Game of Thrones' biggest Season 5 challenge is 'contracting' the story 

\'Game of Thrones\' biggest Season 5 challenge is \'contracting\' the story

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"Game of Thrones" is heading into its biggest and most ambitious season yet in Season 5, and it\'s doing so largely without the road map of its source material. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss recently confirmed that there will be spoilers for George R.R. Martin\'s two unpublished novels, "The Winds of Winter" and "A Dream of Spring," in future "Game of Thrones" seasons.

For Benioff and Weiss, producing, writing, sometimes directing and generally thinking about their HBO fantasy series is a year-long commitment. In anticipation of Season 5\'s premiere, they took a break to answer five questions from Zap2it about "Game of Thrones" via e-mail. 

They share their thoughts developing the show past the books, a (probably not entirely truthful) tease of what Bran is up to during Season 5 and the scene from the books they\'re sad they didn\'t get to bring to life on the show.

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As we\'re at Season 5 and there\'s no new published source material, what becomes easier or harder about writing the show? David Benioff and D.B. Weiss: Well, George always said he wrote them to be unproduceable. As the story progresses, the sheer production challenges increase. HBO is extremely supportive -- but if we want to air in late March/early April every year as we\'ve been doing thus far, there are only so many days we can shoot, and only so much postproduction we can jam in and still maintain quality. Suppose that\'s dodging the writing question. In a way, though, it\'s an analogous challenge. As the scale and scope of the events in the books increase, so do the scale and scope of the book narrative and character list. 

Ten episodes is the absolute maximum we can do in a year; it\'s already a 52-week-a-year job for many people. And in terms of story and characters, there\'s simply a carrying capacity that any TV show has -- the amount of information you can have in play before people lose track of what\'s going on, and therefore lose interest. We think we operate right on the edge of that carrying capacity. So the biggest challenge in the adaptation has been resisting the urge to expand, and finding a way to start contracting, because in show terms, it\'s time for that to happen.

There have been a lot of shocking deaths on the show, and a lot more coming in Season 5. What goes into a death from a writing standpoint to make sure it is surprising, and to prevent death fatigue with your audience? Sometimes they won\'t be shocking, we don\'t think. Sometimes they\'ll feel tragically inevitable. In either case, if they\'re born from dramatic necessity and not some kind of "gotcha!" impulse, we don\'t think there will be death fatigue. Or, no moreso than there was before the show started. Speaking only for ourselves, we are well and truly over the whole death thing. It\'s been three billion years of that s***. Enough already.

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You\'ve teased that storylines are converging this season. How does that affect how you craft the season and make sure every plot thread is covered, both in Season 5 and beyond? Will storylines just keep converging until only Rickon and the dragons remain? Fingers crossed! A lot of the convergences occur naturally, in the course of exploring what the characters want and where they are heading. And just because people converge doesn\'t mean they automatically annihilate each other. You have a violent mind. Sometimes they just spread out a blanket and sit down to tea and crumpets.

I already miss Bran. What can you tease from his offscreen Luke Skywalker transformation this season? Will he and Meera help with the tree\'s interior decorating? The skull look is such a rip off the Wampa\'s lair, Three-Eyed Raven. Bran and Meera have both been eaten offscreen. At first, the creature that ate them comes off as dangerous, but it is later revealed to be more of a tragic figure.

Was there one sequence from the books you left out in previous seasons that you are the most bummed you didn\'t get to include, and if so what was it? There was a battle in Season 1 where Tyrion was going to go into battle behind the Mountain. Alan Taylor had planned it, it was going to be great. And then we ran out of money. We loved Alan\'s workaround, however (in episode 109, where Tyrion gets literally knocked out of the battle). And it made Tyrion\'s Blackwater battle more fresh ... so no blood, no foul.

