and a knight, he followed orders from the king without question or hesitation, making him an evil man who took pleasure in punishing girls and enemies of the crown. In Season 1, Trant kills Arya's mentor, Syrio Forel, on orders of Cersei Lannister, landing him a spot on her list.

In Season Five, Meryn Trant accompanied Mace Tyrell to Braavos to negotiate a deal with the Iron Bank. Arya spotted him and followed him to a brothel. After learning what he liked, she stole a face from the wall and utilized the training she had from Jaqen H'hgar. Killing Meryn Trant was a turning point for Arya because, on the contrary of being no one, she was Arya Stark from Winterfall that night. She made sure Meryn Trant knew who she was before ending his life.

5 Where Did Ilyn Payne Go?

Ilyn Payne was the mute royal executioner who executed Ned Stark. The Mad King ordered to have his tongue removed when he suggested that Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, was the true ruler of Westeros even though he had never sat on the Iron Throne . He was on Arya's list purely for carrying out Joffrey's order to kill her father.

Ilyn Payne is the only character on Arya's list who isn't confirmed to die. Payne was written off of the show due to the character's actor, Wilko Johnson, being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Ilyn Payne got off of Arya's list, though it was never explained in the show. The character simply disappeared and never returned.

6 Walder Frey Pays the Price for the Red Wedding

Walder Frey was one of the top priorities on Arya's list, having murdered her brother, Robb Stark , Robb's dire wolf, her mother, Catelyn Stark, and the rest of the northern forces at the Red Wedding right in front of her. Arya has traveled to the Twins with Sandor Clegane. With high hope of reuniting with her family, Arya witnessed what the Freys had done to her family — sewing a wolf's head on Robb's body and parading him.

The Freys were the first ones who received Arya's rage and revenge after she had completed her training and returned to Westeros. Arya first murdered Walder Frey's sons and baked them into a pie, which she served to Walder Frey before cutting his throat open. She then killed the rest of the Freys by wearing Walder Frey's face and inviting them into a celebration with wine laced with poison, leaving no one alive as she walked out of the door.

7 Littlefinger Dies at the Starks' Hand

Littlefinger's betrayal to the Starks can be traced all the way to Season 1, when he orchestrated the conflict between the Wolves and the Lions. He continued to play the Starks in his game for power despite having love and affection for Catelyn Stark. He rescued Sansa Stark from Joffrey's wedding, but mainly for the reason that she was the true power of the North. He later sold her to the Boltons to secure his relationship with the Warden of the North, only to rescue Sansa again so that he could take control over the North.

After Arya has returned to Winterfell, Littlefinger starts to pit her against Sansa. After discovering what he was up to, Arya alerts her siblings and serves as the personal executioner to Petyr Baelish. Littlefinger was only on Arya's list briefly, but he was surely the fastest one to die.

8 Thoros and Beric Dondarrion Met Their Ends in the Fight Against the Dead

How do dragons reproduce in game of thrones and house of the dragon.

Both Thoros and Beric Dondarrion ended up on Arya's list due to their actions towards Robert Baratheon's illegitimate son Gendry , who they sold to the Red Woman Melisandre. In the end, the two men from the Brotherhood Without Banners meet their deaths at the hands of the dead.

Thoros died while trying to save Sandor Clegane during their quest beyond the wall to capture a living dead man. Beric Dondarrion got off the list when he died to protect Arya and Sandor Clegane during the Long Night, ironically bringing an end to his story with him and Arya fighting for the same side.

9 The Red Woman Dies of Old Age

Melisandre made Arya's list when she kidnapped Gendry, whom Arya was friends with. She predicted that Arya would grow up to become a killer and shut many eyes. Arya thought of her as a witch, but Melisandre's prediction eventually came true, and Gendry remained alive, giving Arya no good reason to keep her on the list. By the time the red priestess died, Arya had stopped actively seeking revenge.

Melisandre died of old age when the Great War was won. She walked into the snow and removed the necklace that kept her young and beautiful. Revealing her real self, she collapsed in the snow as her life had naturally come to an end.

10 The Hound and the Mountain End Their Tales With a Duel

10 brutal game of thrones deaths hbo was forced to tone down.

Sandor Clegane (also known as The Hound) travels with Arya Stark throughout much of Game of Thrones , but that doesn't mean he wasn't one of the young child's greatest enemies for many years. Arya first adds The Hound to her list for killing Mycah, the butcher's boy who Arya befriended early in the series, and she attempts to kill him several times after that. However, The Hound eventually comes to serve as Arya's protector, and the pair form an undeniable bond during their journey together.

Gregor Clegane (better known as The Mountain) is Sandor's older brother, and he also ends up on Arya's list after she sees him torturing people for information at Harrenhal. However, while Arya decides to remove Sandor's name from her list after growing closer to him, she maintains her grudge against The Mountain. After Game of Thrones ' heroes defeat the White Walkers and their army, Arya and The Hound head south to King's Landing. There, The Hound dies along with his brother, The Mountain, during their duel on the stairs of a falling Red Keep.

11 Cersei Lannister Perishes With Her Brother, Jaime Lannister

Cersei Lannister ends up on Arya's list for the part she played in Ned Stark's death and for manipulating the truth that got Lady killed when Joffrey had been injured by Nymeria. As one of the longest-lived characters in Game of Thrones , Cersei surprisingly escaped Arya's revenge, mainly due to the timing.

Arya was on her way to King's Landing to kill her when Daenarys started laying waste in the Red Keep. As castles collapsed, the Hound advised Arya to turn back so that she wouldn't follow his path. Cersei attempted to escape through the secret passage with Jaime. However, the exit was blocked, leaving Cersei and her brother to be buried alive together in the falling stones.

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Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for a millennia.

