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The best (and worst) couples on 'Game of Thrones'

From the most in-love to the most tragic

The best (and worst) couples on 'Game of Thrones'

From the most in-love to the most tragic

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The best (and worst) couples on 'Game of Thrones'

From the most in-love to the most tragic

"Game of Thrones" isn't only about death and war; sometimes, some characters are lucky enough to find love. But since this is "GoT," some romances come to a tragic end (RIP Robb and Talisa), or they're hardly romantic at all (cue Cersei and Robert). From forbidden loves to incestual relationships, these are the best and worst couples in Westeros and beyond.

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BEST: Jon Snow & Ygritte

Jon and Ygritte went from captor and prisoner to forbidden lovers (he broke his Night's Watch vows to be with her) and, quite arguably, one of the most lovable pairs on the show so far. The fact that Kit Harington and Rose Leslie are married in real life makes it even better.

Witty Ygritte was such a perfect match for brooding Jon, which made her death scene (he held her in his arms as a battle carried on around him) even more emotional. In fact, they were such a good pair that it's nearly impossible to imagine Snow with another woman. Even Kit Harington : "Ygritte is the only woman for Jon. Always. There will be no one else."

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BEST: Grey Worm & Missandei

When Missandei started giving Grey Worm lessons in the Common Tongue, we knew sparks were going to fly. Ironically, this teacher-and-pupil pair don't get to talk much on the show, but when they do, their affection and chemistry manifest through broken English, stolen glances and intense stares. The Unsullied warrior may be a eunuch, but that didn't stop him and Missandei from sharing a surprisingly intimate scene in season 7.

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BEST: Gilly & Sam

"GoT" hardly has any cute moments, but when it does, they're often between Gilly and Sam. They're sweet, innocent, homely and perfect for each other. Sometimes they're romantic, sometimes they bicker like an old married couple, and for that reason, they might be the most relatable pair on the show.

Their romance also brings out the best in Sam, who is often overshadowed in strength and valor by his brothers in the Night's Watch. He saved Gilly from Craster (and killed a White Walker), he teaches her how to read, and he cares for her infant son as if it was his own.

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Rhaegar Targaryen & Lyanna Stark
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BEST: Rhaegar Targaryen & Lyanna Stark

The events of "Game of Thrones" would not have started without Lyanna and Rhaegar’s forbidden romance. He was married to Elia Martell and shared two children with her, and Lyanna was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, but they fled together, kicking off a massive rebellion to get her back.

For years, it was presumed that Rhaegar had kidnapped her, but the TV interpretation of the story shows that they actually did love each other. Rhaegar annulled his marriage with Elia, wed Lyanna in a secret ceremony in the forest, and secretly had a child with her — Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen) — who’d grow up to be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

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BEST: Robb & Talisa Stark

Robb and Talisa were the show's equivalent to a Cinderella story — the King in the North falls for a meek war nurse. They were in love and expecting a child, but, in classic "GoT" fashion, they did not get a happy ending: they got the Red Wedding.

Unfortunately, it was their love that led to their downfall. By marrying Talisa, Robb broke a marriage pact between the Starks and the Freys, causing the latter to retaliate with a blood bath.

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BEST: Ned & Catelyn Stark

The Starks were the original "Game of Thrones" mom and dad figures. Ned was a man of honor and Catelyn was strong and protective of their five children together.

However, Lady Stark did have trust issues with her husband because of Jon Snow, whom everyone believes is Ned's bastard son. As his wife, how could she not be concerned? But she didn't know the truth — Ned lied about having a child out of wedlock to protect the identity of his secret nephew (Jon), proving he was faithful to Catelyn (and his sister Lyanna) all along.

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BEST: Loras Tyrell & Renly Baratheon

"GoT" gave us incest before it showed a same-sex relationship between two major characters, but when it finally did, they gave us one between a king and knight (who also happened to be the Queen's brother). Loras and Renly's love, though undercover, was adorable. They vented about their problems (Renly complained about his Baratheon brothers) and shaved each others' chests — their affection manifested in more ways than one.

