Among many other exciting revelations, this year’s San Diego Comic-Con saw the release of a new trailer for HBO’s House of the Dragon. Like its predecessor, Game of Thrones, it will focus on the dynastic politics of Westeros. Of all of the players of the game of thrones, Cersei was somehow both one of its most subtle practitioners and also one of its worst.

Though her own ruthlessness was very often the source of her undoing, there are also a number of characters who appeared throughout the series that played just enough of a role in her decline that they deserve some credit for bringing about her downfall.

Euron

Game of Thrones Euron Greyjoy and the Silence

Cersei is in many ways one of the smartest characters in Game of Thrones, but she doesn’t always make the wisest political decisions, particularly when it comes to her relationships. In particular, her alliance with Euron is one of her strangest choices and, given his general unpopularity, his brutality, and his unpredictability, he did very little to contribute to her actual success as the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.

In fact, in many important ways he accelerated Cersei's loss of the Iron Throne, especially as he threatened to come between her and her beloved Jaime.

Tyrion

Cersei and Tyrion Lannister sit together in Game of Thrones

Tyrion is one of the best members of House Lannister but, despite the fact that he is her brother, it was clear from the beginning that Cersei hated him with a deep and abiding passion. Thus, there is something bitterly ironic that he came to play such a key role in her bitter end, especially once he became Daenerys’ Hand.

His intelligence and his skill at playing politics meant that he was often someone who understood Cersei the best, to such an extent that he was one of the keys to Cersei's loss at Dany's hand.

Joffrey

Cersei lovingly holding Joffrey by the chin

Joffrey was undoubtedly one of the most reviled characters on Game of Thrones, and his death was one of the most satisfying. Though Cersei dearly loved her son, the ugly truth is that he caused his mother far more harm than good. Given that she was willing to defend him, no matter what he did or how badly he ruled, she ended up damaging her own name and that of her family.

There was ultimately no way that anyone in the Seven Kingdoms was ever going to see her as a truly inspiring or well-loved queen after her eldest son's nightmarish rule.

Cersei

Cersei on the throne in Game of Thrones.

Of all of the characters that appear in Game of Thrones, Cersei is arguably the one who is most responsible for her own downfall. Though she was undeniably skilled at the game, she was too prone to letting her own sense of superiority get the better of her. In particular, she didn’t want to rely on anyone else for help, even those who could have proven to be very good allies.

As a result, she had almost no one who was able or willing to tell her when she was wrong, which is never a good thing for a ruler.

Daenerys

Daenerys Targaryen looks at the Iron Throne

Daenerys is arguably one of the most powerful characters in Game of Thrones. This was true both because of her command of her dragons and also her forceful personality. She is also, of course, one of those most responsible for the downfall of Cersei.

Cersei's strategy for claiming and keeping the Iron Throne typically revolved around simply using a great deal of force, so when Daenerys arrived with her powerful army and her dragons, there was ultimately almost no chance that Cersei could put up a winning fight against her.

Qyburn

Qyburn sitting in chair.

One of Cersei’s most notorious issues was surrounding herself with yes-men, people who are far too willing to go along with whatever she proposes, no matter how absurd. The failed Maester Qyburn is a perfect example. He very quickly shows that he is willing to support Cersei in whatever she does, and he also has a well-earned reputation for being a sinister character.

As with so many of her other enablers, he slowly eroded her rule, showing that she had little to no moral compass that guided her decisions.

Olenna

Olenna sits at council chambers

Olenna Tyrell was without a doubt one of the best characters on Game of Thrones, the kind of shrewd and wily person who knew how to get ahead in the dark world of Westerosi politics. She was also a key player in Cersei’s fall, particularly since she was the one who was responsible for killing Joffrey at his own wedding.

What’s more, she was skilled at building alliances against Cersei, and while she was ultimately defeated on the field of battle, she helped to fatally weaken her enemy and laid her open to other attacks and invasions.

Tommen

Tommen being crowned King in Game of Thrones

At first glance, it seemed as if Tommen was going to be the type of king that his brother wasn’t. Unfortunately, this came at a price, and that was his loyalty to his mother. Under the influence of his wife, Margaery Tyrell, he slowly withdrew away from Cersei.

Most notably, he allowed her to be publicly shamed in front of all of King’s Landing. While she was eventually able to claw her way back to power, it was something from which she never really recovered, and it helped contribute to her lack of support among the common people.

Margaery

Margaery Tyrell sitting in the garden in Game Of Thrones

Natalie Dormer has been in many great roles, and there’s no question that Margaery Tyrell is one her best. Cunning and ambitious, she was an immediate threat to Cersei, and it was clear that the two of them would be constantly vying for power and influence over the young Tommen.

While Cersei was ultimately able to gain the upper hand–by blowing up the Great Sept of Baelor–it’s clear that,  like so many of the other characters with whom Cersei interacted, Margaery’s influence would be felt long after her death.

The High Sparrow

High Sparrow looking serious from the Game of Thrones

Of all of Cersei’s many enemies, arguably the most important, and the most indefatigable, was the High Sparrow. The two of them were very vigorously at odds, and there’s no question that he played a key role in damaging her already-fragile reputation among the people of King’s Landing and Westeros in general.

Again, she was able to attain victory over her enemy, but it was at a significant cost. She ultimately showed that she was unable to find peace with anyone, always choosing instead to use the bluntest force possible.

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