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Every 'Game of Thrones' romantic relationship, ranked from worst to best

BONUS: Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen

Every 'Game of Thrones' romantic relationship, ranked from worst to best
EntertainmentEntertainment1 min read

1. Catelyn and Eddard "Ned" Stark

1. Catelyn and Eddard "Ned" Stark

Ned and Catelyn genuinely seem to love and care for one another. They share a mutual respect for one another, and had five children together.

While both characters die fairly early on in the series, they remain the most solid relationship ever to appear on "Game of Thrones."

2. Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister

2. Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister

Sure, they're brother and sister, twins if you really want to be precise, but Jaime and Cersei have stuck it out together for literally their entire lives, and had three children (soon to be four) together.

As far as "Game of Thrones" couples go, they're pretty loyal, and care for each other.

3. Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo

3. Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo

Even though Daenerys is sold to Khal to be his bride by her brother, the pair end up falling in love.

Daenerys loves him so much that she even attempts to bring him back from the dead, and names one of her dragons after him.

R.I.P. Khal Drogo.

4. Jon Snow and Ygritte

4. Jon Snow and Ygritte

Ygritte and Jon fall in love when Jon goes north of The Wall with the Night's Watch, and ends up getting separated with Ygritte who was originally his wildling captive.

Ygritte brings Jon to a wildling camp, and while he's there the two form a bond and become intimately involved with one another. Jon pretends to back the wildlings' cause to survive.

Eventually, Jon reveals to Ygritte that he was working undercover, and heads back to Castle Black, leaving on bad terms.

Ygritte and the wildlings make their way south and attack Castle Black. Ygritte seeks out Jon in an attempt to kill him but is shot and killed by a member of the Night's Watch.

5. Robb and Talisa Stark

5. Robb and Talisa Stark

Robb and Talisa fall in love on the battlefield of the Westerlands. They get married even though Robb promises Walder Frey he will marry one of his daughters in exchange for his allyship.

Even though Robb apologizes profusely to Walder Frey for breaking his promise, Robb, Talisa, and Catelyn Stark are all executed viciously at what is known as the Red Wedding.

6. Robert Baratheon and Lyanna Stark

6. Robert Baratheon and Lyanna Stark

Robert continues to love Lyanna for years after her death. In the very first episode of "Game of Thrones," Robert asks Ned to take him to her tomb.

7. Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand

7. Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand

Oberyn and Ellaria have an indulgent, and passion-heavy relationship.

After Oberyn is killed by Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in a duel, a distraught Ellaria goes on a revenge driven mission to kill all of the Lannisters whom she holds responsible for Oberyn's death.

Ellaria kills Cersei's daughter Myrcella, and rallies behind Daenerys to overthrow Cersei on the Iron Throne. Ellaria ultimately gets captured by Euron Greyjoy, and is delivered to Cersei to meet a dark and disturbing end.

8. Ser Jorah Mormont and Daenerys Targaryen

8. Ser Jorah Mormont and Daenerys Targaryen

Ser Jorah has loved Daenerys since the moment they met, and has proven countless times that he is willing to do anything for her.

It isn't until season six that Ser Jorah finally tells Daenerys how he loves her, but his worsening greyscale forces him to leave her side and find a cure.

Miraculously Samwell Tarly is able to cure Ser Jorah of his greyscale, and Ser Jorah returns to Daenerys' side once more in Dragonstone.

Unfortunately, soon after reuniting with Daenerys in Dragonstone, Ser Jorah heads to The North beyond The Wall with Jon Snow to capture a White Walker for Daenerys. Should Ser Jorah make it back from beyond The Wall, we can most likely expect him to find his way back to Daenerys.

9. Samwell Tarly and Gilly

9. Samwell Tarly and Gilly

Gilly is one of the daughters/wives that Sam rescues from Craster's Keep, along with her son whom Craster wants to sacrifice.

Sam has always loved Gilly, and has sought to protect her. Initially Gilly doesn't seem to be interested in having a relationship with Sam, but his loyalty and protectiveness ultimately win her over.

The pair seem to be happy living together at the Citadel raising her son, little Sam.

10. Catelyn Stark and Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish

10. Catelyn Stark and Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish

Littlefinger's devotion to Catelyn, even after her death, is a reflection of the deep love and devotion he has always had for her.

Even though Catelyn never reciprocated Littlefinger's feelings in any measure, Littlefinger's undying love of Catelyn makes theirs one of the great unrequited romances on "Game of Thrones."