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BEST: Oberyn Martell & Ellaria Sand

This Dorne-based duo was probably the sexiest pair on "GoT" — that is, before Oberyn's face was smushed to a pulp by The Mountain. They also challenged traditional couple standards as bisexual characters in a polyamorous relationship.

Even after Oberyn was killed, Ellaria plotted revenge on House Lannister by poisoning Cersei's daughter Myrcella and — after killing off Prince Doran — pledges Dorne's army to Daenerys Targaryen in her quest to usurp the throne.

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BEST: Jon Snow & Daenerys Targaryen

As the King in the North and the Mother of Dragons, these two are a true power couple of Westeros. The only issue is that Jon is Dany’s nephew and, as the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, he actually supersedes her in line for the throne.

They’ve mostly been talking political strategy while sneaking some subtly flirtatious looks here and there, but who knows what the final season, and the reveal of their kinship, will bring.

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BEST: Cersei & Jaime Lannister

Cersei and Jaime, the Lannister twins, are "GoT's" evil power couple. Though protective of their children and each other, they're behind a lot of the deaths we've seen on the show so far. It was their relationship that kicked off the drama in the series in the first place, when they pushed little Bran Stark out the window for in the throes back in episode 1.

We’ve reconsidered the Lannisters’ relationship since first making this list. Although a lot of messed up stuff has gone on between these siblings, they’re extremely loyal to each other, and to their family. They even have a baby on the way. However, it seems rocky roads lie ahead after Jaime leaves King’s Landing to go north and fight.

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BEST: Tormund Giantsbane & Brienne of Tarth

Are they a hypothetical couple? Yes. But are they entertaining to watch? Absolutely. Everyone is rooting for these two.

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BEST: Daenerys Targaryen & Daario Naharis

Daario was pretty much smitten with Daenerys from the day he met her. He took control of the Second Sons, a sellsword army, so he could pledge them to her cause. He advised and supported her as she prepared to take the throne. He rode off (with Jorah Mormont) to find her after she fled and was captured by the Dothraki. He even stayed loyal as a sidepiece during Dany’s marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq. However, she kind of left him in the cold when she made him stay in Meereen rather than join her for her conquest of Westeros.

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BEST: Trystane Martell & Myrcella Baratheon

These two little lovebirds were the perfect romantic relief from the tensions and conflicts of "GoT." They enjoyed young love in the beautiful gardens of Dorne, away from the terrors and dangers of the rest of Westeros. For Trystane and Myrcella, ignorance really was bliss — until they too were eventually murdered.

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PROBLEMATIC: Khal Drogo & Daenerys Targaryen

Although this Khal and Khaleesi pair went on to become one of the most iconic "GoT" couples, Drogo did Daenerys on their wedding night in a very difficult-to-watch scene — this shouldn't be forgotten just because they end up calling each other "My Sun and Stars" by the end of the season.

Dany first entered this marriage already wanting to escape. She was young, had just fled from home, was stuck with an abusive brother and was sold and forced to marry someone she didn't know from a culture she knew nothing about. When she and Drogo eventually did fall in love, they conceived a son named Rhaego. But the family fell apart — Dany gave birth to a stillborn child and her husband died after failed attempts to save him.

Being with Drogo and earning the title of Khaleesi was a huge step in Daenerys's evolution toward becoming a strong leader — one who is now on her way to take the Iron Throne. It was also his funeral pyre that helped hatch her dragon eggs.

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WORST: Sansa Stark & Joffrey Baratheon

Sansa has a history of being forced into awful marriages, and it all started off with this one. At the start of season 1, she was a love-struck teenager who was head-over-heels for Joffrey; she even sided with him over her own sister, Arya. But after seeing him call for her father's execution, it all went downhill from there. Viewers, however, always knew Joffrey was the worst.

