There have been a lot of great characters in Game of Thrones, but two who stand out as the heroes of the story from beginning to end are Arya Stark and Jon Snow. Both of these characters were easy to root for and delivered some of the most memorable moments in the show. But which of them was the better character?
There are a lot of factors that made these two such memorable characters and there is a reason they remained popular from the first episode right until the end. They also each have their own unique flaws that make it interesting to compare them and determine who is the best of all.
10 Arya: Making Her Own Path
It is intriguing that both Arya and Jon are characters who have been labeled a certain way by society and are now looking for their own place in the world. Jon's story of self-discovery is certainly a good one, but Arya's is the more compelling underdog story.
Though she is repeatedly told she must be a proper lady, Arya knows even at a young age that that is not for her. The audience gets to follows her as she defies societal expectations and becomes the greatest warrior in Westeros.
9 Jon: The Sacrificial Hero
For much of the series, Arya is the kind of character who goes looking for trouble. She wants to prove herself or get revenge on her enemies, so she is always in attack mode. It makes her an entertaining character, but sometimes hard to cheer for.
Jon is a much more reluctant hero and one who is always ready to make the sacrifice. This is shown in many instances, including his temporary death at the hands of the Night's Watch, but it is also how his story ends as he becomes an outcast for killing Daenerys and saving Westeros. The fact that the hero both wins and loses feels appropriate for the show.
8 Arya: Growth As A Character
Despite being a great character, Jon Snow's growth over the course of the series seemed surprisingly minimal. He learned things over the course of the show, but he always felt like he was that same brooding young man introduced in the first episode.
In the case of Arya, the audience literally watched her grow up throughout the eight seasons. Looking at the first season compared to season 8, it is amazing to see that growth both within the character and within actor Maisie Williams who ended up being one of the strongest performers on the show.
7 Jon: His Parentage
As soon as Jon Snow was introduced in the show, his character had one of the more intriguing mysteries floating around him. Though he was said to be the bastard son of Ned Stark, the identity of his mother was unknown.
With this question lingering for most of the show's run, it made Jon all the more compelling. It seemed clear that when the truth was revealed, it would cement Jon as the most central figure in the story. Indeed, when it is confirmed that he is the true heir to the Iron Throne, he becomes the embodiment of "a song of ice and fire."
6 Arya: More Fun
Jon Snow certainly has the dashing and brooding hero persona perfected, but that doesn't always make for the most entertaining character. From the beginning of the series, he was always a bit of a wet blanket and it was up to the characters around him to be lively.
Arya Stark might not have been the life of the party, but she certainly had a spark to her. She was always one to speak her mind and talk back to people, allowing her to be a funny and energetic character while also being serious when needed.
5 Jon: More Exciting Story
Both Arya and Jon go on some pretty grand adventures throughout the series, delivering some very exciting moments. But when Arya's storyline is thrilling for the first four seasons, it does drop off for a bit when she goes to Braavos. Despite the protentional of this storyline, sloppy writing and repetitive development made it a bit of a bore.
On the other hand, Jon Snow was a character fans always wanted to follow. Some moments may have been more thrilling than others, but unlike Arya, Jon never had entire seasons that were worth skipping.
4 Arya: Revenge
Despite being the obvious good guys in the story, House Stark suffered some major losses in the earlier seasons. The death of Ned Stark was a major blow in season 1, but that was followed by the even more devastating Red Wedding in season 3.
Fans wanted to see justice done for their favorite characters and Arya became the instrument of vengeance. It started out with small acts of revenge, killing those who had personally wronged her or killed her friends. But by the time Arya kills Walder Frey and all his men, there was no one the fans were cheering harder for.
3 Jon: Bigger Moments
Few shows have been able to deliver as many iconic moments as Game of Thrones. From the epic battles to the shocking moments, there are countless sequences that have come to define the show. And most of those moments have Jon Snow right in the middle of it all.
Thinking about the best moments in the show, several of Jon's finest hero scenes stand out. His death and resurrection; facing down the charging horses in the Battle of the Bastards; killing a White Walker at Hardhome. Jon continued to prove himself the hero of the show with these epic moments.
2 Arya: Final Season
While the Braavos storyline might not have been great for Arya, the show picked up the pace once she made it back to Westeros. But it was the final season that really made her shine as she became the most badass character in the series and even killed the Night King.
By contrast, Jon Snow, whom many assumed would be the one to kill the Night King, was a bit of a dud in the final season. He is inactive and unhelpful in the biggest moments, which feels like an anticlimactic end for such a captivating character.
1 Jon: The Main Character
More than most other shows, Game of Thrones has always been an ensemble. But as the show progressed, it became very clear that Jon Snow was at the center of the story. He was the character fans would be following to the end, whatever that end might be. And despite his disappointing final season, the show did end with him which felt appropriate.
Again, a lot of focus seems to be put on Arya in the final season, but she always felt like she was part of the ensemble rather than the center of it.
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