Game of Thrones/Characters/House Stark

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House Stark

Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark (Sean Bean)

"The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword."

The Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon.

Tropes:

  • A Father to His Men: Don't fuck with his bannermen.
  • Adaptational Attractiveness: Eddard Stark is described in the books as being long-faced and plain, in contrast to his late brother Brandon, who was more dashing. On the show, he's played by Sean Bean, and described as "an even more impressive specimen" than his late brother.
  • Adaptational Badass: To an extent. In the books, he is a great general and capable warrior, but his skill with a sword is never mentioned as being exceptional. Word of God also states that Ned is not a particularly good swordsman. In the series, Barristan notes his fearsome reputation as a fighter. When Ned engages Memetic Badass Jaime Lannister, he gets the better of the exchange until a Lannister guard puts a spear through Ned's leg from behind. [1]
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: You know this applies to you when Ser Barristan says you're a fearsome fighter. Ned being the awesome guy he is, chooses to be modest about it.
  • Ancestral Weapon: Ice has been this, gifted to the Starks ever since Torrhen knelt to Aegon the Conqueror.
  • Anyone Can Die: If there is a character that can illustrate this trope, it's Ned.
  • BFS: Ice.
  • Badass: Fought against Jamie Lannister and dozen of Lannister's men, and held his own. Furthermore, between Jory and himself, they managed to kill 6 Lannister guards. No mean feat.
  • Cool Sword: Ice was made of Valyrian Steel, which made it impossibly sharp.
  • Book Ends/Karmic Death: His death mirrors the same way he decapitated a deserter from the Night's Watch; somewhat inverted in that he sticks to his own mantra of the one speaking justice doing the executing, while Joffrey uses the Royal Executioner.
  • British Accents: Sean Bean supplies his Sheffield accent to the character.
  • Dead Little Sister: Lyanna. He also has a Dead Older Brother - Brandon Stark - and may now have a Dead Little Brother in Benjen, whose status is currently unknown.
    • Though it isn't made clear if he was ever told that Benjen was MIA; Yoren wouldn't have known about it as he left the wall before Benjen's status was called into question.
  • Death by Irony: Twice he has a chance to come out on top of the Gambit Pileup but doesn't make the obvious move, because he doesn't want to see the history repeat itself - He hates the idea of killing children. In the end, he is killed by one of the very children he spared.
  • Decoy Protagonist
  • Face Death with Dignity: Once he sees that Arya's out of sight, the look in his eyes shows him accepting his fate peacefully.
  • Fatal Flaw: His unbending pride and honour lead to all kinds of problems, and eventually his death. That said, he is aware of this. And refuses to change anyway
  • Fish Out of Water
  • Good Is Not Nice: Ned's probably one of-- if not the most-- just and righteous characters in the entire world of Westeros, particularly amongst the nobility. He also happens to be hard, stoic and difficult to connect with for outsiders, who subsequently view him as cold and (at times) terrifying. However, he clearly does love his wife, children, and bannermen, and as noted above refuses to be involved in plots that would endanger the lives of children (up to and including Daenerys Targaryen, who's either in her late teens or early twenties). While all the while being one of the fiercest warriors in Westeros.
  • Grim Up North: Despite being from there he's still the only unambiguously good guy in the setting. Played straight however in that he's still hard, cold and stoic.
  • Good Parents: If there's ANYONE who can illustrate this trope, it's Ned. In fact, he's probably the only father in this setting who is not an asshole.
  • The Good King: Ned excelled at two things; battle and administration. He was so loved by his bannermen and the smallfolk that his death at the hands of Southern rulers motivates them to never again submit to the Iron Throne and wage an civil war to avenge him.
  • The Good Chancellor: We don't see many instances of him performing the duties of the Hand of the King, but when we do he's trying to reduce the kingdom's debt, dissuade Robert from putting himself in unnecessary danger, and actually attempts to give justice to the commoners, by taking down a band of psychotic marauding knights led by Ser Gregor Clegane who are in service to the richest, most powerful House in the kingdoms.
  • Honest Advisor: To Robert. "You're too fat for your armour" isn't a comment the king would accept from many people and least of all laugh about. This is also the reason why Robert asks him to join up as Hand of the King.
  • Honor Before Reason: To a fault.
  • Horrible Judge of Character: "Of course I'll trust the man who hates me for marrying his childhood crush and has told me repeatedly that I shouldn't trust him. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" Though, to be fair, he didn't trust Littlefinger at first, but Catelyn told him that he could trust Littlefinger so part of the blame also goes to his wife as well.
  • Humiliation Conga: The darkest version of the trope, since it is completely undeserved. Ned is arrested, stripped of his lands and titles, forced to falsely confess treason and conspiring to take the Iron Throne for himself, sentenced to death after promising him he was going to live if he confessed and finally beheaded (with his own sword, the same he used himself to kill criminals, no less!) in front of the mob and his head put and left to rot in a pike.
  • Killed Off for Real
  • Master Swordsman: He can match Jaime Lannister blow for blow. Also, Barristan is impressed by his skill.
  • Meaningful Name: Stark is, and also among various other languages, Swedish for 'strong'.
  • Naive Newcomer: To the Court. Poor Ned never got where he was getting into.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Warning Cersei? Really? Varys calls him out on this the following episode.
  • Number Two: to King Robert as Hand of the King.
  • The Obi-Wan: His actual role. Played with by making him a Decoy Protagonist.
  • Papa Wolf: Not only a pun; a clear example is his anger when his daughter isn't brought before him first after Joffrey ends up mauled. It even makes him forget he's speaking to his King. Not that the King minds.
  • Proud Warrior Race Guy: If the observations of Jaime, Tywin and Varys are to be believed, the Northmen seem to have a shade of this. And Ned's one of them.
  • Perfectly Arranged Marriage: His marriage to Catelyn was political, but they're mostly very compatible.
  • Rated "M" for Manly: When you're carrying out all your executions yourself, living by a code of honour even when it may disadvantage you and adamantly stick to it despite being aware of it, manage to slaughter several trained soldiers at once without breaking a sweat, matching and almost defeating a guy who is considered to be one of the finest sword-arms in the realm, and refusing to follow your king through with a dishonourable action that may very well involve committing infanticide, no one'll doubt the size of your balls.
  • Real Men Love the Old Gods: Ned is a devout follower of the Gods of the First Men and Children of the Forest.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure
  • Reason You Suck Speech: Gives one to Robert.

