It's been more than a decade since the exciting premiere of Game of Thrones. In that first episode, audiences were introduced to two Houses that represented the best and worst of Westeros: the noble House Stark and the conniving House Lannister. The characters in those Houses would have initially appeared as very good and very sinister, but viewers soon learned what fans of George R.R. Martin's novels had already known for years — nothing is black and white.

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This fantasy series is particularly compelling because each character is deeply human, which also means none of them are perfect. Sifting through the considerably large cast of Game of Thrones for the greatest characters isn't an easy task, as there are several factors that go into crafting them. Humor, power, influence, intellect, and strength are some of many features that make for incredible characters.

Updated on September 17th, 2022 by Ajay Aravind: Although Game of Thrones concluded in 2019, it remains one of the most popular HBO programs ever made. The show earned dozens of awards over the course of its eight-season run, breaking multiple records at the Primetime Emmys. Choosing characters based on their moral compasses doesn't work for shows like Game of Thrones, where most people are out for themselves. That said, there are more than a few characters who can be considered virtuous or, at the very least, ethically neutral.

35 Daenerys Targaryen Maintained Her Good Heart Every Step Of The Way Except The Last

Daenerys-Targaryen-Game-of-Thrones

Aerys II daughter' ultimately proved to be exactly like her father. However, it took a long time for the so-called Targaryen Madness to manifest in Daenerys. For the most part, she knew her limits and trusted the people around her to guide her when she needed them.

Daenerys' first priority was the freedom of the commoners. In her quest to take Westeros, she doesn't hesitate to change course to free the people of Slaver's Bay from their vicious Masters. The Mother of Dragons had nothing in the beginning, but she made the unforgiving climb to power and maintained a good heart every step of the way except the last.

34 Mance Rayder Wanted Everyone To Survive The Long Winter

Mance Rayder talking to Jon Snow in Game of Thrones

The Night's Watch made Mance out to be a treacherous deserter and a threat to the safety of the North, but after finally coming face-to-face with him, Jon Snow quickly realized that they'd been wrong. Mance united the feuding tribes from Beyond the Wall because he wanted to save them from something more threatening than petty political squabbles.

Mance didn't even seem to dislike the Night's Watch for fighting him. In fact, he still showed respect for the leaders of Castle Black, especially Jero Mormont. Mance fought hard and wisely and he didn't do it out of a need for power. He wanted everyone to live, even people who weren't his own, which is more than many of Westeros' rulers can say.

33 The High Sparrow Arguably Cared For The Well-Being Of The Downtrodden

The High Sparrow from Game of Thrones

The leader of the Sparrows is no less ambitious than any other figure in Westeros. The only difference is that he isn't driven by greed, but a genuine belief that worship of the Seven will set King's Landing on the right path. He didn't mind the actual chaos that was being put forth; at times it seemed that he relished it. The High Sparrow is a religious fanatic, and as such, is unsurprisingly narrow-minded.

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He ultimately pushed Cersei too far and ended up paying for his mistakes in the most horrible way imaginable. Despite his fiery death, it can be argued that the High Sparrow truly cared for the well-being of the downtrodden, even if he relied on violence and intimidation in most cases.

32 Bronn's Brutish Charm And Cynical Wit Have Endeared Him To The Fandom

Bronn looking shocked in Game of Thrones

Bronn's brutish charm and cynical wit have endeared him to the fandom. Bronn was first introduced when he came to Tyrion's defense at the Eyrie, protecting the latter from execution via Moon Door. Since then, he's remained relatively loyal to the Lannisters for no reason other than their wealth.

Bronn took good care of Tyrion, helped Jaime learn to handle a sword again, and saved the latter's life, which earns him several brownie points. Unfortunately, Bronn's allegiance will always be toward cold coin and the promise of a castle. In other words, he simply cannot be trusted unless money is involved.

31 Despite His Ultimate Failure, Stannis Baratheon Was Undoubtedly A Powerful Leader

Stannis Baratheon looking to the side in Game of Thrones

Stannis was the Baratheon that Ned Stark chose to support when Robert passed away, so there must have been a good reason for his claim to the Iron Throne. That said, all viewers see is a cold and heartless soldier: another man with an army looking to win the War of the Five Kings.

Stannis was driven by his belief that the throne was his by right and he was willing to do anything to get it. This included sacrificing his own daughter, Shireen, the only person in his life for whom he seemed to feel any genuine affection. He was a powerful leader and seemed to be Westeros' best chance at unseating the Lannisters, but in the end, he proved no different than anyone else.

30 Daario Naharis Is Charming, Compassionate, And Somewhat Honorable

Daario Naharis preparing for single combat in Game of Thrones

Everything Daario does is for Daenerys. He's a romantic, in that he romanticizes beauty and violence to the extent that he constantly chases after both and adheres to a code of honor built around those two aspects of life.