100 \'Game of Thrones\' characters, ranked from good to evil

Very few characters on "Game of Thrones" are 100 percent good, or 100 percent... Show more »

Very few characters on "Game of Thrones" are 100 percent good, or 100 percent evil. Here's Zap2it's ultimate ranking of all the characters on the HBO series. Stipulations: They were seen alive on the show, and actually had a somewhat substantial purpose in the plot. Also, these are subject to change (and be added to) as the series goes on. As Jaime Lannister proved to us, not all is set in stone. Spoilers ahead ... « Show less

When you Hodor like Hodor, you're a real Hodor Hodor. But really, there's... Show more »

When you Hodor like Hodor, you're a real Hodor Hodor. But really, there's nothing remotely bad about this guy. Plus he's got great enthusiasm for someone who has to carry around a pre-teen all day. « Show less

But beyond Hodor, Ned Stark is about as good as they come. In fact, he's so... Show more »

But beyond Hodor, Ned Stark is about as good as they come. In fact, he's so good that the personality trait led to his early demise. Ned is proof that being squeaky clean and honest isn't necessarily a good thing in Westeros. « Show less

Pod is everything a good character in "Game of Thrones" should be: Loyal,... Show more »

Pod is everything a good character in "Game of Thrones" should be: Loyal, brave and good in the sack. He's repeatedly proven himself as one of the best guys around. « Show less

It's not Tommen's fault his brother is a jerk and he's the child of... Show more »

It's not Tommen's fault his brother is a jerk and he's the child of incest. All things considered, he's one of the best kids around. Did you see how he chastened himself at Joffrey's wedding? « Show less

Yet another sweet child of power-driven parents. Shireen got the short end of the... Show more »

Yet another sweet child of power-driven parents. Shireen got the short end of the stick because of her greyscale-scarred face, but she just wants to study books and teach Davos how to read. Adorable. « Show less

Blind Maester Aemon is just and honest, which is impressive since he is a Targaryen... Show more »

Blind Maester Aemon is just and honest, which is impressive since he is a Targaryen who had to watch his family get murdered after taking the Black. He's one of the good guys. « Show less

Like his father before him. Robb is too good to survive in the world of Westeros.... Show more »

Like his father before him. Robb is too good to survive in the world of Westeros. However, he's also a bit selfish; he put his own happiness before the realm, and it led to the deaths of himself, his mother, his wife, his unborn child and the majority of his men. « Show less

What is there to dislike about Maester Luwin? He just wanted to raise the Starks... Show more »

What is there to dislike about Maester Luwin? He just wanted to raise the Starks to be good, just people, and he did that to the best of his ability before he was killed at the attack on Winterfell. « Show less

Cersei might have implied Brienne constantly flip flops loyalties, but truly she... Show more »

Cersei might have implied Brienne constantly flip flops loyalties, but truly she is one of the most dedicated knights around. She just wants to do what's right by the world, and for that we salute her. « Show less

Barristan Selmy has always had Westeros' best interests at heart, and more than... Show more »

Barristan Selmy has always had Westeros' best interests at heart, and more than that, he's always acted to help the realm. When he was banished from Westeros by Joffrey, he headed straight to Daenerys to act as her mentor and ally. Good dude all around, Barristan. « Show less

Davos might have been a smuggler, but he's always known right from wrong. He... Show more »

Davos might have been a smuggler, but he's always known right from wrong. He more than proved himself after receiving justice from Stannis Baratheon, and has been one of the king's most loyal and intelligent followers ever since. « Show less

The uncle of Catelyn Stark is the one man who wasn't killed at the Red Wedding,... Show more »

The uncle of Catelyn Stark is the one man who wasn't killed at the Red Wedding, which means he's likely out to do some good (and get some revenge) for his family. He also isn't a man to avoid an issue, as he proved with giving Edmure and Catelyn a piece of his mind. « Show less

There is some darkness growing in Tyrion, just like there is in every hero who still... Show more »

