There are so many reasons to love the world author George R.R. Martin has created with his A Song of Ice and Fire series, and one of those is the villains. Throughout the books and the HBO adaptation Game of Thrones, viewers and readers fall in love with multiple characters and completely despise others. Along with the fact that no character is safe in Game of Thrones, another thing you can always expect is to meet ruthless villains who are just pure evil.
From the worst of the worst in Ramsay Bolton and Joffrey Baratheon to characters we just love to hate such as Cersei Lannister and Littlefinger, Game of Thrones gives us so many villains to choose from. And even if a character is meant to be a hero, no one’s perfect in Westeros. Characters like Daenerys Targaryen are beloved by many fans, while absolutely hated by others. It’s hard to predict the actions the characters will take, and they end up surprising us by the end.
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Though there’s another Game of Thrones universe adaptation on HBO called House of the Dragon, the prequel spinoff series, we’ll just be talking about the original show here. Flip the page to find out which characters are the most disliked, ranked from kind of bad to straight-up terrible.
22. Kraznys mo Nakloz
No matter how you might feel about Daenerys Targaryen, I don’t think any Game of Thrones fan likes the character Kraznys mo Nakloz. Introduced in the third season of the show, Kraznys is a slaver from the city Astapor who Dany meets when seeking an army. She wants the Unsullied soldiers to join her cause and she agrees to trade one of her dragons to Kraznys in exchange. Fortunately, Daenerys is smarter than anyone realizes and she ends up tricking the slaver. It’s a badass moment that makes us fall in love with her early on in the show.
Kraznys is known for being very cruel and arrogant, and clearly does not care about human life. He only cares about himself. His personality, behavior, and treatment of Dany make Kraznys a despicable character in the Game of Thrones universe, and someone viewers very understandably dislike. He uses his power to exploit others, which is undeniably terrible.
21. Shae
While Game of Thrones fans might actually really like Shae when she’s first introduced, her change in character and betrayal of Tyrion Lannister is shocking and unforgivable. Initially, Shae is depicted as a loyal and caring person who (seemingly) has genuine feelings for Tyrion. Their relationship and bond only grow deeper throughout the first few seasons, and Shae is a great source of support to Tyrion in tough times — and vice versa.
However, whatever trust Tyrion has in Shae is completely ruined by the end of her storyline. Motivated by jealousy and possibly other factors, Shae decides to testify against Tyrion in his trial after Joffrey is murdered and tells lies about him, which completely breaks Tyrion’s heart. Tyrion later finds her in his father’s bed, which is another shock for him.
Shae’s life ends in tragedy as she’s killed by Tyrion in a crime of passion. Though I don’t think she deserves to die for her actions, that doesn’t mean Game of Thrones fans necessarily sympathize with her.
20. Qyburn
A minor yet memorable character in the Game of Thrones universe is Qyburn, a former maester who loses his title after performing unethical and controversial medical experiments. Like many on this list, Qyburn is just creepy and his motivations are unsavory. Qyburn eventually serves the Lannisters in King’s Landing which is when viewers get to know him a bit better. Cersei recruits him to help her carry out sinister plans. Although she’s warned against him, she knows Qyburn’s unwavering loyalty towards her and his lack of morals will only benefit her in the end.
Qyburn is more than willing to participate in questionable experiments, even without the consent of the subjects. His most notable procedure is bringing back The Mountain to life — well, sort of. At the request of Cersei, he resurrects Gregor Clegane as a half-dead killing machine. This, along with his other practices, is truly chilling.
19. Robert I Baratheon
Only present for the first season of Game of Thrones, Robert Baratheon is the King of the Seven Kingdoms when the show begins after rebelling against the late King Aerys II Targaryen. Though we’re all interested in getting more backstory on how he became the king, Robert himself isn’t too great of a character. Known for his love of drinking, eating, and hunting, Robert is not really an admirable person, and he spends more time indulging in his interests than actually ruling Westeros.
Robert treats his wife Cersei terribly, and though Cersei is a villain in her own right, I feel bad that she’s forced into this marriage. He cares more about power and his own vices than his family, and all in all, he’s a pretty sleazy guy.
18. Mirri Maz Duur
Featured in the first season of Game of Thrones, Mirri Maz Duur is a healer who is sought out by Daenerys Targaryen after Khal Drogo gets severely wounded. Dany believes this magical woman can bring Drogo back to health, but that’s not exactly what happens. In fact, this leads to his eventual death.
