This Collider feature ranks the main characters of *Game of Thrones* by comparing their first and last spoken lines, using the contrast to assess the strength and satisfaction of their overall story arcs. It draws on the show's reputation for morally complex characters, arguing that even though the final season was widely seen as disappointing, the journeys of figures like the Stark children and the Lannister siblings produced some of television's most memorable moments.

The piece ranks characters such as Bran Stark and Jaime Lannister, quoting their opening and closing lines to illustrate how far each character travelled. Bran, for example, begins by watching a deserter's execution and ends with a flat, bemused remark as King, reflecting his transformation from an adventurous boy into a detached ruler; Jaime moves from a glib warning to his sister Cersei to the intimate "Only us" as their story reaches its end. Rankings are based on the strength of each character's arc, their narrative impact, and how effectively the shift between their first and last words captures their journey.