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If it weren't for Daenerys, there's almost no doubt that he would still be riding with the Second Sons, completely ignoring the slaves and corrupt citizens of Slaver's Bay, and happily at that. Daario is charming and he does occasionally display some amount of compassion and decency, but is he really a good man or a hero? Only by association.

29 Gendry Displayed All The Characteristics Of A Noble Ruler

Game of Thrones Gendry

Gendry was a nondescript blacksmith apprentice when he made his first appearance on Game of Thrones, but the show quickly revealed his royal heritage. As the oldest son of Robert Baratheon, Gendry had as much of a claim on the Iron Throne as Joffrey, who wasn't even the king's biological child.

Gendry displayed all the features required in a noble ruler, even though he never really got the chance to rule. He protected Arya on multiple occasions, and later participated in the Battle of Winterfell, illustrating both his compassion and his combat prowess. For his accomplishments, Gendry was made the Lord of Storm's End and the official patriarch of House Baratheon.

28 Yara Greyjoy Rejected Her Legacy In Favor Of Her Brother

Yara Greyjoy looking on in Game Of Thrones

The Iron Islands have no room for the soft-hearted, and Yara is one of the toughest characters in Game of Thrones. She led a small unit of Ironborn to the Dreadfort to rescue Theon from captivity, but is forced to abandon her brother when he refuses to return with her. Yara's continued support inspired Theon to tap into his own courage, thereby earning the respect of the Ironborn.

Given her predilection for raping and reaving, Yara's not what modern viewers would call a hero, but her character is well-rounded and possesses a brutal form of candor. She eventually rejects the Ironborn in favor of her brother, an act that only the noblest individuals could be capable of.

27 Grey Worm Choses His Queen For Selfless Reasons

Grey Worm Sailing To Casterly Rock

Like all other members of the Unsullied, Grey Worm was raised from birth in Astapor to become a heartless warrior, capable of fighting any battle and any opponent using almost any available weapon. He became the Commander of the Unsullied after Astapor was conquered by Daenerys Targaryen.

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Grey Worm joined her side and continued to fight simply because Daenerys was a liberator and he wanted to keep the rest of Essos from enduring the pain of slavery. He chose his queen for selfless reasons, which is why he willingly sails under her banner to Westeros. Unfortunately, Grey Worm loses Missandei to Cersei's whims, an event that effectively destroys his faith in people.

26 Oberyn Martell Didn't Judge Anyone For Their Tastes, Views, Or Perceptions

Oberyn Martell speaks with Tyrion in Game of Thrones.

The Prince of Dorne was able to lead a hedonistic life, but the pleasure itself wasn't enough to satiate him. Oberyn needed to avenge his sister who was raped and murdered by the Mountain. Other than the people responsible for Elia Martell's death, he didn't seem too concerned with the political figures or events in Westeros.

He didn't judge anyone for their tastes, their views, or their perceptions. Oberyn clearly respected Tyrion enough to fight on his behalf, but it could also be argued that he did so mainly in pursuit of his own vengeance. Oberyn is a fan favorite character and for good reason, even if his demise was violently gruesome.

25 The Hound Slowly Wandered Towards Redemption Over The Last Few Seasons

The Hound from Game of Thrones

Sandor Clegane, or the Hound, remains cynical until the bitter end, but this doesn't mean he's the same character as he was in Season 1. His character growth truly began when he abandoned the King and King's Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater and offered to take Sansa with him to freedom.

He may not have been able to help Sansa, but he saved Arya's life and ended up being her protector, despite his initial intentions to ransom her to her family. The Hound slowly wandered toward redemption over the last few seasons, fighting alongside the Brotherhood Without Banners for a truly good cause.

24 Robb Stark's Youth Was Both His Greatest Strength And Worst Weakness

Robb Stark (played by Richard Madden) holding a sword in Game of Thrones

The Young Wolf certainly started out on the show as a heroic figure. He didn't hesitate to rally his bannermen when word of his father's capture reached him. He marched toward King's Landing, winning every battle he was involved in to rescue his father and sisters, and free the land from the tyranny of the Lannisters.

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However, Robb's youthful naivete eventually led to his downfall. Robb doomed his campaign by marrying Talisa, earning the wrath of House Frey. The worst part of that is the fact that Robb knew the risks of betraying Walder Frey, and was still willing to place everything in jeopardy anyway.

23 Olenna Tyrell Was Blessed With Sharp Wit, Wealth, And A Sizeable Army

Olenna Tyrell looking calm with her hand against her chin

The Queen of Thorns has plenty at her disposal: sharp wit, money, and a sizable army, or at least she did until the Lannisters managed to decimate Highgarden and House Tyrell. As sad as it may be for fans of the character, Olenna was just as capable of wickedness as the Lannisters, even if it was mostly done to protect her family.