Mirri Maz Duur’s methods of healing involve blood magic, which Dany is desperate enough to agree to. But the outcome is nothing she could ever imagine as Drogo is left basically as a vegetable, while she also loses her child in the process. It’s completely heartbreaking, and while Mirri Maz Duur keeps her promise of keeping Drogo alive, it’s easy to question her motivations and intentions.
Meeting Mirri Maz Duur ends in devastation for Daenerys, making her a disliked character by Game of Thrones fans.
17. Roose Bolton
If you’ve seen Game of Thrones, you’ll definitely know why people hate Roose Bolton. I mean, he kills Robb Stark, after all! Though he might not be the sole conspirator in the events of the Red Wedding, he is heavily involved and is the one to stab Robb in the heart. Opinions on the character may vary across the fandom, but we can’t forget his betrayal of the Starks at this moment.
Roose is also cold and calculating, known for his detachment and willingness to do whatever it takes to gain power. He’s not a good father to his bastard Ramsay; clearly, look at the way he turns out. The sigil of House Bolton certainly represents Roose and Ramsay well. And what’s to like about that?
16. Alliser Thorne
Serving as the master-at-arms at Castle Black, we get to meet Alliser Thorne after Jon Snow takes the black and relocates up north. Right off the bat, we get a bad feeling from the character as he is harsh and unforgiving, which is definitely proven once he forms a grudge against Jon. Though we understand how loyal he is to the Night’s Watch, which is admirable, his stubbornness makes him a character fans of the show dislike.
Alliser Thorne’s mistreatment of Jon is particularly annoying, as he bullies and belittles him, and doesn’t realize what an important asset he is to the group. Unsurprisingly, Thorne disapproves when Jon is named the new Lord Commander, which leads to his involvement in the mutiny and Jon’s eventual murder. Fortunately, once Jon comes back from the dead, Thorne is executed for his crimes.
15. Gregor Clegane
Sure, Gregor Clegane, a.k.a. The Mountain, is a total badass. But he uses his power and strength for the bad guys, and that makes him a disliked character in the Game of Thrones universe. He’s no doubt a fearsome and brutal warrior known for his size and skills in combat, which we’ve seen first-hand in episodes and from other characters’ accounts.
Of course, one of The Mountain’s most memorable scenes is when he kills Oberyn Martell during Tyrion Lannister’s trial by combat, which is one of the most iconic moments of the entire show. Though it’s a great scene, we wish Oberyn could’ve survived! To make matters worse, The Mountain killed Elia Martell and her children during Robert’s Rebellion, and his eventual zombie-like transformation is incredibly disturbing.
There are no redeeming factors about The Mountain, unless you just think he’s cool, and his brother The Hound is much more complex and likable.
14. Lysa Arryn
The younger sister of Catelyn Stark, Lysa Arryn is a manipulative woman who lives out in the Eyrie with her son Robert. Depicted as strange and emotionally unstable, Lysa rubs us the wrong way right off the bat. She’s erratic, smothers her son, and is not easy to get along with. But it’s not until we learn the deadly deeds she’s capable of that we really start to dislike her.
Lysa’s love for Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish and her growing jealousy for anyone he takes an interest in leads to terrible actions, like almost pushing Sansa down the Moon Door, and as we eventually find out, even killing her own husband Jon Arryn to make Littlefinger happy. Fortunately, she doesn’t make it too far into the show and is killed by Littlefinger in season 4. I can’t see any reason anyone would like her, at least in the show.
13. Olly
Sure, he’s just trying to defend the North, but Olly is definitely a disliked Game of Thrones character because of the lengths he goes to do so. A young boy who becomes involved in the Night’s Watch, Olly not only kills Ygritte but he also helps organize the murder of Jon Snow. He has a personal grudge against Jon for getting involved with the Wildlings, and like other members of the Night’s Watch, he doesn’t understand the true threat coming to Westeros – the White Walkers.
While Jon understands Olly’s motivations, Olly doesn’t even try to understand Jon’s perspective. He’s just a kid, of course, which is why he’s not higher on this list. But it goes without saying that fans of the show are constantly frustrated by him while watching.