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Summer isn’t all about cavorting in the sun or schlepping out to the theater — it’s also about having a nice time at home, safe in the air conditioning. And the 2024 television slate will definitely help you out in that regard!

The big dogs of fantasy TV are back, with second seasons of House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power . We’re getting more Boys , more Bears , more Murders , and even more… Batman?... while Star Wars TV boldly goes where it’s never gone before. Here’s Polygon’s roundup of our most anticipated TV shows of the summer.

Release date: June 4 Where to watch: Hulu

Part true crime series, part sports series, Clipped tells the story of the tumultuous 2013-2014 season for the Los Angeles Clippers. At the time the Clippers were owned by billionaire Donald Sterling, but over the course of the next year, a series of revelations about Sterling shocked the NBA world and led to him getting banned from the sport for life. Clipped follows all the twists and turns of the scandal and includes an all-star cast led by Laurence Fishburne. — Austen Goslin

The Acolyte

Release date: June 4 Where to watch: Disney Plus

Disney Plus’ newest Star Wars series, created by Russian Doll ’s Leslye Headland, is also the first to ever be set in the seemingly idyllic age of the High Republic. But just because the events of The Acolyte take place long before the days of Luke and Anakin Skywalker doesn’t mean that everything is peaceful in the galaxy. Instead, The Acolyte follows the story of a Jedi Master and her former Padawan as they investigate a series of mysterious crimes and accidentally stumble onto something bigger and worse than they could have ever imagined. The series stars Amandla Stenberg ( Bodies Bodies Bodies ), Dafne Keen ( Logan ), Lee Jung-jae ( Squid Game ), and Carrie-Anne Moss ( The Matrix ). — AG

The Boys season 4

Release date: June 13 Where to watch: Prime Video

Can’t say much right now, but folks, The Boys is so back — which, after three seasons, feels like a minor miracle. With a new batch of episodes, the adaptation of Garth Ennis’ acclaimed comics series promises more blunt-force satire, more excessive violence, and rapidly escalating stakes for Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and the group of rebels who hope to snuff out the emotionally frail fascist Homelander (Antony Starr) before he laser-eyes the world to dust. Season 3 brought the characters to the edge, with Butcher facing terminal illness due to Temp V abuse, Starlight (Erin Moriarty) properly defecting from Vought, violent psychic Vic Neuman (Claudia Doumit) poised for major political power, and Homelander’s son Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) standing at a superpowered crossroads. Expect season 4 to add more new characters, more twists, and, against modern odds, deliver. — Matt Patches

Bridgerton season 3, part 2

Release date: June 13 Where to watch: Netflix

When we left Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), her dreams were all coming true — literally, with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) hooking up with her in her carriage and then committing to spending the rest of his life with her. In most romance stories (or even other seasons of Bridgerton ), that would be the happily ever after, roll credits. But Bridgerton split season 3 for a reason: Now, Penelope has to see if Colin will love her at her Whistledown.

Considering all the secrets and pain she’s let loose in the world under her pen name, specifically to his family — well, good luck, Penelope. — Zosha Millman

House of the Dragon season 2

Release date: June 16 Where to watch: HBO, Max

Let’s be honest: Things were never really going to get better between the warring Targaryens. But things got decidedly worse when Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) killed Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), and war between the two branches of the family went from “brewing” to “certain.”

Season 2 will follow the early days of the conflict, with plenty of dragons, houses, and Targaryens caught in the scuffle. The fate of Westeros is already set — there’s no way the Greens or the Blacks could know what will happen to their line hundreds of years in the future — but House of the Dragon has succeeded in making the inevitable interesting, and season 2 should hopefully follow suit. — ZM

Make Some Noise season 3

Release date: June 24 Where to watch: Dropout TV

Dropout has many funny shows on its streaming platform — Game Changer , V.I.P. , Smartypants — and while some of them may be more creative and daring, none are as consistently funny as Make Some Noise . The laugh-a-minute Whose Line Is It Anyway? variant is coming back with a star-studded third season . Rachel Bloom! Ben Schwartz! Pete Holmes! Paul F. Tompkins! All those and more join the fantastic cast of Dropout and Make Some Noise regulars in what should be another riotous season of the show. — Pete Volk

The Bear season 3

Release date: June 27 Where to watch: Hulu

The evolving series about a Chicago-based restaurant heads into its third season, as probably-still-a-mess chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), his long-suffering business partner Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and his seemingly much-improved “cousin” Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) try to figure out how to keep the fine-dining establishment they opened in season 2 afloat in an industry where the odds are against them. Expect a lot more yelling, a lot more succulent food porn , and probably a shifted focus again: Where season 1 zoomed in on the effort to keep a traditional Italian beef stand running, and season 2 addressed the expectations, barriers, and challenges involved in opening a restaurant, season 3 looks to be about the problem of finding and maintaining a regular clientele without compromising on vision or ambition. — Tasha Robinson

Dimension 20: Never Stop Blowing Up

Release date: June 2024 Platform: Dropout TV

We know very little about this summer’s new season of Dropout’s Madison Square Garden-headlining tabletop series Dimension 20. Just that it’ll be 10 episodes long, it’s called “Never Stop Blowing Up,” and — based on the redesigned GM screen in front of game master Brennan Lee Mulligan — the “blowing up” part is very literal. — Susana Polo

Batman: Caped Crusader

Release date: Aug. 1 Platform: Prime Video

The spiritual cousin to Batman: The Animated Series that was announced in 2021 , canned in 2022 during Warner Bros.’ restructuring, and picked up by Amazon Studios in 2023 arrives this summer. A collaboration between all-around genre filmmaker J.J. Abrams, The Batman director Matt Reeves, and Batman: The Animated Series co-creator Bruce Timm, Caped Crusader borrows Timm’s indelible BTAS design sense for a series that isn’t exactly canon with the beloved 1990s cartoon, but is definitely evoking your nostalgia for it.

