The 10 best (and 3 worst) couples on ‘Game of Thrones’

BEST OF THE BEST: Jon Snow and Ygritte

Jon (Kit Harington) and Ygritte’s (Rose Leslie) love story was one of Thrones‘ most emotionally involved romances. It had everything: a classic Romeo and Juliet setup (She’s a Wildling! He’s a Night’s Watch brother!), genuine chemistry (Harington and Leslie became a real couple), a hot-spring hookup, and a heart-shattering tragic ending. Jon Snow knew one thing: He truly loved Ygritte. They’re our No. 1 pick for GOT‘s best couple.

BEST: Arya Stark and Gendry Baratheon

While their hookup kinda came out of left field, Arya (Maisie Williams) and Gendry (Joe Dempsie) had a palpable spark, grown out of the strong bond they developed traveling together in the show’s early seasons. In another life, they could have been a badass pair of warrior vigilantes — traipsing around Westeros and fighting for justice. Can we get that spinoff, HBO? Working title: Needle and the Hammer.

BEST: Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand

Oberyn (Pedro Pascal) and Ellaria (Indira Varma) were the perfect couple, really. They shared a penchant for polyamory and a distaste for King’s Landing (well, except the brothels), as well as a love of the sensual pleasures of the world. If only they’d stayed in Dorne, they could have grown older living a life of ease together.

BEST: Samwell Tarly and Gilly

Probably the sweetest and most innocent romance GOT had to offer. Sam (John Bradley) became Gilly’s (Hannah Murray) knight in shining armor…or, at least, he did his best. Sometimes, that’s all it takes! His determination to protect her grew into a beautiful relationship, responsible for many of the show’s most tender moments.

BEST: Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo

Despite a rather problematic beginning, Dany (Emilia Clarke) and Drogo’s (Jason Momoa) pairing eventually blossomed into a genuine romance. She was the Moon of his life, he was her Sun and Stars; he promised to conquer Westeros for her, and she tried to have a witch bring him back from the dead. If that’s not true love, what is?

BEST: Missandei and Grey Worm

Or maybe this was GOT‘s sweetest and most innocent romance — at least until Grey Worm helped commit a massacre to avenge Missandei’s death. Brought together under Daenerys’ banner, the two former enslaved persons (played by Nathalie Emmanuel and Jacob Anderson) learned to make sense of their new lives through their relationship. The development and growth of that relationship was a beautiful thing to watch unfold.

BEST: Renly Baratheon and Loras Tyrell

Another romance tragically cut short (courtesy of Carice van Houten’s Melisandre’s smoke monster baby; remember that?), Renly (Gethin Anthony) and Loras (Finn Jones) brought some much-needed gay pride to Westeros…or at least as much as could be had in a regressive, homophobic society.

BEST: Tyrion Lannister and Shae

Shae (Sibel Kekilli) started out as simply Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) favorite sex worker, but their bond steadily grew during their time together in King’s Landing. With him despised by almost everyone in the capital and her a stranger in a strange land, they found solace in each other — until she testified against him and he strangled her to death, that is. Well, that’s Game of Thrones for you.

BEST: Ned Stark and Catelyn Stark

Ned (Sean Bean) and Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) had one of the richest and most nuanced relationships on Thrones, a bond tested by infidelity (or, at least, so it seemed) that nonetheless held strong. It’s a shame we got to see so little of them together on the show.

BEST: Tyrion Lannister and Sansa Stark

Admittedly, there wasn’t much to this relationship, but Tyrion and Sansa’s (Sophie Turner) forced marriage helped her escape Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) cruelty, and Tyrion at least treated her with something close to respect. When we’re judging by Westeros standards, that more than qualifies them as one of the best couples out there.

DISHONORABLE MENTION: Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth

Not unlike The West Wing‘s Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney), Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) were a better couple before they actually hooked up. Their odd-couple pairing became a magnificent slow burn of hatred into grudging respect into genuine affection, making for a tantalizing will-they-won’t-they.

But having them actually sleep together was kinda strange, and Jaime leaving her to return to Cersei (Lena Headey) was a low point for both characters. But hey, we’ll always have that beautiful scene of him knighting her.

DISHONORABLE MENTION: Cersei Lannister and Euron Greyjoy

Like…what? Of all the twists and turns in Game of Thrones‘ final season, this was surely the most bizarre. Cersei sleeping with a wild pirate (Pilou Asbæk) who seemed like he’d wandered in from another show? And that’s most of her storyline in the season? You did Cersei dirty, Thrones.

DISHONORABLE MENTION: Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen

It was pure fan-fiction fun seeing Jon and Daenerys get together. But factor in their familial relationship; Daenerys’ fiery pivot into mass murder; and Jon killing her “for the good of the realm,” and shipping them gets a lot harder to justify. We said it up top, and we’ll stand by it: Jon and Ygritte forever.