Samwell Tarly, the disowned son of House Tarly, the steward to Maester Aemon, slayer of White Walkers. Sam grew from a sniveling coward to bookish hero over the course of eight seasons on HBO's hit show Game of Thrones. It was one of the better and more complete character arcs the show offered.
But, while Sam, but for the show's final season, wasn't overlooked as anyone's mere sidekick, some of his most important moments, perhaps, weren't as outstanding as they seemed on the surface. Yet, there were a few points where Sam deserved better than he got, and below we review a little bit of both.
Underrated - Admitting His Dad Sent Him Away
When Sam gets to Castle Black the ever honorable Jon Snow steps in to keep him from getting completely beaten up by his brothers and commanders alike. When Jon confronts Sam about what he's actually doing at Castle Black, a place he is obviously not fit to succeed, Sam admits exactly why he's come.
He knows what the Night's Watch is, but his father sent him away and threatened to kill him if he didn't take the black. This is quite a thing to admit to a basic stranger, even if he did have your back. It's very brave of Sam to reveal exactly where it is he's come from.
Overrated - Telling Jon His Heritage
Not all of Sam's honesty should be appreciated as much as his admitting his true heritage and family history. Telling Jon his family history, his parentage, even at the insistence of Bran/The Three-Eyed Raven, feels less than level headed for the wise Sam fans came to expect.
A huge battle, perhaps the last battle any of them will ever fight, is looming and Sam decides that's the time to tell Jon that he is the real heir to the Seven Kingdoms. Sam should have been honest with his best friend, but him telling Jon when and how he does is overrated.
Underrated - Stealing Books from the Citadel
Daenerys, Jorah, and the audience get a good laugh when Sam admits he would like the Dragon Queen's assistance in smoothing things over with the Citadel because he stole books from Old Town before he came north. But his taking the books with him should be appreciated more.
Sam was never the bravest of characters and his taking those books, out from under the noses of all the other maesters, fleeing into the night, is quite the act from a man who, as a boy, tried so hard to be good and follow the rules.
Overrated - Killing the White Walker
The importance of the knowledge that Sam gains from killing his first white walker, that dragonglass, like fire, can kill them, cannot be overstated, yet, the fact that he kills a white walker is really nothing more than luck.
Flailing about with the one weapon available to him, Sam kills the white walker, and he and Gilly are free to flee. Dumb luck is fun to watch, but it's not something that Sam should get quite so much credit for.
Underrated - Joining the Night's Watch
The fact that Sam hikes all the way to Castle Black and joins the Night's Watch, just as he told his father he would, is something that should be appreciated more.
Sam doesn't fall on the road north and either turn back or flee to a different destination. He's brave and honest enough to march onward and do just as he said he would. The fact that Sam shows up at all at the Wall is amazing in its own right.
Overrated - Saving Gilly
Of course, it is honorable of Sam to take Gilly from Craster's Keep. She asks for his help and he gives it. However, but offering Gilly his help Sam abandons his brothers and his oath. When Sam leaves with Gilly he leaves behind not just his brothers but his lord commander, Jeor Mormont as well.
It's hard to ask Sam to choose, but it's also hard to watch him abandon the few people who have offered him help and assistance so far during his time with the Night's Watch.
Underrated - Stealing Heartsbane
Sam gets a lot of points for offering his family's Valyrian steel sword to a more able-bodied fighter (Jorah Mormont) for use during the long night. However, what gets overlooked, is the fact that Sam has the sword in the first place.
The simple act of Sam taking the sword from his father's home, from the man who threatened to have him killed in a supposed "hunting accident" is quite brave. Sam should get a lot more credit and attention for taking Heartsbane with him when he left his father for the last time.
Overrated - Letting Bran Through the Wall
Many viewers find it very sweet that Sam would assist his best friend's brother through the wall and on his journey.
However, Sam needed to be the adult in the situation, and perhaps he really should have taken Bran, Meera, and company back to Castle Black with him. He was really more of a pushover here, helping Bran go farther north, a north that Sam and Gilly had just escaped from.
Underrated - Holding it Together in Front of Daenerys
In episode one of season eight Daenerys wants to thank the man who saved Ser Jorah's life. She and Jorah head to the library in Winterfell to see Samewll Tarly. Unfortunately, prior to this meeting, Daenerys executed Sam's father and brother.
This, of course, leads to a rather awkward and upsetting conversation and, while Sam's eyes get misty, he holds it together in front of the monarch until she dismisses him and allows him to go mourn on his own. The fact that Sam is able to hold it together and be at all polite during this interaction is admirable.
Overrated - Fighting in the Long Night
It can be said that Sam was brave taking any part in the Battle of the Long Night, but really he was just getting in the way. Jorah is seen saving Sam at least once, and he at least gets a look from Jon as Jon heads toward Bran.
The fact is, Sam was more of a distraction to his friends than able to provide any real assistance. His brains were always the most important part of Sam and here he didn't use them.