I followed you into war, twice. Without doubts, without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now. The Robert I grew up with didn't tremble at the shadow of an unborn child.

  • Sacrificial Lion
  • Shoot the Dog: His killing of Lady, Sansa's direwolf because, in his words: "The wolf is from the north." It's worth noting that Ned refuses to ask or even let someone else take responsibility for Shooting The Dog, as shown with both Will the deserter and Lady. He even looks them in the eyes (and hears out their last words, in Will's case).
  • Ten-Minute Retirement: As Hand of the King, due to a disagreement with Robert.
  • Token Good Teammate: To the Deadly Decadent Court of King's Landing.
  • Too Cool to Live
  • Too Dumb to Live: Ultimately subverted. His honor leads him to quite a few absolutely stupid decisions that endanger his life, and other characters call him out on it, but in the end, his opponents don't want him dead, he falsely confesses treason to save the lives of his daughters, and it's only Joffrey's sudden decision to be an absolutely monumental dick that results in his beheading. In the end however, it's not because he's mentally deficient or because he's not an intelligent man, but rather because he's too damn noble to do the vile things needed in order to survive in a cutthroat environment.
  • Tragic Hero: See Fatal Flaw.
  • Tranquil Fury: Indulges in this when Jaime kills Jory. And it nearly carried him to victory.
  • Turn in Your Badge: He turns in his badge as Hand of the King after a disagreement with Robert. Within hours he finds that this leaves him and his household unprotected against represalies from the Lannisters.
  • Warrior Lord
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: Not in general, but this goes a long way toward explaining why he trusts Littlefinger. Ned seems to think that he's a Sarcastic Devotee, who despite his snarkiness, is a loyal ally. The reality is very different.

Lady Catelyn "Cat" Stark (nee Tully) (Michelle Fairley)

"I know they did it. In my bones, I know it."

Born Catelyn Tully. Wife of Eddard, and mother of all his children, Jon being the exception.

Tropes:

  • Crusading Widow: "We will kill them all."
  • Happily Married: To Ned.
  • Heroes Want Redheads: Played straight with Ned. Inverted with the Affably Evil Littlefinger.
  • Horrible Judge of Character: Averted in her assessment of the Greyjoys; played straight in her trust in Unlucky Childhood Friend Littlefinger.
  • Killed Off for Real: Apparently, unlike her book counterpart. But then, as noted below, this version didn't hold the same level of hate in her heart, making the "Lady Stoneheart" plotline unfitting.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Her capture of Tyrion really pissed off Tywin Lannister, and helped spark off a civil war between their families.
  • Mama Bear:
    • Come on, I dare you to try to murder her son in front of her!
    • And the moment she tells Robb that after saving Arya and Sansa they will kill all their enemies.
  • Only Sane Woman: Definitely the smarter and saner one of the Tully sisters. After the Season 2 finale, she might also count as the one sane person in Robb's camp, depending on how justified you think she was in releasing Jaime.
    • Once again in the middle of the conflict between Renly and Stannis.
  • Parental Neglect: After Bran's fall she spent a month without leaving his room, completely neglecting her older and younger sons. Then she leaves to advise Ned about the Lannister being responsible for their child's fall. Not really her fault, but she left her children alone.
  • Pet the Dog: Unlike her book counterpart, who hates him to the end, this version of Catelyn has a scene where she repents of her treatment of Jon Snow, believing that her unjust hatred of him has brought about the ruin of her family as punishment from the gods.