We don’t know a ton about the plot of the new show, but it appears to take place in Batman’s early days before his friendship with James Gordon, with Harley Quinn as a “calculating” serial killer and Catwoman as a spoiled heiress. — SP

The Umbrella Academy season 4

Release date: Aug. 8 Platform: Netflix

The Hargreeves siblings face the end of the world... again. But this time it’s for real, since this is the final season of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy . Last season left off with the Hargreeves in (another) alternate reality, after pressing a big reset button that recalibrated time and space. But this new reality is a bit different — for one, it seems like none of them have their powers. — Petrana Radulovic

Only Murders in the Building season 4

Release date: Aug. 27 Platform: Hulu

Mabel, Charles, and Oliver head to Hollywood, with a chance for their podcast to be turned into a movie! Oh yeah, there’s also another murder, but the murder part of Only Murders in the Building has been getting looser and looser with each season (as has the “building” part). That’s OK, though, because we’ll gladly watch Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short bumble around together in any and every situation. Hollywood, here we come! — PR

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2

Release date: Aug. 29 Platform: Prime Video

The second of five guaranteed seasons of Amazon Studios’ Rings of Power premieres at the tail end of the summer, bringing us back to the approximated ancient times of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. With last season’s big Sauron-y reveal, the new season appears to be ready to get underway for real, with a trailer teasing the crafting of the Nazgul rings, the temptation of dwarven kings, and giant eagles. — SP

The 2024 summer entertainment preview

• Tom Bombadil, cut from Lord of the Rings movies, to step out in Rings of Power
• The must-watch anime to look out for in summer 2024
• The 5 best Korean dramas to watch on Netflix this summer
• The most anticipated movies of summer 2024
• Thelma is a geri-action movie that doesn’t miss a step
• Emma Roberts’ NASA rom-com is the Legally Blonde of astronaut movies
• Robot Dreams’ director founded an animation studio just to adapt a graphic novel he loved
• Kill is the brutal thriller that action die-hards can’t miss this summer
• The Expanse’s James S.A. Corey returns with The Mercy of Gods — and you can read the first chapter
• This summer Batman: Year One, the best Batman comic, gets even better
• Can Lev Grossman do for King Arthur what he did for Harry Potter?
• The Nice House by the Sea is a dream vacation at the end of the world with the worst people you know

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Screen Rant

Game of thrones: varys's 5 best speeches (& 5 worst).

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I Still Can't Believe Game Of Thrones Wasted 2 Great Villains For That Daenerys Twist

Game of thrones star reflects on season 8's controversial ending 5 years later, 10 things i noticed after rewatching the bad batch from beginning to end.

Game of Thrones is rightly famous for creating a cutthroat world where politics is almost always a zero-sum game with definite winners and losers. While obviously the nobles and the heroes occupy most of the viewer’s attention, there are also quite a few secondary characters whose actions, and whose words, deserve more careful attention and appreciation. One of these is the eunuch Varys , who comes to occupy a very important place in the affairs of Westeros, scheming and manipulating for what he definitely views is the good of the realm.

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While he has quite a few good speeches to his credit, it has to be said that some of them are also quite overdone.

Best: When He Tells The Story Of How He Came To Be A Eunuch

From the moment the viewer meets Varys, it’s clear that he’s a eunuch, and the show does a great deal to make him seem like something of an exotic other.

At one point, however, he does give an extensive speech about how he came to be the way that he is. It’s a gorgeous piece of dialogue, and it shows that there really is a human depth to Varys that’s not always obvious and, more importantly, that he is perhaps the smartest person in Westeros.

Worst: His Gash Speech

On the flip side of that equation, there is one speech about his condition that isn’t quite as good. This show is sort of notorious for its tone, in that it sometimes indulges in vulgarity just for the sake of vulgarity.

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While Vary’s referring to his “gash” is definitely his attempt to discomfort Baelish , it’s also a rather unpleasant thing to hear the urbane Varys say, and one can’t help but wish the writers would have found a better way of accomplishing the same thing.

Best: His Speech About His True Loyalties

One of the conceits of this show is that almost everyone is out for themselves. Whether it be vengeance (as with Arya) or simple power (as with  some of the Lannisters , most notably Cersei), there are very few characters that seem to care about anything beyond their own self-interest.

One of those, however, is Varys, who genuinely does seem to care about what happens to the realm of Westeros. In fact, it’s his desire to do what’s right for the common people that really sets him apart and allows the audience to appreciate what he does.

Worst: His Common Folk Speech To Melisandre

On the other hand, there are some times when a darker, more conceited part of Varys’ character emerges, such as when he tells Melisandre that the common people, including themselves, will do almost anything when they have power. It’s a bit of an odd speech, in large part because it seems to go against everything else the viewer has been led to believe about him and his motivations.

It is, frankly, a bit of sloppy writing ( that happens a lot in the last couple of seasons ) that probably could have been done away with.

Best: His Speech Defining Who He Is As Master Of Whispers

One of the best things about Varys is that, unlike so many of the other characters, he really does know who he is. He understands his place in the world, and he’s not afraid to tell anyone how he conceives of his duties.

One of his best speeches entails him doing just that, and he knows that he has certain roles to fill and characteristics to embody, and one of the most notable of those is to be absolutely ruthless. It’s hard not to admire him for his honesty.

Worst: His Betrayal Of Tyrion At His Trial

It’s very clear that there’s a special sort of bond between Varys and Tyrion. It’s easy to see why they would form such a bond, since both of them are something of outcasts in their relative worlds. It’s thus all the more shocking when Varys ends up betraying Tyrion during his trial .

