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

9. Littlefinger

Watching Littlefinger scheme his way towards power and snake away from his enemies' clutches thanks to the intricate machinations of his brilliant mind has been one of the most compelling under-currents in Game Of Thrones. His serpentine, self-serving agenda has also made him one of the most unlikeable characters, and yet, there's something in Aidan Gillen's performance that retains him a dark charm.

You can almost sympathise with his condition - since he was basically born low and has callously grabbed all of his power through genius alone - and there has to be some acknowledgement that he's one of the most successful Game players throughout the seasons.

Even when he seems to be backed into a corner, he has another scheme to fall back on, and you get the sense that he might be manipulating the situation even as he appears to be losing control of it. He can make difficult watching, but there's no denying he's horribly compelling.