Considered one of the most epic fantasy series on television, Game Of Thrones had one of the most anticipated finales of all time. By tying together its mythology rich narrative and complex relationships, the series introduced pop-culture characters who deserved worthier conclusions to their journeys. In a brutal world, securing the justice expected by viewers is difficult for them.
Whether loved or hated for their actions throughout the show’s storyline, its characters are crafted well enough to earn fitting endings, even though larger events diminish their importance within the plot. For that reason, fans were left to imagine what might have happened to these characters who were driven toward a tragic and regrettably, swift, conclusion in a story that could have developed them better.
10. Gendry Baratheon
Last Descendant Of His Lineage, He Deserved A Better-Explored Ending
Born a bastard to King Robert Baratheon, Gendry Baratheon endured numerous trials and underwent a clear evolution, from anonymous blacksmith to respected warrior, that the finale of Game Of Thrones failed to acknowledge. Even after rising to Lord of Storm’s End, the sole surviving Baratheon should have received a richer, more influential resolution that honored his lineage and affirmed his hard-won status.
Although Arya Stark possessed an independent spirit, the show could have explored their relationship more deeply, creating emotional resonance rather than handing him a title in passing. By embracing his humble origins, Gendry could also have embodied the perspective of the common folk, amplifying his political weight through authentic recognition of power, making him one of the characters most deserving of a better ending in Game Of Thrones.
9. Missandei
One Of The Most Wronged Characters In The Finale Of Game Of Thrones
Given her journey from slavery in Astapor, Missandei stood out as a character who deserved a more dignified ending in Game Of Thrones. Beheaded by The Mountain on Cersei Lannister’s orders, her abrupt death signaled Daenerys’s unraveling and set the stage for genocide in King’s Landing, when her legacy should have honored a life spent fighting for peace and freedom.
After claiming her freedom, she demonstrated strategic worth as a counselor, a triumph the show failed to reflect in her bleak farewell. Her bond with Grey Worm illuminated ideals of love blossoming amid violence and oppression, a dynamic that should have carried her into building a brighter, thematically coherent future instead of vanishing from the narrative.
8. Varys
Altruistic, He Was One Of The Characters Most Deserving Of A Happy Ending In Game Of Thrones
Arguably one of the shrewdest figures in Game Of Thrones, Varys failed to receive an ending equal to his intellect, championing the common folk from the shadows yet finishing his path without fulfilling that mission. Executed by Daenerys Targaryen after she uncovered his treason, he died convinced the Iron Throne would fare better under Jon Snow, a conviction that underscored his genuine concern for the realm.
As a master of the political game in the series, Varys shaped multiple turning points and therefore warranted a resolution that reflected his deft manipulation and survival skills. Removing him also stripped the show of the ethical perspective he brought as a foil to Littlefinger, leaving Westeros without its most altruistic strategist at the very moment his counsel was needed.
7. Jaime Lannister
The Character Delivered One Of The Greatest Redemption Arcs In Game Of Thrones
First viewed as a villain after Bran Stark’s fall, Jaime Lannister underwent one of the series’ most profound transformations in Game Of Thrones. Yet he met the same fate as his sister Cersei Lannister, perishing beneath rubble during Daenerys Targaryen’s assault on the Red Keep, a demise unworthy of a man positioned to save the realm and thus deserving of a far happier conclusion.
Celebrated as a premier symbol of change in the saga, Jaime’s downfall could have unfolded more gradually, or with greater narrative weight, given that he defied his entire family in pursuit of redemption. Branded the Kingslayer, he understood extreme choices and therefore could have demonstrated his transformation by confronting Cersei outright or by rescuing countless lives in King’s Landing.
6. Arya Stark
With A Grand Finale In Game Of Thrones, The Character Deserved More
Across eight seasons, Arya Stark experienced one of the series’ most remarkable transformations, making her deserving of a richer conclusion in Game Of Thrones. Following Ned Stark’s execution, she endured relentless ordeals, from fleeing Westeros to rigorous Faceless Men training, before returning as a lethal assassin, carrying profound trauma and a multilayered identity that should have been fully explored when her narrative reached its culmination.
