Game of Thrones 8: From throwing Bran off a roof to risking life for friends, 5 scenes that show Jaime Lannister’s journey

If Game of Thrones fans are asked to choose the one person with the best character arc in the show, it’s likely that they’ll choose Sansa Stark or Jaime Lannister. But while Sansa grew from an annoying brat princess to a lady reigning wisely over her people, Jaime transitioned from a child-murdering knight to the kind-hearted, righteous man who can no longer stand for evil. It’s for everyone to see why one transformation is more drastic than the other.

Jaime Lannister, played for over nine years by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, is the elder son of Tywin Lannister and brother of Cersei and Tyrion Lannister. He is the person we meet on top of the tower, having sex with his sister and throwing a young child off the balcony after being caught in the act. “The things I do for love,” he said nonchalantly as he pushed Bran Stark over the edge. Except, over the years, the list of those things kept getting shorter.

The Kingslayer, as he was called by his people, was the object of our disgust and hatred. And yet, as we watched him get captured, drag himself through forests and swamps, spend nights shackled in a pig sty, make a friend, save her life and lose a hand for his arrogance, we somehow began to realise how he isn’t mean and horrible as long as he is away from his sister, Cersei.

He tells Brienne of Tarth why he has forever been misunderstood, treated as a murderer by his own people when all he ever did was save them from the wrath of the Mad King and being burned alive.

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He wins the approval of his daughter right before she dies in his arms. He makes a friend for life in Brienne, right before he has to say goodbye to her. He saves his brother from his evil father, right before he has to watch him go away from him, forever. Every time he sparked an actual, healthy relationship with someone, he could never keep it.

In the last season, Jaime realises how Cersei is beyond his or anyone’s help. All she wants now is revenge, whether or not he fits in that picture. He decides to finally walk away from her, the one thing he was never able to do, despite whatever she did.

As he joins the good side and prepares to fight the big, blue enemy in the final season, we look back at his journey through five pivotal scenes. Did your favourite make it to our list?

Jaime throws Bran off the tower

The things I do for love. 

Jaime gets his hand chopped off

Aaaaaaaaaaaa!

Jaime tells Brienne what the Mad King wanted

Jaime. My name is Jaime.

Jaime watches Myrcella die

I’m glad that you’re my father.

Jaime walks out on Cersei

Give the order then.

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