12. Theon Greyjoy
Okay, I know Theon gets his redemption arc in Game of Thrones, but in the early seasons when he’s awful, he’s really, really awful. Bad enough that he gets a spot on this list. We’re introduced to the character in the first season as Ned Stark’s ward and close friend to Robb Stark. But once Theon goes back home and is reunited with his father, he’ll do anything to impress him. Even if that means betraying those who’ve supported him for years.
Theon attempts to take Winterfell and turns his back on the Starks, which is totally wrong. Plus, he’s just got this arrogant way about him that’s enough to make viewers yell at the screen. He’s totally insufferable. Now, I’m definitely not saying he deserves the torture he endures at the hands of Ramsay Bolton. But his terrible attitude and actions before all of that make him a hated character. Truly, A Clash of Kings can be hard to read because of his chapters.
11. Stannis Baratheon
Let’s be real; Stannis is one of the most boring characters in Game of Thrones. It’s hard for me to get invested in his storyline, and anytime something eventful happens, he’s in the wrong. He’s rigid, entitled, and will do anything to get to the Iron Throne even at the cost of his daughter Shireen. He prioritizes himself over his loved ones and any shred of morals he might have. Plus, his relationship with Melisandre is very frustrating.
Fans of the show root for characters who are sympathetic or at the very least entertaining, and Stannis is neither. His nature alienates him from audiences and I don’t think many viewers were impacted by his death.
10. Craster
There are so many despicable characters in Game of Thrones, it’s hard to rank them by how evil they are. But if Craster was in more episodes, he would certainly be higher on this list. We meet the Wildling beyond the Wall when Jon Snow and his brothers travel past his home and stay with him one night. As we learn, he lives with his many wives, most of which being his own daughters. He has sex with them when they’re able to reproduce, and he keeps all of the girls. As for what happens when he has sons? They’re sacrificed to the White Walkers. It’s absolutely chilling.
His daughters are simply a breeding stock to Craster, which is messed up even for Game of Thrones. There’s no arguing that he’s hated by the show’s fans.
9. Viserys Targaryen
Daenerys’ older brother Viserys is widely despised by Game of Thrones fans due to his arrogance, entitlement, and abusive behavior. As the only living Targaryen man left in Westeros, Viserys has a claim to the Iron Throne and is determined to take it. But in the process, he manipulates and hurts others, especially his own sister. He’s not clever, charming, or really interesting at all. He doesn’t have what it takes to persuade people to bend the knee. Not like Daenerys does.
Viserys’ inability to respect the cultures and customs of the people he encounters further alienates him from audiences as he showcases his ignorance and arrogance.
Fortunately, he’s out of the picture by the end of the first season, allowing Daenerys to really shine.
8. Daenerys Targaryen
I know adding Daenerys Targaryen to the list of most disliked Game of Thrones characters is controversial, but let’s face it — a lot of people dislike her and there’s no denying that. As for me personally, I love Dany. She’s one of my favorite characters in the book series and in the show. And for many fans, she was a favorite up until the final season. Throughout the seasons, we get to see the Mother of Dragons persevere against all odds and actually make it to King’s Landing ready to rule. Unfortunately, the way she gets there in the final season is deadly, and many viewers hate her for that.
Daenerys will do whatever it takes to claim her birthright and sit on the Iron Throne her father once did, but many viewers feel like the writers completely throw her character development out the window when she kills thousands of innocent people. Fans feel betrayed by her character arc, and for that reason, she’s disliked.
7. Melisandre
Melisandre certainly has her moments, both good and bad, and I totally understand why many viewers don’t like her. Also known as the Red Woman, Melisandre is a priestess of the Lord of the Light who first appears in the second season after getting close to Stannis Baratheon. As we learn pretty quickly, she’s manipulative and uses her powers to achieve her own goals. She’s also made a few big mistakes throughout the seasons, including when she was convinced that Stannis was the chosen one who could save the world.
Sadly, all of this leads to Stannis’ poor child Shireen being burned at the stake as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. For that alone, Game of Thrones fans will never forgive Melisandre.
One redeeming moment for Melisandre is when she brings Jon Snow back from the dead. While she might not have evil intentions, she does cause destruction, and her arrogance and shadiness annoy viewers.