At the series’ conclusion, she chose to leave Westeros and sail west, a decision true to her independent nature yet insufficient given her pivotal role in killing the Night King. After sparing Cersei and consistently placing family first, Arya’s presence in rebuilding Winterfell, or pursuing other forms of justice, would have reinforced her growth and offered a more satisfying closure.
5. Cersei Lannister
Her Ending Did Not Do Justice To The Grandeur Of Her Character In Game Of Thrones
Considered one of the best villains in Game Of Thrones, Cersei Lannister deserved a better ending given the impact of her journey on the series. Within a male-dominated world, she secured power by withstanding betrayal and humiliation, climbing through relentless loss and sacrifice, circumstances that ultimately rendered her finale less striking than many viewers expected.
Buried beneath the rubble of the Red Keep, she died beside Jaime Lannister, her brother and lover. Given the collapse she caused among the great houses and across Westeros, her downfall could have bound together themes of ambition and violence far more viscerally, because, as a principal character, her exit was expected to carry a grander weight.
4. Robb Stark
The Character Who Faced One Of The Saddest Endings In Game Of Thrones
Ranked among the finest characters in Game Of Thrones, Robb Stark experienced one of the show’s most brutal farewells. Forced to mature quickly, he demonstrated military skill and diplomacy by winning key houses as allies, and his vision of a free North clashed with the corruption gripping Westeros, making his demise among the series’ most undeserved.
Throughout his journey he fought for justice on behalf of his people, a purpose that should have shaped his conclusion and celebrated his unwavering principles. Possessing keen leadership instincts and inspiring loyalty across the North, he ranked among the greatest leaders in Game Of Thrones, yet he perished far too soon when the Lannisters treacherously murdered him at the Red Wedding.
3. Jon Snow
Exiled, He Received One Of The Series’ Most Unfair Endings
Marginalized as a bastard, Jon Snow proved his worth through decisive actions that elevated him into one of the standout figures in Game Of Thrones. Serving as a remarkable leader, he united diverse peoples to fight The Long Night, yet his finale offered no glory, because, after killing Daenerys, he was exiled beyond The Wall with the Free Folk.
In one of the series’ greatest revelations, Jon was legitimized as Aegon Targaryen, a truth that hinted at a higher destiny since he possessed a clear claim to the throne. His blend of measured justice and reluctant authority marked qualities suited for a fair ruler, a path that could have granted him a truly fitting ending within Game Of Thrones.
2. Daenerys Targaryen
A Fan Favorite Who Deserved A Better Ending In The Series
Celebrated by fans as the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen stands among the characters in Game Of Thrones who most deserved a stronger conclusion. From season one she rose from vulnerable survivor to visionary leader, showing empathy for the powerless and fighting for justice, exemplified when she freed slaves in Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen, outcomes her finale failed to mirror.
She also became a beacon of hope intent on breaking the wheel throughout Westeros, a mantra repeated often yet ignored when her story closed. By forging a bond with viewers as an idealistic dreamer who wielded fierce resolve, she earned a destiny equal to those ideals, something missing when Jon Snow fatally stabbed her in the throne room.
1. Ned Stark
A Protagonist Who Most Deserved A Good Ending In Game Of Thrones
Embodiment of honor within the brutal world of Game Of Thrones, Ned Stark remains the show’s most wronged character. Executed for treason in the final episode of season one, his death delivered one of television’s most shocking moments, especially given his central role as Winterfell’s patriarch and the presumptive lead of the unfolding narrative for many viewers.
He possessed the potential to reshape royal politics through principled action, offering a clear message that virtue and wisdom could survive harsh reality. Ned also held truths capable of redirecting history, such as knowledge of the White Walkers and Jon Snow’s parentage, making him the character who most deserved a better fate in Game Of Thrones.
