Game Of Thrones: 5 Ways The Starks Were The Most Deserving Of The Iron Throne (& 5 Ways They Weren't)
From the very beginning of Game of Thrones, the Starks were always the easiest family to love. In a world filled with corrupt and murderous people, they offered a glimmer of hope and were seen as the most heroic of the story. Fans would cheer for their triumphs and mourn their tragedies.
By the end of the series, House Stark made it out of better than most of the other great houses in Westeros. Some key members of the family died along the way, some went off of their own journeys, but it was ultimately a Stark that sat on the Iron Throne. But, would fans say they were worthy of winning the crown or not?
10 Deserving: Robb's Victories
Following the death of Ned Stark, the oldest Stark child, Robb Stark, gathered the Northern houses and marched to war. With the likes of Tywin Lannister and Stannis Baratheon in the midst of the War of the Five Kings, few people thought this young man wouldn't pose much of a threat.
As it turns out, Robb was a brilliant military commander. He managed to pull Tywin into a diversion, which allowed him to capture Jaime Lannister. From there, he gained a reputation for himself as the Young Wolf, never losing a battle, which is more than the other would-be kings could say.
9 Not Deserving: They Belonged In The North
The first episode of the show sees Ned Stark become the Hand of the King, which, ultimately, takes him out of his home in the North to serve in King's Landing. That is where all the trouble began for the Starks.
They lived a secluded and happy life in the North, keeping to themselves and their own issues. It was like they were from an entirely separate kingdom. This causes them to develop a narrow view of how things should operate, entirely unwilling to bend. That might work when ruling the North, but not when there are six other kingdoms to consider.
8 Deserving: Bran's Powers
The decision to have Bran Stark become the new King of Westeros was a controversial one among fans. A lot of that was because Tyrion's reasoning that Bran deserves it because he has the best story is pretty ridiculous. But there are some very good reasons why he is the right man for the job.
Bran's journey throughout the series might not have always been exciting, but he eventually began the Three-Eyed Raven, making him the most powerful being in Westeros. Having Bran as king means that Westeros is being ruled by someone who literally knows everything that has ever happened and could possibly prevent future disasters from occurring.
7 Not Deserving: The Didn't Want It
There were always plenty of people fighting a bloody battle over who gets to sit on the Iron Throne, but the Starks were never officially part of that battle. Ned Stark refused to take the throne after Robert's death, Robb just wanted revenge and to return to the North, and even Bran admitted he didn't desire the throne.
Some characters suggested not wanting the throne is a perfect reason for why someone should have the throne, but that isn't very logical. The person who sits on the Iron Throne should be someone who is willing to fight for the position because they don't think anyone else could do a better job.
6 Deserving: Arya Killed The Night King
There have been many heroic moments throughout the show and many of them belong to the Starks. But while Jon Snow seemed to be set up to be the one who ultimately saves the day, when the Night King attacked, he was actually used as a diversion.
Instead, Arya Stark continued to prove herself as the biggest badass in Westeros. Were it not for her, the Night King and his army would have taken over Westeros and there would be no Iron Throne. So it wouldn't be surprising if the people preferred to have a Stark on the throne after everything they did.
5 Not Deserving: Surrounded Themselves With Enemies
Living in the North, the Starks seemed to get used to being surrounded by family and friends they could trust. Once they left their safe home and entered more complicated environments, they failed to learn the lesson that they cannot trust anyone.
Ned Stark trusted Littlefinger, which got him arrested and killed. Robb trusted Roose Bolton and Walder Frey leading to his death. Even Theon initially betrayed them. Despite their strength, the Starks really knew how to make themselves easy targets.
4 Deserving: Jon Snow Was The True Heir
It's true, Jon Snow is technically a Targaryen, but that is really in name only. Ned Stark tells him he has Stark blood in him, he was raised by Starks in the North, and the only family he has ever known has been the Starks. So when it is discovered that Jon is the true heir, it feels like a win for the Starks.
The news comes as a surprise to many, but immediately people begin seeing Jon as the better choice to sit on the Iron Throne, with Tyrion and Varys even encouraging him. Daenerys also begins to see him as a real threat to her seat of power. Had Daenerys died during the Battle of Winterfell or was assassinated by her skeptical followers, Jon could have stepped in and untied the Seven Kingdoms, with a mix of Stark and Targaryen blood.
3 Not Deserving: Didn't Play "The Game"
The Starks have always been effective when it comes to wielding swords and charging into battle, but Game of Thrones has proven time and time again that intelligence and strategy are the keys to victory.
Sansa eventually learned to be a skilled political player over time, but, overall, the Starks have made some of the worst decisions in the series. Catelyn arresting Tyrion, Robb sending Theon to the Iron Islands, and Ned's entire time in King's Landing proved that they would act before thinking, which usually led to their demise.
2 Deserving: They Were The Good Guys
The series was very interesting in how it continued to subvert expectations for who was good and who was evil. But from the very beginning, the Starks were always seen as the good guys and that didn't ever really change.
They were heroic, honorable, and seemed to genuinely care about doing the right thing. That was a rare thing in Westeros and if there were more people like them, perhaps it would have been a more peaceful place.
1 Not Deserving: Their Naivety
Game of Thrones always liked to subvert the tropes of these kinds of stories, showing that the good guys didn't always have to win. It presented Westeros as a place filled with grey areas, but the Starks always saw the world in black and white.
Especially with the Stark men, they always insisted on doing the "right thing" even if that wasn't the best decision. Robb executed Lord Karstark for killing Lannister prisoners, which lost him a large portion of his army.
Ned gave Cersei a warning that ended up getting himself and King Robert killed. Jon refused to Cersei about supporting Daenerys, which threatened the truce in Westeros. Somewhat selfishly, the Starks proved they are willing to put their own honor above the greater good, which, unfortunately, is a poor quality in a ruler.