The 50 Best Game of Thrones Characters, Ranked
48. Ser Brynden Tully a.k.a. “The Blackfish”
Lady Catelyn’s uncle first appeared in Season 3, acting as an advisor to his family as they worked to secure Robb Stark’s place as the King in the North. But his appearance in Season 6 is what landed him a spot here. The Blackfish is one tough trout. He’s the sort of hardhead who does what he does because it’s the right thing to do. This stubborn streak has crossed the line into selfish a few times—he never married because he refused to be part of an arranged union, for example. That was a big point of argument between him and his brother Hoster; A marriage would have meant more Tullys for the Riverlands, but the Blackfish does what the Blackfish wants to do.
Ser Brynden doesn’t let Jaime Lannister’s flashy golden army sway him as he secures his stronghold at Riverrun. But that stubbornness may have sealed his fate. Instead of packing up to help Sansa and Jon take back the North, he decided to stick it out at home, willing to wait for all eternity and hold his castle.
We were slightly disappointed to see such an anticlimactic end to the Blackfish. Clive Russell delivered us a character with endless fight in him, one who was prepared to swing a sword until his last breath. Unfortunately, that final battle was never shown. Let’s just hope the fighting spirit of the Tullys still exists within Edmure.