By Published Apr 4, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones.
You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."
Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant.
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was a groundbreaking show that illustrated what the fantasy genre could be when given an enormous budget and a compelling story. was the perfect story to adapt, and while the final season's drop in quality has overshadowed the incredibly strong start the show had, Game of Thrones is well worth watching for its immersive worldbuilding.
The dragons and battles might provide many of , but the different family factions at the center of the story drive the story forward with their well-written journeys and excellent character building. Of , the Starks are the undisputed heroes after their resilience and moral strength won over audiences.
[SITEURL] | IT The Iron Throne Interactive Quiz ScreenRant/ TV/ Game of Thrones/ Trivia The Citadel · Maester’s Examination How Well Do You Know Westeros? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” 🐺StarkWinter is Coming 🦁LannisterHear Me Roar 🐉TargaryenFire and Blood 🦌BaratheonOurs is the Fury 🐙GreyjoyWe Do Not Sow ENTER WESTEROS → QUESTION 1 / 8GREAT HOUSES 01 The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros, ruling from their ancestral seat. What is the name of their castle? AHighgarden BStorm’s End CCasterly Rock DThe Eyrie ✓ Correct! Casterly Rock sits atop gold mines in the Westerlands and has been the seat of House Lannister for centuries. The gold beneath it is the source of the family’s legendary wealth — though as Tywin once noted, the mines ran dry years ago. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Casterly Rock. Highgarden belongs to the Tyrells, Storm’s End to the Baratheons, and The Eyrie to the Arryns. Casterly Rock has been the Lannister stronghold since Lann the Clever swindled it from House Casterly. NEXT → QUESTION 2 / 8THE NIGHT’S WATCH 02 Jon Snow rises through the ranks of the Night’s Watch to eventually hold what title — the highest position in the order? AFirst Ranger BLord Commander CMaster of Arms DWarden of the North ✓ Correct! Jon Snow was elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch by his sworn brothers. He was one of the youngest men to ever hold the title, following in the footsteps of legends like Jeor Mormont. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lord Commander. While Jon started as a steward, he was elected Lord Commander after the death of Jeor Mormont. Warden of the North is a different title entirely — one held by the Stark family. NEXT → QUESTION 3 / 8DRAGONS 03 Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs. Which of the following is NOT one of her dragons? ABalerion BDrogon CRhaegal DViserion ✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon, who died of old age over a century before the events of the show. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion — named after Khal Drogo, Rhaegar, and Viserys. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Balerion. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion the Black Dread was Aegon the Conqueror’s mount, dead long before Daenerys was born. NEXT → QUESTION 4 / 8INFAMOUS EVENTS 04 The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking moments in TV history. At whose castle does this massacre take place? AHarrenhal BRiverrun CCasterly Rock DThe Twins ✓ Correct! The Red Wedding took place at The Twins, the castle of House Frey. Lord Walder Frey violated the sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Twins. Walder Frey’s castle — two towers spanning the Green Fork — was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre the Starks. “The Lannisters send their regards” remains one of the show’s most chilling lines. NEXT → QUESTION 5 / 8VALYRIAN STEEL 05 Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. What is the sword’s name? AIce BLongclaw CHeartsbane DOathkeeper ✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved the Lord Commander from a wight, replacing the bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Longclaw. Ice was the Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly, and Oathkeeper was one of the two swords forged from Ice. Longclaw is the Mormont blade Jon carries throughout the series. NEXT → QUESTION 6 / 8COURT INTRIGUE 06 Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand of the King to which ruler, expertly managing the defense of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater? ARobert Baratheon BTommen Baratheon CJoffrey Baratheon DDaenerys Targaryen ✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign. Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated the defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire, though he received no credit and was nearly killed in the battle. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand of the King in Season 2, appointed by his father Tywin. He later served as Hand to Daenerys, but it was under Joffrey that the Battle of the Blackwater took place. NEXT → QUESTION 7 / 8PROPHECY & LORE 07 Jon Snow’s true parentage is one of the show’s biggest reveals. What is his real Targaryen name, given by his mother Lyanna Stark? AAegon Targaryen BAemon Targaryen CRhaegar Targaryen DJaehaerys Targaryen ✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen. He is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, who were secretly married. This made Jon the true heir to the Iron Throne — a fact that changed the course of the final season. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna whispered the name to Ned Stark in the Tower of Joy. Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon — a name carried by many Targaryen kings, including the Conqueror himself. NEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8THE IRON THRONE 08 In the series finale, who is chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros to rule the Six Kingdoms as king? AJon Snow BSansa Stark CTyrion Lannister DBran Stark ✓ Correct! Bran Stark — now Bran the Broken — was chosen as king of the Six Kingdoms at the Dragonpit council. Tyrion argued that Bran’s story was the most compelling reason to rule. Sansa became Queen in the North, and Jon was sent back to the Wall. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Bran Stark. Tyrion nominated Bran at the great council, arguing “who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen in the independent North, Jon returned to the Wall, and Tyrion served as Bran’s Hand of the King. REVEAL MY SCORE → The Citadel · Results Sealed Your Westeros Record ⚔ / 8 Did you claim the Iron Throne — or lose your head? ↻ PLAY THE GAME AGAIN
10 Benjen Stark
Ned's brother Benjen is one of the most mysterious members of the Stark family, with season 1 introducing him as a brave and honorable man. He is reluctant to reveal the true nature of The Night's Watch to Jon, despite his position as the First Ranger, and the show looked as though Benjen would become a main character and possible equivalent to Ned.
