In the ruthless world of Game of Thrones, people rarely get the endings they deserve, and these characters are proof of that. We're officially coming up on Game of Thrones season 1's 15th anniversary on April 17. And after all these years, it's still hard to look back at certain characters' fates. Some, like Sansa and Arya or Brienne of Tarth, get satisfying outcomes that pay off years of storytelling. Others aren't as fortunate — most of them, if we're being honest.
Whether these Game of Thrones characters fall victim to the merciless nature of Westeros, subpar writing, or all of the above, there's no denying they deserved better endings than the ones they got. Their send-offs range from devastating to downright disappointing. Because of this, we're still talking about them years later.
1. Ned Stark
One of the earliest signals that good people don't always get happy endings in Westeros, Ned Stark's death is a turning point for Game of Thrones. And don't get me wrong: it's masterfully executed. However, Ned clearly doesn't deserve to be killed. He initially tries to do the right thing — expose the Lannisters' lies and corruption — and he takes the necessary steps to get the Gold Cloaks on his side. Unfortunately, his tendency to trust people seals his fate twice over. Littlefinger's betrayal gets him arrested, and even when he attempts to backtrack his "treason" for his daughters' sakes, the promise that he can join the Night's Watch is broken. His death drives home the harshest reality of Game of Thrones: that George R.R. Martin's world doesn't care what you deserve.
2. Jeor Mormont
When it comes to undeserved Game of Thrones endings, Jeor Mormont doesn't get brought up nearly enough. Despite being an honorable leader committed to the men serving under him, he's killed by the very members of the Night's Watch he's tasked with overseeing. It's a cruel turn that serves as yet another reminder of Westeros' brutality. Lord Commander Mormont's death has to happen for the storylines in the North to unfold the way they do. Yet making mutiny the cause of death feels like twisting the knife, as does the desecration of his body afterward.
3. Talisa Stark
Robb Stark doesn't necessarily deserve the extremes of the Red Wedding, but his broken vows directly lead into the iconic Game of Thrones tragedy. Talisa Stark, however, makes no promises to House Frey. Thus, her death at their hands feels especially undeserved. It doesn't help that Robb's wife, Jeyne Westerling, remains alive in the Song of Ice and Fire books. Game of Thrones could have spared Talisa this end, but instead, it makes it as gruesome as possible. (It's one way to snuff out ASOIAF theories that Robb Stark's child is still out there somewhere, I suppose.)
4. Grey Wind
Another victim of the Red Wedding, Robb's direwolf Grey Wind doesn't get the chance to defend himself — likely because the men who kill him know they won't win that fight. Grey Wind dies separated from Robb and locked in a cage, a poor fate for the loyal direwolf. He's not responsible for the events that lead to the Red Wedding, nor do the Freys really need to kill him. It's a sad ending all around, and probably one of the hardest deaths to rewatch. That good boy deserved so much better.
5. Catelyn Stark
Like Talisa and Grey Wind, Catelyn Stark suffers the consequences of Robb's choices — and it's especially frustrating, since she advises against everything that leads up to the Red Wedding. Catelyn proves her wisdom repeatedly throughout Game of Thrones seasons 1-3, yet Robb ignores his mother's guidance. She warns him about breaking his alliance, and she's upfront about the danger of going to the Twins. In an ideal world, Catelyn's foresight would have saved her. Of course, Westeros is far from that.
6. Shireen Baratheon
One of the most harrowing Game of Thrones deaths belongs to Shireen Baratheon, who is burned at the stake in support of her father's cause. Both of her parents look on and do nothing, leaving the young princess terrified and alone at the end. Considering she demonstrates nothing but compassion over the course of the series, it's a gutting conclusion to her story. If any character deserved a better send-off, it's Shireen. And although Stannis and his army are defeated, she barely gets justice after. At least Ser Davos will carry her memory.
7. Myrcella Baratheon
Between Shireen and Princess Myrcella, Cersei's sentiment that "everywhere in the world, they hurt little girls" rings true. The least troublesome of Cersei's children, Myrcella finds the promise of a decent life in Dorne. She's so content that she's reluctant when Jaime and Bronn arrive to bring her home. Sadly, she never gets there. Myrcella becomes a casualty of the feud between the Dornish and the Lannisters, despite doing nothing to fuel the bad blood between the groups. It's a shame, as her marriage to Trystane Martell could have forged peace instead. Alas, that's rarely the outcome in Game of Thrones.
