Hot Pie might just be the luckiest character in Game Of Thrones. Author George R.R. Martin's spent time as a writer on TV shows like Beauty And The Beast starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton before writing A Song Of Ice And Fire, his fantasy novel series. The books are acclaimed for their intricate plotting, richly-developed characters, and for many shocking plot twists and scenes of violence. HBO's adaptation arrived in 2011 and became a word of mouth sensation, and its popularity and scope grew over time.
Game Of Thrones the show soon developed a devoted fanbase, but the last few seasons were largely considered a disappointment. The narrative felt like it was in a rush to get to the ending and put a focus on spectacle over characters. Alongside Lost, the finale was also considered a letdown, but despite this, Game Of Thrones was still a landmark television event.
The fate of Sean Bean's Ned Stark in season 1 let viewers know that few characters on the show were safe, and from The Red Wedding to the shocking The Mountain and the Viper battle, a lot of heroic characters met a sudden end. One character who - rather inexplicably - managed to survive from Game Of Thrones season 1 all the way to the end is Hot Pie (Ben Hawkey). Arya Stark first met Hot Pie when she was disguised as a Night's Watch recruit, where he tries to bully her and steal her sword; she scares him off by threatening to use it on him.
Hot Pie becomes more developed in Game Of Thrones season 2, where he, Arya and Gendry bond a little as they head to the Night Watch before being captured and taken to Harrenhal by Lannister men. Hot Pie manages to escape torture on arrival and Arya eventually becomes Tywin's cupbearer. The end of the season has the trio escape Harrenhal together, but in season 3 they're quickly captured by the Brotherhood instead. After a stay at the Inn at the Crossroads, Hot Pie decides to stay behind and work there for the innkeeper, as he previously served as a baker's apprentice.
Hot Pie is later seen during Game Of Thrones season 4, where he's still working at the Inn and helps put Brienne of Tarth on Arya's path. His last appearance came in season 7, where he and Arya are reunited at the Inn. He gives her a pie and fills her in on all the Westeros gossip she missed out on, including her brother Jon Snow winning the "Battle Of The Bastards" and being crowned King in the North. As she leaves they bid a final goodbye, where Arya tells him and not to get killed, but he declares himself a "survivor" just like her.
In terms of sheer luck and life goals being fulfilled, Hot Pie did well on his Game Of Thrones journey. Sure, he had an unpleasant stay at Harrenhal but all that did was make him realize his true talents lay with baking. Unlike other major surviving characters like the Starks or Tyrion, Hot Pie didn't suffer any profound traumas or lose loved ones either, and outside of maybe Bronn - who went from sellsword to Master of Coin - he might just be the show's luckiest character.