Game Of Thrones: 10 Worst Things The Starks Have Ever Done

Was the most honourable man in Westeros really that honourable?

Arya Stark Freys
HBO

One of the key aspects that made Game of Thrones so incredible was the characters, and our perception of them. There was a time when everyone watching the show hated the likes of Jaime Lannister, Theon Greyjoy, and Sandor Clegane, yet just a few seasons later, they were counted among the most popular on the show.

George R. R. Martin has proved himself a master of creating characters neither good nor bad, yet able to drift almost seamlessly between the two. With the exception of Joffrey Baratheon, Ramsay Bolton, and possibly Walder Frey, every character has at least some redeeming quality, and just about every single citizen of Westeros has done something wrong or immoral.

When thinking about these characters on the wrong side of what is good, the Starks tend to sit toward the back end of the list. They have generally been portrayed as the best of a bad bunch in Westeros, from the honourable Ned Stark, to Robb's quest to avenge his father, and Sansa's battle against the monsters she is forced to live with.

This does not mean, however, that they are perfect, and throughout the Song of Ice and Fire saga, the Starks have made their fair share of mistakes.

10. Catelyn Captured Tyrion

Arya Stark Freys
HBO

Ever since the sack of King's Landing, when Ned walked into the throne room to find Jaime sitting atop the Iron Throne, there has been bad blood and tension between the Lannisters and the Starks. Things weren't helped years later when someone tried to open Bran's throat while the Lannisters were guests in Winterfell.

After Littlefinger revealed that the blade the cat's paw used to attack Bran belonged to Tyrion Lannister, and Lysa claimed the Lannisters murdered Jon Arryn, Catelyn convinced Ned to travel south and find out the truth.

On her own travels, she just so happened to cross paths with the Imp, and seized the opportunity to capture him with or without hard evidence of his accused crimes. This had quite the ripple effect throughout Westeros, reaching south in King's Landing, and to the Lannisters in the west.

Every Lannister is fiercely proud, and the kidnapping of Tyrion was seen as an insult to their House. Jaime's typical hot headed reaction was to confront Ned in the streets of the capital, killing Jory Cassel and injuring Ned in the process. In the west, despite his resentment and hatred toward his youngest son, Lord Tywin raised his banners in preparation for war with the Starks.

This, and the fact that Tyrion was actually innocent, eventually leaving the Eyrie unscathed, plants this act as one of the Starks' biggest mistakes.

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Contributor

This standard nerd combines the looks of Shaggy with the brains of Scooby, has an unhealthy obsession with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is a firm believer that Alter Bridge are the greatest band in the world.