8. Rickon Stark
Game of Thrones features a surprising number of young characters who die as pawns in political games, and Rickon Stark is no exception. The youngest of the Stark siblings, he's left behind when Bran ventures beyond the Wall. And although this is meant to protect him, it drives him right into the hands of Ramsay Bolton. Rickon gets one of the most memorable Game of Thrones deaths, and there's something to be said for that. However, in a kinder version of Westeros, he wouldn't be at the whims of a cruel character like Ramsay — or perish just before his siblings take back their home.
9. Meera Reed
One of the few surviving Game of Thrones characters on this list, Meera Reed does a lot to aid Bran Stark's journey north. Unfortunately, she receives little recognition for it. Despite courageously venturing beyond the Wall and losing her own brother, Bran sends Meera home with little fanfare. She barely gets an unfeeling "thank you" from him, even though they're supposed to be friends. That's insulting on its own, but we also never see her again. Her character arc simply fizzles out, with Game of Thrones failing her in the end.
10. Petyr Baelish
Petyr Baelish undoubtedly deserves to die, and there's something poetic about Sansa turning his own schemes against him. However, I still think Game of Thrones could have given him a better send-off than this. Littlefinger is one of the series' most conniving villains, and his final scene diminishes the character's cleverness. It's difficult to believe Littlefinger would walk into such a trap, and it highlights how watered down the TV version of the character is compared to his book counterpart. I'm all for Sansa outsmarting him, but a more believable game of cat-and-mouse game would have been preferable. Unfortunately, Game of Thrones seasons 7 and 8 don't leave time for such a thing.
11. Rhaegal
None of the dragons or direwolves deserve to perish in Game of Thrones, but like Grey Wind's demise, Rhaegal's fate feels extra insulting. Viserion, at least, becomes a nightmarish blend of dragon and White Walker — and that puts a thrilling spin on his death. Rhaegal, on the other hand, falls victim to a trap that Daenerys and her armies should have seen coming. And it happens so quickly that fans barely have time to grieve the dragon before we're on to the next thing. It's probably inevitable that Drogon is the only one left standing, but the HBO series could have given Rhaegal a more epic farewell. It'd be more fitting for one of Game of Thrones' only three dragons.
12. Missandei
Rhaegal isn't the only victim of the trap Daenerys' army sails right into, and Missandei's fate afterward is even more infuriating. Missandei spends much of her life in chains, and Game of Thrones makes the disappointing choice to place her back in them when the Mountain takes her life. In terms of optics, it's pretty terrible. And unfortunately, it's not the only example of Game of Thrones treating its BIPOC characters poorly. On top of this being a dubious creative choice, Missandei is one of the few genuinely decent characters in Game of Thrones. We rarely see her embrace her worst impulses, unlike so many other players. She's the last person who deserves to be so cruelly executed. Needless to say, that final "Dracarys!" is earned, even if her fate isn't.
13. Cersei Lannister
Cersei Lannister's ending mirrors Littlefinger's in the sense that both characters have to die, but both of them should have been given far more memorable send-offs. After she spends eight seasons of Game of Thrones scheming for the Iron Throne — and plowing down anyone who gets in her way — Cersei is crushed when the Red Keep crumbles during Daenerys' attack. It's among the series' most underwhelming fates, especially after the final season builds her up to be a final boss. With the Night King gone, Cersei is the last obstacle for Game of Thrones' heroes. (Well, other than Daenerys herself.) The fact that none of them directly confront her is ludicrous. If anyone deserved a more dramatic death, it's Cersei.
14. Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys Targaryen's ending is a mixed bag, as it's one that's set up over the course of the story — but it simply doesn't play out as effectively as it needs to. Dany deserves better on two fronts: she shouldn't become a tyrant with zero nuance after all the good we see she's capable of, and she shouldn't become corrupted and die in such a short timeframe. Better pacing might have made Dany's ending more digestible. Unfortunately, as it stands, it's incredibly divisive, and for good reason.
15. Jon Snow
Like Meera Reed, Jon Snow survives Game of Thrones, but this doesn't mean he gets an ending worthy of him. Jon's send-off is disappointing for multiple reasons. For one, it's depressing to see the most honorable surviving character left traumatized and banished, even if he does belong in the North. Jon makes a great sacrifice for the sake of duty, and he does the right thing repeatedly over the series. He deserves some happiness, but it's mostly absent from his final Game of Thrones moments. Additionally, the series doesn't capitalize on the reveal surrounding Jon's parentage nearly as much as it should. It may cause friction with Daenerys, but it otherwise amounts to nothing. Talk about a disappointment.
We're celebrating the 15th anniversary of Game of Thrones all April long with retrospectives, deep dives, editorials, quizzes, and more. Need some reading material as you take a return journey through Westeros? We've got you covered.