None Of Your Favorite 'GoT' Characters Would Have Gotten Where They Are If It Wasn't For Brienne

Podrick Payne is the only character in Game of Thrones not directly affected by Brienne in this way.Game of ThronesBrienne affected Jaime Lannister's arc more than any other character. Jaime needed Brienne to suggest Catelyn Stark free him from captivity before the Karstarks took revenge or to move him back to King's Landing and shield him from danger.

Jaime owes his redemption mostly to Brienne. Her time on the road changed him. His decision to risk his life rescuing her from the bear pit is his first good act. Their shared bath shows Jaime talking about his kingslaying. Brienne first sees him as a hero then.Jaime tries to live up to Brienne's example.Brienne is a major reason Jaime comes to Winterfell for the Battle for the Dawn.

Brienne of Tarth swears an oath to Catelyn Stark to find her daughters and protect them. Brienne keeps that oath after Catelyn dies. Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjoy escape Ramsay Bolton's captivity in Winterfell. Brienne saves Sansa and Theon from soldiers, stopping them from a worse fate.

After the rescue, Brienne takes Sansa to Castle Black to reunite her with Jon Snow. This path leads Sansa to become Lady of Winterfell. Brienne's presence stops Petyr Baelish from scheming openly, letting Sansa escape his manipulation.

Brienne of Tarth does not formally meet Arya Stark until Season 7 of Game of Thrones.Season 7 ofGame of ThronesBrienne greatly impacts Arya's story before she meets her. Brienne searches for Arya after promising to protect her. When Brienne finds Arya with the Hound, she fights him to the death for Arya's freedom.

Arya did not want to travel with Brienne then. Arya left before the fight ended. Brienne beats Sandor Clegane. This frees her to travel alone. Arya leaves the Hound behind. Arya catches a boat to Essos. She starts training as a faceless assassin. This training lets her kill the Night King.Night KingArya kills the Night King.Arya kills the Night King with a clever dagger move she practiced before.Arya killed the Night King in a sparring match with Brienne.Podrick Payne owes his role in Game of Thrones to Brienne. He might not live without her. After his lord's exile, Podrick joins Brienne as her squire. Brienne starts begrudgingly teaching him sword skills.

Podrick Payne owes his role in theGame of Thronesplot to Brienne. Podrick might not live without her. After his lord is exiled, Tyrion Lannister leaves. Podrick joins Brienne as her squire. Brienne starts teaching him sword skills.

Pod stayed attached to Brienne’s hip always. He accompanied her during her search for the Starks, the siege of Riverrun, and then the Battle of Winterfell.Battle of WinterfellHe faced many armed fights along the way. Brienne’s patient instruction helped him survive those fights. Brienne gave this aimless youth a life purpose.

Brienne of Tarth keeps Theon Greyjoy alive today. He would be much worse off without her. Brienne saves Theon and Sansa Stark from Bolton soldiers after they escape Winterfell. The rescue happens right after Theon offers to die so Sansa can run.

If Theon had been captured then, Ramsay Bolton would have tortured him more at Winterfell. Brienne’s action lets Theon continue his path to redemption.Theon Greyjoy continues his path to redemption.This leads to Theon rescuing his sister Yara and his own sacrifice at the Battle of Winterfell.

Brienne of Tarth saves Sansa Stark from Ramsay Bolton. She gives Sansa enough protection and support to gain power in the North. Brienne reunites Sansa with her brother/cousin Jon Snow; Jon should thank her for this.

Without Sansa to call Littlefinger and the Vale army, Jon would likely die at the Battle of the Bastards. That outcome changes Westeros's history. The Night King might sit on the Iron Throne now. Daenerys Targaryen would feel very lonely.

Brienne of Tarth physically and violently changes Sandor Clegane's character. The Hound walks an aimless path, mostly protecting Arya Stark. Brienne meets him and nearly kills him. This makes Sandor seek refuge with a religious group and experience a spiritual rebirth.

Clegane recovered in his new community. He then violently avenged their deaths. Clegane joined the Brotherhood Without Banners remnants. He accompanied them on their Northern journey. He traveled past The Wall. He attended the summit at the Dragonpit. Clegane fought in the Battle of Winterfell. Brienne nearly killed him first, making all this possible.

Brienne of Tarth and Tyrion Lannister share few scenes, except the fireside chat before the Battle of Winterfell. Brienne saves Tyrion’s story from ending early. Tyrion would have been executed by his father in King’s Landing.

Brienne saves Jaime Lannister and guides him toward redemption. She moves Jaime to King’s Landing, filling his mind with heroic ideas. This puts Jaime in a spot where he can free Tyrion from death row, allowing him to kill Tywin Lannister and escape to Essos.

For the last few seasons,Game of ThronesDavos Seaworth acts as an unofficial Hand of the King in the North. Wherever Jon Snow goes, Davos follows, but Brienne of Tarth changes his loyalties.

Brienne killed Stannis, making Davos a free agent who followed his feelings instead of his oaths. Without Davos, Jon's efforts to rally forces at the Battle of Winterfell or woo Daenerys Targaryen likely would not have succeeded. The Onion Knight may resent Brienne killing his king, but the rest of Westeros does.

Melisandre focuses on the prophecy of Azor Ahai and her faith in theLord of LightMelisandre once believed Stannis Baratheon would defeat "the Great Other." Brienne of Tarth beheads Stannis at Winterfell, and that changes fast.

With Stannis gone, Melisandre loses direction at first. She then sees another potential leader. Shifting her support to Jon Snow, Melisandre plays a key part in the Battle of Winterfell and helps keep Westeros alive.

Petyr Baelish dies in the penultimate seasonGame of ThronesBrienne does not kill Petyr Baelish, but she plays a major part in his death. If he lived, Littlefinger would greatly affect surviving characters' lives, likely negatively.

Littlefinger plans to continue manipulating Sansa Stark at Winterfell. This plan gets harder when Sansa's sister Arya shows up. Brienne protects both Sansa and Arya, making Baelish's plotting harder. This buys time for the sisters to sort things out and decide to execute him.

Brienne of Tarth and Daenerys Targaryen have just met. Brienne sets the stage for Dany to become Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Brienne saves Sansa Stark's life, and Sansa saves Jon Snow's life at the Battle of the Bastards. Meeting Jon changes Daenerys forever; Brienne made this happen. Brienne's heroic actions in the North may have made Northerners accept her as Queen and accept Jon bowing to her. Perhaps she even inspired Daenerys to fight in the Battle for the Dawn.

No character fits here.Game of ThronesBrienne of Tarth looks more fondly upon Tormund Giantsbane thanTormund GiantsbaneBrienne gives Tormund motivation to fight in the Battle for the Dawn, giving him something to live for. She also lets him live long enough to attend the battle.

When Brienne nearly kills Sandor Clegane, she puts him on a path to redemption. This path leads Clegane on a desperate mission north of The Wall. Clegane stops wights from killing Tormund. Tormund would feel pleased if he knew Brienne saved his life.

Without the Lannister brothers, Bronn of the Blackwater would have a much lower social standing, perhaps dead. Bronn’s arc connects to Tyrion and Jaime from the start. Brienne’s intervention kept both Tyrion and Jaime alive.

Brienne saves Jaime’s life; Jaime saves Tyrion’s. Without the Lannisters, Bronn had no one to travel with across Westeros. More importantly for Bronn, he had no one to fill his pockets with gold or make him a lord. Brienne also cares for his friend Podrick.