11. Loras Tyrell & Renly Baratheon

11. Loras Tyrell & Renly Baratheon

Renly and Loras are lovers in private due to the stigma of being openly gay in Westeros, and Renly's desire to rule.

Even though their love is forced into privacy due to societal stigmas, the two share a great affection for one another. And who could ever forget when Loras shaves Renly's entire body?

12. Grey Worm and Missandei

12. Grey Worm and Missandei

Grey Worm and Missandei have secretly loved each other for the past four seasons of "Game of Thrones" and have only just confessed their feelings to each other in a recent episode.

With Grey Worm in Casterly Rock, surrounded by Euron Greyjoy's ships, the odds of these two ever reuniting is looking dim.

13. Ramsay Bolton and Myranda

13. Ramsay Bolton and Myranda

The couple that murders together stays together?

An evil couple to be sure, but Ramsay and Myranda's shared love of human suffering and murder made theirs a surprisingly strong relationship on "Game of Thrones."

14. Sansa Stark and Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish

14. Sansa Stark and Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish

Littlefinger is known for loving Sansa's mother Catelyn, but in the wake of Catelyn's death, he becomes increasingly fond of Sansa.

The two have only shared one kiss, but Littlefinger admits to Jon Snow in a recent episode of "Game of Thrones" that he loves Sansa. Jon threatens to kill Littlefinger should he even speak to Sansa again.

Sure, Sansa and Littlefinger don't seem like an ideal match. Littlefinger was obsessed with Sansa's mom, and their age difference is insanely creepy, but you have to admit they would make a super effective power couple. And they are both pretty cunning.

15. Myrcella Baratheon and Trystane Martell

15. Myrcella Baratheon and Trystane Martell

Even though Tyrion arranged Myrcella and Trystane's nuptials, Trystane and Myrcella end up falling in love.

Unfortunately the betrothed never make it to the alter. Myrcella is killed by Ellaria Sand with a poisonous kiss, and Trystane is stabbed by Ellaria's daughter Nymeria.

16. Daenerys Targaryen and Daario Naharis

16. Daenerys Targaryen and Daario Naharis

Daenerys has a brief and steamy affair with her advisor and enforcer Daario.

Daenerys and Daario part ways when she sets sail for Westeros, leaving him behind in Meereen to keep the peace in her absence.

17. Tormund Giantsbane and Brienne of Tarth

17. Tormund Giantsbane and Brienne of Tarth

While nothing has happened between Tormund and Brienne yet, Tormund's clear attraction to Brienne, and the prospect of their potential budding romance alone is delightful.

18. Theon Greyjoy and Ros

18. Theon Greyjoy and Ros

Ros is an affable prostitute who used to see Theon in Winterfell, before making her way to King's Landing.

Ros meets an unfortunate end at King's Landing, when she winds up being used by Joffrey for target practice.

19. Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth

19. Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth

Jaime, far too devoted to his sister, would never dream of being with Brienne.

But on Brienne and Jaime's journey to King's Landing, there is some undeniable chemistry, and quite an interesting bathing scene.

Nothing comes of their long journey together, but we still have hope for Brienne and Jaime.

20. Bronn and Lady Lollys Stokeworth

20. Bronn and Lady Lollys Stokeworth

Cersei buys Bronn off to keep him from assisting Tyrion, by arranging for him to marry Lady Lollys Stokeworth.

The arrangement includes a castle and a bounty of riches, something the former sellsword just can't say "no" to.

It's unclear if Bronn and Lollys ever did end up getting married.

On Bronn and Jaime Lannister's journey to retrieve Myrcella from Dorne, Jaime mentions that Cersei has arranged for someone else to marry Lollys. But Bronn is reassured by Jaime that he'll end up with an even richer woman. Nice.

21. Margaery Tyrell and Renly Baratheon

21. Margaery Tyrell and Renly Baratheon

Renly is the first Baratheon that Margaery weds in an attempt to gain power. And despite the fact that Renly is sleeping with her brother Loras, the two seem to have a pretty good rapport with one another.

Their marriage meets an unfortunate end when Renly is murdered by the shadow that Melisandre gives birth to.

22. Margaery Tyrell and Tommen Baratheon

22. Margaery Tyrell and Tommen Baratheon

After Joffrey's death, Margaery moves on to the next Baratheon in line to sit on the Iron Throne, Tommen.

Tommen winds up truly loving Margaery, and when Cersei blows up the Sept of Baylor, killing Margaery among countless others, he takes his own life.

23. Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister

23. Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion and Sansa are forced to wed, in an effort to create a makeshift union between the North and the South.