It’s an okay speech for Varys, but it also feels like a betrayal, not just of Tyrion, but of his character. (Thankfully, he would later go on to save Tyrion from prison and join him in exile.)

Best: His Speech To Tyrion About The Nature Of Power

Varys is a student of politics. After all, he’s spent his entire life trying to figure out what it is that makes people tick and what makes them liable to give themselves over to the protection of someone else. More than anything else, this speech reveals that he understands that power is nothing more than a shared delusion, and that it doesn’t really have an existence, or a source, except for when people decide that it does.

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It’s a haunting statement precisely because it rings so true.

Worst: His Speech About The Big Fish And The Little Fish

Sometimes, this show knows how to take a metaphor and beat it to death. That’s not always a bad thing, but for it to work the metaphor itself has to be decent.

Unfortunately, Varys’ little simile about storms and fish and paddling is a bit too trite, and it comes out feeling a bit forced, particularly since the audience is already used to Varys being one of the more polished of the series’ many orators .

Best: His Speech About Baelish And His Desire To Rule

The conflict between Baelish and Varys is one of the most entertaining aspects of the early seasons. Neither of them comes from power, and yet each of them pulls most of the strings of the kingdom.

However, they are diametrically opposed when it comes to their political philosophy, for while Varys is at least somewhat noble, Baelish just wants power. This speech reveals that Varys really does understand Baelish, better perhaps than he understands himself.

Worst: His Speech About Influence

Once again, Varys is given a speech that uses a rather strangled metaphor, and once again it really pushes it beyond the bounds of what seems reasonable. In this case, he describes his influence over affairs as a sort of plant that he has watered until its tendrils extend even beyond the bounds of Westeros.

It’s cute, sure, but again it comes across as being just a bit overdone. Surely Varys deserves a better monologue.

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• Game Of Thrones (2011)

One 'Game of Thrones' House Can Be Blamed for Almost Everything Wrong in Westeros

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The Big Picture

• As one of the Great Houses of Westeros, House Baratheon has a history of terrible rulers with short tempers.
• The poor family relationships within House Baratheon contributed to the War of the Five Kings and unnecessary conflicts.
• The Dance of Dragons, a civil war in Westeros, was sparked by a Baratheon's inability to be polite to a teenager and his lack of political knowledge.

That Game of Thrones is a series filled with awful people is nothing new. There are so many, it's hard to single out just one person as the worst, and the same goes for the Great Houses of Westeros . For those, it may seem even harder, because some of them may have a terrible reputation, but also have redeeming members, or they might have done something great in the past that sort of redeems a lackluster present. There's one house that seems to be the source of a lot of problems in Westeros, and we're not talking about the Lannisters, Greyjoys, or Tyrells. We're talking about House Baratheon, the ruling dynasty at the time the original show takes place. While they might seem, at first glance, to just be another Great House, upon closer inspection it's hard to find anything good to say about them when the going gets tough. If they've escaped criticism, it's likely because there was always someone worse attracting attention.

Game Of Thrones

Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.

How Did House Baratheon Come To Be?

When talking about the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, it's important to set the grounds for what can be considered one. Each of the Great Houses rules one of the Seven Kingdoms , and the Baratheons rule the Stormlands. They are the youngest of the ruling Houses, with their history in Westeros starting with Aegon's Conquest . Their founder, Lord Orys Baratheon, is said to have been a bastard half-brother to Aegon the Conqueror himself, and the two were really close. To establish his own house, Orys married Argella Durrandon, the only daughter of the last Storm King, and took the sigil (a black stag on a yellow background) and words ("Ours is the fury") of House Durrandon for his own, giving the local lords a sense of continuity. After that, he swore fealty to Aegon.

House Baratheon has always been close to House Targaryen, with many of its members serving at court in King's Landing, either on the Small Council or as Hand of the King. Both houses also often married their members off to one another , building a web of very complicated familial relations. For example, by the time of House of the Dragon , Princess Rhaenys Targaryen ( Eve Best ), the Queen Who Never Was , is a Baratheon on her mother's side. In the book Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin , Rhaenys even has Baratheon black hair, which makes the parentage of her grandsons even more murky. In Game of Thrones , Robert Baratheon ( Mark Addy ) harbors a deep hatred for his cousin, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen ( Wilf Scolding ).

In most cases, members of House Baratheon are easily identifiable by how they look — deep black hair, deep blue eyes, strong, tall, and short-tempered. It's precisely this temper that often makes them the spark that ignites wars and conflicts. Over the history of Westeros, their mercurial attitude has caused a lot of trouble . Robert's great-great-grandfather, Ser Lyonel Baratheon, got to the point of declaring independence for the Stormlands over a marriage issue, for example. Earlier still, Lord Borros Baratheon ( Roger Evans ) can very well be blamed for the start of the Dance of Dragons.

The Baratheons Are To Blame for the War of the Five Kings

The major conflict we see through the seasons of Game of Thrones is the War of the Five Kings, a civil war marked by having its five main players declare themselves kings of something. Joffrey Baratheon ( Jack Gleeson ) claims the Iron Thrones as Robert Baratheon's heir . Stannis Baratheon ( Stephen Dillane ) claims Robert's children are all bastards, making him, the first of Robert's younger brothers , the real heir. Renly Baratheon ( Gethin Anthony ) is younger than Stannis, but claims he would be a better king because he's more charming and polite. Then we have Robb Stark ( Richard Madden ) declaring himself King in the North after Joffrey beheaded his father, Ned Stark ( Sean Bean ). Finally, there's Balon Greyjoy ( Patrick Malahide ), who names himself King of the Iron Islands for the second time under Baratheon rule.