"All because I could not love a motherless child!"

  • Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Though she was originally betrothed to Ned's late older brother Brandon, and despite the rough patch when Ned brought home another woman's child, their marriage has been pretty smooth sailing.
  • Red Headed Heroine
  • Settle for Sibling: After Brandon Stark's death, she married his younger brother Eddard.
  • Silk Hiding Steel
  • Tomboy and Girly Girl: Girly Girl to Brienne's Tomboy.
  • Tranquil Fury: In the first season finale, Catelyn,mourning her husband, very nearly bashes in the Kingslayer's head with a convenient rock. Also apparent when she calmly but fiercely calls upon her father's bannermen to stage a citizen's arrest of Tyrion Lannister, who she blames for the attempt on Bran's life.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Gets one from Robb and Lord Karstark when she goes behind their backs and releases Jaime Lannister in the hope of getting Sansa and Arya back.
  • Wicked Stepmother: While not abusive, she makes pretty clear to Jon Snow that in her eyes, he's not welcome.

King Robb Stark (Richard Madden)

"I'm not your boy, Lannister. I'm Lord of Winterfell while my father is away."

Eldest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Now King in the North.

Tropes:

  • Adaptation Expansion: In the books, Robb's campaign in the Westerlands is never actually seen, instead being referred by other characters. Parts of it are seen in the show, and a romance subplot has been added, as well.
  • Arranged Marriage: As part of the agreement with Lord Frey, Robb is bound to marry one of his daughters. He unilaterally cancels it in "Valar Morghulis".
  • Authority Equals Asskicking
  • Awesome Moment of Crowning: "THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
  • A Father to His Men: His leadership style, as seen in The Old Gods and the New, where he takes the time to mingle with the rank and file. Though, at his young age, "brother" perhaps is more appropriate.
  • Badass: His fight with the Wildlings in "A Golden Crown" reveals that he certainly doesn't wear the sword for show. Even Tywin Lannister is impressed.

Robb: Tell Lord Tywin, winter is coming for him. Twenty thousand northerners are marching south to find out if he really does shit gold."
Robb: If she accepts these terms I will give her peace. If not I will litter the south with Lannister corpses."

    • He ups it in episode five where he absolutely crushes a Lannister host at Oxcross, and the viewers are shown the aftermath of the battle.

Roose Bolton: Five Lannisters dead for every one of ours.

  • Batman Gambit: He pulls off one of these when he tells the Lannister scout that his army is 1) larger than it is and 2) is marching towards Lord Tywin instead of against Jaime Lannister.
  • Belligerent Sexual Tension: With a female medic he meets in the aftermath of Oxcross.
  • Big Brother Instinct: Subtly looks disapprovingly at Sansa's attraction towards Joffrey in "Winter is Coming" and protects Bran from Wildlings in "A Golden Crown."
  • The Chains of Commanding: Starts to feel them in "Baelor," when he has to send two thousand men to their deaths in a battle with Tywin in order to defeat and capture Jaime Lannister.
  • Cool Big Bro
  • Cool Pet: His direwolf, Grey Wind.
  • Curb Stomp Battle: Every fight he gets into with the Lannisters is this. He keeps a 5:1 casualty ratio.
  • Dangerously Genre Savvy: Why he insists on taking Jaime with them on every march. He's fully aware that if he leaves him with a bannerman Tywin will either bribe them to get his boy back or will just launch a lightning raid to do so.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Not often, but he has his moments.

Alton Lannister: King Joffrey is a Baratheon, your grace.
Robb: Oh, is he?

Robb: You'd have us surrender, end all this bloodshed, I understand. And the country would be at peace, and life would be just under the righteous hand of "Good King" Joffrey.

Talisa: What kind of king do you want to be?
Robb: I dunno(Beat)the good kind.