While the marriage is an unromantic and arranged one, the two share a mutual respect for one another, and become unlikely friends.

24. Margaery Tyrell and Joffrey Baratheon

24. Margaery Tyrell and Joffrey Baratheon

When Renly Baratheon, Margaery's first husband, is killed before he can fight to take over the Iron Throne, Margaery seeks out Joffrey Baratheon.

In an effort to rise to power, Margaery manages to seduce Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey takes to Margaery, ignoring her previous marriage to his enemy Renly.

Joffrey and Margaery's marriage doesn't last long, as Margaery's grandmother, Olenna Tyrell, has Joffrey poisoned on their wedding day.

25. Loras Tyrell and Cersei Lannister

25. Loras Tyrell and Cersei Lannister

Tywin tries to force Loras and Cersei to wed, but Cersei defiantly objects. Cersei and Loras never marry.

26. Tyrion Lannister and Shae

26. Tyrion Lannister and Shae

It seems like the two are a perfect pair before Shae becomes jealous of Tyrion's arranged marriage with Sansa.

Shae begins sabotaging Tyrion and sleeping with his father, Tywin Lannister. Tyrion, upon learning of Shae's deceit, shoots both her and his father with a crossbow.

27. Lancel Lannister and Cersei Lannister

27. Lancel Lannister and Cersei Lannister

Cersei uses sex to manipulate her cousin Lancel into doing her biding (as mentioned previously).

Lancel eventually goes on to repent for his sins when he becomes a militant follower of the High Sparrow.

28. Cersei Lannister and Robert Baratheon

28. Cersei Lannister and Robert Baratheon

Despite being married to Cersei, Robert continued to pine away for Lyanna Stark, who had died shortly after being abducted (or was she?) by Rhaegar Targaryen.

Cersei, once excited by the prospect of marrying Robert, grows resentful of him over the years.

Cersei contributes to Robert's death by instructing her cousin Lancel Lannister to ply Robert with wine during a boar hunt. Robert in his slow and drunken state is stabbed by a boar charging at him, and ends up dying from his infected wound.

29. Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon

29. Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon

The high priestess Melisandre acts as a guide and spiritual advisor to Stannis.

Melisandre seduces Stannis, and has him impregnate her with a magic shadow that assassinates Renly Baratheon.

The relationship between Melisandre and Stannis is more goal-oriented than romantic. After Stannis dies in battle, Melisandre realizes she bet on the wrong horse, and moves on to offer her advice to Daenerys Targaryen.

30. Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and Lysa Arryn

30. Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and Lysa Arryn

Lysa reveals in season four that she poisoned her husband Jon Arryn, and wrote a letter to her sister Catelyn blaming it on the Lannisters, to prove her love for Littlefinger.

Lysa's past actions led the Starks to the South, and to the untimely demise of Ned Stark. Lysa and Littlefinger are essentially responsible for all of the events that help catalyze the War of the Five Kings.

Littlefinger manipulates Lysa for his own political gain, and ultimately ends up killing her by pushing her out of her own moon door.

31. Sansa Stark and Joffrey Baratheon

31. Sansa Stark and Joffrey Baratheon

Before Joffrey brings Sansa to see her father's severed head on a pike, and threatens to shoot her with his crossbow, there was talk of the two marrying one day.

32. Stannis and Selyse Baratheon

32. Stannis and Selyse Baratheon

Stannis and Selyse have a loveless marriage, and sacrifice their daughter Shireen to the Lord of Light, at Melisandre's behest.

33. Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton

33. Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish arranges for Sansa to marry Ramsay, after the Boltons have taken over Winterfell.

Unsurprisingly, the man who castrated Theon Greyjoy for fun turned out to be a less than stellar husband, physically and psychologically tormenting Sansa.

Sansa exacts revenge upon Ramsay and has him eaten alive by his own dogs, restoring House Stark as the rulers of the North.

34. Walder Frey and his child brides

34. Walder Frey and his child brides

It's hard to consider Walder Frey's relationships with his endless stream of disposable child brides relationships at all.

The nonconsensual nature of Walder Frey's relationships with his young brides makes these so-called relationships some of the all time worst on "Game of Thrones."

35. Craster and his daughters/wives

35. Craster and his daughters/wives

Craster is a wildling, and former ally of the Night's Watch known for marrying and sleeping with all of his daughters. Craster also would sacrifice any male children his daughters bore.

Incest, sacrifice, and nonconsensual relationships aren't uncommon occurrences on "Game of Thrones," but the combination of all three makes Craster and his unfortunate daughters/wives the worst relationship on "Game of Thrones."

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