There's a lot to unpack regarding the War of the Five Kings, but it all boils down to the fact that Robert was a terrible king and an overall terrible person , too. He started as the heir to Storm's End and was sent to foster at the Eyrie under Lord Jon Arryn's tutelage along with Ned Stark . Apparently, his father, Lord Steffon Baratheon, didn't impress upon him the importance of thinking politically and strategically as a lord, and Jon Arryn failed in this task. Robert grew to be impulsive, impolite, and an overall bully. He made himself king by winning a rebellion he staged out of spite. He called Lyanna Stark ( Aisling Franciosi ) running away to marry Rhaegar Targaryen an abduction, and weaponized his obsession with Lyanna to start a rebellion. There's more to Robert's Rebellion than just that — perhaps Ned was the only justified player in it, but Robert definitely wasn't.

Robert Baratheon Was a Poor King on 'Game of Thrones'

The entire reason the War of the Five Kings started is because of Robert's ineptitude as a leader. He is well aware of the influence of House Lannister at court and does nothing about it. It doesn't matter if Joffrey, Myrcella ( Nell Tiger Free ), and Tommen ( Dean-Charles Chapman ) are Lannister bastards . Robert clearly wasn't aware of this fact, and it was his responsibility to prepare them for their positions of power in the future. What might Joffrey have turned out like had he had a better relationship with his father? We'll never have the answer to that. Had Robert been closer to Stannis and Renly, they would've never faced each other in an unnecessary war , with Stannis going so far as resorting to dark magic to make himself a worthy rival against his brother.

This Is the One Line That Defines 'Game of Thrones'

Ned Stark may not heed this warning, but it rings true throughout the series.

The Dance of Dragons Started Because a Baratheon Couldn’t Be Polite to a Teenager

When Aegon II Targaryen ( Tom Glynn-Carney ) was crowned king, going against the wishes of King Viserys Targaryen ( Paddy Considine ), who had established his daughter, Rhaenyra ( Emma D'Arcy ), as his heir, it became clear that civil war was imminent. From the Blacks' headquarters in Dragonstone, Rhaenyra sends her two male heirs, Princes Jacaerys ( Harry Collett ) and Lucerys ( Elliot Grihault ), to deal personally with the Lords of Westeros to amass support for her claim to the Iron Throne . Lucerys was sent to Storm's End to talk to Lord Borros Baratheon ( Roger Evans ), while Jacaerys was to the Vale and the North. Borros's father, Lord Boremund Baratheon ( Julian Lewis Jones ) supported Rhaenyra's claim and was related to Princess Rhaenys. By all rights, because of this family connection, the support of House Baratheon should be a given.

Except Aemond Targaryen ( Ewan Mitchell ) arrived before Lucerys at Storm's End and swayed Lord Borros with a marriage proposition in exchange for his support. Borros might not be aware of the bad blood between Lucerys and Aemond , but he was a fool to merely tell the two young men to simply take their fight somewhere else . He never once weighed the consequences of what two dragon-riding youths could do to one another. However, considering Borros was rumored to be illiterate (as evidenced by his waiting for a maester to come and read Rhaenyra's letter), it's not exactly a shocker that the lord of Storm's End didn't put two and two together.

Not All Baratheons (But a Good Majority of Them)

This is not even getting into the stupidity of Renly or Stannis, or discussing how Lord Boremund did not teach his son to honor his oaths. Both Borros and Robert's decisions lead to disaster. If Borros had simply kept either Aemond or Lucerys under his roof for the night, things might have turned out differently. If Robert had actually given Cersei ( Lena Headey ) legitimate children or tried to guide his sons, things might have turned out differently. The lack of strategic vision or knowledge of politics is staggering when it comes to House Baratheon, but there are some Baratheons who are the exception to this rule.

Princess Rhaenys , for instance, endured the injustice that was done to her after Viserys was chosen as King Jaehaerys' ( Michael Carter ) successor. Rather than holding a grudge, she allies herself with Viserys' daughter Rhaenyra and her claim to the throne, fighting on her side during the Dance. Another great example is Gendry Baratheon ( Joe Dempsie ), a bastard of Robert's who becomes the Lord of Storm's End at the end of Game of Thrones . He is a typical Baratheon in terms of physical traits, but the fact that he was raised away from his blood relatives meant that he never inherited their toxicity. His time as a blacksmith taught him to be humble and he had an inherently good heart. And, of course, there's Shireen Baratheon ( Kerry Ingram ), the innocent daughter of Stannis. She loved books and history, but ultimately, this just made her end more tragic when she was sacrificed by her own father in his pursuit of the Iron Throne. So, yeah. Not all Baratheons are awful , but... when they're bad, they really are the worst.

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• TV Features

Ons Jabeur interview: My game in my words

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This article is part of the launch of extended tennis coverage on The Athletic , which will go beyond the baseline to bring you the biggest stories on and off the court. To follow the tennis vertical, click here .

“Most of the time I think, ‘Don’t try this at home.’”

Ons Jabeur, the world No 9, and three-time Grand Slam finalist, is arguably the best shotmaker in tennis. Right now, she’s talking about a particularly outrageous drop shot.

“Sometimes even during the point, I think, ‘What the hell (am I doing)?’.”

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Drop shots are her staple, but lobs, tweeners, sliced passing shots, and a whole lot more are all part of her repertoire. And while Jabeur has a justifiable reputation for being one of the most infectious personalities on tour — she is known as the ‘Minister of Happiness’ and, at numerous points during our interview, fellow players and coaches stop to say hello — she also has a sadistic streak.

“I love how the drop shot lands on clay. I love messing around with some players,” she says.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

Jabeur, 29, is speaking to The Athletic at the Italian Open in Rome, a tournament at which she went out early, leaving her potentially undercooked for the French Open. It’s been a tough year for Jabeur, who has struggled with a knee injury and hadn’t even reached a quarter-final until the Madrid Open earlier this month.

