Winning the Game of Thrones: The Host of Characters and their Agendas (28 page)

He’s a celebrated warrior, brilliant on the battlefield but weak at politics. He tries to be honorable in his own way and has slept with no one but Cersei. However, his legacy as Kingslayer follows him. In his first episode, he establishes his personality by pushing Bran to his likely death, but Jaimie’s vulnerability and conflicted duty grow more apparent through the series. Likewise, being escorted towards King’s Landing by Brienne, the soul of honor, changes him to a better person.

Cersei Lannister

“Love only your children.”

played by Lena Headey

Cersei
 
is ambitious and cunning, but also irrational and over-emotional. Her mothering turns Joffrey
 
into a monster. (The younger two siblings seem pleasant but ineffectually obedient.) Politically, she’s too determined to win every confrontation, whatever the consequences later.
“She does not lack for wits, but she has no judgment and no patience,” Jaime thinks (IV:234). 
She’s jealous of many characters, including the younger Sansa
 
and Margaery. Her failure to control them, Joffrey, or the courtiers begins to erode her power.

      
She truly loves her brother
 
Jaime
 
and her children, though she resents it when any of them contradict her wishes or disobey her. Tyrion
 
she loathes. She failed to love
 
Robert
 
Baratheon mostly because he cared more for dead Lyanna
 
Stark than for her. She kills any child of his she carries, and cuckolds him with her brother, beginning the destruction of
the
realm. When Jaime
 
is captured, she begins an affair with her cousin Lancel.

Tyrion Lannister “The Imp”

“Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let’s go kill them!”

played by
 
Peter Dinklage

Tyrion
 
Lannister is the youngest child of
 
Tywin
 
and
 
Joanna
, who died giving birth to him
. Tyrion
 
is a dwarf, mockingly called
 The Imp 
and
 The Halfman
. Knowing that he could not be a warrior, he chose to cultivate his mind and witty tongue, though he performs heroically at the Battle of Blackwater
 
Bay. Jaime
 
cares for him, though Cersei
 
and Joffrey
 
do not.

Tyrion’s Household

Podrick Payne

played by Daniel Portman

Podrick Payne is a cousin of Ser Ilyn Payne, the King’s Justice. As Tyrion’s squire, he longs to be a knight. He obeys Tyrion devotedly and brings reinforcements during the Battle of Blackwater. He personally saves Tyrion from Ser Mandon Moore’s assassination attempt. Apparently, he’s very desirable to the ladies.

Bronn

Tyrion: And here we have Bronn, son of...

Bronn: You wouldn’t know him.

played by Jerome Flynn

Bronn is a deadly sellsword working for Tyrion. When Catelyn captures Tyrion at the inn, Bronn goes along, and defends Tyrion in Lysa’s trial by combat. By fighting dishonorably, he wins, and Tyrion decides to keep him on. In King’s Landing, Tyrion appoints him Commander of the City Watch in place of slimy Janos Slynt. In season three, Bronn is rewarded with a knighthood for his contribution during the Battle of the Blackwater.

Shae 

played by Sibel Kekilli

Shae hails from the Free Cities and works as a prostitute before Tyrion adopts her into his household while he’s fighting alongside his father. They develop a sincere affection for each other (or so it appears), so much so that he smuggles her to King’s Landing. He eventually hides her as Sansa’s lady-in-waiting (a position she doesn’t get in the books until Sansa marries).

Ser Kevan Lannister

played by Ian Gelder

Ser Kevan Lannister is his brother Tywin’s loyal adviser. While he’s mostly seen in the background, he will have a larger role to play when there are fewer Lannisters. His sons include Lancel (below) and the young Lannister killed by Rickard Karstark.

Alton Lannister

played by Karl Davies

Alton Lannister is captured by Robb alongside his cousin Ser Jaime Lannister. He is sent back and forth delivering peace terms until Jamie Lannister murders him to aid in an escape attempt. Jaime then kills Torrhen Karstark, his guard. In the book, a Frey cousin to the Lannisters has his role.

