The 50 Best Game of Thrones Characters, Ranked
36. King Renly I Baratheon
King Renly proves that kindness doesn’t always cut it in Westeros. He could have made a killing as the Seven Kingdom’s most famous standup comic, because the guy was full of snark. (“Born amidst salt and smoke? Is he a ham?”) He was friendly and fashionable, and had an adorable romance with Ser Loras. We liked him and thought he was a nice guy, but a claimant to the throne? Not so much.
Renly is the youngest son of the Baratheon bunch. And with older brothers like Robert and Stannis, it must have been hard not to feel intimidated. He may have been popular with his men (plus, he added a woman to his Kingsguard), but unlike his brothers, he had no hideout to call his own, instead spending his time on a leisurely march to King’s Landing on which he never had to pick up a sword. Then Melisandre’s shadow baby knifed him in the back, and that was that.
Gethin Anthony portrayed a young king who wanted to prove himself. He would have made a better ruler in a world where might didn’t so often equal right.