10 Most Satisfying Character Arcs in ‘Game of Thrones,’ Ranked

Game of Thrones fans can still mostly agree that many characters had less-than-satisfying arcs, to put things mildly. The rushed final season of the show left little time to meaningfully wrap up storylines that had been years in the making. The final season was characterized by baffling narrative decisions which left these beloved characters with few options. It’s disappointing that more character arcs weren’t given the time and attention they needed.

Even with the chaos of the final season, however, there remain several characters who at least managed to get satisfying character arcs. While many were rushed, especially in the final season, there were some truly brilliant conclusions for characters who had seen so much in eight seasons. Some of the best character arcs in Game of Thrones came from secondary characters who were never the focus of the story and who didn’t seek power for themselves.

10

Jon Snow

Played by Kit Harington

Kit Harrington as Jon Snow in a cloak looking pensive in Game of Thrones.
Kit Harrington as Jon Snow in a cloak looking pensive in Game of Thrones.
Image via HBO

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) remains one of the most notable characters featured in Game of Thrones. When he’s first introduced, he’s the bastard son of Ned Stark (Sean Bean). As much as he’s clearly loved by his family, it’s evident from the very beginning that his status separates him from the rest of the Starks. He uses his time as a member of the Night’s Watch to demonstrate the fact he has always been destined for leadership and to be one of the most influential characters in this fantasy world.

Although it’s unfortunate that, at the end of the series, Jon Snow basically ended up where he started on the Wall, it can’t be denied that his journey remains one of the most compelling. There are so many moments throughout the series where he could have given into resentment about the fact that he’s an illegitimate son of a noble family. Instead, his journey from low-ranking Night’s Watch recruit to Lord Commander and leader of the fight against the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) delivers a sense of completion that he always deserved.

9

Daenerys Targaryen

Played by Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen looking at the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones.
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen looking at the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones.
Image via HBO

Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) had come a long way from being sold by her brother to commanding an army of her own and claiming the Iron Throne. Throughout Game of Thrones, Daenerys was consistently one of the most interesting characters to follow. She was always easy to root for, since she made it known that her goal was always to break her family’s cycle of “mad kings”, and rule by being loved by the people instead.

Daenerys’ arc had so much potential. It would have made so much sense for this character to descend into destruction after spending the entire series making it clear that she wanted to break the violent cycle her family was always caught up in. Unfortunately, like many characters, Daenerys’ arc was rushed. However, it makes a lot of sense that she would find herself unable to actually break her family’s generational curses.

8

Samwell Tarly

Played by John Bradley

Samwell Tarly smiling softly in Game of Thrones.
Samwell Tarly smiling softly in Game of Thrones.
Image via HBO

Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) was consistently one of the most lovable characters featured in Game of Thrones. From the moment he was introduced, he was an antidote to the brutality of the story unfolding around him. Samwell never wanted to do anything other than support those he loved most, and to use his talents to do good. He was consistently underestimated, and was often dismissed even by his own family, even though he clearly had a keen mind and eagerness to learn.

Samwell’s journey in Game of Thrones was one of the sweetest ones. He went from being a character who, on the outside, seemed among the least likely to become a hero. However, he survived some of the brutal conditions this universe has to offer on the Wall, and became a key player in ensuring humanity’s survival in the battle against the Night King. Watching Sam gain confidence and become someone who ultimately achieved peace after everything he went through is a much-needed high-point of the final season.

7

Arya Stark

Played by Maisie Williams

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark bloodied and dusty walks through ruins in Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 5.
Bloodied and covered in dust, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) walks through the fiery ruins of King’s Landing in ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8, Episode 5 “The Bells” (2016).
Image via HBO

Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) is the third Stark child and youngest daughter. She’s introduced as someone who’s fiercely independent, who’s uninterested in pursuing traditional female pursuits. At the end of the first season of Game of Thrones, Arya flees King’s Landing after her father’s execution. In the final season, Arya reunited with Jon, Gendry (Joe Dempsie), and the Hound (Rory McCann), who had all traveled to Winterfell, and they all planned their stand against the White Walkers’ army.

Arya spent the entire series trying to prove herself and seek revenge against those who killed her family. The fact that she sets sail to explore the world rather than be confined to a kingdom makes so much sense for a character who has always sought to find herself. She evolved from a girl with a sword to a woman with a purpose. She ultimately chooses life over death and vengeance, which makes her arc a satisfying one.

6

Tyrion Lannister

Played by Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage in 'Game of Thrones'
Peter Dinklage in ‘Game of Thrones’
Image via HBO

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) was always one of the most powerful characters in Game of Thrones despite being so hated by most of his family. He often used his status as an outcast to his advantage, and exploited the fact that so many people refused to take him seriously. Tyrion had a brilliant intellect and an unexpectedly strong moral compass, especially when he served as Hand of the King and later Hand of Daenerys.