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WORST: Stannis Baratheon & Melisandre

Though they weren't specifically an item, Stannis and the Red Woman did sleep together and spend plenty of time together; but it was all for ulterior motives. He wanted to be King of the Seven Kingdoms, and she believed in him because she "saw it in the flames," which gave him an a boost of confidence. However, the results of their union were deadly — they conceived a demon shadow baby that killed his brother, Renly Baratheon. And when Stannis's army finally went to war, it turned out Melisandre's vision was wrong and he was killed.

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WORST: Selyse & Stannis Baratheon

The worst part about Stannis and Melisandre was that he cheated on his wife, Selyse, but that relationship wasn't on solid ground, either. Because she was blindly devout to the Lord of Light, she let her husband commit adultery with the priestess and, ultimately, sacrifice their own daughter, Shireen.

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WORST: Myranda & Ramsay Bolton

Myranda and Ramsay were truly horrible people, which made them perfect for each other. She assisted him in torturing his victims, including the time he castrated Reek (Theon Greyjoy). She was merely the kennel master’s daughter while he became the Lord of Winterfell, but they were genuinely crazy about each other.

As Ramsay mourned Myranda’s death (Reek pushed her off a balcony at Winterfell), he told her corpse, “Your pain will be paid for a thousand times over. I wish you could be here to watch.” How romantically sadistic. But then he later orders that her remains be fed to his hounds so they don’t waste “good meat.” Yikes.

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WORST: Cersei Lannister & Robert Baratheon

Cersei finally fulfilled one of her prophecies by marrying Robert, but they were unhappy together. He was still in love with the late Lyanna Stark and she was sneaking off with Jaime. You know a marriage is bad when someone's cheating on her husband with her own brother. Ultimately, she was the reason behind his death.

Though they seemed miserable, between the two gave insight into their relationship. Cersei admitted she used to "feel something" for Robert and that they lost a son together. In a rare vulnerable moment, she asked him, "Was it ever possible for us? Was there ever a time, ever a moment?" But he shut her down: "No."

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WORST: Lysa Arryn & Petyr Baelish

She was the "Game of Thrones" answer to the obsessed, jealous girlfriend. He was a conniving snake still in love with her sister. Together, they were far from perfect.

Though Littlefinger and Lysa Arryn married during his trip to the Vale with Sansa, she caught him kissing Sansa and became overcome with envy. He ultimately shoved her out of the Moon Door to her death. What's worse, his parting words could easily be the most savage burn in Westeros history: "I have only loved one woman, only one, my whole life: your sister."

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WORST: Sansa Stark & Petyr Baelish

Like Lysa Arryn, Sansa provided Littlefinger with another outlet to express his love for Catelyn Stark, but his relationship with Sansa was a weird hybrid of obsession and a failed attempt at protection. He was the one who encouraged her to marry Ramsay, a decision that hurt her in myriad ways. After she returned home to Winterfell, he attempted to turn her against her sister, Arya, which ultimately led to his execution.

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WORST: Cersei and Lancel Lannister

Apparently for Cersei, one incestual relationship wasn't enough. She and her cousin Lancel had a few hookups after her husband Robert Baratheon’s death and after Jaime’s capture, but they didn’t last long. After converting to the religion of the Sparrows and becoming part of the Faith Militant, Lancel was unfortunately in Cersei’s wild plan to blow up the Great Sept with wildfire.

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WORST: Tyrion Lannister & Shae

Tyrion and Shae were adorable until they weren't. Remember when she told him, "I am yours and you are mine," in that ? Their passionate affair went downhill fast in season 4 when she testified against him in trial. When he found out she slept with his dad, Tyrion strangled her to death.

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WORST: Tommen Baratheon & Margaery Tyrell

Though husband and wife, Margaery and Tommen's relationship was a cringeworthy union between a full-grown woman and an early teen. Though Margaery seemed sweet as ever on the outside, we know she only married into the Baratheon-Lannister line to be queen.

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ABSOLUTE WORST: Sansa Stark & Ramsay Bolton

If you saw the episode of their wedding night — or if you know anything about Ramsay's character at all — you understand.