Lancel Lannister

“Tell my friend Bronn to please kill you if anything should happen to me.”

“Please kill me if anything should happen to Lord Tyrion.”

“It will be my pleasure.”

played by Eugene Simon

This young, handsome squire was sent to King’s Landing by Tywin Lannister to serve as King Robert’s squire, and after, to serve the queen. Without Jaime around, Cersei convinces Lancel to “serve” her in more personal ways. Tyrion figures this out and demands Lancel spy for him.

House Greyjoy

Seat: Pyke

Sigil: A golden kraken on a black field.

Motto: “We Do Not Sow.”

Symbolism: Krakens, popular from
Pirates of the Caribbean,
Clash of the Titans,
and Sinbad the Sailor, are mythical giant squids. The Kraken signifies a watery death for anything that travels too close as it lurks unseen, king of the waters, though helpless on land.

Balon Greyjoy

“No man gives me a crown. I pay the iron price. I will take my crown.”

played by Patrick Malahide

Balon Greyjoy is the Lord of the Iron Islands and the head of House Greyjoy. Balon and his wife Alannys of House Harlaw  had four children: Rodrik, Maron, Yara/Asha and Theon. Years ago, he rebelled against the Iron Throne, and Ned Stark killed Balon’s older two sons in battle and took Theon home with him as a hostage. Under Balon’s rule, his people begin a campaign against the North in season two, seizing many castles while Robb’s in the South, fighting. Stannis and Melisandre curse Balon to death near the end of season three, along with Joffrey and Robb.

Alannys Greyjoy

This daughter of House Harlaw (a subordinate house to the Greyjoys) has been staying at Harlaw for her health—the loss of two sons and capture of the third has driven her nearly mad. Her brother,
Lord
 
Rodrik Harlaw
, called Rodrik the Reader, has a special affection for Yara/Asha Greyjoy.  

Balon’s Brothers

Euron Greyjoy, called the Crow’s Eye, is exiled after dishonoring Victarion’s wife and sails far to the east. Victarion Greyjoy is the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. Aeron Greyjoy, the youngest brother, became a priest of the Drowned God (in the second book, he’s the priest who rededicates Theon). They feature heavily in the fourth book.

Theon Greyjoy

Maester Luwin: You’re not the man you’re pretending to be.

Theon: You may be right old man. But I’ve gone too far to pretend to be anything else.

played by Alfie Allen

Theon Greyjoy spent half his life as Ned Stark’s ward and hostage. He saw Ned as not terribly cruel but somewhat distant, as Ned always remained aware he might need to execute his hostage someday. Theon likes Robb, whom he sees as a younger brother. When Theon fails to convince his father to support Robb in his rebellion, he captures Winterfell in an attempt to prove his worth. He soon loses the fortress, after allegedly executing Bran and Rickon Stark. The Bastard of Bolton carries him off and tortures him. Until the fifth book arrived, readers were unsure of Theon’s precise fate, and his appearances in season three were told only in flashback.

Yara Greyjoy

(called Asha in the books)

played by Gemma Whelan

Yara is a warrior and captain, which is unusual for women on the isles. She also wishes to be declared her father’s heir. Yara, more capable and better-regarded than Theon, is assigned thirty ships to seize the northern castle Deepwood Motte while Theon is given only a single ship. Yara is a warrior and captain, which is unusual for women on the isles. She also wishes to be declared her father’s heir. Yara, more capable and better-regarded than Theon, is assigned thirty ships to seize the northern castle Deepwood Motte while Theon is given only a single ship. Her name was switched to avoid confusion with Osha the wildling, but her plot arc and character appear unchanged.

House Tyrell

Seat: Highgarden

Sigil: Golden rose on a green field

Motto: “Growing Strong”

Symbolism: When golden roses were first introduced to Europe, they symbolized jealousy and fading affection. A gift of such a rose meant the relationship was doomed. This seems rather fitting for Margaery.

Lord Mace Tyrell

The Lord of Highgarden fights little and is more interested in political alliance. He’s eager for his daughter to be queen.

