The Targaryen dynasty was born from fire and blood, as the HBO show House of the Dragon is set to reveal on August 21st. But it wasn't just war that won the dragons their crowns. It was careful political maneuvering, centuries of intrigue, and a series of decisions that helped to stabilize and destabilize the Seven Kingdoms.
In Game of Thrones, several families had to reckon with those same problems. While many of their decisions were brilliant moves that helped them win the game, others were baffling. Considering the politics and road to the Iron Throne require having to make the most strategic moves, some brilliant characters somehow made poor decisions along the way, some even costing their life.
Ironborn Pride
Theon Greyjoy goes through a lot in Game of Thrones, mostly thanks to his own ignorant actions. Yet, while he does a lot of ridiculous things, Reddit user windmillninja claims that one of the dumbest decisions was "Theon thinking he could take the entire North with only his own House."
Given that it took three dragons and several armies for the Targaryens to conquer the North, it was a ridiculous prospect to think that 20 men could bring down the North's greatest house. Even if Ramsay hadn't gotten into Winterfell, there was no way for the Ironborn to hold the castle for long, and he really should have gone home with Yara.
Marrying For Love
Though he was a brilliant commander and a genius tactician, Robb wasn't always the smartest king in the Seven Kingdoms. "If he would have just stayed loyal and married how he was supposed to the Starks would have won the war by the end of season 4," says Redditor Justbusiness38.
Robb marrying the Frey girl is a major what-if scenario that could have changed everything, yet he married for love. In hindsight, it's a major mistake, but it's hard to blame a teenager for wanting to marry someone he was attracted to rather than one of Walder Frey's daughters.
A Questionable Mission
In the same mission where the world discovered that Gendry could run faster than an Olympic champion, Daenerys and Jon proved that they weren't the best at strategic planning. After sending a crew of essential figures, like the King in the North, beyond the Wall for evidence of the Night King's existence, Daenerys was forced to mount a rescue mission to save the heroes who really couldn't have gotten out any other way.
"She could’ve simply flown the crew there and back for the evidence in the first place," Redditor Sea-entrepreneur1973 points out. Considering that it might have saved her a dragon, it was certainly a questionable move, especially considering that the army of the dead was already large enough to see from the sky.
Jon Arryn's Death
The catalyst that starts off Game of Thrones is the death of the Hand of the King, Jon Arryn. It's the reason Ned went South, the reason Jon Snow left for the Wall, and the reason the Northern bannermen eventually rode for King's Landing. And all because Lysa Arryn wanted to please Littlefinger by poisoning her husband.
"Screwed everyone over and led to her own downfall," says Reddit user josephpolito1. Considering that the kingdom went to war almost immediately after his death, it was certainly a major mistake. Had Lysa allowed Jon to live another day, she and Littlefinger might have had to keep their affair secret, but at least the moon door would have stayed closed.
A Boring King
Though Renly certainly deserved the Iron Throne, his actual quest to take it wasn't all that smart. Redditor ljh2100 argues that he could have survived if he accepted "joining his brother and allowing someone honorable (albeit boring, can't remember how Renly described him) and the rightful heir (as they believed wholeheartedly) take it."
Considering that it meant splitting Stannis' forces, it ruined both of their chances of getting the throne. Besides, Renly still could have enjoyed jousts and tourneys even if he had stayed with Stannis. He may have been able to remain somewhat more discreet with Loras as well.
He Did Warn Them
There are few people more suspicious than a slow-talking man who walks around proclaiming just how suspicious he is. Yet, somehow, the people of King's Landing trust him over and over again. Redditor QuantityLoL claims that the worst decisions were "Anybody trusting Littlefinger ever."
Though some things about Sansa have aged poorly, her distrust of Littlefinger remains one of her most brilliant attributes. After all, she managed to figure out just how conniving Littlefinger could be, and she certainly proved to be better at the game of thrones than her father was. Really, as the only one to figure him out, she was brilliant.
Talking To Cersei
Ned Stark was certainly an honorable man, but that doesn't make him a smart one. When he chose to reveal to Cersei Lannister about his plan to expose her children as the spawn of Jaime, it was his own death knell. "I understand Ned wanting to talk to Cersei before doing anything drastic but he should have at least told one other person as a backup if things went south," says fittingly-named Reddit user _Doh_.
Though he did order letters to be sent to Stannis, having trusted allies in the North was essential. Instead, he failed to even tell Catelyn or Robb, leaving them to wage a war of their own, despite being fully unaware that Ned was supporting Stannis' claim to the throne.
The Quiet March
Sometimes, armies in Game of Thrones didn't make the wisest decisions, as the Battle of the Bastards proved. But KyleKunt claims on Reddit that nothing is dumber than "Robb Stark and his army leaving Winterfell in the middle of the night as to 'not be spotted by Lannister spies'."
Though Robb was tactically one of the most powerful Stark kids, there were some mind-boggling decisions. For instance, a day's ride rarely does much to cover grounds when they are still weeks away from the South, let alone the Lannister spies would have informed their superiors about the army's disappearance. It was a strange decision, made all the strangers since the entire kingdom knew he was coming anyway.
Not The Best Smuggler
Davos is one of the best side characters in Game of Thrones, but that doesn't always make him the brightest. "Davos 'smuggling' Tyrion, Westeros' #1 Most Wanted, onto an open beach in broad daylight in sight of the city where guards patrol... didn't even bother to give him a cloak to hide his incredibly recognizable/scarred face," says Reddit user acamas.
Considering that entire kingdoms wanted to see Tyrion's head on a spike, it was genuinely shocking to see Davos parading him around like it was nothing. Tyrion may have been a genius, but this moment certainly proved he had his blind spots as well. How Cersei didn't catch him is a genuine question.
Not Claiming The Crown
Daenerys had one major goal all her life: Coming home to Westeros to rule. When she finally reached the Seven Kingdoms, she took the advice of a Lannister exile and chose not to invade with her forces and, instead, wait for reinforcements. "The worst strategic move was Daenerys listening to Tyrion and not going straight for the Iron Throne from Dragonstone," says Redditor IndespensableDestiny.
Considering that Cersei was certainly despised as a queen, Daenerys could have been a hero just for deposing her. Instead, she lost friends, a great portion of her army, and one of her dragons. To make matters worse, even more people died than if she had simply made her move sooner. It's even more questionable, given Aegon the Conqueror, her ancestor, had done it before her.