  • Growing the Beard: Literally and figuratively. His gradual transition from the son of a lord to the King in the North coincides with him going from being cleanly-shaven in "Winter is Coming" to sporting a Badass Beard in "The North Remembers."
  • Guile Hero: As of "The North Remembers." He's pretty much required to be this, due to the fact that he is badly outnumbered by the Lannisters.
  • The Hero: Of the Northern cause. Also, the closest fitting character to the fantasy hero archetype.
  • Heroic BSOD: When Theon betrays him.
  • Honor Before Reason: He really hates mistreatment of prisoners, and insists on providing medical care and living space for them. This is sometimes subverted as he likes to think of ways to spin this to his own tactical advantage through various Batman Gambits. Excecute the captured scout? Hell no! Here dude have some food and go tell Tywin our fake strategy. Spare any Ironborn captives that surrender? Of course! It will make them more likely to hand over Theon Greyjoy who's the only one I actually give a crap about. Even Roose Bolton is impressed with the last one.
  • Insult Backfire: Jaime makes a point of referring to him as boy, Robb's response amounts to "The boy who kicked your ass, bitch."
  • Kick the Dog: He's quick to remind Theon that he's not one of them. Still, though, he later admits he considered Theon his closest friend.
  • Knight in Sour Armor: Especially as the war goes on.
  • The Leader: Type 1 with some type 4.
  • Mangst: Upon hearing of his father's execution, he substitutes a nearby tree for one of the Lannisters.

Catelyn: You've ruined your sword.

  • Memetic Badass: In-universe. He's known as "The Young Wolf," and Northmen trade tales about how he rides into battle on the back of a giant direwolf, that he can turn into a wolf, and that he can't be killed.
  • Modest Royalty: In Garden of Bones, he has no problem helping a healer amputate the foot of an injured Lannister soldier.
  • Nice Guy: Probably the nicest of the four remaining kings in the war.
  • Papa Wolf: He states to Talisa he must be this for every man, woman, and child of the North, as their king.
  • Properly Paranoid: Unlike the book version.
  • Proud Warrior Race Guy: See Ned's entry. One of the reasons Robb is respected by his fellows is because he's almost always on the frontlines with them and has ample opportunity to show his skill as a fighter to them. In contrast to most other prospective kings in the war, who rarely fight on the front lines.
  • Rated "M" for Manly: Robb Stark is a boss, if anything even more than his dad.

Robb: My lord father told me it was death to bear steel against your Lord, but doubtless you only meant to cut my meat.
Robb: I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me.

Jaime: Three victories don't make you a conqueror.
Robb: It's better than three defeats.

  • Single Woman Seeks Good Man: His romance with Lady Talisa runs on this. He finally lets his feelings for her be known when she tells him a story of how a slave saving her brother's life compelled her to never live in a slaver city again. Talisa is attracted to Robb because he is a good-hearted, ethical man who treats both his allies and his enemies with respect.
  • Sugar and Ice Personality
  • Tranquil Fury: He does this a lot, but it really kicks in when he (correctly) accuses Jaime of injuring Bran. You can hear the sheer fury in every word, but his voice is still calm. It's clear that the only thing keeping Robb from beating him to death with his own hands is Jaime's worth as a prisoner.
  • Warrior King: He's nobility rather than royalty, but definitely becomes one once he leads the Stark bannermen into war against the Lannisters. He is now King in the North by acclamation of his bannermen.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Gave a minor one to his mother after she spent a month at Bran's bedside, neglecting the castle and her younger son Rickon, who's six and disoriented by all the changes at Winterfell.
    • He's on the receiving end of one in Garden of Bones, after a battle leaves thousands dead or injured. A healer lets him have it:

Robb: The boy was lucky you were here.
Talisa: He was unlucky you were.

    • He joins most of his men in giving one to Catelyn when she releases Jaime.
  • Wild Card: This is apparently the main reason he's giving Tywin such hell on the battlefield; none of Tywin's commanders can predict his movements because between his inexperience and confidence at his success so far, he's willing to take risks none of them would dream of taking, and pull them off.
  • Worthy Opponent: To Tywin Lannister, enough that he acknowledges how badly he underestimated Robb and how talented the Young Wolf is at war. Not bad for a boy of eighteen.
  • You Are Lord Stark Now: With his father in King's Landing and his mother busy kidnapping Tyrion, he has to take charge of Winterfell. With the death of his father, he is now Lord of Winterfell and as of "Fire and Blood," King in the North.
  • Young and in Charge:
    • Due to being the highest-ranking person in Winterfell, he has authority over a whole mess of experienced knights and retainers.
    • This dynamic is brought to the fore in "The Pointy End" when he calls his bannermen and begins to march south. In particular, it causes some tensions with Greatjon Umber, but the Greatjon changes his mind when Grey Wind bites some of his fingers off. Later, the Greatjon is the first in the Northern/Riverlands army to declare Robb as King in the North.
  • Young Conqueror

Queen Talisa Stark, nee Maegyr (Oona Chaplin)

"I hope it was a very beautiful bridge."

A noblewoman from Volantis who tends to the wounded after a battle between the Stark and Lannister armies. Later Robb Stark's wife.

Tropes

Princess Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner)

"They will not survive. Joffrey will. The worst always come back."

Elder daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Second child.

Tropes:

Sansa: Where are you from, anyway? The north or the south?
Septa Mordane: I come from a very small village in a--
Sansa: --Oh, wait. I just realized... I don't care.

