Game Of Thrones: 10 Most Powerful Characters

By Joseph Palame / March 7, 2014

At its core, Game of Thrones is a show about power€”about wielding, gaining, sustaining, and manipulating it. There are two ways of wielding this power in the Game of Thrones universe: institutionally and manipulatively. The figures in the first category occupy an explicit leadership position over those under their influence. This would include Joffrey, Daenerys, Stannis, and even Mance Rayder. These characters have explicit authority to go to war and order people to be imprisoned or executed among other things. Their royalty (or at least claims to royalty) allows them to rule with institutionalized power. On the other hand, there are Game of Thrones characters who don't wield institutionalized power but are able to manipulate situations and other characters who do wield institutionalized power in order to benefit their own desires. These characters have found ways into the minds of those with institutionalized power, whether by emotional connections (Margaery Tyrell) or by monetary connections (Littlefinger). It even seems that Game of Thrones favors these manipulating characters since many of the rulers would become puppets, ruling at the whims of the manipulating characters. The past three seasons of the show have seen men with great power fall (Robert Baratheon) and new forces rise (Daenerys). Every faction has its figurehead, but these figureheads have proven to be mere puppets on several occasions, with several figures orchestrating these shifts in the political background (Varys). And with season four fast approaching, an evaluation of the power dynamics in the Game of Thrones universe is in order. Some spoilers for the first three seasons follow.

Honourable Mention: Tyrion Lannister

The reason Tyrion doesn't really make the cut for this list is that he is in an extremely weakened position heading into season four. He sort of exists only at the whim of Tywin. Tywin has stripped him of his position as the Hand of the King, appointed him as Master of Coin, and forced into marriage with Sansa. Tywin is suppressing Tyrion as a political figure, controlling his ascension just as he suppresses him as his son. However, the reason Tyrion is still worth mentioning here is his potential. We have previously seen his excellent ability to play the "game of thrones." Back in season two, he pulled off that great experiment with Varys, Littlefinger, and Maester Pycelle to determine who was loyal to him and who was loyal to the queen. He is clever and knows how to manipulate others, but these skills are currently useless given his weakened position. Furthermore, Tyrion is the first among the Lannisters who acts with some version of a moral compass (although it seems Jaime is forging his own). Other manipulating characters, especially Varys, have seen this, and so they support Tyrion. In this way, Tyrion has two means to potential power: his mind, which allows him to navigate the political seas of Westeros, and his heart, which has gained him influential allies. Unfortunately, this power is still potential, and not yet kinetic, heading into season four.