She had no problems allying herself with Littlefinger to eliminate Joffrey, but it wasn't for the oppressed peasants as much as it was to protect her granddaughter. In fact, the lack of remorse makes Olenna seem somewhat cold-hearted. Considering the kind of forces she was up against, however, it's easy to see why she would have had to develop a heart of stone.

22 Catelyn Stark Was Driven By Her Love For Her Family

Catelyn Stark looks nervous with a tree in the background

Catelyn Stark was driven by her love for her family, making her one of the most heroic characters on the show. She supported Robb's efforts in the war to the point where she was willing to walk into the Twins to deal with Walder Frey, fully aware of the old man's treacherous ways.

In fact, Catelyn involved herself in several conflicts in order to try and foster peaceful resolutions, like when she rode with Renly Baratheon during his confrontation with Stannis. Catelyn may not have been a powerful warrior, but she was intelligent and caring enough to leave her mark on the world.

21 Missandei Remained A Central Character Despite Lacking Political Power

Missandei sitting with a neutral expression

Missandei entered the picture when Daenerys purchased her from Kraznys mo Nakloz, effectively freeing the Naathi slave. She soon became one of Dany's most trusted confidants, a relationship that unfortunately made her a valuable captive. Missandei's murder left a gaping hole in Daenerys' heart and was indirectly responsible for the utter destruction of King's Landing.

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Grey Worm was similarly inconsolable after her death, highlighting Missandei's impact on the Unsullied. She wielded neither political power nor martial knowledge, but Missandei remained a central figure until the conclusion of Game of Thrones.

20 Margaery Tyrell Might Have Shaped A Good King Out Of Tommen Baratheon

Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones

Margaery may not have fought in any battles, but she still risked her life to make King's Landing a little better than it was under Joffrey's regime. She was able to inspire him to act kindly toward the peasantry, whom she truly cared about. Margaery also made it a point to meet the children of soldiers who fell in the Battle of the Blackwater, earning their love.

She rarely acted out of greed or self-interest. In fact, she used her privilege to better the lives of those around her. Margaery might have shaped a good and kind king out of Tommen if she hadn't perished in the Sept of Baelor wildfire explosion.

19 Beric Dondarrion Doesn't Get As Much Screen Time As He Deserves

Beric Dondarrion with his flaming sword in Game of Thrones

Lord Beric Dondarrion died more times than anyone else on the show, making his character arc rather unique. He was resurrected by the Lord of Light at least six times, returning to life with renewed vigor and faith.

As the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners, Beric went on to protect the peasantry living in the Riverlands from the realm's violence, even if it meant earning a bounty on his head. Beric's skills with the sword are legendary, not to mention his unbreakable willpower and leadership qualities. Sadly, Beric Dondarrion doesn't get as much Game of Thrones screen time as he deserves.

18 Tormund Giantsbane Wants The Free Folk To Survive And Thrive

Tormund Giantsbane in the Night's Watch in Game of Thrones

While Tormund is definitely rough around the edges, he's a good-hearted member of the Free Folk. Jon was able to earn his respect even when the other wildlings stubbornly refused to see him as anything other than a man of the Night's Watch.

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Tormund cared deeply about the people around him, which is why he did his best not to harm Ygritte after she turned against the Free Folk in defense of Jon Snow. This makes his fight against the Night's Watch, or anyone who would stand in the way of freedom and safety, that much more respectable. Tormund can be violent, but it's never for its own sake or personal gain. He just wants his people to thrive.

17 Podrick Payne's Loyalty Never Wavered Even Once

Podrick Payne in Game of Thrones

Podrick Payne was often dismissed by most higher-ranked officers, who treated him like a lowly peasant rather than the highborn squire he is. He served Tyrion faithfully, even saving the latter's life during the Battle of Blackwater Bay. Podrick later learned the art of sword fighting from Brienne, who gradually warmed up to him over time.

He is among very few people in Game of Thrones without a single malicious bone in their bodies, an impressive achievement given all the political backstabbing that occurs in Westeros. Whether to Tyrion or Brienne, Podrick's loyalty never wavered even once.

16 Jeor Mormont Saw Good In Every Man Sent To Castle Black

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Jeor Mormont understood that the men of the Night's Watch were still human, which is why he treated Jon Snow and the rest of the men with respect and relative compassion. Mormont gave every man a chance to earn respect and honor defending Westeros, no matter their criminal background.

He saw the good in people, even if they couldn't fight. He respected Sam, despite the fact he could barely wield a sword, because Jeor instantly recognized Sam's intelligence. As Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont had to be stronger, wiser, and more dutiful than his subordinates, especially those who stabbed him in the back.