Game of Thrones: See how the characters have changed over 8 seasons

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die

The years have taken a toll on the residents of Westeros and Essos. EW is taking a look back at the Game of Thrones main characters' journeys and growth (or lack thereof) over the eight seasons of the show. What a long, strange trip it's been.

This gallery was originally published April 22, 2016, and most recently updated Nov. 18, 2022.

Arya Stark (Maisie Williams)

Arya (Maisie Williams) only got fiercer and sharper since her days of totally schooling her little brother at archery. She studied the art of water-dancing, infiltrated enemy territory as Tywin Lannister's (Charles Dance) cupbearer, road-tripped through Westeros with the Hound (Rory McCann), trained to become a Faceless (Wo)Man in Braavos, and returned to her homeland a crack assassin — as Walder Frey and the Night King both found out. Her enemies vanquished, Arya resolved to set sail and explore uncharted territories in Westeros.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington)

Jon (Kit Harington) didn't change all that much when you really think about it. Sure, he sharpened his fighting skills, he loved and lost, he became a leader (against his will), and he died and came back to life. But he remained the honest, noble, fundamentally decent person he'd always been. (Honestly, you'd think he would've learned by now to keep secrets to himself.) He may not have been a true son of Ned Stark (Sean Bean), but the two of them shared a lot of the qualities that got Ned beheaded. In the end, Jon stepped up to the plate — with guidance from those closest to him — by fatally stabbing Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) for the good of the people. He then fittingly took his place as the leader of the Night's Watch.

Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright)

The award for Most Changed Since Episode 1 probably goes to Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright), who wasn't even technically Bran by the end. He's gone from adorable, curious kid to eerie, weirdly calm Three-Eyed Raven, all-knowing and all-seeing guardian of humanity's collective memories. His long journey north made him a master of his supernatural abilities, the creepy stare, and turning people's words back on them with poetic irony. ("The things we do for love.") After eight seasons of blood, sweat, and tears over who would sit on the Iron Throne, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) ultimately argued that Bran should be the new king, dubbing him Bran the Broken.

Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner)

If Sansa's (Sophie Turner) evolution was less radical than her siblings', it was no less invigorating to watch her progress. Sansa went to hell and back many times over, but the naïve, petulant Stark child emerged a strong, smart, politically and strategically adept woman. She got her revenge on those who made her suffer, and governed Winterfell with a steely resolve. While some argued that Sansa deserved to rule the Seven Kingdoms, she got a pretty compelling consolation prize as Queen of the North.

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen)

Speaking of characters who went to hell and back, Theon (Alfie Allen) lost part of himself on his journey (ahem) and eventually lost all of himself, descending into the mindset of "Reek." Slowly but surely, though, Theon re-emerged, eventually getting his shot at redemption several times over. He helped Sansa escape Ramsay Bolton's (Iwan Rheon) clutches, rallied the Ironborn and rescued his sister, and finally went down valiantly protecting Bran from the Night King. He may have betrayed House Stark, but he atoned for his sins in the end.

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke)

Dany went from Dothraki property to Khaleesi to Mother of Dragons to Breaker of Chains to conqueror. She learned a lot about ruling during her time in Slaver's Bay — mainly that ruling is really, really difficult. Unfortunately, a lot of her worrisome tendencies never exactly went away. She showed herself to be a very impulsive ruler, which isn't always what you want in a head of state, and she stopped at nothing to get the Iron Throne, which might have included burning King's Landing and a lot of its people. After taking King's Landing by force, Daenerys was too far gone to be redeemed, leading Jon to take fatal action against her.

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)

He may have gotten his start as a sex worker's best customer, but Tyrion rose to become one of the few men actually fit to sit on the Iron Throne. He enjoyed the nitty-gritty business of governing more than almost anyone, and he was even good at it! Joining up with Daenerys in season 5 was (ironically, in the end) probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Through it all, Tyrion retained his piercing wit, his penchant for wine, and a loquacious tongue. He made a lot of mistakes, though, many of them borne out of faith in his sister's humanity, which, dude, have you been paying attention? While he did his best to save his notorious siblings, Dany's destruction did them in — alongside numerous innocents of King's Landing — which led to Tyrion resigning as Hand of the Queen and advising Jon to step in and do something about her. Tyrion soon found his spot as the Hand of Bran.

Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)

Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) was one of the most hated men in Westeros once upon a time, and, well, maybe still was in the end. But the man who pushed Bran out the window of a high tower, slaughtered Ned Stark's men in the streets of King's Landing, and taunted Robb Stark (Richard Madden) while a prisoner of war, learned a lot about himself traveling the Kingsroad with Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) — and losing his hand. Having helped Tyrion escape to Essos and fought alongside Brienne at Winterfell, he came a long, long way — yet, he just couldn't seem to quit Cersei (Lena Headey). The pair fittingly died together, the Red Keep collapsing on them.

Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey)

Cersei was never known to let things go. She sought swift and merciless retribution when Arya's direwolf bit her son, when she merely suspected Tyrion of poisoning Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), and when Margaery (Natalie Dormer) got a bit too comfortable as queen. Season 7 saw Cersei triumphant, at last sitting on the throne with no one to stand in her way. While it would have been a classic Thrones move to see Cersei as queen of the Seven Kingdoms by the end, her army proved no match for Dany's, who laid waste to King's Landing.

Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie)

Brienne spent her life not as the belle of the ball, but the warrior woman slicing said ball to shreds (which is why we loved her, to be clear). But she finally took off her armor (literally and figuratively) by hooking up with Jaime. Sadly, that moment of vulnerability ended in heartbreak, as Jaime rode off to King's Landing to return to Cersei. Following Jaime's death, Brienne found herself a member of the Small Council as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, finishing her friend's entry in the Book of Brothers.

Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel)

The first enslaved person Dany freed in her conquest of Slaver's Bay, Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) stuck by her side through it all — rebellions, the perils of governing, a voyage across the sea, and a battle against death itself. She also found love and a glimmering hope of happiness with Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) as their romance bloomed across the seasons. But, alas, Missandei's loyalty to the Dragon Queen led her to King's Landing, where she was put back in chains and met a tragic end — though not without one last show of loyalty.

Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson)

Like Missandei, the commander of the Unsullied remained fiercely loyal to the Mother of Dragons since meeting her, leading her army to victory numerous times. Introduced as a stoic warrior, Grey Worm revealed more and more humanity as the show progressed through his romance with Missandei. Having lost his love, the only thing on his mind was conquering King's Landing and securing the throne for his queen. While Grey Worm had to add the death of Daenerys to his list of traumas, he was at least able to get his queen's murderer banished from King's Landing in the end.

Varys (Conleth Hill)

Varys (Conleth Hill), a.k.a. the Spider, was crafty and conniving even up to his death. Enticed by the prospect of Jon Snow ruling Westeros, he tried to rope Tyrion into a plot against Daenerys. He frequently claimed to simply want what was best for the realm, but his motives remained mysterious, and his loyalties shifted quicker than it took HBO to erase that coffee cup. His scheming proved to be his undoing, though, with Dany orchestrating his death by Drogon.

Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen)

Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) went through banishment, exile, greyscale, and an excruciating treatment process, remaining steadfastly loyal to Daenerys all the while. In the end, he died as he lived: protecting the queen and Khaleesi he loved. As Jon Snow remarked, Ser Jorah surely wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Gendry (Joe Dempsie)

Everyone's favorite Westeros blacksmith dropped off the map for a while, after Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) put him in a rowboat to escape Melisandre's (Carice van Houten) clutches/leeches. He was Arya's first road-trip companion (alongside Hot Pie!) before the Hound came into the picture, and their friendship would blossom into something more, sorta, a few seasons down the line. Gendry (Joe Dempsie) re-emerged in season 7 as a hammer-wielding warrior (or at least a more warrior-esque blacksmith) and came out the other side of "The Long Night" to find a lordship awaiting him. See, upward mobility is possible in Westeros! Provided you're the bastard son of a king, that is.

Beric Dondarrion (David Michael Scott/Richard Dormer)

Remember way, way back in season 1 when Ned Stark sent a group of men out to kill the Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson)? Yep, one of them was Beric (David Michael Scott). He lost an eye and his life — multiple times — but Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye) repeatedly brought him back, courtesy of the Lord of Light. Two seasons and one casting change later, Beric (Richard Dormer) resurfaced among the Brotherhood Without Banners as the flaming sword-wielder we all know. Alas, his purpose to the Red God was fulfilled at the Battle of Winterfell, protecting Arya from a horde of wights, allowing her to escape and take out the Night King.