The 13 Best Game of Thrones Characters That Are Unfairly Overlooked

13 Unfairly Overlooked Game of Thrones Characters!

The uncouth sellsword Bronn with his mic drop observations, the Queen of Thorns and House Tyrell matriarch Lady Olenna throwing shade like a boss, and the fiery heir to Bear Island, Lyanna Mormont, a tiny teen with more gumption and courage than men triple her age, all went from being sidelined supporting characters to quotable badasses we cheered for week after week. But what about the other Game of Thrones characters that didn’t quite sliiiiiiide into the pop culture zeitgeist? 

I rounded up 13 of the best Game of Thrones characters that may not be scene-stealers like Bronn, Olenna, and Lyanna, but are tragically, no, criminally overlooked. For the sake of all of our sanity, these characters are from the HBO show and don’t include the over 2,100 named characters from George R.R. Martin’s five Game of Thrones novels.

Because is Game of Thrones ever really over?
(Rhetorical question because, OF COURSE NOT) *ahem*

1. Osha

“A man who won’t listen can’t hear.”

Prior to stepping into the shoes...or...erm...bare feet of the Wildling, Osha, British-Spanish actress Natalia Tena slung spells at Death Eaters as the clumsy, purple-haired, punk-rock Auror, Tonks, in the Harry Potter series. Tena brings that spirit of rebelliousness to Osha, the quick-witted spearwife turned Stark kitchen servant. Osha predicted Robb’s imminent defeat, protected Bran during the sacking of Winterfell and by pretending to pledge her allegiance to Theon, played an essential part in helping #TeamBran escape the captured Winterfell and the Iron Born invaders unseen and unheard. But, even before all those heroics, her worship of the Old Gods and honor for Weirwood groves forged a connection between her and Bran, helping the “Little Lord” boy to feel less alone while his family was scattered around Westeros. 

2. Maester Luwin

“Theon, once I taught you sums and letters, history and warcraft. And might have taught you more, had you wished to learn. I will not claim to bear you any great love, no, but I cannot hate you either. Even if I did, so long as you hold Winterfell I am bound by oath to give you counsel. So now I counsel you to yield.”

Winterfell’s personal maester, Maester Luwin was a brilliant teacher, medic, and loyal confidant to Ned Stark and his family. Luwin gave the Stark children, including live-in ward/ungrateful POS Theon, and Jon Snow, a comprehensive education that would later prove invaluable. In the early seasons of the show, Luwin sprinkles plenty of breadcrumbs for Bran to follow on his own journeys such as The Children of the Forest, Dragonglass and the inevitable Winter that’s coming. (*she says in bold italics like a video game character hinting at the next level*) Without Maester Luwin’s wisdom and tutelage, Bran would’ve been far less prepared for the great trials and tribulations that awaited him. Unfortunately, much like the man he swore fealty to, Ned Stark, his unwavering loyalty and rigid moral compass led to his demise at the hands of a traitorous Theon Greyjoy. (Boo!!!!!)

3. Gilly 

“Did I ever tell you I used to think the sea was called the see because it was nothing but water as far as the eye could see?”

Craster’s daughter-wife Gilly and her sister-wives were the first wildlings Samwell Tarly and many of his Night’s Watch brothers met beyond the Wall. Timid, soft-spoken, and forcibly impregnated by her abusive, incestuous father Gilly at first seemed little more than a victim (and another grossly out of touch misogynistic move on Georgie Porgie Martin's part). But, her quiet bravery shone through when she convinced Sam to let her join him to protect her unborn son from being sacrificed to the White Walkers. Gilly’s kindness also extended to Sam, who she encouraged to tap into his own courage to become the bang-up Maester he always dreamed of. Gilly’s greatest contribution to the plot though is how she inadvertently stumbled upon game-changing news in the last season of Game of Thrones— the truth about Jon’s parentage. Plus, let's be real, she's such a sweetheart! Genuinely lovely people without shady agendas or manipulation tactics up the wazoo are hard to find in Westeros. Gilly is a sweet baby angel with none of that nonsense.

4. Irri and Jhiqui 

“It is known.” - Irri and Jhiqui 

Irri and Jhiqui, the Dothraki handmaids gifted to Dany upon her marriage to Khal Drogo had a far greater role than merely brushing Dany’s hair and being her glorified personal assistants. We're also not talking about the shamelessly fetishized lesbian scene in the novel A Storm of Swords where Irri gives Dany a hand-job. We're talking about how Irri and Jhiqui gave Dany the support, encouragement, and kindness she needed while adjusting to an entirely new culture in an entirely new land! These wonder women taught Dany the Dothraki language, horsemanship, and the customs and proper behavior of being in a Khalasar. They were kind of a big deal. Just sayin'.

