George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series was adapted into one of the most gruesome yet addictive shows: Game of Thrones. It first aired in 2011, the same year Martin’s fifth novel — of the planned seven — was published, and became one of the biggest shows in the world during its run. Since the very first episode, fans have been able to distinguish the chemistry and hatred between certain characters. From the way the evil Queen Cersei Lannister greeted the Stark family to Viserys Targaryen physically abusing his sister, feelings about certain characters were quickly established.
For an audience to truly hate a character, there is a formula that must be followed. The intensity of hatred boils down to the character’s intelligence and wit, to whom they are cruel and for how long, their tactics of being cruel, and whether there are any redeeming qualities within the character. From the hundreds of characters in Game of Thrones, check out the 25 most hated characters of all time.
Doreah
Played by Roxanne McKee
Doreah started out as Daenerys’ handmaiden who taught the new Khaleesi how to pleasure her husband, Khal Drogo, in the bedroom. She tended to all of Daenerys’ needs, and once the dragons hatched, she stayed by their side. Doreah’s fascination with the dragons was not unusual, but her loyalty to Khaleesi quickly turned when she found someone who planned to harness the dragons’ power.
When Daenerys’ dragons were stolen in the city of Qarth, Doreah went missing. Upon discovering and killing one of the thieves and recovering her dragons, Daenerys finds Doreah in bed with the second thief. Without mercy, Daenerys locks the two away to die in a vault. Doreah was hard to hate, but her betrayal of the beloved Khaleesi still justifies her place on the list.
Styr
Played by Yuri Kolokolnikov
Upon laying eyes on the scarred face of Styr, the leader of the cannibalistic Thenn clan, there is little hesitation in knowing he is evil. When he comes across Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and Tormund, he says people “taste better” down in the South, likely because of the amount of food they eat.
After brutally ransacking a village and killing all but one person, a child, Styr makes a show of telling the innocent boy that he should run and warn the Night’s Watch that enemies are coming. Before releasing the lad, Styr lets him know that his dead parents are about to be eaten. There is no sympathy or remorse when this evil man is killed during battle. TV series and movies about cannibalism can be entertaining, but the subject in Game of Thrones is utterly grim.
Lysa Arryn
Upon first meeting Lysa, it is apparent that she is strange and deeply troubled. She breastfeeds her grade-school-age child, punishes Tyrion based on false accusations, and often lashes out with a horrible, shrill voice. While none of these things are worthy of true hatred, the audience learns how despicable Lysa is when she takes in Petyr Baelish and her niece, Sansa. Lysa is quick to throw herself at Baelish, and unknown to her, Sansa overhears a conversation between the two, where Lysa confesses to killing her husband at Littlefinger’s request.
Though the two are quickly married, Lysa’s jealousy of Petyr’s love for her sister has evidently carried over to Sansa. She questions Sansa about her relationship with him and even threatens to throw her from the tower to her death. Lysa herself is later thrown through the tower’s door.
Pyatt Pree
Played by Ian Hanmore
Upon seeing this unsettling warlock, there is an air of distrust surrounding him as he shows off his magical abilities to Daenerys. Originally, Pyatt Pree was a member of the Thirteen until he and another member, Xaro, betrayed and killed the remaining members. He further proves himself as a creature not to be trusted when he informs Daenerys that he has taken her dragons to the House of the Undying.
When she tries to retrieve her dragons, Pyat Pree chains her up with the intention of keeping Daenerys and her dragons there forever. His power-hungry foolishness comes to an abrupt halt when the baby dragons set him on fire.
Gregor Clegane
Played by Conan Stevens (Season 1), Ian Whyte (Season 2), and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (Season 4–8)
Also known as “The Mountain,” this knight-turned-monster character is respected only out of fear. As he stands several feet taller than most others, his methods of serving House Lannister are far from reasonable. Between brutally murdering a stallion in front of a crowd to crushing men’s skulls with his bare hands, there are few characters who wish to come face-to-face with this beast of a man.
The hatred for this character stems from his blind obedience to the horrible Lannister family. However, knowing what the man is capable of without any remorse for his victims — just look at what he did to his kid brother — makes one’s fear and hate for him blend together. Due to scheduling conflicts, Gregor Clegane was played by three different actors throughout the series run.
High Sparrow
Played by Jonathan Pryce
This religious leader makes a modern-day cult look like a welcoming place. After being elected into a position of power, the High Sparrow takes it upon himself to narrow in on the sins of the high-born rulers. He reinstates the brutal Faith Militant to seek out individuals who need to atone for their sins. Several noble figures, including Ser Loras and Margaery Tyrell as well as Lancel and Cersei Lannister, are arrested. Each is kept in isolation and tortured in different ways until they confess to their crimes.
The High Sparrow easily becomes a figure of hate for fans because of his holier-than-thou attitude. He uses his power to bring down innocent individuals for what he feels is for the good of the kingdom. Upon his fiery death, there were no tears.
Theon Greyjoy
Played by Alfie Allen
Though Theon was a hostage at Winterfell since he was young, he was raised alongside the other Stark children. After spending time with Robb on the battlefield, Theon makes his way back home to his father. In an attempt to regain respect for himself, he betrays Robb and overtakes the very place he was raised.
Upon realizing that his two worlds were colliding, Theon made a show of being cold and cruel like his father by killing the man who trained him in combat at Winterfell. After the two young lords, Bran and Rickon, escape captivity, Theon goes on a hunt for them. When he is unable to find the boys, he takes the farmer’s two sons, burns their bodies, and strings them up to act in place of the Stark brothers.
Melisandre
Played by Carice van Houten
Melisandre represents blind devotion. She latched onto Stannis Baratheon and made him believe that he would be king if he followed the Lord of Light. Though her intentions may have been good, the lack of hesitation to work with dark magic, commit murder, and flaunt her adulterous ways does not win her points with fans.
One of the most notable scenes is when she sets Stannis’s innocent daughter on fire for the greater good of the army. Much to her surprise, the young girl’s death does not benefit their cause in any way.
Stannis Baratheon
Played by Stephen Dillane
Stannis is so power-hungry that morals and loyalty to his family and friends no longer mean anything. In a secret attack, Stannis has Melisandre birth a demon-like figure to kill his younger brother, Renly, in a fight for the throne. Stannis appears very cold with this plan, but in the aftermath of the event, he briefly breaks down.
As the war goes on, Stannis finds himself on the losing end. He gives the orders to sacrifice his only daughter to the fire so that the Lord of Light will aid his conquest. With both brothers, his wife, and his child dead, Stannis’ desperation to sit on the iron throne eventually puts him in the grave.
Mirri Maz Duur
Played by Birgitte Hjort Sørensen
Mirri Maz is another Game of Thrones witch who definitely deserves to be on this list. Her betrayal of Daenerys, even if somehow warranted considering what the Khal and his people did to her, is why the audience didn’t miss her when she was gone.
To kill the Khal out of revenge for invading her village is one thing, but to kill Daenerys’s innocent unborn child was definitely her ticket to being one of the most disliked characters on the show. The Mother of Dragons, who once trusted Mirri and lent her a hand, didn’t let this crime go unpunished and burned the witch alive.
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