There is some darkness growing in Tyrion, just like there is in every hero who still lives on "Game of Thrones." But he's always done his best to help the realm, and he also has a huge amount of empathy for his wife Sansa and the Starks. Tyrion is seriously one great dude. « Show less

Sam is far more of a hero than he ever gives himself credit for, and he repeatedly... Show more »

Sam is far more of a hero than he ever gives himself credit for, and he repeatedly stands up to others to do what he thinks is right. In fact, what's a single bad thing Sam has ever done to anyone? « Show less

Jon Snow may know nothing, but at least he knows how to do right by his friends.... Show more »

Jon Snow may know nothing, but at least he knows how to do right by his friends. He has gotten his hands dirty, namely by killing Qhorin Halfhand, but he always did it for the good of the Night's Watch and Westeros. Chances are he'll continue on that path. « Show less

Jeor Mormont only tried to do right by the Night's Watch and his men. It's... Show more »

Jeor Mormont only tried to do right by the Night's Watch and his men. It's not his fault the Night's Watch is primarily filled with rapers, murderers and thieves who turned on him the second they got the chance. « Show less

Ned's younger brother Benjen seemed like a great guy just like his older brother.... Show more »

Ned's younger brother Benjen seemed like a great guy just like his older brother. It's a shame we didn't know him longer. « Show less

Bran hasn't had an easy life. He wanted to be a knight, but was paralyzed from... Show more »

Bran hasn't had an easy life. He wanted to be a knight, but was paralyzed from the waist down. He didn't want to rule his keep, but his family was killed. And then his keep was burned down. Now he's headed north of the Wall to find the three-eyed raven, but there's likely some darkness at the end of that journey. « Show less

Meera travels with her brother Jojen to protect him, and she doesn't seem to... Show more »

Meera travels with her brother Jojen to protect him, and she doesn't seem to have an ounce of badness in her. « Show less

Like his father Howland Reed was a vassal to Ned Stark, Jojen just wants to protect... Show more »

Like his father Howland Reed was a vassal to Ned Stark, Jojen just wants to protect Bran and help him fulfill his destiny. « Show less

Rickon is really too young to have done anything good or evil yet; he's more... Show more »

Rickon is really too young to have done anything good or evil yet; he's more of a follower. But his direwolf Shaggydog is a bit of a wild thing, and those creatures' personalities mirror those of their owners. Will Rickon be a good or bad man when he grows up? « Show less

Talisa seemed like a good person. She would have made a good queen, had Robb lived... Show more »

Talisa seemed like a good person. She would have made a good queen, had Robb lived to become queen. But he can't help but be a little resentful that she's the woman he fell for, which eventually caused his death. « Show less

Dany has a dark path before her, and she -- like all rulers -- will likely be touched... Show more »

Dany has a dark path before her, and she -- like all rulers -- will likely be touched by some sort of corruption. But her quest to free the slaves in Slavers Bay and her love for her followers has her firmly rooted in "good" territory for now. « Show less

Yara has some spunk to her, but she's always seen the goodness in her brother... Show more »

Yara has some spunk to her, but she's always seen the goodness in her brother Theon where her father Balon wrote him off. Add that to the fact she's totally awesome and is going to save her brother from Ramsay, and she's a winner in our books. « Show less

Sansa has evolved from a petulant girl who believed fairy tales really happen to... Show more »

Sansa has evolved from a petulant girl who believed fairy tales really happen to someone who's shown resilience through the worst possible situations. She is someone who has greatness in front of her, even if her initial naivety led to her father's death. « Show less

Catelyn Stark had her negative, petty qualities, but at the end of the day she just... Show more »

Catelyn Stark had her negative, petty qualities, but at the end of the day she just wanted what's best for her children. She also tried to advise Robb against marrying Talisa, and did her best to get him out of that troublesome situation. But she also hated Jon more than she should have, showing some cruelty in her. « Show less

Renly might have failed in his quest to be king, but like Loras said after he died,... Show more »