5. Missandei 

“I can only tell you what I have seen, Your Grace. I have seen you listen to your counselors. I have seen you lean on their experience when your own was lacking and weigh the choices they put before you. And I have seen you ignore your counselors… because there was a better choice. One that only you could see.”

GOT S5 episode 5

Once a slave abducted from her island home on Naath, Missandei was treated as less than human by the men of Astapor/ Slaver’s Bay. When Daenerys freed her from her bonds of servitude and abuse from Kraznys mo Nakloz, she gave her freedom and a voice. Missandei’s quiet confidence, her empathy, and her knack for diplomacy and politics made her a crucial person in Dany’s life and on her journey to the Iron Throne. She was a beautiful person inside and out and always carried with her a sense of peace. Missandei's death sparked a firestorm of outrage and backlash when D & D unceremoniously decided to chop off her head. Their little shock value schtick took away one of the most promising female characters in the show as well as the only major female character of color in - let's count 'em, eight, yes eight freaking seasons of GoT. Am I still salty about their moronic decision?Dude. You have no idea. Missandei deserved SOOOO much more.

6. Brynden the Blackfish 

Edmure Tully: "The laws of Gods and men are very clear. No man may compel another man to marry."

Brynden Tully: "The laws of my fist are about to compel your teeth!"

The Stark childrens’ Riverrun-dwelling great-uncle, Ser Brynden "the Blackfish" Tully is a wise warrior and veteran of hundreds of battles. He’s bluntly honest, has no time for his moronic nephew Edmure Tully’s blundering nonsense and has swagger without even trying. He was part of Robb Stark’s war campaign for the Iron Throne and he wears his salt and pepper hair and Tully armor like a boss. He's low-key #stylegoals for the over 50 crowd.

7. Meera Reed

“Some people will always need help. That doesn't mean they're not worth helping.”

The daughter of Ned Stark’s best friend Howland Reed, Meera Reed hailed from a Greywatcher Watch and was a crucial member of #TeamBran. This curly-haired, frog spear and net wielding girl carted Bran around the Northern wilderness on a sled for years (YEARS) without complaint, used her expert tracking abilities and resourcefulness to keep all of the Bran squad fed and protected and had infinite patience while Bran would go catatonic to “learn” about developing/opening his third eye. She single-handedly ensured their freaking survival.

Meera also has the honor of being one of a handful of people who have killed a White Walker and lived to tell the tale! Cheerful, kind, loyal, and the owner of a head of particularly lush and enviable hair (like really, how does she keep it so bouncy and hydrated while roaming the wilds with Bran-I-AM-THE-THREE-EYED-RAVEN-Stark?! I want to know because I can barely keep my hair from becoming positively beastly and I live with running water, shampoo and conditioner within reach) Meera was one plucky AF heroine who needs SO much more love it hurts. Like physically hurts. Meera fans, where are you?!

8. Jojen Reed 

“I dreamed that the sea was lapping all around Winterfell. I saw black waves crashing against the gates and towers, and then the salt water came flowing over the walls and filled the castle. Drowned men were floating in the yard. When I first dreamed the dream, back at Greywater, I didn’t know their faces, but now I do.”

Meera’s younger brother, Jojen was gifted “the greensight” by a three-eyed crow after nearly dying from greywater fever as a child. A young teen at the time of the HBO series, Jojen’s prophetic dreams lead him to travel to Winterfell in search of the “chained wolf” that needed to be freed. Jojen is key in helping Bran achieve the enlightenment promised by all his three-eyed raven visions. The younger Reed reveals to Bran that he’s a warg, teaches him about his prophetic dreams, and introduces him to the Children of the Forest. Without Jojen’s wise words and advice, Bran would’ve remained in the dark about his abilities for who knows how long. He's not as cool as his big sister Meera, but hey, who is, really? (Again, where are my Meera fans at?!)

9. Beric Dondarrion 

“Do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all women and children, to obey your captains, your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely when needed and to such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or dangerous they may be?” 

