Geek Beat #17- Game of Thrones: The Great House Death Count & Where We Stand

After an agonizing wait, the final season of pop culture powerhouse Game of Thrones is almost here! To date, a whopping 174,373 people paid the Iron Price and that number is sure to dramatically increase after the White Walkers invade Westeros. Take a look back at the death toll of the Great Houses of Westeros based on number of on-screen deaths and flashbacks. Which Houses will survive after the White Walkers breach the Wall?

House Greyjoy

Death Count: 1 (Balon)
Survivors: Euron, Aeron, Yara and Theon

Historic rulers of the Iron Islands, the Greyjoys are known for their seafaring ways and their official slogan “We Do Not Sow”. We are most familiar with Stark ward, and opportunist Theon Greyjoy who took a lot of unwise risks to gain favor with his father, Balon. His brother Euron later murders Balon in order to gain the Salt Throne. Greyjoy allegiance is currently divided between Euron’s loyalty to Cersei, and Yara and Theon’s loyalty to House Targaryen.

House Targaryen

Death Count: 2 (Viserys, Aerys II)
Survivors: Jon Snow, and Daenarys

By all rights, Westeros would still be under Targaryen rule if it weren’t for Robert’s Rebellion. As it stands, there are only two surviving members of Targaryen blood who have claim to the Iron Throne- Jon Snow, and Daenarys Stormborn. Will they jointly rule? Will they lose in an upset against Queen Cersei and the White Walkers? We’ll have to wait and see.

House Arryn

Death Count: 3 (Jon, Lysa Arryn, technically Petyr Baelish)
Survivor: Robin

The murder of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King, set the spark for Game of Thrones. After Petyr Baelish’s two-timing murder of new wife Lysa Arryn (“As High as Honor” indeed), and his subsequent execution by Arya Stark, only little Robin remains. Breaking House Arryn’s neutrality in the War of the Five Kings, Robin sends troops to Winterfell to assist Sansa in booting House Bolton from Winterfell.

House Tyrell

Death Count: 4 (Olenna, Mace, Margaery, and Loras)

The smart, scheming ladies of House Tyrell managed to get to the very top until Olenna poisoned herself after the Lannisters captured Highgarden, and Margaery and Loras were burnt alive by wildfire after the destruction of the Great Sept. The extinction of House Tyrell is a cautionary tale of flying too close to the sun.

House Lannister

Death Count: 5 (Tywin, Kevan, Lancel, Martyn, Willem)
Survivors: Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion

With Cersei's “Baratheon born” children gone, she now sits atop the Iron Throne. Tywin received an arrow to the heart by son Tyrion and brother/lover Jaime is heading north to aid the Starks and Daenarys from the White Walker invasion. A house now divided, the Lannisters are now fractured with Jaime and Tyrion on one side, and Cersei the other.

House Stark

Death Count: 7.5 (Eddard, Catlyn, Robb and Talisa, Lyanna, Rickon, Rickard, Benjen (kinda))
Survivors: Sansa, Arya, and Bran

The clear “winner” in this game of survival are the Wards of the North. The War of the Five Kings has hit the Starks the hardest, thanks to the two-timing Cersei and Joffrey and the power vacuum that left Winterfell in ruins. Now that Winter Is Coming, the remnants of the Stark children are squaring off against the northern threat. Bran has renounced his claim to Winterfell as the Three-Eyed Raven, Sansa is the Lady of Winterfell, and Arya her heir. Claiming allegiance to House Targaryen, the Starks finally have powerful allies.

House Baratheon

Death Count: 8 (Robert, Stannis and Selyse, Renly, Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen, and Shireen)

Robert’s Rebellion launched House Baratheon to top prominence in Westeros with catastrophic results. After getting drunk from wine thanks to Lancel Lannister, Robert is then gored by a boar on a hunting expedition. His “children” who then inherit the throne are summarily poisoned or commit suicide. Brienne kills Stannis and a shadow kills Renly, ending any legitimate claim to the throne. Although now extinct, this House is worth a mention for its enduring contribution to the political upheaval of Westeros.