11 Game of Thrones characters who should’ve survived to the end

2) Missandei

In a show where many characters were often playing multiple angles, Missandei was solidly loyal to Daenerys Targaryen. As a part of the Mother of Dragons’ tight-knit cadre of advisors, Missandei was often the voice of reason, tethering Daenerys to the ground whenever her fiery spirit lifted her into the air, the perfect place to attack from dragonback.

When the sweet, insightful Missandei was brutally captured and mercilessly killed by the cold-hearted Cersei, it sparked an unstoppable inferno within Daenerys, resulting in a revenge that killed many innocent people.

Missandei was one of the few prominent BIPOC characters on the show, Missandei’s death was felt especially hard when it came to representation. In the end, her death felt like it happened to trigger Daenerys, which felt like a missed opportunity to explore Missandei herself, a misstep that left many fans disenchanted.

1) Eddard, Catelyn, and Robb Stark

Yes, I’m bundling these three Starks together. You didn’t want us to have a list of 13 characters, would you? We’d bring bad luck down on the whole article.

The death of Eddard Stark, our honorable protagonist, was a jarring blow to say the least. Sean Bean’s portrayal of Ned Stark, the beleaguered Stark patriarch and noble Warden of the North, had all of us rallying behind him, praying for his survival amidst the vipers in King’s Landing. His death was the tipping point that set up the rest of the unpredictable show we know and love, but the heart wants what it wants, and the heart wants more of Ned’s unyielding steadfastness.

Then came the Red Wedding. The deaths of Ned’s wife Catelyn and his son Robb still count among the most shocking moments in television history. The relentless decimation of the Stark clan during the early seasons was an exercise in emotional endurance for the audience. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of the Starks that they managed to regroup and rise again, albeit with wounds that ran deep. It’s only natural that we find ourselves wishing that these fatal blows could have been dealt a little later in the story, allowing us more time to spend with these beloved characters.

The three of them surviving would also prevent little Rickon Stark from meeting his end during the Battle of the Bastards. Also, if only he hadn’t run in a straight line.

Who else do you wish hadn’t left Westeros? Let us know in the comments.

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