Renly might have failed in his quest to be king, but like Loras said after he died, Renly would have made a good ruler. If only Melisandre's Shadow Baby hadn't taken him out. « Show less

Like Jory and Maester Luwin, Rodrik Cassel just wanted to do right by the Starks.... Show more »

Like Jory and Maester Luwin, Rodrik Cassel just wanted to do right by the Starks. It's a shame he failed, but he fought valiantly while he lived. « Show less

Osha was introduced as a dangerous Wildling, but she quickly proved her worth at... Show more »

Osha was introduced as a dangerous Wildling, but she quickly proved her worth at Winterfell. Her mothering role for Bran and Rickon has endeared her to us, as she never would do wrong by those boys. « Show less

Poor Gilly had a horrible life being the wife/daughter of Craster, but she retained... Show more »

Poor Gilly had a horrible life being the wife/daughter of Craster, but she retained her sweetness throughout. It's no wonder Sam fell for her and her baby so quickly. « Show less

Missandei might not say much, but she has deep respect for Daenerys and seems to... Show more »

Missandei might not say much, but she has deep respect for Daenerys and seems to be one of her most loyal followers. « Show less

It took a lot of strength for Grey Worm to stand up and give himself a name after... Show more »

It took a lot of strength for Grey Worm to stand up and give himself a name after a lifetime of brutal slavery. It's no wonder he allied himself so closely to Daenerys. « Show less

Sweet Hot Pie. Here's hoping you're alive somewhere still making bread... Show more »

Sweet Hot Pie. Here's hoping you're alive somewhere still making bread shaped like a wolf. « Show less

Qhorin Halfhand was a ruthless Night's Watch ranger, even if it meant getting... Show more »

Qhorin Halfhand was a ruthless Night's Watch ranger, even if it meant getting Jon to kill him. He sacrificed himself for the greater good of the world. « Show less

Yoren didn't have to protect Arya or Gendry, but he did anyway. The recruiter... Show more »

Yoren didn't have to protect Arya or Gendry, but he did anyway. The recruiter for the Night's Watch had a tough job to execute, and he did it with honor to the best of his ability. « Show less

Gendry's path still remains unclear. He's not a bad person by a long stretch,... Show more »

Gendry's path still remains unclear. He's not a bad person by a long stretch, but he also has the potential to wield the knowledge of being Robert Baratheon's bastard for good or evil. « Show less

Beric Dondarrion is as close to Robin Hood as any "Game of Thrones" characters... Show more »

Beric Dondarrion is as close to Robin Hood as any "Game of Thrones" characters get. He steals from the rich to give back to the poor, but anyone who only listens to their own spectrum of morality should be considered too good. « Show less

Like Beric, Thoros of Myr is doing what he can for the people of Westeros. But he... Show more »

Like Beric, Thoros of Myr is doing what he can for the people of Westeros. But he also acted as a Red Priest for a while without knowing he actually could control do magic, which is a little skeezy. « Show less

Poor Ros. She only wanted to get by in Westeros, and used her stature as a prostitute... Show more »

Poor Ros. She only wanted to get by in Westeros, and used her stature as a prostitute to advance pretty far. She always tried to protect her peers, even if she couldn't from the likes of Joffrey and other men frequenting Littlefinger's brothels. She definitely did not deserve her Season 3 death. « Show less

Loras is on a quest for revenge after the death of Renly, but he isn't going... Show more »

Loras is on a quest for revenge after the death of Renly, but he isn't going about it in the smartest of ways. He trusted Littlefinger and allied his family with the Lannisters, and doesn't seem to be as knowledgable of King's Landing politics as he thinks he is. « Show less

There is a darkness and a ruthlessness in Oberyn Martell, but at least it's... Show more »

There is a darkness and a ruthlessness in Oberyn Martell, but at least it's there for a good cause. The Red Viper is out to get revenge on the Lannisters for the death of his sister and her children, and if he can bring down Tywin and the Mountain, then all the power to him. « Show less

