31 Things We Learned from the Game of Thrones Women

Images via HBO

From the good to the bad to the fabulous, we count down the top 31 life lessons we learned from the women of Game of Thrones.

As a rather absurd rule, fantasy books and film have been largely dominated by men in both cast as well as demographic. Although a then-teenage Mary Shelley paved the way for the genre with the seminal Frankenstein in 1818, women’s involvement in science fiction and fantasy tend to be swept under the rug. “No Girls Allowed!” signs adorn the entryways into Narnia, Middle Earth, and Salisbury (or whereabouts, as that’s where Arthur Dent bought his towel).

Of course, such signs aren’t enough to stop women from diving into fantasy and making a splash. Author of the wildly popular A Song of Ice and Fire series, George R.R. Martin, may not boast womanhood himself, but he’s written some of the most real, relatable female characters to date. These queens, noblewomen, and prostitutes have come further to life onscreen with HBO’s television adaptation of the series. Depending on who you ask, the world of Game of Thrones is ruled more by its women than its men (I’m certainly of that opinion). Season 6 was especially indicative of this power shift, but the women who came and went before were no backseat drivers.

Through their mistakes and victories alike, the women of Westeros have planted their flags firmly in the hall of fictional fame. In doing so, they’ve offered us life lessons on silver platters. We cheer on their triumphs, and learn from their missteps as much as they have, and sometimes even more so.

No matter their social status or popularity amongst fans, one thing’s for sure: Every last one of these women is a queen in her own right. Iron Thrones all around!