With ‘Game of Thrones,’ the golden age of television has blessed us with some of the most horrifying fictional characters. Today’s audience embraced them because they provide a fascinating perspective of humanity. Some believe that the acceptance level was because they portray a hidden darkness that resides in all of us. Or, we are simply excited by revolting actions that shift the dramatic movement in a wild direction.
The creators of ‘Game of Thrones’, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, understood the fascination with sinister characters. In their adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s beloved fantasy book series, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire,’ they’ve brought to screen the following most sadistic characters. But who is the evilest of them all?
Read More: How Many ‘Game Of Thrones’ Spinoffs Did HBO Cancel According to George R. R. Martin?
Grand Maester Pycelle
Mostly discounted as sagging and harmless, Grand Maester Pycelle was evil to the bone. A permanent fixture of the Small Council, he avoided the noose around his neck by way of his conflicting loyalties, especially spying for House Targaryen. Supposedly a man of sage wisdom, he had no qualms in assassinating a young Daenerys Targaryen. He also keeps the truth of John Arryn’s death and Joffrey’s parentage to himself, misleading Eddard Stark, among many others.
Ser Allister Thorne
Prickly and bitter forever, Ser Allister Thorne made his dislike for John Snow from the very start. Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly were often the targets of his wrath, as he chided them for being unfit in the face of battle. Despite being at odds with John Snow, he is appointed as First Ranger of the Night’s Watch. The inclusion of Wildings doesn’t sit well with him, as he leads a mutiny against Commander Snow. He doesn’t have the heart to do it himself and uses Olly to bring out his devious schemes. He leads a mutiny along with a few other men, leaving John Snow dead on an unfortunate, dark winter.
Lysa Arryn
We never saw a lot of her, and thank God for that! Truly an insidious woman in every sense of the word, she broke all her vows and bonds for the sake of her unrequited love. Jealous, cruel, and apathetic, he killed her husband, John Arryn, to be with his lover Littlefinger. Despite being family, she showed Catelyn Stark a cold shoulder when creating alliances for Robb Stark’s war. As a mother, she raised a peculiar, sickly child made unfit for royal duties.
Read More: ‘House Of The Dragon’: How Did Dragons Come Into Existence? Were They Created By Magic?
Shae
Shae was a refreshing and honest character in a world of secrecy, and our hearts broke to see her virtue run amok because of jealousy. Her false testimony found Tyrion in hot waters as he fought for his life. Falsely charged for regicide, Shae’s words eventually made him a fugitive. Her betrayal of words and body is too much for Tyrion, who never loved again.
Walder Frey
A man as repulsive and lecherous as Walder Frey would never win any admirers. Being old and grey didn’t stop him from committing atrocious crimes against decency. Sick to no end, he had a history of violence against young women he forcibly took as his wives. Often considered a bumbling idiot, he showed his true colors soon by orchestrating the Red Wedding massacre.
Read More: Top 10 Greatest Swordfighters in Game of Thrones
Ramsey Bolton
This eerie, unpredictable, blue-eyed monster never failed to terrify us. He killed because he liked it, forever chasing the taste of the hurt he caused with his senseless killings. Tragically, fans remember his castration of Theon Greyjoy and the stabbing of his father, Roose Bolton. If that wasn’t enough, he married a helpless Sansa Stark and unleashed unspeakable horrors on her on the eve of their wedding night.
The High Sparrow
The High Sparrow was the leader of the religious sect Sparrows. As the series progressed, so did the question of his piety. Under the veneer of religion, he indeed was a cult leader hell-bent on bringing power to the old ways. He leads a group of devout, militant followers who begin inflicting punishments on the public as he amassed more influence over the crown. While his sense of right and wrong was relatively upright compared to other sinners in Westeros, one can argue his treatment of Cersei was a step gone too far. Stripped naked, she’s subjected to utter humiliation as she is tasked to walk among the very people she once ruled. He is supposed to be a defender of faith but ends up becoming a Godman with the powers of a ruler.
Littlefinger
While others died while playing the game of thrones, he managed to play both sides with his survival instincts and street smarts. He wasn’t a violent man but could weaponize words to significant effect. Littlefinger misled many, whether it was a shadow participation in lethal alliances or plotting significant downfalls. The worst crime was lying about the dagger meant to kill Bran Stark. He told Caitlyn Stark that the current owner of it was Tyrion. It is an ultimate crime, as this was the first domino to fall among many, leading Starks to war against the Lannisters.
Read More: Top 25 Greatest Female Villains
Cersei Lannister
Cersei Lannister was the ultimate villainous creation of the author George. R.R. Martin. Her most unnatural crime was her incestuous bond with her brother Jamie, but her list of damnation saw no end. She was responsible for the deaths of her husband and all her children. Moreover, she was always at odds with his Tyrion, making Sansa’s life a living hell. In the show’s most shocking moment, we saw the apex of her evil when she blows up the Sept of Baelor to kingdom come, eliminating all her enemies in a single blow.
Joffrey Baratheon
News to none, Joffrey Baratheon was the worst character on ‘Game of Thornes‘. The petulant boy-king was evil incarnate, agonizing everyone around him. He was fueled by the desire to hurt and lacerate, with Sansa getting the worst of it. Not only did he make every wrong political decision ever, but he was also particularly cruel to his own family with his words and actions. However, his public execution of Eddard Stark was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Read More: “Didn’t Want Him To Be Joffrey”: ‘House Of The Dragon’ Makers Talk About Aegon Targaryen
