The appeal of HBO's Game of Thrones is that every character, every family, has their irable qualities and despicable ones. The characterization arcs move in such opposite and dynamic directions that fans have gone from hating one family in one season to adoring them the next.
But perhaps the most consistent of all families have been the Starks. For the most part, they're the ones that have stayed good. Many of them meet sticky ends as the episodes progress, but at least most of them can say they died the hero... rather than living long enough to see themselves become the villain.
Still, not everything House Stark and its do makes total sense to fans.
Why Rickon Doesn't Zig Zag
One of the saddest memes to come from the series: why Rickon doesn't zig zag and instead runs in a straight line as Ramsay is shooting at him.
The scene is grim, watching the youngest Stark die at the hands of a sadist. But fans still can't understand why they have to watch Rickon run in a straight line when he'd have a much better chance of surviving if he were to actually try and dodge the arrows.
Perhaps it was pure panic.
Why Catelyn & Robb Decide To Attend The Red Wedding
The Red Wedding is an invitation from the Freys to make peace with the Starks after Robb breaks a marriage vow and chooses love over politics. They graciously attend and are slaughtered by House Frey. But although Robb may be young and naive, surely Catelyn knows the Freys well enough to know something is wrong about this?
Unfortunately, she doesn't catch on in time.
Why Jon Snow Wants To The Night's Watch
At the beginning of the series, Jon is desperate to the Night's Watch. As a bastard, he's looked down upon in the society of Westeros and wants to make something of himself. The Night's Watch seems an odd choice. As much as it places everyone on equal footing, Jon is told repeatedly it's full of criminals and dangerous people who chose it as a last resort. Jaime Lannister, in particular, hints heavily at this to Jon at the start of season one.
The Magic Of Arya Stealing Faces
Arya is a badass — no doubt about it. But the magic she's taught to steal faces is never explained very well in the show.
Perhaps this is a good thing, leaving some mystery to surround the magic and make it all the more sinister. But it also leaves fans with a lot of questions about the lore and exactly how this is achieved.
Why Bran Ends Up As King
At the end of the series, Bran the Broken (ouch) ends up as king of Westeros on the Iron Throne and it... comes entirely out of the blue. There's very little lead-up, or any suggestion he would be a good king aside from his calm, unemotional nature. It's a bit of a rushed decision that leaves audiences wondering exactly what Tyrion is thinking with this suggestion, and why everyone is so quick to agree.
Why Ned Lies About Jon To Catelyn
Ned lies to Catelyn because he made a promise to his sister, claiming to have had an affair that has resulted in Jon.
Since Lyanna is dead by the time the series starts, he should tell her the truth.
Catelyn is trustworthy, and the lie puts a strain on their marriage. The audience is also left to wonder exactly what Ned would have done had Jon (or should we say, Aegon) was born with trademark silver Targaryen hair and purple eyes, as they all have in the books.
How Catelyn Never Questions This
It's also strange that Catelyn never once questions this. Surely she knows Ned well enough to believe he'd never have an affair with anyone else due to his strict code of honor — and the timing of Jon is oddly coincidental when he returns from his kidnapped, dying sister. Catelyn, however, never doubts that he slept with someone else. Hm.
Why Ned Doesn't Tell Jon Sooner About His Parents
Ned also refuses to tell Jon about his parents for a long time, even after things are clearly getting dangerous in Westeros and lives are on the line. Jon goes off to the Wall and Ned doesn't clue him into what Jon arguably has a right to know. Ned is well-meaning, but he makes decisions that cause a lot of problems later and don't always make sense.
Why Lyanna Was Never Clearer About Running Off With Rhaegar
When Lyanna ran off with Rhaegar long before the start of the series, Robert claimed she was kidnapped. In the series, it becomes clear that their relationship was very consensual.
Didn't Rhaegar and Lyanna want to make this clear? Or did they, and it was just forgotten? It makes little sense that Lyanna would have allowed everyone to believe she was in danger, causing a war.
Was Robert just that determined to believe that the love of his life could never leave him?
How Ned Beat Arthur Dayne
The fight at the Tower of Joy, at the culmination of Robert's Rebellion, saw Arthur Dayne die in a swordfight with Ned. Even though Ned had help from Howland Reed, this makes no sense. Arthur Dayne was said to be a legendary swordsman, better than even Jaime Lannister, who held huge iration for Ser Arthur. He should have been able to take a hundred of Ned Stark and Howland Reed, the former of them being established many times as an 'average' swordsman.