  • Break the Cutie/Break the Haughty: When Lady is killed and later when her father is deemed a traitor and is beheaded. And then Joffrey shows her the heads of her father and his retainers. After stating that he will rape her when she can bear children. And then he has one of his bodyguards hit her. Repeatedly. And then it got worse.
  • Daddy's Girl: Less obvious than Arya, but the scenes with the doll her father gives her heavily imply she is one.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Has to measure her words given the hostile environment she's in, but the tendency is there.
  • Domestic Abuse: When Joffrey is pissed off, he has his knights beat her.
  • The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: Fills the role of "the pretty one."
  • Heroes Want Redheads: Inverted twice. In Season One, this redhead was very much smitten with blond-haired Joffrey while Affably Evil Littlefinger appears to be interested in her out of her resemblance to her mother Catelyn.
  • Heroic BSOD: When she starts menstruating, as this means that she can now have Joffrey's children.
  • Heroic Breakdown: Has one when Joffrey orders Ned killed.
  • The High Queen: Starts to show signs of this trope in Blackwater, shortly after Cersei mentions how much she disdains it.
  • Horrible Judge of Character: May be a family trait; she completely fails to see the parts of people she doesn't want to see, especially with regard to Joffrey. She is slowly getting better, though.
  • Incompatible Orientation: Implied to have a bit of a crush on Loras Tyrell in Season 1.
  • Joffrey In Leather Pants: In-universe. She's entirely willing to overlook Joffrey's many, many flaws in the name of her fairy-tale romance. She finally snaps out of it at the end of Baelor.
  • Looking for Love In All the Wrong Places: In Season One, she's besotted with a Prince Charmless of teenage royalty and takes a shine to the aformentioned Ser Loras Tyrell.
  • Morality Pet: She's this for the Hound.
  • Perfectly Arranged Marriage: How she views her arranged marriage to Joffrey. At first.
  • Please Spare Him, My Liege:
    • Sansa pleads with Joffrey to exercise mercy in his treatment of Ned. It fails.
    • With some help from the Hound, she succeeds in getting drunken Ser Dontos spared during Joffrey's name day by suggesting for him to be Joffrey's new fool instead.
  • Princess Classic: Not initially a princess in her own right, but she is betrothed to a prince and fills the trope in every other respect. Robb's declaring himself King of the North raises her to that status (though not in the eyes of her hosts).
  • Proper Lady
  • Red Headed Heroine
  • Refuge in Audacity: Seems to be taking it more and more as she spends time in King's Landing, such as when she pointedly reminds Joffrey of the time he had his ass handed to him by Arya and cried like the Dirty Coward he is afterwards.
  • Silk Hiding Steel: Developing into this, most notably in "Blackwater," where she manages to sass Joffrey, make clear to Tyrion how much she hates the Lannisters, weather a drunken Cersei, calm down a room full of anxious noble ladies, and stand up to the Hound without once losing her resolve.
  • Smitten Teenage Girl: In Season One. Not so much in season two.
  • Stepford Smiler: Becomes one to survive in the royal court.
  • Tomboy and Girly Girl/Sibling Yin-Yang: Girly Girl to her sister Arya's tomboyishness.
  • Tranquil Fury: When Joffrey threatens to bring Robb's head to her, Sansa's response that maybe her brother will bring her his head instead shows that the girl has more iron in her than many people thought.
  • Troll: Seems to have taken a liking to doing this to Joffrey, in the most hilariously polite, well-mannered, well-worded way possible. Ties into the above Refuge in Audacity.
  • Wide-Eyed Idealist: At the beginning of the series, she thinks she is going to be a fairy tale princess and that Joffrey is her Prince Charming. She loses more and more of her illusions after her father is executed and she's kept as a hostage in King's Landing.
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: At first.
    • Seasons later, it's still going. This, along with generally poor judgment, is pretty much her defining character trait.
  • Younger Than They Look: She's supposed to be thirteen, or barely fourteen, but Sophie Turner is sixteen and looks slighty older.
  • Your Princess Is in Another Castle: As Littlefinger tells her in "Valar Morghulis", Joffrey's new compromise with Margaery does not mean she's to be set free nor does make her safe from Joffrey if he still wants to take her while married to another woman.

Princess Arya Stark (Maisie Williams)

"Sansa can keep her sewing needles. I've got a needle of my own."

The second daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark and the third child.

