8 Game of Thrones characters who overstayed their welcome

2. Theon Greyjoy

Theo Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is one of the few Game of Thrones characters to appear in the first episode and make it to the final season alive. Theon almost makes it through the whole series, which would have been a massive mistake. If there’s one character who overstayed their welcome on Game of Thrones more than anyone else, it might be Theon.

Early in the series, Theon is insufferable, misogynistic, and foolish. After hatching a plan with the Ironborn, he takes Winterfell after Robb Stark’s (Richard Madden) army marches south only to be bested by Roose (Michael McElhatton) and Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon). From there, Theon’s story goes from one about the perils of an overambitious, dim-witted young person to a downright nightmare after he’s taken prisoner by Ramsey and tortured into subservience.

It’s incredible that Theon made it to the final season of Game of Thrones only to be killed by the Night King with his own spear. In a just world, Theon would have been killed far earlier. Better men died for much, much less.

I’m definitely not a supporter of Theon’s redemption arc. Obviously, no one deserves what was done to Theon by Ramsey Bolton, but at the same time, Theon did horrible things in his own right. What it comes down to, for me, is that the plotlines involving Theon just weren’t necessary, interesting, or fun to watch in any way, shape, or form. He could have been killed so much earlier in Game of Thrones and it would have made little difference to the overall story.