Bronn started out as a cutthroat mercenary, but he's always been loyal to Tyrion.... Show more »

Bronn started out as a cutthroat mercenary, but he's always been loyal to Tyrion. Hopefully that remains the same in the future. « Show less

Like Bronn, Shae had an unsavory life before she met Tyrion. But even though she... Show more »

Like Bronn, Shae had an unsavory life before she met Tyrion. But even though she was initially just the woman he paid to have sex with him, she seems to truly love her Lion now -- though that could change now that he's sent her away. « Show less

The Dothraki are savages in their own way, but Drogo was always kind to Dany, and... Show more »

The Dothraki are savages in their own way, but Drogo was always kind to Dany, and it seemed they truly loved one another. « Show less

Grenn's gut instinct is to be nasty, but thanks to coaxing from Tyrion and Jon,... Show more »

Grenn's gut instinct is to be nasty, but thanks to coaxing from Tyrion and Jon, he ends up being a much nicer guy. He was one of the good Night's Watch men in the fight at Crasters. « Show less

Not much is known about Ellaria beyond the fact she is outspoken and a good match... Show more »

Not much is known about Ellaria beyond the fact she is outspoken and a good match for Oberyn. She seems to complicit in his quest for revenge against the Lannisters. « Show less

Mance is a Wildling and also leading a massive army to invade Westeros, which automatically... Show more »

Mance is a Wildling and also leading a massive army to invade Westeros, which automatically makes him an enemy. But he earns the respect of Jon and the audience, and seems to be trying to do what's best for his people, so it's hard to view him as evil. « Show less

Salladhor Saan is a pirate who is a good friend to Davos, but only serves his own... Show more »

Salladhor Saan is a pirate who is a good friend to Davos, but only serves his own good. « Show less

Varys is working for his own end game, but he at least respects and at most likes... Show more »

Varys is working for his own end game, but he at least respects and at most likes the major players on "Game of Thrones." Plus, his only motive seems to be to bring Daenerys back into power, so that is worth applause. « Show less

Alliser Thorne might dislike Jon, but he also is looking out for the good of the... Show more »

Alliser Thorne might dislike Jon, but he also is looking out for the good of the Night's Watch. He is not as corrupt or biased as one might initially assume. « Show less

Like Mance, Tormund is a character who is easy to respect, even if he is fighting... Show more »

Like Mance, Tormund is a character who is easy to respect, even if he is fighting for the wrong side. « Show less

Edmure is a dunce and selfish, but he doesn't mean any evil intentions. Sure,... Show more »

Edmure is a dunce and selfish, but he doesn't mean any evil intentions. Sure, he caused some major problems for Robb, but he honestly was just trying to do the best things for his family. « Show less

Poor Ygritte. It's not her fault she was raised a Wildling and thus by birth... Show more »

Poor Ygritte. It's not her fault she was raised a Wildling and thus by birth is an enemy to Westeros. She's just trying to do right by her people, even though she is a bit bloodthirsty about it. Unfortunately, even her love for Jon Snow likely won't keep her from attacking Castle Black. « Show less

Mace Tyrell is an idiot, but he's nowhere near as manipulative as his mother... Show more »

Mace Tyrell is an idiot, but he's nowhere near as manipulative as his mother or daughter. Right now, that makes him seem a bit better than the two of them. « Show less

The Queen of Thorns is smart as a whip and very sly, and one of the most outspoken... Show more »

The Queen of Thorns is smart as a whip and very sly, and one of the most outspoken characters on "Game of Thrones." But she is working for her own agenda, making her one who shouldn't be fully trusted. « Show less

Why do so many people view Margaery is a villain? Though she certainly has some darkness... Show more »

Why do so many people view Margaery is a villain? Though she certainly has some darkness to her and she is power hungry, she's doing good for the world with her manipulations, and she actually was the only one who could sort of tone down Joffrey. « Show less

