The family dynamics on Game of Thrones have always been a bit tricky. In some cases, families are genuinely loving and heartwarming, but then there are also those characters who are totally willing to kill their own relatives if it means they will get a little more power.
This is true of the siblings of Westeros as well. The show has sweet moments of brothers and sisters supporting and looking out for each other. And, of course, there are just as many scenes of siblings doing unspeakably evil things to one another.
Best: Jon Gives Arya Needle
Fans didn't get much time to see the Stark siblings all together in season 1 before they went their separate ways. With Jon heading to the Wall and Arya going to King's Landing with her father, the two share a bittersweet goodbye and show that they really care for each other.
As a goodbye present, Jon gives Arya a small sword which she aptly names Needle. Not only would Arya use it for many future kills, but it is also a moment in which Jon encourages his little sister to follow her own path regardless of what others tell her.
Worst: Theon Doesn't Recognize Yara
After being away from his home for years, Theon Greyjoy returns to the Iron Islands which lacks the warm welcome he was expecting. However, he is offered a ride to the castle from a local girl and, as is Theon's style, he makes some sexual invitations to the girl which she doesn't rebuke.
But when Theon gets to the castle and is greeted by his father, he is shocked to learn that the girl is actually his sister Yara who he failed to recognize. It makes the already uncomfortable reunion even more cringe-worthy and establishes House Greyjoy as one of Westeros's most dysfunctional families.
Best: Sansa And Arya Turn The Tables On Littlefinger
Though Arya and Sansa didn't really get along very well when they were younger, fans were thrilled to see them finally reunite in season 7. Unfortunately, their sibling rivalry quickly takes a dark turn as Littlefinger began manipulating them against each other.
Just as it seems like the Stark sisters might be willing to kill each other, they reveal they have figured out Littlefinger's scheme and execute him. While sisters teaming up to kill someone, might not seem wholesome, it was nice to see them working together again.
Worst: Euron Throws Balon Off A Bridge
While the reunion of Theon and Yara was awkward, it turned out to be better than the one between another pair of Greyjoy siblings. The long-lost uncle Euron Greyjoy returns home from exile in the middle of a storm where he confronts his brother Balon on a bridge.
Almost immediately, this reunion turns sour as Euron tells his brother that he is taking the throne for himself. A brief fight occurs before Euron tosses Balon off the bridge to his death. The scene escalates so quickly that viewers hardly have time to process that there is another Greyjoy now in the mix.
Best: Jaime Saves Tyrion From Execution
Though he has done some terrible things in the show, Jaime Lannister's a bit of an anti-hero as he is capable of good deeds as well. His softer side can best be seen in how he treats his brother Tyrion.
While the rest of the family hates Tyrion simply for being born, Jaime loves his brother and sticks up for him. He attempts to save Tyrion during his trial, but when that doesn't work, he is willing to risk even more by breaking him out of prison before his execution. It is the kind of love Tyrion rarely experiences.
Worst: Viserys Pays A Price For Threatening Daenerys
Almost immediately, Viserys Targaryen cements himself as one of the worst siblings on Game of Thrones. He is creepy and abusive to his sister Daenerys, even willing to sell her to Khal Drogo in exchange for an army.
But when Daenerys is accepted by the Dothraki, she sees no use for her brother which fills him with rage. He makes the fatal mistake of threatening the baby Daenerys is carrying which results in Drogo killing Viserys with molten gold. The way she watches her brother brutally murdered by her husband without emotion may be an early hint of Daenerys becoming a villain.
Best: Ned Keeps Lyanna's Son Safe
In Game of Thrones, even the touching moments in the story often feature death. In a flashback, fans are shown young Ned Stark reuniting with Lyanna Stark only to find her dying after giving birth.
While it is certainly a sad moment of Ned losing his sister, it also features one of the most selfless moments in the series when he agrees to take the baby as his own. Ned Stark's bravery in this moment is inspiring, as he knows the danger and turmoil he is taking on, but never hesitates or regrets bringing Jon Snow into his family for his sister.
Worst: Ramsay Kills His New Brother
There is a strong argument to be made that Ramsay Bolton is the evilest character in Game of Thrones. He is responsible for some of the show's most brutal moments, but this particular atrocity was even shocking by his standards.
After learning that his father had a new son with his wife, Ramsay proceeds to murder his father then sets his hounds loose on his mother-in-law and his new baby brother. It shows that Ramsay doesn't care about anyone but himself, but also feels like an example of the series going too far.
Best: Jon And Sansa Reunite
It's interesting to consider that, before season 6, fans never saw Jon Snow and Sansa Stark interact. However, when these two end up being the first of the Stark children to finally reunite after so long, it is such a heartwarming scene.
The moment comes after each of them had been through so much. Sansa had just escaped Ramsay's captivity while Jon had been brought back from the dead. Seeing them embrace at Castle Black feels like a relief for audiences as much as it is for the characters.
Worst: Jaime And Cersei Are Caught By Bran
It doesn't take Game of Thrones long to establish just how twisted the sibling relationships in this show can be. The first episode concludes with one of its biggest shocks as Bran Stark accidentally finds Jaime and Cersei Lannister having an affair.
As shocking as that moment is, it only gets worse when Jaime decides the best way to cover it up is to thrown Bran out the window. With that, the unhealthy relationship between the Lannister siblings is introduced to fans.