Tyrion grew into a key player in Westeros’ “game of thrones,” and used his mind rather than muscle to navigate his world’s brutal politics. Tyrion’s story was full of both triumph and failure, which perfectly reflected the fact that, for all his intellectual prowess, he was still an ordinary, imperfect man. His journey from a jaded, bitter man to a humbled yet still principled leader captures the tragic complexity and moral ambiguity that defined the series as a whole.

5

Cersei Lannister

Played by Lena Headey

Lena Headey as Cersei in a courtyard confronting Eddard in Game of Thrones episode You Win or You Die.
Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) stands in a courtyard wearing a red dress and gown as she confronts Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) in ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 1, Episode 7 “You Win or You Die” (2011).
Image via HBO

Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) was always one of Game of Thrones‘ most memorable characters. From the moment she was introduced, it was clear this was a woman motivated by pride, fear, and a desire for power. Her early actions were driven by her fierce love for her children and deep resentment toward the patriarchal world that diminishes her worth. Her final reign was marked by paranoia, brutality, and a refusal to compromise, which ultimately resulted in her downfall.

Cersei’s character arc is one of the best in Game of Thrones because it distills the show’s core themes of power, gender, legacy, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Her reign emphasized the limits of fear-based rule and the isolation that comes with the absolute control she always craved. Her death in the Red Keep is tragically poetic, and is devastatingly ironic, since the castle she fought so hard to control became her tomb.

4

The Hound

Played by Rory McCann

Rory McCann as Sandor "The Hound" Clegane standing solemn in HBO's Game of Thrones.
Rory McCann as Sandor “The Hound” Clegane standing solemn in HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Image via HBO

Sandor Clegane, known as The Hound, went through one of the most profound arcs in Game of Thrones. After being introduced as an intimidating, violent killer, it quickly becomes clear that this was a man scarred by a lifetime of trauma. His outward appearance was ultimately deceiving, however, since his humanity shone through when he protected the Stark sisters. Over the course of the series, The Hound evolved from a nihilistic loner into a man seeking redemption, even if he never explicitly admitted it.

The Hound’s character arc matched the brutality of the world while allowing him to redeem himself. What made his arc so powerful was how understated and authentic it was. The Hound never became a saint, nor did he fully renounce violence. Instead, he formed unlikely bonds with those around him, particularly Arya, and ultimately found a way to pursue justice rather than revenge. By choosing to face his brother, he showed how willing he was to accept his own fate on his own terms.

3

Sansa Stark

Played by Sophie Turner

Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) is the Stark’s oldest daughter. At the beginning of Game of Thrones, she’s a naive girl who’s full of optimism and who wants nothing more than to marry Joffrey (Jack Gleeson). By the end of the series, she was a savvy political leader who was ready to lead the North into a new chapter. Her journey was one marked by trauma, loss, abuse, and neglect. Over time, she learned how to navigate Westerosi politics, and played the “game of thrones.”

Sansa’s character arc is one of the best in Game of Thrones because it represents one of the most realistic and hard-earned journeys of personal growth after losing so much. She had so many of her dreams and fantasies shattered in the most brutal ways. Nevertheless, she persevered, not by wielding a sword but by learning how power could be wielded and used to her advantage. By the end of the series, it makes sense that she was in a perfect position to become Queen of the North, who could bring peace to her people.

2

Jaime Lannister

Played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in battle in Game of Thrones.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in battle in Game of Thrones.
Image via HBO 

Jaime Lannister’s (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) character arc is one of the most tragic in Game of Thrones. Introduced as “Kingslayer”, Jaime initially presented himself as an arrogant and dishonorable military man who wasn’t above pushing a little child out of a window. As the series progressed, the layers of his personality were revealed, and it was clear that he was far more morally conflicted than he initially appeared to be.

It makes perfect sense that Jaime’s story ended with him going back to Cersei, and dying with her, rather than trying to save himself or others. His toxic love for his sister ultimately proved too powerful for him to overcome, and his regression is one that is even more devastating considering how much he developed as a character. More than any other character arc, Jamie’s highlights the futility of the “game of thrones” and that power for power’s sake always ends in tragedy.

1

Theon Greyjoy

Played by Alfie Allen

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy standing on a shore looking serious in Game of Thrones.
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy standing on a shore looking serious in Game of Thrones.
Image via HBO

Theon Greyjoy’s (Alfie Allen) was introduced as a ward of the Stark family. He always struggled with divided loyalties between the Starks who raised him and his birth family, the Greyjoys. He eventually betrayed the Starks and seizes Winterfell in an effort to prove himself to his father and claim his identity as an Ironborn. After being captured by Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon), he endured years of torture and lost his pride, his name, and his sense of self.

Theon’s arc is the most important one featured in Game of Thrones, because it captures a fall-from-grace redemption story with brutal honesty and emotional weight. The price Theon paid for betrayal was horrifyingly high, and he spent the entire series doing what he could to redeem himself. As heartbreaking as Theon’s story was, it stands out because it didn’t feature any shortcuts, easy forgiveness, or guaranteed victories. Rather, Theon’s story is an inspirational one as he spent every day trying to become a better man.

NEXT: 10 Saddest ‘Game of Thrones’ Quotes, Ranked

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