Game of Thrones was one of the biggest television shows in the world following its launch in 2011. While it had its fair share of criticism, especially in the final season, there was always one thing fans could count on. That’s the fact that there would be plenty of death and violence. Someone was almost certain to die in practically every single episode.
The show wasn’t afraid of killing off main characters or important figures either. Events like the Red Wedding had a lasting influence on viewers, showing them that anyone in series was capable of losing their life. Not every character who died necessarily deserved that fate, while there were plenty of despicable individuals who managed to live way longer than they should have.
20 Deserved To Live: Missandei Of Naath
The devoted advisor of Daenerys Targaryen, Missandei Of Naath is one of the most innocent characters in the show. She has never betrayed her Queen or done anything particularly bad to anyone. Although you could argue that she didn’t do enough to keep Daenerys in check, she cannot be blamed for the actions of others. As a former slave, dying while chained up was the worse way to go.
19 Deserved To Die: Daario Naharis
Whether Daario Naharis is alive or dead is currently not know. He was sent by the Mother of Dragons to watch over Meereen in her place and was never seen or spoken about again. Part of a company of mercenaries, he was capable of killing anyone for the right price and even betrayed his fellow soldiers to impress the Queen.
18 Deserved To Live: Prince Oberyn
Prince Oberyn is not exactly a character without faults. After all, his nickname is the Red Viper because of his tendency to poison opponents. He does have a soft side, though, and comes to King’s Landing to seek vengeance for the murder of his sister and her children. Championing Tyrion Lannister during a trial by combat, he was killed by Gregor Clegane and died too soon.
17 Deserved To Die: Brandon Stark
Despite his knowledge of basically everything that would happen in Game of Thrones season 8, Brandon Stark did practically nothing. He offered no real help in the Battle of Winterfell or against Cersei and the Lannisters in King’s Landing. In fact, he ended up being crowned king, something he had foreseen. It is possible to argue that he allowed all the terrible things to happen so he could come to power.
16 Deserved To Live: Ned Stark
Ned Stark is perhaps the most honorable and loyal character in Game of Thrones. The head of House Stark had to deal with all kinds of problems during his time as Hand of the King. He even went to extreme lengths to protect Jon Snow, who would no doubt have been killed if his lineage had come to light. Ned died not because of something bad he did but because he refused to play the game of political backstabbing and one-upmanship.
15 Deserved To Die: Jon Snow
Jon Snow has done a lot of good in the world. Yet, the character, who has already died once, has certainly committed enough crimes to warrant a death sentence. This culminated in the murder of his aunt and lover Daenerys. Despite trying to be a moral person, he has made many decisions that led to the death of innocent people, including the Battle of the Bastards.
14 Deserved To Live: Tommen Baratheon
Tommen Baratheon ended up being king after Joffrey was poisoned. He was a marked improvement over his maniacal brother and tried to be a just rule. Unfortunately, his youth meant he was open to manipulation from everyone in King’s Landing. The boy couldn’t stand to live in a world without his wife Margaery and knowing what had happened. A death he surely did not deserve.
13 Deserved To Die: Jaqen H’ghar
It is unclear exactly what happened to Jaqen H’ghar. The Faceless Man trained Arya and was responsible for murdering countless numbers of people. Although he could well be dead by the end of the season, he hasn’t shown up for several seasons so this cannot be confirmed. The assassin is probably alive and this is a fate he doesn’t necessarily deserve.
12 Deserved To Live: Olenna Tyrell
Olenna Tyrell was a funny and proud character in the show. Although not exactly innocent, everything she did appear to be to protect her family. She was also a match for the political cunning of any other individual in King’s Landing. Let’s not forget that she rid the world of Joffrey. It would have been nice to see her around in the later stages of the show.
11 Deserved To Die: Grey Worm
Grey Worm was one of the few characters that most fans would agree deserved to meet a good end. That is until the final season. He refused to stop Daenerys as she descended into insanity and even took part in the sacking of King’s Landing. This led to many innocent civilians being remorselessly murdered by men under his command. The character probably doesn’t want to live after the death of his beloved Missandei.
10 Deserved To Live: Shireen Baratheon
Shireen Baratheon, daughter of Stannis Baratheon, was just a child. Afflicted with the terrible disease of greyscale, she had a very difficult life. Her father sacrificed her by burning Shireen to death in order so that he could try to win the Iron Throne and become king. Not only was her death completely undeserved but it was also pointless.
9 Deserved To Die: Edmure Tully
Last seen when he was made to take up his role as head of Riverrun just so he could surrender to the Lannisters, Edmure Tully showed up in the season finale. Seen as something of a pitiful man, he did little to help his family or fight against evil in Westeros, making him undeserving of his position.
8 Deserved To Live: Margaery Tyrell
Although her grandmother was prepared to play the game and get involved in some ruthless politics scheming to advance her family, Margaery Tyrell seemed very innocent. She was never shown to do anything particularly bad and was a positive influence on both Sansa and Tommen. That didn’t save her from being caught up in the widlfire explosion at the Great Sept of Baelor.
7 Deserved To Die: Bronn
Bronn might be a funny and well-liked character but few can argue that he deserved to die. Essentially operating as a mercenary for hire, he has killed various people, including innocent individuals, on orders. He is also not afraid of betraying his supposed allies to better his standing. The worst sin of all is that he did not do anything of worth in the final season.
6 Deserved To Live: Theon Greyjoy
Theon Greyjoy was simply an awful character during the first season. He betrayed his adopted family, killing former friends as he stormed a defenseless Winterfell. After this, though, he went through an arc that saw him reduced to a blubbering mess. Enduring torture, embarrassment, and rejection, he eventually redeemed himself by rescuing Sansa. He died protecting Bran from the Night King, a final act of self-sacrifice that proved he had fully restored his honor.
5 Deserved To Die: Drogon
Dragons were once wiped out because of the destruction they could cause and the power they possessed. In the wrong hands, they can always be used as a dangerous weapon. All of Daenerys’ other dragons died but Drogon survived. Although no exactly his fault, he will likely go on to cause death and destruction, perhaps even being used by another evil character.
4 Deserved To Live: Jaime Lannister
Jaime Lannister began life as a villain who was prepared to do anything, even throwing children out of windows, to keep his status. However, throughout the course of the eight seasons of Game of Thrones, he went through a personal journey that changed his outlook and personality significantly. Despite the awful things he has done, by the last season he had somewhat redeemed himself and seemed to have regained some honor. That is until he suddenly decided to return to his sister and died with her.
3 Deserved To Die: Arya Stark
Arya Stark has had one of the worst experiences in Game of Thrones. She witnessed her father die and then spent time essentially as a slave until she began her adventures with the Hound. The character would later go through a merciless training regime with the Faceless Men. Despite being a child for much of the show, she killed many people and probably deserved to meet a violent end.
2 Deserved To Live: Talisa Stark
Talisa Stark is one of the few characters in Game of Thrones who never did anything bad or evil. In fact, she worked as a heal, tending the wounds of those injured during the various battles between the Starks and the Lannisters. After marrying Rob Stark in a secret ceremony, she was mercilessly killed along with her unborn child at the Red Wedding.
1 Deserved To Die: Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister was a firm fan favorite and one of the few individuals in Westeros who seemed to want to go something to better the lives of everyone. However, he was constantly embroiled in controversy and betrayed several people, including his own family. One of his final acts before the end of the show was to orchestrate the death of Daenerys.
