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With HBO’s House of the Dragon on the way in 2022, now is an opportune time to reflect on the eight-season epic that transformed into a worldwide phenomenon. Game of Thrones – known for its over-the-top violence, sex, and death – is one of the most talked about TV series of the last decade, for better and for worse.
Most memorable among Game of Thrones‘ early seasons is the sudden and abrupt death of the venerable Eddard “Ned” Stark. In fact, Ned’s unexpected demise had a prolific effect that fundamentally shaped the later seasons through the children who survived him – offering a stark contrast to the authoritarian politics Tywin Lannister oft employed to keep his children in line.
10 Ned Teaches His Children To Pull Their Punches
When fans are first introduced to the noble Starks of Winterfell in Game of Thrones‘ opening episode “Winter Is Coming,” they do so from the perspective of Brandon Stark – Ned’s second youngest son who witnesses his father behead a deserter of the Night’s Watch. Bran’s older brothers – Robb and Jon – warn the young Stark not to look away, as Ned will know if he does.
Following the execution, Ned speaks with his younger son, explaining that “the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.” The statement illustrates the Warden of the North’s belief that his children must learn to be accountable for their actions, unlike the political machinations Tywin often uses to cover up his children’s mistakes.
9 Ned Resigns As Hand Over The Plan To Kill Daenerys
At his dear friend Robert Baratheon’s request, Ned travels south to King’s Landing to become Hand of the King, a powerful – yet dangerous – position to hold in the high courts of Westeros. Ned’s reasoning for accepting the position lies in the untimely death of the previous Hand Jon Arryn, a murder for which the Lannisters are suspected for.
While Ned is less than thrilled about the Crown’s deep debt and lavish tournies Robert puts on, what sends him over the edge is when the small council elects to assassinate a pregnant Daenerys Targaryen, a young princess exiled to the distant lands of Essos. Tywin wouldn’t have batted an eye at this kill order, but Ned chooses to resign as Hand in protest.
8 Ned Shows Mercy To Cersei And Her Children
Throughout history, the rich and powerful Lannisters have become synonymous with an event known as the Rains of Castamere. Portrayed as the Lannister theme song in Game of Thrones, the event saw the complete and utter obliteration of House Reyne, overseen by Tywin himself, turning him into a figure of ruthlessness and dominance.
Unfortunately, Tywin’s lack of empathy often leads to friction between him and his children, a disposition Ned wholly lacks. When confronting Cersei about her children’s illegitimacy, Ned offers her a chance to escape before he tells Robert. While Ned’s plan ultimately backfires, it does reveal him as a man capable of being empathetic, even towards his enemies.
7 Ned Raises Theon Following The Greyjoy Rebellion
Being the seasoned warrior he is, Ned has survived several conflicts, a notable one being the Greyjoy Rebellion nine years prior to Game of Thrones‘ start that saw Balon Greyjoy attempt to break away from the Seven Kingdoms. The secession was short-lived, however, and Balon was ultimately forced to surrender his remaining son, Theon, to the Starks as retribution.
Given the harsh nature of the North, Ned could have easily branded the young Greyjoy as an outcast in Winterfell, much like how Tywin hated his son Tyrion for being a dwarf. However, Theon was given a place right by the Stark children as their liege, being permitted to grow up with them as if he were a member of the Northern royal family (albeit with restrictions).
6 Ned Has Syrio Forel Train Arya In Swordsmanship
Cersei despised her father – Tywin – for many things, chief among them how he perceived her role in a patriarchal society. Cersei was denied any opportunity growing up to be anything other than the role that Tywin had laid out for her, something which would’ve been incredibly problematic had the tomboy Arya Stark been born a Lannister.
Fortunately for Arya, her father Ned is far more tolerant of her adventurous nature and feisty personality. When Ned discovers that his daughter has been hiding Needle – a sword Jon made for her – in King’s Landing, he allows her to keep it. In fact, Ned proceeds to hire a fencing instructor – Syrio Forel – to teach her how to properly handle the blade.
5 Ned Allows His Children To Raise Direwolf Pups
Following the execution of Night’s Watch deserter Will in the inaugural episode, the Stark entourage happen upon a litter of orphan direwolf pups. While Ned is initially set on killing the pups, Jon Snow convinces him otherwise, claiming that they are an omen as the direwolf is the symbol of House Stark.
The Lord of Winterfell reluctantly agrees to allow his children to raise the pups, but warns all of them that they alone are responsible for how the wolves are raised. Given Tywin’s pride and need to control everything, it’s doubtful the Lord of Casterly Rock would have listened to the advice of a bastard, let alone allow his children to raise such “pets.”
4 Ned Was Driven By Honor, Not Wealth And Power
Perhaps one of the most fundamental differences between Ned Stark and Tywin Lannister is what drives them in life. For Tywin, everything is about amassing more wealth and power to further the name of House Lannister. Not only does this drive the Warden of the West, but it’s a trait Tywin imbued and instilled within his ultimate successor and daughter, Cersei.
For Ned, however, duty and honor take precedence before anything else. Unfortunately, this doesn’t get him far in King’s Landing, yet the traits live on in his children. Despite never seeing his children grow up, the Warden of the North can rest easy knowing the sense of justice he instilled in them now governs Westeros.
3 Ned Is Willing To Raise A Bastard As His Son
While Ned shares five children with his wife Catelyn, the people of Westeros believe that the noble Lord of Winterfell sired one bastard: Jon Snow. Although it’s revealed much later that Jon is actually the legitimate child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, Ned’s willingness to raise the “bastard” as one of his own speaks to the dedication he has to his family.
Although Ned should’ve told Jon the truth, the Northern bastard’s upbringing was a kindness compared to the constant humiliation Tyrion suffered under Tywin. Despite the Imp being the legitimate child of Tywin, he may as well have grown up a bastard in the Lannister household due to his father’s extreme resentment.
2 Ned Doesn’t Coerce His Children Into Marriages
As part of his continual quest for total power, Tywin tried to arrange marriages for all three of his children at different points. Unfortunately, even the marriages that were “successful” – with Cersei and Tyrion wedded to Robert and Sansa respectively – ended in disaster, kickstarting the War of the Five Kings and causing the Purple Wedding respectively.
Ned, on the other hand, never coerces his children into arranged marriages. While he does arrange the initial marriage between Sansa and Joffrey, the Lord of Winterfell does so with the approval of his child. Although concerned about young Sansa’s naïvety, Ned nevertheless is patient in listening to his daughter daydream of marrying a handsome prince.
1 Ned Forsakes His Honor In Order To Protect Sansa
Although fans likely anticipated that Joffrey was not all that he was initially made out to be, most were not prepared for how utterly cruel and sadistic the illegitimate Baratheon actually was. Unfortunately for the great Eddard Stark, this meant meeting a rather gruesome death at the end of his own ancestral sword, Ice.
Right before his death, however, Ned did something totally unexpected: he confessed that he was culpable to the false accusation of trying to usurp Joffrey. Ned’s choice to forego his honor here was done to protect Sansa, who was being held prisoner by the Lannisters. By choosing to forsake this key value, Ned proves that his children matter to him above all else.
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