Daario Naharis seems to be a man with a smooth move always up his sleeve, which is... Show more »

Daario Naharis seems to be a man with a smooth move always up his sleeve, which is why he's not someone we quite buy as being a totally good dude. He's given us the sense he could end up going either way, though which direction on the scale remains to be seen. « Show less

This may be surprising, but while Melisandre is a disconcerting character, she actually... Show more »

This may be surprising, but while Melisandre is a disconcerting character, she actually is using her power for what she believes is the greater good -- and she might be right. Whether or not her path is misguided remains to be seen, but she at least is killing (some) of the right people. « Show less

Like Melisandre, Stannis is doing the (mostly) right thing for the right reason --... Show more »

Like Melisandre, Stannis is doing the (mostly) right thing for the right reason -- he's just going about it in a way we don't like. He's right that he has the right to the Iron Throne, and he likely will be a better king than Robert was. Whether or not he will be a good king is something else entirely. « Show less

Jorah Mormont has always had a soft spot for Dany, and thus has always been a loyal... Show more »

Jorah Mormont has always had a soft spot for Dany, and thus has always been a loyal advisor. But let's not forget that he sold men into slavery (regardless of his motivation) and that he initially was spying on Daenerys and Viserys for Varys. « Show less

In the very first episode of "Game of Thrones," Jaime pushed Bran out of... Show more »

In the very first episode of "Game of Thrones," Jaime pushed Bran out of a window, forever crippling him because he wanted to keep his incestuous relationship with his sister a secret. Jaime also killed Jory. So with all that nastiness in mind, it says a lot for how far his character has come in the past couple of seasons that he now is viewed as "not good." In all likelihood, Jaime could end up being a hero in the series by its end. « Show less

Ser Dontos is the drunken fool Joffrey turned him into, but he is a fool.

The Hound is one of those characters who started off on "Game of Thrones"... Show more »

The Hound is one of those characters who started off on "Game of Thrones" as someone to hate, and has slowly grown into someone we sort of really like. But that doesn't cancel out the fact he killed Mycah, betrayed his king and is only out for his own head. Still, we have a feeling he'll end up more good than evil in the end. « Show less

Arya is someone fans like to cheer for, but let's face it, she's not a... Show more »

Arya is someone fans like to cheer for, but let's face it, she's not a very good girl anymore. She's killed several people in cold blood, and she also <i>likes</i> killing. Arya is spiraling quickly downward, and though we still like her a whole heck of a lot, it's hard to deny she's on a bad path. « Show less

Olyver might be amusing as Oberyn's new paramour, but let's not forget... Show more »

Olyver might be amusing as Oberyn's new paramour, but let's not forget he's a spy for Littlefinger, which automatically makes him suspicious. « Show less

Robin might be young still, but he has all the makings of Joffrey 2.0.

While Robert was likable enough while he was alive, he actually was one of the most... Show more »

While Robert was likable enough while he was alive, he actually was one of the most problematic characters in "Game of Thrones." Like Daenerys is doing now, he was good at conquering but not at ruling. He neglected his family, lusted after a dead woman and was too busy whoring and hunting to see the problems in his realm. He sowed his own demise. « Show less

Qyburn's a pretty twisted dude based on his history at the Citadel, and he also... Show more »

Qyburn's a pretty twisted dude based on his history at the Citadel, and he also allied himself with Cersei. So trouble times two. « Show less

Selyse is downright crazypants. She seemingly knows and accepts her husband's... Show more »

Selyse is downright crazypants. She seemingly knows and accepts her husband's relationship with Melisandre, is blindly obsessed with the Lord of Light and has no affection for her daughter. So. « Show less

Lancel is young and easily manipulated, but he also is largely responsible for the... Show more »

Lancel is young and easily manipulated, but he also is largely responsible for the death of Robert Baratheon and also entered into an incestuous relationship with Cersei. « Show less