Tropes:

  • Actor Allusion: In "A Man without Honor", Tywin makes her eat from his plate saying that she is small for her age, and Arya replies that she eats a lot but she just doesn't grow. Maisie Williams was 14 when filming this episode while her character is only 12.
  • Annoying Younger Sibling: Played with: Gendry becomes somewhat of a substitute brother to her and looks out for her, even though he claims she's "a pain in the arse."
  • Arranged Marriage: She's not aware of it yet, but Robb's agreement with Lord Frey obligates her to marry one of his sons.
  • Badass
  • Best Served Cold: After Yoren shares how in bed he would say the name of the man he planned to kill as "a prayer almost," Arya starts doing the same, with the list growing longer by the day.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: Jaqen offers to assassinate three people she deems worthy of death. Arya takes him up on his offer.
  • Bifauxnen:
    • Is often mistaken for a boy when dressed for her "dancing lessons."
    • Even more so after Yoren cuts off her hair so that she can pass for a boy.
  • Children Forced to Kill: Starting in "The Pointy End" once she flees the castle and takes to the streets of King's Landing.
  • Consummate Liar: Skilled enough to fool Tywin. However, it's not totally clear whether he's managed to see through some parts of it or not.
  • Cool Pet: Nymeria, who attacks Evil Prince Joffrey to defend her.
  • Cool Sword: Needle.
  • Creepy Child: Rapidly approaching this.
  • Daddy's Girl
  • Deadpan Snarker: Seemingly the only trait she shares with Sansa, as evidenced by the exchange with her listed below, as well as the following from A Man Without Honor:

Tywin: Aren't most girls more interested in the pretty maidens of song with flowers in their hair?
Arya: Most girls are idiots.

  • Establishing Character Moment: Sneaking away from doing needlework to score a perfect bullseye with an arrow that her brother repeatedly failed to hit and from further away.
  • Friendly Enemy: With Lord Tywin of all people. She clearly grows to admire him somewhat, but that doesn't stop her from measuring the back of his neck for a couple inches of knife.
  • The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: Fills the role of "the smart one."
  • Guile Hero: Being a child surrounded by heavily-armed and potentially-hostile adults has fostered quick thinking on her part just to stay alive and avoid being captured by the Lannisters. Arya's been forced to use her wits to manipulate people around her, often to an impressive degree.
  • Heroic Breakdown: Borders on one when Joffrey orders Ned killed. Luckily for her Yoren is there to keep her from watching her father's death.
  • I Call It Needle
  • Kid with the Leash: To Jaqen.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Her attempt to steal a letter from Tywin is discovered by Amory Lorch, who is in turn killed by Jaqen right in front of Tywin's eyes. Tywin believes then that the assassination was meant for him, and he responds by ordering all the farms and villages around Harrenhal to be ravaged and his own men to be decimated as punishment.
  • Not So Different: Tywin compares her to Cersei because both are driven, intelligent and clearly underestimated.
  • Oh Crap: A big one when Littlefinger arrives at Harrenhal.
  • Only Sane Woman: Seems to be the only one who thinks that the Hound murdering Mycah is something that actually deserves action, and, unlike Sansa, managed to avoid inheriting the Horrible Judge of Character gene; she sees both Joffrey and Cersei for the monsters they are.
  • Power Trio: She is The Hero to Gendry's lancer and Hot Pie's The Chick.
  • The Runaway
  • Shoo the Dog: To Nymeria.
  • Survival Mantra: "Not today. Not today."
    • Madness Mantra: "Joffrey. Cersei. Ilyn Payne. The Hound. Joffrey. Cersei. Ilyn Payne. The Hound. Polliver. The Mountain. Joffrey."
  • Sweet Polly Oliver: Disguised as a boy so that she can be taken north to safety. It generally works; the only ones who see through it are Gendry (who spent some time in her company on the road), Tywin Lannister (who figures it out from a single glance) and Jaqen H'ghar (who has made an entire career out of disguises).
  • Tomboy and Girly Girl/Sibling Yin-Yang: Tomboy to her sister Sansa's girlishness.

Arya: Can we bring Syrio?

Sansa: Who cares about your stupid dancing master? Father, I can't go! I'm supposed to marry Prince Joffrey, I love him, and I'm meant to be his Queen, and have his babies--

Arya: --Seven hells.

  • Unkempt Beauty
  • Waif Fu: Has demonstrated an ability to kick serious ass with a sword and a bow. And she's twelve.
    • This is actually toned down from the book, and she is even younger there.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Has a bit of one in "Lord Snow" when she asks Ned why he would allow Sansa to marry Joffrey when the the king and queen put Sansa in the position where she would have to lie out of duty towards Joffrey or call the prince a liar in front of them.
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: Matching her sister. Sansa thinks she's the protagonist of a grand tale of high romance and chivalry. Arya thinks she's the protagonist of a dashing tale of noble warriors. They're both equally wrong, and both keep suffering for it.

Prince Brandon "Bran" Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright)

"Every night it's the same: I'm walking, running, but I'm not me."

The second son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark, their fourth child. Now heir to Robb

Tropes:

Prince Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson)

Younger and last son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark.

