Why The Women Of Game Of Thrones Are The True Heroes

Cersei Lannister is, by no means, a heroic character, acting as Game of Thrones' primary antagonist for the majority of its run. But like Melisandre or Ellaria Sand, Cersei was more complicated than most. In 2017, Vulture made a case for the Queen, saying that while she had committed some heinous acts, Cersei did nothing that a male counterpart wouldn't have done in a time of war: "Cersei, of course, has observed this double standard all her life, and how differently shame and power fall on her shoulders because of her gender."

In 2016, Lena Headey, the actress behind the tyrant, told Mashable, "I don't play her as a villain." She explained, "I don't set out to do that consciously, I just play a woman who is a survivor and will do exactly what a man would do." Ultimately, Cersei got the power she sought for so much of her life, even if it only lasted a few seasons. And when she did finally die, it was in the arms of the only man she'd ever loved, who, as the New York Post pointed out, will be remembered as a hero for "protecting his Queen," thanks to Brienne's Book of Brothers entry.