Now, she feels close to full fitness, ahead of Roland Garros starting on Sunday, May 26 and then Wimbledon at the beginning of July.

Jabeur has reached the last two Wimbledon finals , capturing the British tennis public’s hearts in the process. Her thrilling game style, honesty and vulnerability are a potent combination. After the first of those finals against Elena Rybakina, Jabeur held up her phone to show that she had set the lock screen to a picture of the Venus Rosewater dish that the winner of the women’s tournament receives. At the start of this year, she revealed that had she won Wimbledon last year, against Marketa Vondrousova, she would have had a break from tennis to start a family.

She doesn’t plan on doing so until she wins a Grand Slam.

Jabeur was also the runner-up at the 2022 US Open, and has the additional pressure that comes with being a figurehead for representation in tennis. If — and many would say, when — she wins a Grand Slam title, she would become the first African and Arab woman to do so.

She has a unique personality and game style, both quirky and hugely endearing, and believes the two are interlinked: “I try to mix it up when I’m on the court, and maybe this reflects my character as well. I like to have fun a little bit.”

Over the course of our discussion, as well as dissecting her shots, Jabeur explains how she is able to beat bigger hitters like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, what she learned from playing doubles with Serena Williams, and the different pressures of playing as the favourite.

This is Ons Jabeur: My game in my words.

The first shot comes from the Australian Open in 2020. This was Jabeur’s first major quarter-final, as she started to make the transition from gifted shotmaker to Grand Slam contender. In the third round against former champion Caroline Wozniacki, she pulled off a classic tennis combination.

Skip to 1:30 to watch.

You remember this one?

I do, it was a long time ago… (sings) when I was young (laughs). I remember that match for sure, and the lob, obviously.

The drop shot-lob is a classic tennis play. How do you make it work?

You need to get the player too close to the net, and that happens if you do a good drop shot. Once I’ve done that, I don’t have to go too hard with the lob because physically, scientifically, unless it’s someone like Rybakina who’s very tall and might get to it, then it’s a smart move.

You’re known for your drop shots. How and when do you decide to hit one? Let’s pause this one here — is it her position that tells you to go for it?

No, I don’t usually look at the players. Sometimes I do, but a lot of times I try to hide it as much as I can because, in this case, she thinks that I’m going for a backhand drive, but I switched at the last minute, and I make players… They don’t know if I’m going to hit hard or I’m going to do a drop shot. And that’s very, very good because players get caught between thinking, ‘Should I go forward or backwards?’

Now, the disguise is even more important, because a lot of players, they know me. And if my grip goes as if to hit a slice, they will run start to forward.

Does that make it harder for you because everyone knows you’re a drop shot specialist?

I love a challenge! I love a challenge for sure. So I have to vary it up. If for example, I’m in a slice position, sometimes I will slice deep so they don’t know if I’m going to hit a drop shot or not. You’re not going to show them this interview are you? (laughs)

This tournament was your first slam quarter-final. Did that change your mindset?

No, I just think when I’m having fun and I’m playing my game, that’s when I play the best. And definitely changing the rhythm is a big part of that. And when I say change the rhythm that doesn’t mean just drop shot or slice, but also high balls, this and that. I don’t have a game that is very flat and hard so I try to mix it up, and maybe this reflects my character as well. I like to have fun a little bit.

Did that always come naturally? When you started playing, did you like going for different kind of shots?

I asked my coach this and he told me that I started doing these things on my own, and he didn’t want to interfere and change my creativity on the court. And definitely that creativity is a big part of my game. Obviously, different players have different things. And I think that’s definitely me — showing my character on the court.

As well as having magic hands from the back of the court, Jabeur is also comfortable at the net. At Wimbledon in 2021 she demonstrated this with an old-school approach shot followed by a diving volley. The match against former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza was so gruelling that Jabeur was sick at the back of the court on match point.

Skip to 1:03 to watch.

The diving volley is a Wimbledon staple, something we most associate with (three-time champion) Boris Becker. The approach shot here, is this what you were talking about with the disguise?

She thought that I was going for the drop shot here.

And then I pushed it a little bit. So I think she was a bit surprised as well. Now, the player that I am today, I would go either long or hit a short slice but here I think I didn’t want to hit the net.

And that kind of volley, is that something you practise?

No — only on grass, I think. To not hurt my knees (laughs).

And then I had to make up something with the volley. I wanted to stay low and not miss it, to not regret that I lost this point. I was having so much fun at Wimbledon that year.

Have you always felt comfortable at the net?

Comfortable volleying, yes. But, the approach, I think I needed to work more on it. And that helps with having the guts to go to the net.

How much is that something you’ve improved in? Do you feel much more confident now?

I definitely feel much better going to the net, but I still need to improve on that part as well — I think that’s very important.

Because it’s something that not that many players do now. It kind of sets you apart if you can and especially at Wimbledon with the low bounces.

Exactly, exactly. And if you’re playing a big hitter like Aryna or Elena or even Iga (Swiatek) — it’s definitely not a great idea to stay on the baseline with them.

And just thinking about Garbine, she retired recently . And she spoke about wanting to do other things and have a family. Is that a reminder just how difficult the life of a tennis player can be, trying to juggle playing with family? Which you’ve said is important to you.

I completely understand her decision. And we’ve all seen Garbine at the end, when she was playing, she wasn’t feeling so happy on the court. So I definitely get that decision. And travelling a lot. It can be really tiring and being away from your family. And especially for a woman, you need to plan your time to have a baby. And that’s a very difficult moment.

I really wish her all the best. And, I heard she’s getting married very soon, though I still didn’t get my invite — but it’s OK (laughs).

For Jabeur, 2022 was a breakthrough year. She reached two Grand Slam finals and a career-high ranking of No 2 in the world.

