The Lannisters are among the oldest and noblest Houses of Westeros in George R. R. Martin and HBO’s Game of Thrones franchise, playing a major role in both the books and the TV universe as an incredibly powerful political and militaristic force. While they’re well known for their trademark golden hair, the Lannisters are just as well known for paying their debts, good or bad.
Now that Game of Thrones has been expanded with House of the Dragon and the recent A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, there are more Lannisters to contend with than ever before. However, it’s unlikely that either spinoff will introduce a Lannister as layered and complex as the ones who take center-stage in Thrones’ flagship show. These are the best Lannister characters who appear throughout HBO’s growing Game of Thrones TV universe, ranked not by how good they are as people, nor their power, but by how well they’re written and what they mean for the story.
13
Martyn and Willem Lannister
Played by Dean-Charles Chapman and Timothy Gibbons in Game of Thrones
Martyn and Willem Lannister appeared in only two episodes in Game of Thrones season 3, but they definitely had an impact on the story. After being captured by Robb Stark’s forces, the two Lannisters are held prisoner while Robb and his advisors debate trading them in return for Sansa and Arya. However, before a decision is reached, Robb’s bannerman, Rickard Karstark, slays the two boys in their prison cells as vengeance for his own son’s death.
Robb, infuriated that his own liege lord would cruelly murder two innocent boys, executes Karstark. It’s one of many mistakes Robb Stark made that led to the Red Wedding and cost him House Karstark’s allegiance. Despite their impact on the story, Martyn and Willem are sadly only relevant as dead bodies that jeopardize Robb Stark’s rebellion, rather than as fully fleshed-out characters in their own right.
12
Jason Lannister
Played by Jefferson Hall in House of the Dragon
Jason Lannister talking to Rhaenyra Targaryen on House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon introduces two new Lannisters to the fray, and one of them might even be worse than Cersei Lannister. The arrogant, misogynistic Jason Lannister serves as Lord of Casterly Rock during the Dance of Dragons. He offers himself as a potential husband for Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, but she rejects him. This public rejection later comes back to haunt Rhaenyra when the civil war breaks out, given the Lannisters’ allegiance to the Greens, led by King Aegon and Alicent Hightower.
Jason is largely a supporting figure in the war during House of the Dragon season 2. When House of the Dragon last showed him on screen, he was preparing to face Daemon Targaryen’s army in battle. A lot can be learned from the way a man leads an army, especially a Lannister, though his chances against Daemon and his dragon aren’t great. He’s the perfect example of everything wrong with the Lannisters’ and Westeros’ power hierarchy, and that makes him an interesting if irritating character in the show.
11
Tyland Lannister
Played by Jefferson Hall in House of the Dragon
Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) meets with representatives of the Triarchy in House of the Dragon season 2 Episode 8Image via Max
Tyland Lannister is the twin brother of Jason Lannister. As a member of King Viserys’ small council, Tyland serves the Iron Throne as Master of Ships while his brother leads their House and army. Whereas Jason is reckless and arrogant, Tyland is the wiser of the two, warning the king about the Triarchy’s trouble in the Stepstones.
Informed of Viserys’ dying wish for Aegon to succeed him on the throne, Tyland fully backs the Greens against Rhaenyra Targaryen, proposing an alliance with House Baratheon via marriage. During the war itself, Tyland secures the crown and an alliance with the Triarchy, proving himself time and again to be an incredibly smart and loyal Lannister.
10
Alton Lannister
Played by Karl Davies in Game of Thrones
Poor Alton Lannister appeared only briefly in Game of Thrones before his untimely demise at the hands of his own family member. The cousin of Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion, Alton works as a messenger between Robb Stark’s army and the Iron Throne. After delivering the North’s demands for Sansa and Arya’s return, which Cersei rejects, Alton is placed in a cell alongside his cousin, Jaime.
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The two cousins share a bonding moment as Alton reminisces about squiring for Jaime, eventually leading Jaime to tell Alton he has a plan to help them both escape. Alton gets close to Jaime to hear it, allowing Jaime to beat him to death. Though the kinslaying haunts Jaime for the rest of the series, Alton’s brief moment of character development still makes this death one of the worst things Jaime Lannister has done.
9
Kevan Lannister
Played by Ian Gelder in Game of Thrones
Kevan Lannister might be the most uncomplicated member of the Lannister dynasty, introduced in the first and second seasons of Game of Thrones as Tywin Lannister’s younger brother. He doesn’t appear again until the fifth season, arriving at King’s Landing after Tywin’s death and being offered the small council position of Master of War by Cersei. He rejects the offer until he hears it from King Tommen.
