Jorah Mormont, the former Lord of Bear Island, was a divisive figure on Game of Thrones. Part tragic hero, part duplicitous opportunist, he was a man for whom both integrity and selfishness constantly warred in his decision making process.  He pledged himself to Daenerys Targaryen for some of the most self-serving reasons possible – a full pardon for his crimes in the North, and a chance to lust after her- yet as her advisor gave her the means to outsmart some of her most formidable enemies.

Not much of Ser Jorah’s backstory was provided in the series, and if fans based their concept of his impact as a character in accordance to George R. R. Martin’s novels, he would have seemed very much the victim of destiny and highly overrated. But, Iain Glen’s subtle performance brought sympathy and intrigue to a character that could have been relegated to the background and perpetually underrated.

10 UNDERRATED: WHEN HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST SWORDSMEN OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS

Ser Jorah was anointed in the days when knights of caliber like Barriston Selmy and Ser Arthur Dayne showed what valor truly meant. That, combined with being a lord of the North, meant that Ser Jorah bore no “honorary” title.

Though his skill with a sword was alluded to in Game of Thrones, the backstory wasn’t. He lasted in a trial by combat against none other than Jaime Lannister, in which each man broke nine lances against one another before the contest was called a draw.

9 OVERRATED: WHEN HE MADE TERRIBLE DECISIONS

Though he was once a respected lord in the North, he defied Ned Stark and sold slaves (which in George R. R. Martin’s novels was to pay for his wife’s expensive habits). He was banished from Bear Island and told to never set a foot again in Westeros.

He refused to take responsibility for his actions and continued to blame the Warden of the North despite bankrupting his household. After becoming a sellsword and a spy, he foolishly thought Daenerys would never find out whom he served in exchange for forgiveness.

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8 UNDERRATED: WHEN HE ACTED AS A LIAISON BETWEEN DAENERYS AND THE DOTHRAKI

When Daenerys knew nothing of the Dothraki ways and was given like chattel to Khal Drogo, it was Jorah who comforted her. It wasn’t just because he was from Westeros – it was because his knowledge of Dothraki culture and customs proved invaluable to her.

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He became her personal adviser and counselor, not only about the Dothraki, but also about the Seven Kingdoms (the songs and traditions of which he gave her in a collection of books for her own study). His advice was prudent and sagacious, and when she didn’t listen to it, she more often than not paid a hefty price (as in the case of Mirri Maz Duur).

7 OVERRATED: WHEN HE DIDN’T RESPECT DANY’S BOUNDARIES

Jorah’s obsession with Daenerys compelled him to disregard certain boundaries that she had set because he felt entitled to her affections. He actively tried to dissuade his Khaleesi from courses of action that bruised his ego, going so far as to put doubts in her head around any other man she encountered.

He didn’t respect her boundaries, and didn’t stop making his feelings for her known when she stated she wasn’t interested in returning his amorous feelings. After she refused him, he acted like a petulant teenager.

6 UNDERRATED: WHEN HE SAVED DAENERYS’ LIFE AGAIN AND AGAIN

Had it not been for Ser Jorah’s intervention, Daenerys could have died any number of times. In the very first season, he could have remained loyal to Viserys and let him walk away with the dragon eggs.

It was Jorah who saved her from being poisoned by The Spider near Vaes Dothrak, and again he saved her in the fighting pits at Meereen. Had he not risked his life and stepped in, she might very well have never been able to take King’s Landing and make a bid for the Iron Throne.

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5 OVERRATED: WHEN HE ALWAYS SHIFTED THE BLAME

For all of his integrity, Jorah liked to play the victim. He tended to shift the blame to others when he felt that circumstances were out of his control. He didn’t believe it was his fault for spying on Dany – it was simply circumstantial.

When he watched as Barristan Selmy went before the Mother of Dragons and took accountability for his deceptions, Jorah could have followed his example and owned up to his own faults, but instead he simply offered a long string of excuses.

4 UNDERRATED: WHEN HE SURVIVED THE GREYSCALE

Jorah Mormont was the only survivor of greyscale, the disease that made unlucky men’s skin turn scaly and dead, seen in the series. He was able to stave off becoming one of the “Stone Men” despite his encounter with them after going through the ruined portion of Valyria.

Surviving what amounted to a death sentence took more than his usual temerity – it took locating Samwell Tarly who, despite receiving orders not to, accepted the challenge of curing Ser Jorah’s affliction through a very sensitive and grotesque procedure.

3 OVERRATED: WHEN HE STAYED WITH DANY TO GAIN STATUS

Jorah remained by Dany’s side for two selfish reasons; because he was attracted to her, and because he enjoyed a position of status. He counted on that position of status to earn his lawful return to Westeros.

While it was true he did save her life from Varys’ poison, this was only after Ned Stark had tried to prevent The Spider from having her killed. Prior to that, Jorah had no qualms watching her be assassinated if it got him a pardon. The only reason he didn’t let it happen because of his lust and the potential loss of his prestige.

2 UNDERRATED: WHEN HE SAVED TYRION LANNISTER

In order to get to Meereen, Jorah and Tyrion had to sail through Valyria, where they were ambushed by the Stone Men. Jorah fought them off, but in the conflict Tyrion was pulled beneath the water. When Tyrion came to, he was coughing up water on shore after he’d been saved by Jorah.

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Not only did Jorah save his life, but also risked his own – when one of the Stone Men touched him on the wrist, he contracted greyscale. He ended up having to go into forced exile after delivering Tyrion to Daenerys.

1 OVERRATED: WHEN HE LED THE DOTHRAKI TO THEIR DEATHS

The defense of Winterfell from the siege of White Walkers was abysmal for a variety of reasons, from a military stand point. The most grievous of strategic offenses came in the form of Jorah leading a charge with mounted Dothraki riders against a wall of White Walkers.

The Dothraki were not suited for a straightforward charge, but should have been brought in with a flanking attack once the White Walkers advanced forward, armed with flaming arrows. Jorah, overly familiar with Dothraki battle techniques, should have never allowed the forward attack to occur. He was incidentally (and conveniently) one of the few survivors of the blunder.

 

 

 

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About The Author


Kayleena Pierce-Bohen
(1343 Articles Published)

Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. A film buff, she has a Western collection of 250+ titles and counting that she’s particularly proud of. When she isn’t writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she’s working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to continue pretending to be Lara Croft as long as she can.

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