Prior to those Wimbledon and US Open finals, a big moment came in Madrid where Jabeur won her first Masters event, becoming the first Arab woman to do so. To do it, she had to rely on some characteristically creative shotmaking in the final against Jessica Pegula.

Skip to 10:05 to watch.

This is a big tournament win, and the drop shot is very important in the final.

Sometimes I make drop shots and I don’t even know how they made it.

And this one’s on the forehand side. You can do it off either wing — generally do you prefer the backhand drop shot?

I think so yeah, I’ve been doing it for a long time and it’s a more natural shot.

Why more so than the forehand?

I think I just started doing drop shots because I have the slice maybe. And then just try to hit drop shots from that side as well. I think I added the forehand years back and it became a second option as well.

It’s important, isn’t it, because especially on clay you need to have that disguise. This one’s slightly different because as it plays out, you’re put into a defensive position. That’s not a position you’d normally be advised to hit a drop shot from!

Most of the time I think: ‘Don’t try this at home.’

But like I said, I like a challenge. And I feel like there she wasn’t even expecting that I was going to do a drop shot. And I think it came from the fact that I was feeling the ball very nice that day.

So do you ever watch yourself back and think, ‘What was I thinking?’

Sometimes. Sometimes even during the point. I think, ‘What the hell?!’

I think: ‘Why did you do that?’ I’m in a very difficult position, but at the same time, I’m like, ‘It’s going to surprise them.’ They don’t think that I will do the drop shot from there.

Pegula certainly doesn’t, because she only just chases it down and then you win the point. You then have to chase the ball down yourself — how important to your game is it to have that kind of athleticism?

Well, yeah, here I have to anticipate the drop shot because she’s playing off a short ball and she’s not going to be able to hit it deep.

If you like to hit drop shots and make people run, I think you have to prepare yourself to run as well!

Yeah, players want to get their own back. How do you find it when players drop-shot you?

I used to take it worse before, but now I have come to terms with it and have to accept it as a taste of my own medicine.

What did winning this tournament do for your confidence?

It definitely helped me. And put me in a position I always saw myself in as a champion of a 1,000 event. I loved every minute of it.

The win made you one of the French Open favourites for that year, but you went out in the first round. Was that a reminder of how quickly a low sometimes follows a high?

Yeah, I mean you prepare really well for the clay and you think you’re going to finish amazing… But maybe it was a curse. It is what it is. It was still definitely a fun clay season that year.

You like playing on clay?

I love clay. I love sliding, love how the drop shot lands, I love messing around with some players. It’s a lot of fun.

I enjoy beautiful shots, I enjoy trick shots — having the point ending easier than it’s supposed to.

Were there players you admired watching growing up who played trick shots?

When I was younger I wanted to be outside playing rather than watching on TV. Kim (Clijsters) I watched, though she has a different game. I watched back Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and I met her so we were talking about the slices. Also Roger (Federer), such a great example of slicing and drop shots.

Despite her early exit at the French Open in 2022, Jabeur entered the grass-court season as one of the players to watch. Ahead of Wimbledon, the great Serena Williams chose Jabeur as her doubles partner for the warm-up event at Eastbourne.

The pair, christened Onsrena, won two matches together, before Jabeur had to pull out with injury ahead of their semi-final. In their first match together, against Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, the scores were tied at 11-all in the final set tie-break when Jabeur took matters into her own hands…

Skip to 01:34:30 to watch.

Firstly, what was it like playing with Serena?

It was unbelievable — I felt so good but nervous at the same time. But she made me feel so comfortable on the court.

What did she say?

She would just be like, ‘Great shot’, really validating my choices of serve.

I can’t believe I came in front of her for this shot here! I didn’t even see her. I didn’t see her going for the backhand.

It looks like you’re telling her to go away. Such a funny thing to say to the great Serena Williams!

I just saw the opportunity there and I thought it was an easier choice to hit the drop shot than to go for power. Against two players who will return every ball. And yeah it was a good choice — sorry Serena!

Is there any disguise there?

They know me very well. She’s after it straight away. Also, Serena helped by going for the ball.

Did you observe anything in how Serena played or prepared?

Something I noticed was that, if she decides she’s going to do something, she will go for it. She decides she will ace on the T, she’ll do it. I’ve tried that and it didn’t work very well (laughs).

Would you like to play more doubles?

I like to play from time to time. I definitely enjoy it — and in good company. I like watching it too. The rallies and reactions they have are unbelievable.

Is it less stressful too?

Sometimes. It depends.

Jabeur entered Wimbledon the following week as the world No 2. She enchanted the crowd all the way until the final, where she won the first set but ultimately lost to Rybakina. There was still time for some of the most imaginative shots ever seen on Centre Court.

Skip to 2:41 to watch.

This is from the Wimbledon final two weeks later. B asically, a pick-up from the baseline.

Yeah, sometimes you just have to stay stable and try to take control of the ball. And I think that’s what happened there.

Is it about staying low?

I’m not that low, to be honest. I know some players that would really go low, lower than that. I think you just have to choose the angle where you gonna try and put the ball and stick with it. And that really helps for sure.

When you say stable — does that start with your legs?

Yeah, but it’s the core and the whole body — don’t go up with the ball, just stay with the ball.

Do you think about this match a lot?

Now I do, since you showed me this!

Ha, sorry about that.

I mean, it’s part of, hopefully the past. The future is bright.

At the next Grand Slam, the US Open, Jabeur was again a beaten finalist. This time she lost in straight sets by Swiatek, the world No 1. Again though, Jabeur showed her ability to produce sensational shots on the biggest stages.

Do you have a favoured side out of the forehand and backhand?

