Earlier today, I posted a bracket that included my favorite character as a winner in a winner against other Game of Thrones character. Robert Baratheon, King of Westeros claimed the title of favorite character. In the book, he’s constantly described as a fat, drunkard, lustfull, but the characters in the book also described him as once a fierce and fit warrior who’s warhammer could kill a man in full clad armor in one swing. And that’s the Robert Baratheon I wish I saw. And based on the series and the book, he’s was always the most infectious with his deep laughter and sense of humor. And despite his flaws as a ruler, he tried to see that his bastards were taken care of and always made sure his friends were taken care of.
Which brings me to an interesting topic: who do you root for in Game of Thrones? A Song of Ice and Fire is known for making the grey in a black and white world. Truth, there are people we hate and love, but author George R. R. Martin gives them good reasons to do things we might particularly like and can sometimes make characters we love do things we wish they didn’t. Most of the houses have their black sheep that are difficult to root for, and when everyone is cutting corners to get on top, people begin to get more and more unlikable as they bring out the ugly out of each other. Read below about which house you want to be standing when all the dust settles.
Spoilers are maintained for season 1/A Game of Thrones book.
The major houses in Westeros mainly include: Baratheon, Stark, Lannister, Targaryen, Arryn, Tully, Greyjoy, and Tyrell. If we focus mainly on season 1/A Game of Thrones, the real major players so far are Baratheon, Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen.
Rooting for the House Stark
Words: Winter is Coming
In the books, majority of the view points are taken from the Starks, whose standpoints from children and a likable husband and wife make them a very likable group of people. Many of them are honest, hard-working, with little qualities to dislike about them. However, Martin essentially uses them as a punching bag as they get screwed over again and again and again. Although it’s hard to read what some of them go through, but it makes it much easier for them to be the key family to root for. Losing the main character, Ned Stark, was a big blow to the family and the feeling of wrongness can be felt in anyone who watched the series and read the books. A wrongness that can easily fuel the hatred for other families. Out of those who remain, based soley on the first season/book, the most significant character to take the reigns is Robb Stark. Ayra and Sansa are essentially powerless at this point, Jon still hasn’t done anything beyond the Wall at this point, and Bran and Rickon are literally doing nothing in Winterfell. But by the end, the books are setting up each Stark to accomplish something amazing. Sure, this changes a lot in season 2/A Clash of Kings, but so far, the Stark family is broken [both mentally and physically] and makes them an easier family to root for, especially given how strong they are [both mentally and physically].
Rooting for House Baratheon
Words: Ours is the Fury [my favorite]
This is the family that currently rules Westeros. Some citizens of the Westeros still call this family the Usurpers who wronged the divine right Targaryen held over the throne. While Robert Baratheon was my favorite character, his death has essentially led this family to be in shambles. And while the name Baratheon still rules the land, the readers and viewers know for a fact that with newly widowed Cersei Lannister being the Queen Reagent for her bastard son Joffrey, who was born out of the incestual acts between Cersei and her brother Jamie, and Twyin Lannister sending his son Tyrion to be Hand of the King, the real Baratheon’s we need to keep an eye out is Robert’s younger brothers Stannis and Renly. The hints and trailers so far have hinted that these two brothers are at odds, with Stannis being the rightful heir, but Renly claiming himself to be a better ruler. We’ve only seen Renly so far, knowing him to homosexual and green when it comes to ruling and commanding soldiers. From what we’ve heard about Stannis is that, while he’s a good war commander, he’s cold and heartless. The person I’m rooting for most in house Baratheon is actually neither of these brothers or their children. Robert Baratheon had a bastard named Gendry who works at the blacksmith that Ned visited. A strong man, who is very reminiscent of Robert in his younger days [the one that is my favorite character], he and Arya are off to the Wall.
Rooting for House Targaryen
Words: With Fire and Blood
Across the narrow see, we left Daenerys Targaryen with her three newly hatched dragons. We can’t help but sympathize for the exiled queen who’s family was completely murdered by the Usurper. This was probably one of the best moments in both the book and the TV series. Throughout the book Dany was treated wrongfully by her selfish brother. And watching her fall in love with Khal Drogo was a nice break from the death/deception/treason that we see on Westeros. We learn about her soft heart, yet strong will, but when she’s wronged again by a witch doctor, we can’t help but rally at her side when she burned that bitch alive. I’m kind of waiting for her to cross the seas with those dragons to lay waste to the lands of Westeros and start fresh.
Rooting for House Lannister
Words: Hear Me Roar
The most powerful house in Westeros. Certainly the richest. Headed by Tywin Lannister, this house by the end of the book has all of King’s Landing in the grip of their hands. The capital is several million in debt to the Lannisters and with Cersei Lannister acting as Queen reagent, Tyrion Lannister as hand of the King, and the Lannister bastard Joffrey Baratheon as King, the Lannisters seemingly hold all the cards. But there is a lot of hate going around the Lannister family. Specifically the Queen for killing beloved Direwolves, having sex with her brother, bearing his children, and babying that bitch of a son Joffrey. We hate Jamie Lannister for also having sex with his sister and wounding Ned Stark. Tywin Lannister rides against Robb Stark, the Stark we have left to root for. And then there’s Imp, Tyrion. Tyrion can almost completely zero out the hate for the Lannister family. He’s quick witted, grounded, and funny, which makes him one of the most relatable people in the series. His one flaw is that he has an immense love for his family, which makes it difficult to root against them. But Tyrion alone makes rooting for House Lannister okay.
Banana Scoop 
[…] Stannis will break before he breaks
Robert’s only acknowledged bastard is Edric Storm whom he conceived with a high born lady of House Florent. Other than Edric, his other bastards are left to fend for themselves like Gendry. When he was alive, he didn’t give two shits about his ‘children’ with Cersei considering that he didn’t know of their incestous lineage, that didn’t make him a better father to the three royal children, Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen. Joffrey was so hungry to gain his approval that he sent a catspaw to slit Bran’s throat after his fall. The bastard thought Robert would appreciate that.
And what’s up with his grudge against Rhaegar Targaryen? All the other PoVs you read would speak highly of Rhaegar and even Ned Stark was vague about the Lyanna business in the Tower of Joy. It seemed as though Rhaegar and Lyanna eloped and he was left to wage a war against the Prince whom everybody loved. So much for waging a war in Lyanna’s name, during the war, he fathered sons everywhere, like in the Battle of the Bells when he fathered two bastards already. One great love, huh? Who’s to say that he’ll stop whoring and rule better if Lyanna had lived? I don’t think so.
😀
I remember reading in the text somewhere that even Lyanna didn’t expect him to stay faithful as she was talking to Ned. Still my favorite character though. Can’t deny Edric Storm and Gendry’s likability. Definitely got that from their father.
Yeah, I’ll give Robert that. Remeber what Donal Noye said to Jon? Robert is the true steel. Stannis is like iron, hard but brittle. Well, Lyanna was still alive during the Battle pf the Bells and he was whoring around like that. lol