Loras Tyrell

played by Finn Jones

Ser Loras is an impressive tournament knight. In the book, he’s the third son of Lord Mace; on the show he appears to be the heir. He is the lover of Lord Renly Baratheon.

Margaery Tyrell

“If Renly wasn’t a king then I’m not a queen.”

“Do you want to be a queen?”

“No. I want to be THE queen.”

played by Natalie Dormer

Lady Margaery married Renly, and didn’t even object to his affairs with her brother. Following Renly’s death, Margaery is betrothed to King Joffrey Baratheon. She is adroit at manipulating others, even Joffrey.

Lady Olenna
 

played by Diana Rigg

Lady Olenna is Lord Mace’s mother and Margaery’s grandmother. She’s irreverent and clever, and appears to be the schemer of House Tyrell.

House Martell

Rulers of the Kingdom of Dorne

Seat: Sunspear

Motto: “Unbowed, unbent, unbroken”

Sigil: a sun with a spear through it

Symbolism: The sun represents the pinnacle of spiritual development and human achievement. This is a sad reflection on Quentyn Martell, but perhaps Dorne has great battle successes to come.

In the show, little has been seen of Dorne: Prince Rhaegar’s wife Elia came from there, and Princess Myrcella Baratheon is sent there to cement an alliance and for her protection. She’s betrothed to Prince Trystane Martell. In book four, more of the southernmost kingdom is seen.

Doran Nymeros Martell

Doran Martell is the Prince of Dorne and Lord of Sunspear. Afflicted by gout, he enjoys watching the young children play in the water gardens. He avoids declaring his allegiance in the War of the Five Kings until the Lannisters send Myrcella Baratheon to wed his son Trystane, promise justice for the murder of his sister Elia, and give him a seat on the Small Council.

Doran’s Children

His heir, Arianne Martell, is still unmarried. His younger sons are
Quentyn and Trystane
 
Martell.

Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell “The Red Viper”

Prince Doran’s last surviving sibling, Prince Oberyn is very hot-tempered. His nickname comes from rumors of his poisoned blade.

Oberyn’s Children

He has eight bastard daughters, called the Sand Snakes, who are each uniquely vicious and cunning.

House Arryn

Seat: The Eyrie

Sigil: White hawk and crescent

Motto: “As High as Honor”

Symbolism: The hawk signifies swiftness and keen sight – in fact, Jon Arryn was one of few to discover Cersei’s infidelity. It is also a hunter and tracker, as Jon proved in the Capitol, until those abilities killed him. Of course, the hawk also is reflected in the inaccessible height of the Eyrie. While the hawk is a masculine symbol, the crescent moon, by contrast, is feminine. However, the symbolism is barren, as the Godswood is dead and the Eyrie icy, pale stone.

Jon Arryn

Jon Arryn was Lord of the Eyrie and Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon. Years earlier, Jon fostered Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon as his wards in the Vale and loved them as his sons. His
sudden death
 led to Ned’s appointment and investigation of his murder. It seems clear that Jon became aware that Joffrey and his siblings were bastards, so he was executed by the Lannisters before he could talk. However, Lysa knows more than she’s told.

Lysa Arryn

played by Kate Dickie

Jon’s widow and Catelyn’s sister appears irrational and fearful. Lysa was raised at Riverrun as a girl of the highborn
Tully family
. After her much-older husband’s death, she retreats to the Eyrie with her young son and refuses to leave or to send troops to her nephew Robb’s rebellion. In the books, she’s Jon’s third wife, as the previous two had not produced children. Her marriage to Jon was political and largely loveless. It produced one sickly son.

Robin/Robert Arryn

“Can I make the little man fly now?”

played by Lino Facioli

On the show, Robert Arryn is renamed Robin Arryn to avoid confusion with King Robert Baratheon. The boy, still breastfeeding, is disturbingly close to his mother. He takes a hysterical glee in people’s deaths and seems unstable and bloodthirsty, rather like Joffrey. His father Jon was considering sending their son to be fostered with Stannis, while King Robert favored the Lannisters for this task. Catelyn also offers to foster him and Lysa refuses with anger.