8 Game of Thrones characters who were secret villains

Catelyn Stark

Catelyn Stark gets a spot on the list of secret villains of because she is, by action, a secret villain. In the first season, Ned Stark leaves to become Hand of the King after Ned and Catelyn are told (falsely, but they don’t know that) that the Lannisters were involved with the death of Jon Arryn, the husband of Catelyn’s sister Lysa. After Bran is pushed from the tower by Jaime Lannister, an assassin tries to kill Bran while he’s recovering from his injuries. Catelyn decides she’s seen enough and begins moving in secret to take action against the Lannisters, and who does she just happen to cross while on the move? Tyrion Lannister. Catelyn accuses him of attempted murder, and Tyrion is forced to stand trial in the Eyrie, where Lysa lives.

That’s the thing about Catelyn. Yes, her family was threatened and hurt, but it’s her meddling that really sets things off between Stark and Lannister/Baratheon. It’s all based on a lie told to her by her sister! Sure, the Starks and Lannisters were never going to be on the same page, but Catelyn doesn’t make things any easier, especially when her husband and their two daughters are in King’s Landing with the Lannisters.

There’s obviously some debate about Catelyn being a secret villain. Tossing around accusations without proof is villain behavior. And just because she’s a bad secret villain doesn’t mean she wasn’t a secret villain. Plus, she’s so mean to poor Jon Snow.