The lightning lord Beric Dondarrion, leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners, has been killed and resurrected 6 times (sooo he's not quite a cat, but close?) goes into battle with a flaming sword, and although he doesn’t pledge his allegiance to any one king, he cares deeply about the “little” folks and villagers around him- choosing to defend them rather than engage in any of the games of thrones going on. Heroic? Methinks yes. Also, flaming sword. For the love of god. A flaming sword. Which is for real medieval high fantasy catnip for fans who are trash for medieval high fantasy like yours truly.

10. Yara Greyjoy 

“Which one gave you the tougher fight, the cripple or the 6-year-old?”

Yara Greyjoy's reply to her younger brother Theon’s “great victory” over Winterfell is kind of the best. Let's take a minute to appreciate it. Ok. Appreciated.
This Iron-born badass swashbuckling pirate lesbian of Westeros drops savage one-liners, is a fearless warrior, and is one of those most confident combatants in battle. She has fierce pride for her family and heritage, isn't stingy with forgiveness -- look at how quickly she welcomed Theon back into her life!-- and is formidable on land and sea.

And I know you're going to ask. Would I hook up with Yara?
Especially knowing my history of being a freakishly pirate obsessed child who counted among her favorite Disney characters CAPTAIN HOOK and who may or may not still be intrigued as hell by the rum-swigging and pistol-toting treasure-seekers?
I'll leave that one up to your imagination.

Oh... you weren't going to ask?

MOVING ON.

11. Nymeria 

“Wolves. Hundreds of the bloody beggers.” [the wolves had come out of the dark to savage them] “Armed men in mail and boiled leather, and yet the beasts had no fear of them. Before he died Jate said that the pack was led by a she-wolf of monstruous size. A direwolf, to hear him tell it. The wolves got in amongst our horse lines too. The bloody bastards killed my favorite bay.”

-Ser Dermot of the Rainwood to Jaime Lannister, A Feast For Crows, pg 666

By the end of the HBO show Arya’s direwolf Nymeria is one of the two surviving direwolves (hey, hey Ghost!) adopted by the Stark family in the premiere episode of season 1. Although Nymeria only infrequently appears on in the show after Arya urges her to run away after Sansa’s direwolf Lady is killed, Nymeria in the books is just as much of a badass as Arya herself. Nymeria assembles together a pack of wolves that prowls the Riverlands attacking Lannister soldiers who dare to tread in her territory. She's also fiercer than Yara Greyjoy the lesbian pirate I absolutely do not have any romantic or physical attraction towards.

12. Syrio Forel 

“Boy, girl, You are a sword, that is all.”

The best sword fighting instructor in the known world, the dashing Braavosi Syrio Forel trained Arya in the art of the water dancing style of swordplay during her time at Kings Landing. He teaches Arya how to overcome her fears, become more perceptive, and command Needle, the skinny sword Jon Snow gifted her in the pilot episode, with confidence and nerve. Syrio is the first person to not make a big deal out of Arya pursuing such “unwomanly” aspirations as sword fighting and treats her the same as he would any boy or man under his tutelage. Syrio was a hero up to the very end and spent his final moments of life fending off Lannister soldiers and the crooked Kingsguard led by Ser Meryn Trant (who definitely had rank breath and B.O.) with a wooden sparring sword to buy Arya time to escape from what surely would’ve been her death. 

13. Renly Baratheon 

Robert : "Those were the days!"

Renly : "Which days exactly? The ones where half of Westeros fought the other half and millions died? Or before that, when the Mad King slaughtered women and babies because the voices in his head told him they deserved it?! Or way before that, when dragons burned whole cities to the ground?!"

Murdered by Melissandre’s shadow baby demon, Renly was the Baratheon king we all needed-- not an ale-guzzling sex-fiend like his dudebro brother Robert, or a miserable grump like his other brother Stannis Baratheon.
Handsome, charming and fashionable (THAT CROWN!) with a Rainbow Guard (THOSE OUTFITS!), a gorgeous boyfriend (THAT...EVERYTHING!), and a wife he who was just stoked to be queen with an IDGAF attitude towards Renly’s queerness, Renly literally could have had it all. (Thanks for nothing Melissandre!)

Also, he won the internet and hearts of fans everywhere when he famously said to Lord Baelish "I don't like you, Lord Baelish. I don't like your face, I don't like the words that come oozing out of your mouth, I don't want you in my tent one minute more than necessary." 

#PREACH 🙌 

So what say you, friends?! Did your favorite underrated Game of Thrones characters make the list? Who would you add?

& as always, STAY GEEKY!

💖 Vicky