Kevan becomes an obstacle to Cersei’s seizing of power throughout seasons 5 and 6, serving as Hand of the King after Cersei’s imprisonment by the High Sparrow. He remains a loyal, wise, and dignified presence as an advisor to Tommen, even when the Faith of the Seven strips Jaime of his Kingsguard duties, until he dies in the Sept of Baelor explosion at the end of season 6.
8
Myrcella Baratheon
Played by Nell Tiger Free in Game of Thrones
In Game of Thrones season 2, Cersei’s daughter, Myrcella Baratheon, is forced to wed Trystane Martell to secure the Iron Throne’s alliance with Dorne. She isn’t seen again until season 5, when she’s targeted by Ellaria Sand and Oberyn Martell’s bastard daughters in a revenge plot against the Lannisters for Oberyn’s death at the hands of the Mountain.
Against all odds, however, Myrcella has actually fallen in love with Trystane, refusing to leave the dangerous situation she’s in even after Jaime arrives to rescue her. Sadly, she is killed via poison and dies in Jaime’s arms just after revealing she knows her true parentage. For a girl who seems like a naive fairy-tale princess, Myrcella’s death scene proves that she’s a lot smarter than she gets credit for, and that truly innocent people never survive for long in Westeros.
7
Lancel Lannister
Played by Eugene Simon in Game of Thrones
Jaime and Cersei weren’t always the best Lannister siblings, but at least Jaime never fooled around with yet another member of his family as Cersei did. Initially introduced as Robert Baratheon’s little-respected squire, Cersei seduces her own cousin, Lancel, after Robb Stark’s army captures Jaime. The affair doesn’t last long before Tyrion catches wind of it, but the ever-loyal Lancel ends up cast aside by Cersei after he’s gravely injured during the Battle of Blackwater.
Lancel re-emerges in the fifth season as a devout servant of the High Sparrow with the Seven’s sigil carved into his forehead. His unquestioning devotion is the most interesting aspect of his character, and the reveal of his incestuous affair with Cersei leads to her imprisonment and the Walk of Shame, a turning point for Cersei. Ultimately, though, she gets the last laugh when Lancel is the first to die by wildfire in the Sept of Baelor explosion.
6
Tommen Baratheon
Played by Dean-Charles Chapman in Game of Thrones
If Tommen has a flaw, it’s that he’s too good and innocent for the world of Game of Thrones. Tommen begins playing a major role in the series after he inherits the Iron Throne from his brother, Joffrey. Margaery Tyrell, Joffrey’s widow, wastes little time seducing Tommen to secure her own place as future queen. Tommen and Margaery would have been a good couple together if it weren’t for the High Sparrow.
Though Tommen lets the women in his life manipulate him, he has the potential to be genuinely brave. Before the Sept of Baelor explosion, he appears ready to cast his mother aside once and for all, though Tommen tragically kills himself after witnessing the death of his wife as well as his own aspirations for peace. In a family of menaces, Tommen is one of the relatively good ones.
5
Joffrey Baratheon
Played by Jack Gleeson in Game of Thrones
Joffrey whining in Game of Thrones, with mud on his face
It’s hard to deny that Joffrey Baratheon is one of the greatest villains in television history. Initially introduced as the petulant teenage son of King Robert, Joffrey’s assumption of the throne following Robert’s death is a huge turning point for the series, given his propensity for reckless violence. That’s further exemplified when Joffrey, against all advice, sentences Ned Stark to die for betraying the Iron Throne and accusing Joffrey of being illegitimate.
Though he spends the next few seasons being unspeakably cruel towards Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa, and his people, there are times when Joffrey shows impressive smarts as a king, such as his concerns about Daenerys Targaryen. A few scenes perfectly sum up Joffrey as a character, including his public humiliation of Tyrion at his own wedding to Margaery, which happens moments before he’s poisoned and dies in Cersei’s arms. Joffrey’s death proves that, even in a world as brutal as Westeros, evil doesn’t always win.
4
Jaime Lannister
Played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Game of Thrones
Of all the major characters in Game of Thrones, the one who’s most subject to scrutiny is Jaime Lannister. In the very first episode of the series, he’s caught having sex with his own twin sister and, to protect the secret, pushes Bran Stark out of a window. It’s not until Jaime loses his hand while traveling with Brienne of Tarth that viewers begin to warm up to him. Once he reveals his true motivations for killing the Mad King, Jaime undergoes one of the most fascinating redemption arcs of the series.
Jaime would likely be remembered more fondly if all his character development hadn’t been tossed out in the series’ final few episodes. Though he finally embraces his love for Brienne, Jaime still leaves her to be with Cersei and unceremoniously dies with her when Daenerys Targaryen destroys the Red Keep. Cersei never deserved his loyalty, and he deserved a better end.