More than most shows, Game of Thrones had a reputation for proving that no character was safe. The show shocked fans with the deaths of some of their favorite characters and thrilled them with the deaths of some of the most hated villains. And as the show reached its end, it became a question of who would be left standing.
While some deaths, like Ned Stark and Robb Stark, were devastating, it's hard to deny it made for a better show. However, there are certain characters whose deaths felt unnecessary or the wrong move for the show. On the other hand, some of those characters that survived would have been better suited for a bloody end.
Should Have Survived: Khal Drogo
Long before he was Aquaman, Jason Momoa made an impression as the powerful and badass Dothraki lord, Khal Drogo. Though he was set up as this fearless warrior who led the most feared army in the world, Drogo's early exit from the show was quite surprising. He dies in the first season due to an infection from a small cut.
While Drogo's death sent Daenerys on her own path to power, there are more interesting ways this could have been handled. Despite falling in love with each other, Drogo is not a kind husband at first. Perhaps it would have been more powerful for Daenerys to leave Drogo herself and he could have been a looming threat to her during her time in Essos.
Should Have Died: Bronn
Bronn was one of those supporting characters who seemed to steal every scene that he was in. He was introduced as an opportunistic mercenary who was not above doing dirty work to make a bit of money. He also formed a nice friendship with Tyrion.
Over time, it became clear that the show didn't have any more ideas of what to do with Bronn besides delivering vulgar one-liners. In fact, his whole role in the final season is completely pointless. Had they chose to kill Bronn during the loot train attack in season 7 it could have given him a fitting exit and added stakes to that sequence.
Should Have Survived: Doran Martell
Perhaps the most hated of all the storylines in Game of Thrones was the Dorne subplot from season 5. Despite introducing an exciting new location and having rich material from the books, The storyline was botched and the Dornish prince, Doran, was swiftly killed off at the beginning of season 6.
However, Doran was not the issue with this storyline and was actually the character with the most potential. In the books, Doran appears to be an inactive leader only to reveal he has his own strategy at play. Had the show followed this route, Doran could have become a fan favorite.
Should Have Died: Brienne Of Tarth
There were a lot of knights in the show, but none of them exhibited what a knight should be as well as Brienne of Tarth. She was heroic, a skilled fighter, and someone who stood up for the defenseless. In the end, she was named as one of the kingsguard knights for Bran Stark.
While this is a fitting and happy end for Brienne, a hero's death feels like it would have been a more fitting end for her. Brienne was haunted by the guilt of failing to save Renly so she could have died protecting Sansa.
Should Have Survived: Varys
As the Master of Whisperers in King's Landing, Varys was seen as one of the most knowledgable people in Westeros. Despite playing the loyal servant, he was always moving pieces behind the scenes. In fact, his rivalry with Littlefinger felt like the best example of the so-called "game of thrones."
As the show went on, it seemed to favor spectacle over political intrigue and Varys's role became less and less significant until he is killed for betraying Daenerys. It would have been nice to see his battle of wits against Littlefinger continue for the rest of the series which could have helped ground the show a little more.
Should Have Died: Samwell Tarly
Samwell Tarly is one of the more likable characters in a show that is known for flawed characters, to say the least. Though he is a self-professed coward, Sam has shown he has a lot more courage than he gives himself credit for. He is also one of the smartest characters in the show and someone who always does the right thing.
It might seem meanspirited to suggest a nice guy like Sam should die, but that is logically what should have happened. When the show decided to put Sam in the midst of the Battle of Winterfell where he is seen cowering in as the army of the dead trying to kill him, it was just too unbelievable that he was able to walk away from that alive.
Should Have Survived: Missandei
Missandei was one of Daenerys Targaryen's most loyal companions and advisors. Like the others in that inner circle, she offered words of wisdom that kept Daenerys from embracing her worst tendencies. After Missandei is captured and killed by Cersei, it puts Daenerys on the warpath.
Game of Thrones was often criticized for not being particularly diverse. Elevating the character of Missandei felt like an opportunity to do something with one of their few BIPOC characters. But to then kill that character off as a pawn to influence one of the white characters felt wrong.
Should Have Died: Bran Stark
Few people could have predicted the journey Bran Stark would go on throughout the show. After being crippled in the first episode, Bran finds a new purpose, becoming the Three-Eyed Raven and eventually being named the new king of Westeros.
Obviously, the choice to name Bran as king was a controversial one and it felt like an odd ending for the character. Nothing about his journey suggested this would be where he ends up. In fact, it would have been far more fitting if he had died at the hands of the Night King after using his Three-Eyed Raven powers to actually achieve something.
Should Have Survived: The Hound
Sandor Clegane, aka The Hound, was one of the most popular supporting characters in the show. Initially, he seemed like the brutal henchman to Joffrey Baratheon, but he eventually proved himself to be a more complex and likable character, especially in his friendship with Arya.
Though the show seemed to be putting Sandor on a path of redemption, they eventually decided it was more fun to just have him swear and kill people. While some people love his showdown with The Mountain, it would have been more fitting to see him turn his back on violence and find peace.
Should Have Died: Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister is likely the most popular character in the entire series and for good reason. He was a funny, clever and sympathetic character who was easy to cheer for. But like many characters in the show, they seemed to forget why people liked him in the later seasons.
While it is nice to have characters who are imperfect, watching Tyrion make countless bad decisions in the final seasons was not fun. To then end his story by suggesting he will just have to work to make up for all his mistakes feels like a cop-out. Fans wanted to see how his story would end and a bittersweet death would have been perfect.