8 TV Villains Who Redeemed Themselves

While there were subtle hints The Hound wasn’t quite the monster he made himself out to be, it took awhile for his inner nice guy to shine through. After abandoning Joffrey during the Blackwater battle he takes Arya Stark on an extended road trip, trying to claim a reward for returning her to various family members, who are usually dead by the time they arrive.

The two form a strange buddy cop relationship, and he opens up about his scarring at the hands of his brother. He saves her life a couple of times, but not enough to convince her to help when he’s badly wounded by Brienne. He’s presumed dead, only to come back in season six a changed man. He’s turned his back on violence and helps built a sept for some nice villagers, only to get axe happy again when they’re slaughtered.

He’s still surly and bloodthirsty, but he also seems to accept the idea his life can have some kind of worthwhile purpose, and he wants to find it. On that note, his inevitable showdown with The Mountain should be EPIC.