Pycelle is much more than he lets himself appear to be, which means he must be hiding... Show more »

Pycelle is much more than he lets himself appear to be, which means he must be hiding something, and it's not good. Also, he is a Lannister ally. « Show less

Jaqen is still largely a mystery to viewers, as is the group of Faceless Men he is... Show more »

Jaqen is still largely a mystery to viewers, as is the group of Faceless Men he is a part of. But he's a paid assassin (strike one) and apparently not even the person he says he is (strike two), despite being Arya's ally. « Show less

Orell was right to mistrust Jon Snow, but he also was a bit of jerk, and tried to... Show more »

Orell was right to mistrust Jon Snow, but he also was a bit of jerk, and tried to kill him. « Show less

Rickard was right to be upset about how Robb handled Jaime's capture, but he... Show more »

Rickard was right to be upset about how Robb handled Jaime's capture, but he wasn't right to work agains him. Rickard ended up being an enemy to the Stark cause, and was rightfully executed. « Show less

A man taking advantage of his own position in the world, Craster filled his life... Show more »

A man taking advantage of his own position in the world, Craster filled his life with daughter/wives, killed his sons and just generally was awful. « Show less

One of Ramsay's fellow conspirators who also hunted down another human being... Show more »

One of Ramsay's fellow conspirators who also hunted down another human being with him. She doesn't have the excuse of being tortured into compliance like Theon does. « Show less

Doreah killed Irri and betrayed Daenerys. It's a good thing she got locked away... Show more »

Doreah killed Irri and betrayed Daenerys. It's a good thing she got locked away to die with Xaro Xhoan Daxos. « Show less

Xaro was one of the first political betrayers Daenerys met across the Narrow Sea.... Show more »

Xaro was one of the first political betrayers Daenerys met across the Narrow Sea. It's a good thing she locked him and Doreah away inside a vault to die. « Show less

Mirri Maz Duur had her reasons for acting against Daenerys, but that doesn't... Show more »

Mirri Maz Duur had her reasons for acting against Daenerys, but that doesn't stop her from earning an "evil" ranking for the magic she used against a woman who wanted to save her. « Show less

Lysa Arryn is crazy like Selyse, but has much more power. Her decision not to ally... Show more »

Lysa Arryn is crazy like Selyse, but has much more power. Her decision not to ally herself with Catelyn was a cruel call, and it's clear she is the rotten apple of the Tully family. « Show less

The Queen Regent of Westeros is selfish, self-involved and completely lacking in... Show more »

The Queen Regent of Westeros is selfish, self-involved and completely lacking in perspective. She loves her children, yes, but she is rotten to the core and one of the most wicked, easy-to-hate people in all of Westeros. « Show less

Janos Slynt is a coward and a traitor who turns on those around him to ally himself... Show more »

Janos Slynt is a coward and a traitor who turns on those around him to ally himself with those in the most power. Hopefully Jon gives him what he deserves. « Show less

No one deserved to be burned alive by a dragon more than slave master Kraznys mo... Show more »

No one deserved to be burned alive by a dragon more than slave master Kraznys mo Nakloz. « Show less

Rast and Karl both led the rebellion at Craster's Keep, but it was Rast who... Show more »

Rast and Karl both led the rebellion at Craster's Keep, but it was Rast who killed Lord Commander Mormont, and for that he'll never be forgiven. « Show less

Not quite as evil as Roose Bolton, but still pretty high up there. Let's not... Show more »

Not quite as evil as Roose Bolton, but still pretty high up there. Let's not forget he cut off Jaime Lannister's hand for fun. « Show less

There's not much known about Polliver, but he did admit that he tortured so... Show more »

There's not much known about Polliver, but he did admit that he tortured so many people with Gregor Clegane that it stopped being fun. And he killed Lommy. Thank goodness Arya stuck him with the pointy end. « Show less

He's evil, he's power-hungry and he stole Daenerys's dragons. Proof... Show more »

