7 minor women characters from Game of Thrones who had major roles to play

The show is finally over. But as the cliché goes, the show must go on. For those who believe that Game of Thrones (GoT) is now done and dusted, there are millions out there who have been impacted by how the show has run for eight long years.

While we may talk ourselves hoarse about the “madness” of Daenerys Targaryen, the ‘wiliness’ of Cersei Lannister, the unbridled ‘wit’ of Tyrion Lannister, the ‘unwillingness’ of Jon Snow, the ‘resoluteness’ of Sansa Stark or Arya Stark’s ‘killer’ attitude – there are lesser-known characters who have contributed significantly to the storyline over the years.

To give them their due, here is a list of women who might not have made it big on the show, but have definitely made the cut.

Before you read on, let’s warn you – it’s full of spoilers.

Catelyn Stark

Fiercely proud of her heritage and protective of her five children, Catelyn Stark perhaps started it all – wanting revenge against the Lannisters, especially Jamie who threw her son Bran off the high tower at Winterfell.

She was a fierce woman till the end, despite being cheated by Walder Frey at the infamous Red Wedding, putting a knife into one of his many wives.

That she cared for her daughters was evident when she left Jaime Lannister free in the hope that they would be safe. Her overall attitude was one of fierce loyalty to her house and her children – always wishing no one harm come to them. Her end, however, was gory, lost and sad, away from five of her six children.

Mirri Maz Duur

The initial few seasons followed the rise of Daenerys Targaryen as she and her brother Viserys tried to befriend the Dothrakis and her eventual wedding to Khal Drogo.

This sets off a chain of events, which sees the Khal go down with a terrible disease and for which Daenerys seeks the help of the witch Mirri Maz Duur, who pretends to be a healer.

She practises blood magic on Khal Drogo, as he struggles to stay live. Mirri tells Daenerys if he has to live again, ‘only death can pay for life’.

Unfortunately, here it means the death of Dany’s unborn child. She loses both - her husband and her child - and the witch is also burnt alive.

Ygritte

The way the series ended, we would have been happy if Jon had remained as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch at the Wall with Ygritte, a wildling and his first love. Theirs was a forbidden love, with Ygritte torn between her loyalty for her wildling folk and her affection for Jon. Ygritte was an excellent fighter, fiery and feisty, and her “You know nothing, Jon Snow”, will always exemplify who she was. Her untimely death set a lot of things into motion for Jon Snow, from where there was no looking back.

Lyanna Stark

Though not seen much throughout the series, Lyanna Stark’s runaway marriage with Rhaegar Targaryen moved the storyline in a different direction, altogether.

She bore him a son, who was adopted by her brother Eddard Stark as his “bastard” Jon Snow.

Jon grew up unaware of his Targaryen parentage.

Later, when the secret came to light, it changed his relationship with Daenerys, who turned out to be his aunt.

It was the unrequited love that channelised the inner “mad” Targaryen in her, to burn down King’s Landing.

Lyanna Mormont

The pint-sized Lady of Bear Island, Lyanna Mormont stood her own among the older lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms. Her feisty spirit was adorable, and her cute but firm voice endeared her to all and who can forget Lady Mormont looking Ramsay Bolton in the eye before the Battle of the Bastards? As a fierce loyalist to the House of Stark and Jon Snow, she was one of the strongest voices in the North and a young leader who died before her prime. She deserves all our respect.

Osha

A woman of the Free Folk, Osha (Asha in the books) was another Stark loyalist, who took care of Bran and Rickon Stark like her own. Though a wildling, she was with the two boys at every step, until she met an untimely end at the hands of Ramsay Bolton. She was a saviour, a warrior, and a protector, and this made her as a sort of an Earth Mother, respected and endearing to viewers.

The Little Birds

In the penultimate episode, we see Lord Varys asking his “little bird” Martha whether “she has eaten”. When she replies in the negative, he replies, “We’ll try again at supper.” Here, he is alluding to Daenerys who is angry after the death of her close friend and ally - Missandei. It is clear Lord Varys is attempting to poison Daenerys through one of his “little birds” that includes Martha. The “little birds” know that “greater the risk, greater the reward” are Lord Varys’ little spies, orphaned boys and girls who are quiet, quick – carrying little bits of information from different places. They are adept and agile – they can climb walls, down chimneys, and do their master's bidding without being seen or heard.

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