Well, I think I’ve made a couple of shots like this backhand. I think if I’m convinced that I should go there and open out then I can do that really well because if you take the decision and you’re convinced to go there then I think you can make the shot no matter what.

Like you saw up close with Serena. We spoke about disguise earlier — do you think here Iga is maybe a bit hesitant because she thinks you’ll go with the drop shot or the slice?

She didn’t think I would go with the backhand drive for sure. Maybe with the forehand she would expect that. But yeah, not with the backhand. It’s very, very, low percentage — to go down the line with the backhand.

But I feel comfortable if I really trust my backhand for sure.

How hard is it playing Iga, knowing she can be unstoppable once she gets going?

I think if you start thinking, ‘Ah, maybe I’m gonna get a 6-0 from Iga,’ then you’ll probably end up getting one. Getting that kind of karma. Not thinking like that is the most important thing. She’s such an amazing player, but you should always think about yourself and not get into that mindset.

As she says, Jabeur is at her best when feeling free on the court. In April 2023, in the final of the Charleston Open and with her opponent Belinda Bencic serving for the first set, she came up with a shot that was later named the WTA shot of the year. It’s actually an incredible pair of shots, because the backhand that follows is, in its own way, similarly spectacular.

Jabeur went on to win the set and the match for her first title of the year, avenging a final defeat to the same player 12 months earlier.

Ah yeah, I know this one. I have no idea how I did it. I didn’t have any other choice to be honest.

At the time I thought the ball is going to hit me if I don’t move out of the way. And I was super late, the ball is right on me. It looks like the ball is gone.

Then this one was really stressful (the sliced backhand pass) because you’ve just played a nice shot and then you can’t miss the next one.

So you’re thinking, ‘I have to make this shot after the other one?’

Yes, exactly. And I had to laugh in the middle of the point, it hits me with my crazy mind sometimes. We kind of forgot about it after because it was the final and we got the trophy, and then we saw all the clips. It’s definitely a shot I will remember forever.

The shot, which is similar to the one we saw earlier against Rybakina, is one that very few players hit.

I’m very comfortable with the slice.

But as a passing shot, the slice has so little margin for error: If it’s not quite right they have an easy put-away.

Yeah, but I think they have to be really close to the net to make that shot. But if you pretend no one’s there and just hit it as a slice, well, then if they make it, then they made a great volley. Otherwise, it’s going to be a very tough shot.

Do you practise the tweener?

Not really. I do them from time to time in training, but I don’t really practise them as such.

Is there anything you do to prepare for the shot or is it just pure reactions?

Don’t overcomplicate it. It’s just the ball coming and you have to hit the strings of the racket. (laughs).

A few months later, Jabeur is in another Wimbledon semi-final. She beats world No 2 Sabalenka to reach the final and make it four Grand Slam champions beaten in as many matches, following wins over Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova and Rybakina.

The semi-final against the hugely powerful Sabalenka is a thrilling match, and to get the win (6-7, 6-4, 6-3) from a set and a break down, Jabeur had to fight fire with fire…

Skip to 6:35 to watch.

We spoke about the backhand before, this is a big forehand…

Yeah, I know this one. A big forehand. I honestly closed my eyes and hoped for the best. With the shots of Aryna that’s what you have to do.

The position you’re in is no place to hit a winner from…

Yeah, with shots like this I think you have to go with no expectation and try and have a big margin. I went with a full wrist, tried to close it up — and if I tried to do it again I think it would be difficult. Definitely, with that stress, I’m glad that I made it.

Is this the strength and stability you were talking about?

Yeah, I’m kind of going straight towards the ball. Not losing balance at the back. I’m sure my abs are super tight there. That’s all the core work paying off.

When you’re playing someone like Sabalenka, who’s so powerful herself, do you just think, ‘Well I have to go for it’?

Yeah, because if you don’t go for it against these players then you’re going to be a bit screwed. Because if you give them a bit of time then they’re going to take it away from you. So whoever is taking control of the point from the beginning, that’s going to determine the match.

Do you prefer playing big hitters where you can maybe frustrate them a bit?

I always think when I play big hitters that either they’re going to take control of their game because they are more powerful than me. Or I’m going to take control by changing up the rhythm. Because both types of games will annoy the other, and whoever is going to be able to do it before the other one is going to win the match.

So it’s about who can impose their style?

100 per cent.

It must be hard because someone like Sabalenka is more powerful so you’re thinking: how can I play this match on my terms?

I think it’s self-confidence as well. Having the belief. Everyone has flaws and weaknesses and strengths. But if you’re able to resist big hitters like Aryna then that’s very powerful.

This was during a run of beating four straight slam winners. Was that your best run of form ever?

Beating Elena and then Aryna was definitely something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

How special is it for you playing at Wimbledon?

I always feel the love from the crowd there. It has a special place in my heart. And they made it a special place in my heart because growing up I always wanted to win Roland Garros but I have shifted to Wimbledon. I mean I would take Roland Garros as well…(laughs)

How hard was it then playing the final (a straight-sets defeat to the unseeded Vondrousova) where you’re the favourite?

Yeah. Aryna’s amazing and has an amazing game. So it’s always easier to lose to people higher ranked than lower than you.

We finish by looking ahead to the French Open and then Wimbledon, where Jabeur is dreaming of going one better after consecutive runner-up finishes.

“Hopefully,” she says, with a smile. “Third time’s a charm.”

And with that, and a couple more hellos to passers-by, the minister for happiness is on her way.

(Photos: Michael Regan; Frey/TPN/Getty Images; Design: Sean Reilly )

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Charlie Eccleshare is a tennis journalist for The Athletic, having previously covered soccer as the Tottenham Hotspur correspondent for five years. He joined in 2019 after five years writing about football and tennis at The Telegraph. Follow Charlie on Twitter @ cdeccleshare