He's evil, he's power-hungry and he stole Daenerys's dragons. Proof that not all wizards are good wizards. « Show less

Reek might be a different beast, but the Theon viewers got to know for the first... Show more »

Reek might be a different beast, but the Theon viewers got to know for the first two seasons of "Game of Thrones" is one rotten apple. He might have been raised a ward, but Ned -- one of the good guys -- was always good to him. But, as a troubled soul, Theon turned his back on Robb and lost himself in his quest to earn his father Balon's love. « Show less

Balon Greyjoy is worse than his son for about a zillion reasons. He never settled... Show more »

Balon Greyjoy is worse than his son for about a zillion reasons. He never settled after he tried to rebel against the crown, he's always held a chip on his shoulder against the Starks, he refuses to recognize his own son and then he leaves him to be tortured at the hands of Ramsay. There's no reason to like him at all. « Show less

Tywin Lannister is a bad dude, but at least he's a pragmatist. He is one of... Show more »

Tywin Lannister is a bad dude, but at least he's a pragmatist. He is one of the smartest men in Westeros, but his fatal flaw is always misjudging his son Tyrion. Tyrion is much more intelligent than his father gives him credit for. « Show less

When Tormund said he effing hates Thenns, he wasn't kidding. Thus far all we... Show more »

When Tormund said he effing hates Thenns, he wasn't kidding. Thus far all we know of Styr is that he likes killing and eating men of the Night's Watch, so his cannibalistic tendencies get him knocked pretty low on this list. « Show less

Littlefinger's ultimate goals have yet to be revealed, but right now he's... Show more »

Littlefinger's ultimate goals have yet to be revealed, but right now he's caused some serious trouble in Westeros. He betrayed Ned Stark, got the Iron Throne in major debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos, and -- as star Sophie Turner puts it -- is "a bit of a pedo" when it comes to Sansa. So, uhh, not a good dude in our eyes. « Show less

Drinking out of Jeor Mormont's skull, torturing Hodor and just generally being... Show more »

Drinking out of Jeor Mormont's skull, torturing Hodor and just generally being the worst? Karl manages to put Craster to shame. « Show less

Remember Daenerys' rapey, manipulative older brother? He was the first "thank... Show more »

Remember Daenerys' rapey, manipulative older brother? He was the first "thank goodness" death of "Game of Thrones," but that doesn't stop him from earning a top spot on this list. Sure, he didn't have the easiest childhood, but there actually is nothing redeemable about Viserys. « Show less

Roose Bolton is a power-hungry, cold-hearted pragmatist who fans will forever hate... Show more »

Roose Bolton is a power-hungry, cold-hearted pragmatist who fans will forever hate due to the fact he led to the murder of Robb Stark. Roose might only be out for himself (not a bad quality in Westeros) but his betrayals and the fact he is father to Ramsay make him about as evil as they come. « Show less

Joffrey, rest in absolute turmoil. Sure, the Boy King might be dead, but he left... Show more »

Joffrey, rest in absolute turmoil. Sure, the Boy King might be dead, but he left a wake of destruction and obnoxious prissiness in his path. Joffrey ultimately was a spoiled kid given too much power whose worst self came out without strong parental figures to reprimand him. « Show less

The Mountain hasn't been a big presence on "Game of Thrones," largely... Show more »

The Mountain hasn't been a big presence on "Game of Thrones," largely due to casting troubles more than anything else. But this is a monster who has no soul and no problem torturing, raping and murdering whoever is in his path -- including children. He truly is just about the worst person in Westeros. But the worst actually is ... « Show less

Ah, Ramsay. Sure, you might just want the love of your dad, but you're also... Show more »

Ah, Ramsay. Sure, you might just want the love of your dad, but you're also one twisted SOB. And with the eyes of the entire realm not watching your every move, you're bound to cause some serious death and destruction before someone (hopefully) puts you down. « Show less

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