However, while his disappearance is a catalyst for Jon's character development, the show does little else with him, leaving fans with several . After a seemingly fascinating journey, surviving being stabbed by the White Walkers and saved by the Children of the Forest, one fan theory suggests that Benjen is not as dead as the show later appeared to imply.
9 Rickon Stark
As the youngest of the Stark children, Rickon does not have a great role to play in the show for the first seasons. He is generally seen with his direwolf, Shaggydog, or playing. However, Rickon Stark's death in the season 6 episode "Battle of the Bastards" at the hands of Ramsey Bolton ensures that he remains a memorable, if tragic, member of the Stark family.
Of all , Rickon's is one of the least developed as he never had the chance to grow older, but he still affected the events of the show. Helplessly witnessing his death had a major effect on Jon, setting the events of the battle into motion. Unfortunately, George R. R. Martin's books do not explore his character much either.
8 Lyanna Stark
While Lyanna Stark only appears onscreen during flashback scenes, she is the catalyst for the major events in Game of Thrones. Originally betrothed to Robert Baratheon, who never got over her death, she fell in love with Rhaegar Targaryen, secretly marrying him and giving birth to their child. Though Lyanna died in childbirth, Robert's belief that she was murdered fueled his rage against the Targaryens.
Lyanna is Ned's sister, and most of what we know about her is told through Ned, who often compares her to the fierce and independent Arya. Now, , but unlike the other stories set in Westeros, this will play out as a theater production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK,
7 Bran Stark
For fans who missed at the start of the series, Bran Stark's character arc is one of the least predictable in the entire series. The Stark family's second son was shown to be mischievous, with a talent for climbing, before Jaime's attempted murder left him paralyzed, with the Three Eyed Raven mysteriously telling him that he would fly.
Bran might not have been the most well-written character, especially as the series progressed, but he was a solid addition to the show. With noble intentions and a focus on serving the realm rather than a family legacy, Bran Stark's eventual position as the King was not a bad choice, but it suffered from bad writing and was not set up well enough in advance.
6 Catelyn Stark (formerly Tully)
As the Lady of Winterfell and Ned's wife, Catelyn is one of the most divisive characters in Game of Thrones who is not an outright villain or antihero. Her treatment of Jon was criticized, but her commitment to the Stark way of life is clear, and she has flaws like most well-written characters. Still, there was more potential for Catelyn's role in the show.
Catelyn was originally going to be played by Jennifer Ehle, who filmed the pilot but did not return for the rest of the show, with Michelle Fairley taking her place.
Catelyn Stark does not suffer from the final seasons' lapse in writing due to her death in The Red Wedding in the episode "The Rains of Castamere." However, if Game of Thrones had followed the source material, , the cold and vengeful undead character left after being resurrected, whose role in the story is currently unfinished.
5 Robb Stark
Ned and Catelyn's eldest son and the heir to Winterfell, Robb Stark, had one of the best-written character arcs in Game of Thrones. Robb looked set up to be one of the show's heroes, taking on the role of The King in the North and showing himself to be brave, good at commanding, and dangerous when underestimated. However, like Ned, this did not save him.
Robb was killed in the Red Wedding massacre before he had the chance to reveal his full potential. , with his choices being more impulsive than logical as the books present. However, this leads to the infamous Red Wedding, which has gone down in fantasy TV legend as one of the best scenes of all time.
4 Jon Snow (aka Aegon Targaryen)
, with him being sent to the Wall after killing Daenerys Targaryen. However, his greatest ambition had been to go beyond the Wall in the first place, and this bittersweet ending was one of the most fitting possibilities for a character who once looked as though he would take the throne.
Assumed to be Ned Stark's bastard, Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, so while he could be considered among , he also belongs with House Stark. Jon was raised alongside the Stark children, who have always seen him as a brother, and his commitment to the North is fitting for the member of the Stark family.
3 Arya Stark
Out of all the characters in Game of Thrones, the Stark family's youngest daughter Arya was often the most exciting. Early on, she tells Ned "that's not me" when he presents a marriage and children as her future, and she looks set to forge her own path. The moment Ned allows her to take sword fighting lessons is one of the best for their relationship.
Arya's eventual fate gives her the adventurous life that she always wanted, and she is the character that most Game of Thrones fans still rooted for, even by the end of the show. Now that , this may satisfy viewers who want to see more of the iconic character as she leaves to discover "what's West of Westeros."
2 Ned Stark
For viewers familiar with either the source material or Sean Bean's work, the fact that Ned Stark dies in the show's first season would not have come as a surprise. However, for many others, Ned's execution was one of the most shocking scenes in Game of Thrones, and it is this moment that set the events into motion.
The head of was one of the most morally-upstanding characters in the show, setting aside his reputation to protect his sister, and remaining committed to justice at his own expense. Unfortunately, Ned's goodness was no match for the characters who knew how to "play the game of thrones," but his legacy and lessons lived on in his surviving children.
1 Sansa Stark
Sansa Stark's beginning as a naive and idealistic child did not endear her to Game of Thrones viewers, especially when she put Joffrey above her family. However, by the time she tells Littlefinger "I'm a slow learner, it's true. But I learn," Sansa had become one of , and a fantasy genre icon.
The Stark family's eldest daughter has some of Game of Thrones' most cathartic revenge scenes. However, unlike many other characters before her, these felt well-earned after a long journey in the show. Sansa grew to embody the values of House Stark, and her eventual crowning as Quen of the North was the perfect ending for her, and for House Stark's legacy.
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