Tropes:

  • Children Are Innocent
  • Cool Pet: His direwolf, Shaggydog.
  • Creepy Child: After disappearing for several episodes, he suddenly appears in Bran's room talking about how everyone is doomed.
    • Spends the time he is forced to hold court with Bran in Winterfell cracking nuts in the most aggressive way possible.
  • Demoted to Extra: Shows up so little, viewers keep forgetting he exists.
  • Dreaming of Things to Come: He and Bran share a prophetic dream in "Fire and Blood."
  • The Eeyore: Is quite cynical and depressed for a boy of six. Probably less surprising when considering that most of his family went away in very short succession, leaving him frightened and confused.
  • Parental Abandonment: Make that Family Abandonment: the only one of his relatives still left in Winterfell is barely older brother Bran.
  • Psychic Children
  • Wild Child: Seems to be as of "The Ghost of Harrenhall."

Benjen Stark (Joseph Mawle)

"I'm the First Ranger, the job is out there. There have been disturbing reports."

Eddard Stark's younger brother and First Ranger of the Night's Watch.

Tropes:

  • Asskicking Equals Authority: Benjen had to earn the position of First Ranger at the Night's Watch.
  • Brutal Honesty: Tells Jon in no uncertain terms he is no better than anyone at the Wall; they are all brothers now.
  • Cool Uncle: Jon simply adores him.
  • Ranger
  • Never Found the Body: His horse returned riderless and two of his comrades corpses are found--reanimated by White Walkers. While he is officially only missing in action, his comrades-in-arms are not optimistic.

Lyanna Stark

Eddard Stark's sister and Robert's betrothed. She was kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen, which ignited Robert's Rebellion. She died seventeen years ago prior to the start of the series.

Tropes:


Stark Bannermen, Retainers and Household

Ser Rodrik Cassel (Ron Donachie)

An elderly knight and Master-of-Arms at Winterfell. Uncle to Jory Cassel.

Tropes:

Rodrik: Gods help you, Theon Greyjoy, now you are truly lost.

Rodrik: He who passes the sentence should swing the sword.

  • Killed Off for Real
  • The Lancer: To Catelyn.
  • The Mentor: To Robb, Jon and Theon.
  • My Mistress Right or Wrong: With regards to Lady Stark.
  • Obi-Wan Moment: Towards Bran. While Bran, Rickon and the rest of Winterfell are all begging Theon not to kill him, Rodrick just calmly smiles at Bran and says that he'll be seeing Ned soon.
  • Off with His Head: And it takes several swings for Theon to accomplish, contrasting with Ned's clean single stroke and Ned's own execution.
  • Undying Loyalty: To the Starks. This results in his death, and he seems to literally fall under this trope since he tells Bran that he'll be seeing Ned soon, implying that he intends to serve Lord Stark even in the afterlife.

Jory Cassel (Jamie Sives)

The Captain of the Stark household guard and a loyal servant of Ned Stark. Rodrik Cassel's nephew.

Tropes:

Osha (Natalia Tena)

"I tried telling your brother he's marching the wrong way. All these swords, they should be going the north, boy; north, not south. The cold winds are rising."

A Wildling woman taken prisoner by Robb Stark and permitted to serve in Winterfell.

Tropes:

  • Action Girl: She goes up against Robb Stark and says she's used to taking care of herself around rougher men than Theon and anyone living north of the Wall has to be tough as nails to survive.
  • Adaptational Attractiveness
  • Cassandra Truth: She keeps saying that the White Walkers are coming, and that Winterfell's army should go North, not South.
    • She also correctly interprets the comet in the skies over Westeros as heralding the return of the Dragons.
  • Closer to Earth: Resulting from the trope below this one
  • Composite Character: She takes over aspects of Old Nan, and two further book characters. Part of this was Real Life Writes the Plot since Nan's actress, Margaret John, died after the completion of the first season.
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Fake Defector: After Winterfell is taken by the ironborn, she pledges allegiance to Theon supposedly to save her own ass. She's actually doing it to gain Theon's trust and help Bran, Rickon, Hodor and the direwolves escape Winterfell.
  • Honey Trap: Uses this to distract Theon via hanky-panky long enough for her and the boys to slip out, and uses the same trick to distract a guard so she can slit his throat.
  • Men Are the Expendable Gender: She's the only survivor of the group of Wildling refugees who attacked Robb. [7]
  • Mercy Kill: Gives poor Maester Luwin a clean exit.
  • Noble Savage
  • Parental Substitute: Apparently she's slowly becoming one for Bran and Rickon.
    • Parental Substitute Bear: A foe comes to Winterfell, and is a potential menace to Bran and Rickon? Sleep with him to be sure to have a diversion, kill the guard and the take the children away.
  • Show Some Leg: It saves the day twice in "The Old Gods and the New".
  • Wild Hair: While far from subverting the trope, she's getting better.

Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter)

A Maester in the employ of the Starks. Advisor and confidant to Ned and Catelyn and teacher to Bran.

Tropes:

Bran: The Iron Islands. Lords... the Greyjoys.
Theon: Known for their skills in archery, navigation and lovemaking.
Maester Luwin: And failed rebellions.

Septa Mordane (Susan Brown)

A Septa in service of House Stark as a governess and tutor for Sansa and Arya.

Tropes:

Old Nan (Margaret John)

"Oh, my sweet summer child. What do you know about fear? Fear is for the winter when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the the long nights when the sun hides for years, and children are born and live and die, all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little lord; when the white walkers move through the woods."

A retired servant living in Winterfell who is known for her tale-telling abilities.

Tropes:

Hodor (Kristian Nairn)

"Hodor."

A large, mentally challenged servant at Winterfell.

Tropes:

Lord Jon "The Greatjon" Umber (Clive Mantle)

"For thirty years I've been makin' corpses out of men, boy! I'm the man you want leadin' the vanguard."

A powerful lord in the North; one of the Stark's bannermen and head of House Umber.

Tropes:

Syrio Forel (Miltos Yerolemou)

"The First Sword of Braavos does not run."

Recently instructing Arya in water dancing, the Braavosi way of the sword.

Tropes:

  • Accent Adaptation: In the original version, Syrio has a Spaniard accent. In the Spanish dub, it is Arabic.
  • Adaptational Attractiveness: In the books, Syrio Forel is described as bald and leathery, with wooden teeth, in contrast to his charming appearance in the series.
  • Badass
  • Badass Boast: When confronted by several armed guards and holding only a wooden sword.

Syrio: I am Syrio Forel, and you will be speaking to me with more respect.

Lady Maege Mormont

Lady of Bear Island, sister of Jeor Mormont and aunt of Ser Jorah. Portrayed by an unidentified extra so far.

Lord Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton)

"In my family we have a saying: A naked man holds few secrets; a flayed man, none."

Lord of the Dreadfort and a powerful bannerman of the Starks. Head of House Bolton.

Tropes:

Robb: "My father outlawed flaying in the North."
Roose: "We're not in the North."

Lord Rickard Karstark (John Stahl)

"Those who stand between a father and his vengeance shall taste death!"

Lord of Karhold and another powerful bannerman of House Stark.

Tropes:

Catelyn: Wise men do not make demands of kings!
Lord Rickard: Fathers who love their sons do. In the morning, I will have this murderer's head.

Catelyn: I grieve for your son my lord-
Lord Rickard Karstark: I don't want your grief! I want my vengeance!

  • Grumpy Old Man: His responses when Robb asks him about possible lodging for Ser Alton show that he is a rather irritable man. Justified, as the North has recently lost Winterfell, which calls into question Robb's worthiness as King in the North.
  • The Other Darrin: Played by Steven Blount in one episode of Season 1.
  • Old Soldier: He's a capable general of Robb's. [10]
  • Papa Wolf: Came within inches of striking Catelyn because she refused to let him kill Jaime for killing his son, who was guarding the cell Jaime was in.

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  1. ↑ Ned barely puts up a fight when he's outnumbered by Jaime and the Lannister men. He also recollects a fight against far superior fighters during the rebellion and admits that he survived only by luck and the intervention of a friend.
  2. ↑ Jeyne belonged to a minor house sworn to the Lannisters that switched to Robb's cause when he took The Crag. She became Robb's Love Interest and had a decisive effect on the events of the second and third book.
  3. ↑ Brandon is a very popular name in the North: both heroes and the Stark kings of old have been so named.
  4. ↑ Even from a young age, Bran wanted nothing more than to be a Knight in Shining Armor.
  5. ↑ Ned, who was with Lyanna as she died, is quiet about the subject, and it is implied that there is more to the story than what is said--specifically, Ned seems to be haunted by an unspecified promise he made to her on her deathbed.
  6. ↑ In A Clash of Kings he rallies an army to retake Winterfell from Theon, and he meets up with a force of Bolton men lead by the Bastard of Bolton, Ramsay Snow, who has ostensibly come to join him in laying siege to the castle. When he reaches to shake Ramsay's hand, he gets a sword in reply.
  7. ↑ This is subverted. Five wildings, not three, come south and there's another woman besides Osha. The other gets a fatal case of Grey-Wind-through-bowels.
  8. ↑ Actually subverted, since his real name is "Walder."
  9. ↑ One of the more common fan theories is that Syrio was actually Jaqen H'ghar in disguise.
  10. ↑ he also killed the Lannister Commander, Stafford Lannister, at the Battle of Oxcross. (the battle in episode 4)
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