6. Petyr ” Littlefinger” Baelish
Now that we’ve gotten Daenerys and Melisandre out of the way, we’re approaching the pure evil characters on the list. Sure, Littlefinger isn’t as bad as Ramsay Bolton, but he’s certainly got bad intentions and will weasel his way in and out of every single situation. He’s insecure, power-hungry, and only thinks of himself. Though he tries to seem innocent enough and forms close relationships with other characters, he always has ulterior motives.
Littlefinger is a liar who can’t be trusted. He’s constantly plotting and scheming, and you never quite know what he’s up to. He’s also responsible for some of the show’s most shocking and disturbing moments, including the murder of Ned Stark and the betrayal of Sansa Stark.
Fans no doubt still feel joy in knowing that Sansa and Arya Stark are the ones to finally take him down and kill him.
5. Cersei Lannister
Oh, Cersei. The thing about her is that she’s not universally hated. Game of Thrones fans either love her or hate her and there’s no in-between. But because of how many awful things she does throughout the series, it shouldn’t be surprising that she’s on this list. I think everyone can agree that she’s selfish and makes all decisions in favor of herself. She’s in love with her brother Jaime but has even manipulated and mistreated him.
Cersei will do whatever it takes to maintain the Iron Throne, whether that means lying to her loved ones or betraying and murdering countless people. She has no issue sacrificing innocent lives in order to get what she wants. It almost seems like she takes pleasure in seeing others suffer.
She’s complex, multi-layered, and always keeps you guessing. But in the end, her ruthless ways and utter lack of compassion for anyone but herself make her a character that viewers love to hate.
4. Tywin Lannister
There’s no beating around the bush — Tywin Lannister is evil. And we wonder where Cersei gets it from! The Lannister patriarch is one of the worst characters in Game of Thrones, as he’s completely selfless, cruel, and conniving. He’s the textbook example of a bad father. He has his favorites and constantly plays games with his kids, leaving them in competition for who gets the most love.
Tywin is willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone to further his own agenda, including his own family. His treatment of Tyrion in particular is terrible.
Plus, he’s responsible for one of the most heartbreaking moments in the whole show, and that would be the Red Wedding. He conspires with Walder Frey to make the whole thing happen, which results in Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and Talisa Stark dead. It’s truly satisfying when Tyrion is the one to kill his father.
3. Walder Frey
It really goes without saying that Walder Frey is totally unlikeable. Who could ever like a character as terrible as he is? It’s widely known that he’s quick to betray anyone for his own personal gain, and we see that time and time again in Game of Thrones.
Of course, fans of the show hate Walder Frey because of his involvement in the Red Wedding. He conspires with Tywin Lannister and then invites the Stark and Tully families to a wedding feast under the pretense of reconciliation, only to slaughter them in a brutal and senseless massacre. It’s just devastating to watch.
On top of everything, Walder Frey is just rude and annoying. He has no redeeming qualities, and that’s why he’s such a hated character. Arya Stark eventually has the honor of killing him, which makes for a fantastic scene.
2. Joffrey Baratheon
Joffrey Baratheon is one of the worst TV villains of all time, let alone on Game of Thrones. The spoiled and entitled character is truly terrible from the moment we meet him, always looking out for his own personal gain and taking pleasure in hurting others. He has no empathy and plays games with people for entertainment. When he becomes the king, it’s obvious that he’s not suited for the role. He’s totally incompetent and makes decisions that hurt Westeros and those around him.
Joffrey’s responsible for the deaths of many beloved characters, including Ned Stark. It’s so hard to see how he treats Sansa, and overall he only causes destruction with every move he makes.
It’s no surprise that many Game of Thrones fans’ favorite scene is Joffrey’s death.
1. Ramsay Bolton
Joffrey and Ramsay are pretty much on the same level of evil, but Ramsay just takes his actions to another level. I personally dislike him the most out of any other Game of Thrones character, and I think that’s a widely regarded opinion.
Ramsay Bolton is completely sadistic and is motivated by power and hurting others. He enjoys torturing and mutilating his victims, both physically and mentally. He memorably castrates Theon Greyjoy and turns him into a broken shell of a man known as Reek. He also brutally murders his own father to become the Warden of the North.
The worst moments from Ramsay are during his marriage to Sansa Stark. He sexually assaults her and treats her so terribly, it’s very difficult to watch. There’s absolutely nothing to like about Ramsay and his death scene is one of the most satisfying in TV history. “Battle of the Bastards” is hands-down my favorite episode of the whole series.