6 Surviving Characters Game of Thrones Fans Would Happily Trade for a Dead One

Game of Thrones has always had plenty of death to dish out. Which raises the issue of why some of the best characters had to die while annoying ones survived.

Here a swaps we’d gladly take if we could finish off some survivors to have great characters back:

1. Jon Snow for Yoren

If Jon Snow represents one thing on the show, it’s virtue signalling. Game of Thrones was full of complex characters, but Jon Snow was really quite bland and a bit too perfect.

Yoren saved Arya because he knew she was in danger. He didn’t crow about it, he just got on with making sure she had safe passage to somewhere out of King’s Landing.

2. Bran Stark for Olenna Tyrell

After meeting the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran went missing for an entire season and wasn’t missed. Not exactly the inspirational leader you need to recover from the complete destruction of a city.

This might seem a bit harsh given their relative ages, but Olenna Tyrell was a stateswoman in everything but name. Witty and wise, she would have provided excellent counsel for the new monarch.

3. Edmure Tully for Varys

Edmure Tully was simply a device for the Red Wedding. Was anybody bothered when he was taken captive? Did anybody question whether he was still alive? No. Which tells its own story.

I’m talking about the old Varys here. The manipulator and schemer at the heart of everything. It’s not clear what sort of influence he’d have had over the fallen King’s Landing. But it would have been interesting to see what he did next.

4. Yara Greyjoy for Ser Jorah

Yara entered the show with so much potential and left it having not fulfilled any of it.

Ser Jorah had a complicated backstory but was, at heart, a good man. Totally devoted to Dany, he was only out to please, but it always felt as though, if he could get over his obsession with her, he had so much to give for the good of the realm.

5. Arya Stark for Shireen Baratheon

Arya just wanted to be a warrior. Having killed the Night King, it seems there is nowhere else for her character arc to go. This was why she was seen floating off to who knows where in the finale. Death after bringing down the Night King would have been more fitting.

Shireen was a sweet kid with not a bad bone in her body. Her death was one of the most horrific of the show. Had she survived and found her way to King’s Landing, her wise head on kind shoulders would have been invaluable to rebuilding the capital.

6. Gilly for Missandei

Gilly came from nowhere and would do us all a favour by just going back.

Missandei came from nowhere to earn Dany’s trust.