The Starks of Winterfell are at the very center of Game of Thrones. They always move their plot forward and have a prominent role in many of the storylines across Westeros. The Starks are also the most honorable and bravest family in the series, always putting honor and duty above everything else.
But who among them is the bravest? They all show courage multiple times throughout the series, but it's undeniable that some rank higher than others in the bravery department. And in a merciless place like Westeros, that can mean the difference between life and death.
Rickon Stark
Poor Rickon. Out of all the Starks, he gets treated the worst, and that's saying something. Chased out of his home by Theon, Rickon travels with Osha, Hodor, and Bran towards the Wall. After journeying for two seasons, the show writes him off at the end of season 3. He returns in season 6 and gets killed by Ramsay in the blink of an eye, making his comeback seem like nothing but a plot device.
Rickon never got a chance to mature and become his own man. He remained a child, protected by everyone around him, from his older siblings to Osha. Ironically, none could shield him from Ramsay's arrows in the end. Rickon is the perfect example that no one survives the game unless they know how to play it. Indeed, the Starks did him no favors by keeping him in the dark.
Bran Stark
Bran's character is one of many ruined by season 8 of Game of Thrones. He starts as a prototypical hero and the series hints that he would have had a classic hero's journey, suffering hardships before discovering the power within. However, the show doesn't go through with the promise, turning Bran into a different character in the last two seasons.
Bran shows his courage during the first four seasons by traveling north of the Wall to discover his power. However, once he becomes the Three-Eyed Raven, many fans felt that he speaks in riddles and is of no use. He could've used his powers to help during the final battle against the Night King, but instead chooses to do nothing and lets countless people die. The show's failed attempts at excusing his actions make him seem even more cowardly.
Robb Stark
Unlike his fellow siblings, Robb Stark isn't precisely a fan favorite. Many resent his ultimately foolish decisions, mainly marrying Talisa and beheading Rickard Karstark. Indeed, Robb proves himself a brilliant warrior but a foolish tactician. Eventually, Robb dies a martyr during the infamous Red Wedding.
For all his flaws, Robb was a brave man. He commanded the Northmen into battle against the Lannisters, never missing a fight and always facing his enemies. Alas, Robb's daring ways cannot go ignored because bravery must always go hand-in-hand with intelligence -- otherwise, it's just recklessness.
Catelyn Stark
The matriarch of the Starks was a true she-wolf, despite being born a Tully. Catelyn was a fierce and fearsome figure in the game, willing to do everything in her power to protect her family. She becomes a crucial figure by advising Robb in the War of the Five Kings but makes numerous mistakes. Her freeing of Jamie Lannister leads to one of the worst arguments in Game of Thrones history, straining her relationship with Robb. Eventually, she and her son's mistakes catch up with them, leading to their deaths at the Red Wedding.
Like her son, Robb, Catelyn was brave but reckless. Her desire to keep her family alive inspired her courage and made her a dangerous enemy, but also left her very vulnerable to others' manipulations. Catelyn allowed her heart to make choices her head should've made, proving that bravery is nothing without the intellect to support it.
Benjen Stark
It wouldn't be unfair to call Benjen Stark a plot device. He is one of the most underrated heroes in Game of Thrones, but was barely a character, appearing only sporadically throughout the show, always at the right moment to save his family from some deadly situation. His status as a quasi-undead figure was always vague, and the show never bothered to dig deeper into it. Benjen dies in season 7, taking all those mysteries to his grave.
Benjen was one of the bravest Starks. He adventures beyond the Wall, knowing the threats that lurk in the snow. After being saved by the Children of the Forest, he stays beyond the Wall, protecting those in danger. Benjen could've used more character development to explore his courageous nature, but fans still get to see him prove his valor.
Ned Stark
Eddard Stark is the ultimate honorable fool. The would-be protagonist of the show, he is the central figure during the first season, arriving at King's Landing to become Hand of the King. Ned believes in honor above all else and makes the foolish mistake of thinking everyone feels the same way. Alas, he is wrong and loses his head because of it.
Many fans believe that Ned is the worst Stark in Game of Thrones. His naiveté borders on the absurd and puts him and his entire family in mortal danger. Still, it's undeniable that he was a brave man who fought with courage during many wars. He was Robert's right-hand man during the Rebellion and a just and honorable man in life. If only he had been more clever, he would've been a player like no other in Westeros.
Jon Snow
Going from one honorable fool to another, Jon is a worthy carrier of Ned's legacy. Too worthy, perhaps. Still, Jon finds a way to survive by inspiring others through his contagious and, at times, naive sense of honor. He even comes back from the dead, becoming Thrones' ultimate hero.
Jon might be the bravest of the Starks, but the last two seasons really did a number on him, making him more foolish than necessary. Heroes need more than courage to survive in Westeros -- they need a sharp and agile mind that Jon never had. Still, the young Snow (revealed to be a Targaryen) proved that he was willing to die in battle more than once. He fought the wildlings, the Boltons, the White Walkers, and even Danerys' men in his effort to do what's right. Jon went through a lot and never broke, proving that he had physical and emotional strength to spare.
Sansa Stark
Slowly but surely, Sansa became a fan favorite on Game of Thrones. She goes from being a naive and obnoxious young girl to a confident, hardened, and resilient woman, willing to do everything to defend her people. Sansa is also the ultimate student, taking the best from all her tutors -- Cersei, Littlefinger, Margaery -- and learning from her family's many mistakes. She is a slow learner, it's true, but she learns and uses her knowledge to climb to the top.
Brave and unstoppable, Sansa proves that courage doesn't always involve facing someone on the battlefield. She suffers multiple trauma but keeps going and thrives, refusing to let the pain define her. Sansa is also determined enough to stand her ground against kings, queens, and everything in between. She never backs down and always speaks her mind, pricing that out of all the other would-be rulers, she's the one with iron nerves.
Arya Stark
Contrary to what Tyrion believes, Arya is the one with the best story in Game of Thrones. Like Sansa, Arya learned from the best teachers around: Syrio Forel, Tywin, the Hound, Jaqen. She traveled around the world, experiencing new ways of life, meeting new people, and learning multiple skills, becoming no one before reclaiming her identity, at last.
In many ways, Arya has no fear. However, her courage comes from a more complex place, one of pain and acceptance. Arya is an avenging angel, a shadow that gets justice for the crimes of the past. Her bravery comes out in every action she makes, whether it's protecting the butcher's boy against a tyrant king or letting go of her revenge, understanding there are more important things.