Game Of Thrones: All 26 Characters From Season 1 (Who Aren’t Dead Yet) - Ranked

18. Sam Tarly

Sam is everything you'd expect from a George RR Martin character: he's a kind-hearted, intelligent weakling with a traumatic backstory who was rejected by his father for not being manly enough and who has basically stumbled his way through various scenarios that would typically kill far stronger and more experienced characters.

He's very much the Westerosi version of Samwise Gamgee - an unfailing, loyal companion to the cooler, imperilled hero who gets the girl in the end and who has a serious part to play in bringing things to an end. It's just a shame that he's lost his way somewhat recently with his journey to becoming a maester (he's just not as interesting when he's not in immediate mortal peril all the time).

Hopefully he'll get back on track soon.