In the time period of corsets, needlework, and curtsies, it was important, however misguided, for some ladies to remember a specific quote: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Many of the women in Game of Thrones are expected to do as they are told. Lord Tywin reminds his daughter, Cersei, of this, and even Catelyn Stark tries to instill this mindset on her younger and more rebellious daughter, Arya. However, had all the women in the series known that they could be remembered for amazing and adventurous feats instead of how perfect their stitched lines looked, then perhaps more of them would have gone out of their way to do what they wanted rather than what they were told.
Several women in the series are content with being told what to do, so they simply keep to themselves. There are some who believe they are a man’s equal in every way possible, including in combat and leadership. Then, there are the sly and patient women who know that they are better than their male counterparts, but they refuse to let anyone know their strategies until they have fulfilled their mission. These women are dangerous and brilliant, and they are empowering by going against the societal norm.
Check out the 10 most badass women in the Game of Thrones series who stopped at nothing to get what they wanted.
Lady Olenna Tyrell
Looks are very deceiving with the Queen-to-be’s grandmother, Lady Olenna. On the outside, she seems like a kind and gentle older woman, but the moment she opens her mouth, she is quick as a whip with her opinions. When she asks Sansa to speak freely about Joffrey’s true character, she is not shocked to find out that he is a monster. She wants the best for her granddaughter, Margaery, and since Joffrey is clearly not a suitable husband, Lady Olenna decides to take matters into her own hands.
Not only does she shamelessly kill the bratty king, but she confidently tells his biological father, Jamie Lannister, that it was she who had done it moments before her own death. Lady Olenna may not have had much time on the screen, but she is a true badass for her clever tactics.
Arya Stark
Since the very first Game of Thrones episode, Arya Stark has marched to the beat of her own drum. Instead of being a “proper lady” and doing as she was told, she would often leave her lessons and find a way to get her hands on a weapon to practice with it. Arya’s mother disapproved of her desire to learn how to fight, but her father realized it was a losing battle to try to keep her away from the action.
After the beheading of Ned Stark, Arya made it her mission to learn how to take down her enemies. She was cocky in the beginning, but after traveling with some of the best fighters, she quickly learned that having patience and a meticulous plan was her best strategy. In the end, Arya became one of the most skilled assassins who refused to let anyone tell her what to do.
Brienne of Tarth
After years of being mocked and ridiculed for her size, Brienne of Tarth grew some thick skin and made it a point to grow up to become one of the best soldiers in Westeros. She served under Renly Baratheon for a brief moment, but after his death, she swears her loyalty to Catelyn Stark.
Brienne does not let others’ comments get to her when they joke about how a woman could never become a knight or if she is a woman at all. After Catelyn’s death, Brienne keeps her oath to find and bring both of Catelyn’s daughters to safety. Between her fierce loyalty and ability to look any man in the eye and willing face (and beat) him in a duel is inspiring and truly badass.
Cersei Lannister
Even though she is easy to hate, Cersei Lannister still deserves credit for being one of the most badass and determined women in Game of Thrones. Since she was a young girl, Cersei has never let anyone stop her from getting what she wants. When she is of age, her father marries her off to a man she loathes, but Cersei knows how to play the game better than anyone.
She births only the children she had with her twin brother, but she makes the king believe they are his own blood. Then, she has her husband killed, so her eldest son can ascend the throne, granting her more power as the Queen Mother. Cersei has a way of doing things in secret, and she is one of the smartest and most patient women when it comes to taking down her enemies.
Ygritte
Whether it is because she is a red-head or because she is a wildling, Ygritte is one of the fierce women in Game of Thrones. After she meets Jon Snow, she has no problem spouting insults at him even while she has a knife to her throat. She knows how to get under others’ skin to psych them out and gain the upper hand.
When it comes to being in the Free Folk camp, Ygritte holds her own and does not let any man talk down to or about her. Even though fans were absolutely devastated that she and Jon Snow did not get their happily-ever-after, we do have to respect that she was loyal to her people while trying to fully understand her feelings for the young Crow.
Daenerys Targaryen
In the beginning, Daenerys simply does as she is told. Her brother, Viserys, practically raised and brainwashed her to believe that she was nothing more than a pawn in his game. After she is married off to Khal Drogo, Daenerys realizes her status among the khalasar, and she learns to stand up for herself against her brother. Then, when she loses her husband and son to black magic, Daenerys vows to never let someone take advantage of her kindness again.
The Dragon Queen becomes the Breaker of Chains as she frees slaves from their masters, and she lets people have a voice who have been silenced by everyone else. Even though she becomes crazed with power, Daenerys is still one of the most respectable women for always going after what she wanted.
Lyanna Mormont
Lyanna Mormont may be small, but she is by far one of the fiercest young women in Game of Thrones. We first meet her when Jon and Sansa are desperately looking for support and men to fight with them in the north. After some initial hesitation and very targeted comments, Lyanna agrees to support the Starks.
She admits that she does not have many men to spare, but she swears, with fight in her voice, that every man from Bear Island fights with more power and loyalty than any other in the kingdom. When it comes time to battle the White Walkers, Lyanna is in the thick of it, commanding and fighting alongside the many men.
Yara Greyjoy
After Yara lost her three brothers in a rebellion — two were killed and Theon was taken hostage by Ned Stark — she was practically raised as her father’s last surviving son. Instead of telling Yara to be a proper lady, she was taught to command her own ships, how to fight, and how to one day rule the Iron Islands.
Yara is headstrong, and she does not miss out on any of the action when it comes to going to battle. Even Daenerys is impressed with her ability to strategize and look for the weakest link in her opponents. In the end, Yara proves that a woman is sometimes more capable of getting things done when in times of war than a man, and for that, she is a true badass.
Ellaria Sand
When we first meet Ellaria, she seems like a level-headed and promiscuous woman. She is Oberyn Martell’s unwed lover, and after his brutal death, she becomes filled with range and vengeance. She tries to convince Oberyn’s brother to go to war with the Lannisters, but he refuses. Ellaria then takes matters into her own hands: she brings together three of Oberyn’s bastard daughters, also known as the Sand Snakes, to carry out a plan to hurt the Lannister family.
Ellaria is ruthless and smart with how she goes about killing Cersei’s only daughter, Myrcella, with a special kind of slow-acting poison. The fear of war and death does not scare this Dornish woman like it would others. People should actually fear how far she is willing to go to protect and avenge those she loves.
Osha
When Osha is first introduced, she is a feral wildling who tries to steal Bran’s horse out from under him. She is captured by Robb Stark and brought back to Winterfell to be a servant. After some time, she and Bran form a bond because she is open and honest with him about everything he asks. When the castle is captured by Theon’s army, Osha cunningly finds a way to escape with Bran, his little brother Rickon, and the simpleminded servant, Hodor.
Osha is skilled in fighting, and she seems to always have an exit strategy. What makes her a truly amazing character is how she treats people who others tend to look down on. She does not ridicule Hodor for his mental state, and she is incredibly protective and kind to the two Stark boys.
