Game Of Thrones: 5 Times Jaime Lannister Was A Hero (& 5 Times He Was The Villain)

Jaime Lannister is one of Game of Thrones‘ most tantalizing and interesting characters. He starts the series as an arrogant, violent, and incestuous “knight” who values the love of his family (both literal and metaphorical love) above all others. But as the series progresses, Jaime grows more chivalrous, more honorable, and more respectable as a character.

Many people love Jaime Lannister for his complexity, but many people can’t forgive his past mistakes. Therein lies the beauty of his character. Is he good, is he bad or something in the middle? The debate will forever rage. These are five times Jaime Lannister was a hero (and 5 times he was the villain).

10 Hero: Saving King’s Landing

Many people know Jaime Lannister as the Kingslayer. It’s a nickname that he has been forced to wear for many years, although the truth behind it is far more complex than anyone could imagine.

Yes, he did technically murder the King he was sworn to protect, thereby making him a Kingslayer. But he did so in order to save the entirety of King’s Landing from Aerys’ madness and destructive wildfire. He’s just too proud to admit it to anyone. Except for Brienne.

9 Villain: Pushing Bran

It’s no wonder that many people cannot overlook Jaime’s past crimes when said past crimes involve pushing a child out a window. In the very first episode of the series, little Bran catches Jaime and his sister getting intimate in a Winterfell tower. Jaime catches Bran, and to ensure his silence, he pushes him out the window.

While Bran survives, that doesn’t change anything – Jaime had every intention of murdering Bran that day.

8 Hero: Riding North

By the end of season seven, Jon had made his case for the impending Others’ invasion and pleaded with Cersei and King’s Landing to put aside their political squabbles and help the North with the invasion.

While Cersei uses the opportunity to scheme some more, Jaime legitimately tries to help and rides North to defend Westeros from the invading Others. It was a defining character moment…but it was completely redone just a few episodes later.

7 Villain: Going Back To Cersei

Immediately after defending the North from the Others, Jaime heads back to King’s Landing to help Cersei in her fight with Daenerys.

Brienne tries to stop him, telling him that he’s nothing like Cersei and that he’s a good person. However, Jaime uses this opportunity to list off his villainous accomplishments and state that he’s “hateful” before riding off and leaving Brienne behind. And just like that, all his development was thrown out the window.

6 Hero: Saving Brienne

Jaime’s development began in earnest in season three, and it all started when he saved Brienne at Harrenhal. Jaime and Brienne had been enemies throughout seasons two and three, and at one point Jaime tried to murder her.

But on his way back to King’s Landing, Jaime had a change of heart, and with the help of Steelshanks, saved Brienne from certain death in the Harrenhal bear pit. Jaime was officially a hero.

5 Villain: Trying To Kill Brienne

Jaime and Brienne’s relationship did not start on the greatest of terms. While being transferred from Riverrun to King’s Landing, a shaggy Jaime steals one of Brienne’s swords and tries to murder her with it.

While Brienne passively fights back so as to not harm or maim Jaime, Jaime gives Brienne everything he has. While his weakened state may have prevented him from beating her, he certainly tried his hardest.

4 Hero: Tasking Brienne With Saving Sansa

In season four, Jaime continues his wonderful character arc and gets involved in Sansa’s story.

Valuing Brienne’s honor and wanting some of his own, Jaime gives Brienne his Valyrian steel sword and tasks her with finding and protecting Sansa Stark. It’s a particularly touching moment – not only because he protects Sansa and honors Brienne, but because the Valyrian steel sword he gives her was forged from the remnants of Ned Stark’s Ice. Brienne is saving Ned’s daughter with his own sword. It’s very poetic.

3 Villain: Skirmish At The Brothel

Wanting Tyrion rescued from Stark captivity, Jaime and his retinue ambushed Ned Stark at Littlefinger’s brothel. Lannister men killed Wyl and Heward by throwing spears, and Jaime personally kills Jory himself by stabbing him through the eye.

It’s horrifically gruesome, and it shows that Jaime can be a truly violent individual when he wants to be. Even Ned seems sickened by Jaime’s brutal killing of Jory.

2 Hero: Freeing Tyrion

In the season four finale, Jaime proves his loyalty to Tyrion by freeing him from imprisonment and certain death. In the show, the scene paints Jaime as a hero, as he seemingly frees Tyrion out of the kindness of his heart.

However, the sequence plays out a little differently in the novels, as Jaime frees Tyrion to absolve his own conscience over his role in Tysha’s treatment. Tyrion sees through it and threatens to kill Jaime if he ever sees him again.

1 Villain: Forcing Himself Upon Cersei Over His Son’s Corpse

Season four was certainly a wild time for Jaime Lannister. While he’s doing heroic things like tasking Brienne to rescue Sansa and freeing Tyrion from jail, he’s also forcing himself upon Cersei over Joffrey’s corpse.

Jaime lusts for Cersei after his protracted imprisonment in Riverrun, and he acts on it by violently forcing himself upon her. This, despite her constant rejections and the presence of their own son’s corpse. It’s a disgusting sequence that really didn’t do any favors for Jaime.

About The Author

Nathan Sharp
(852 Articles Published)

Nathan Sharp is a writer from outside Toronto, Ontario. He has a love of movies and television, having enjoyed them for more than twenty years. His preferences include drama, action, and horror, with the former being a particular point of interest and fascination.

He also has a love of video games, particularly those of Rockstar.

Whether it be about film, television, or video games, Nathan loves a good discussion and has written hundreds of articles for Screen Rant.

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