Favorite/Least favorite major house of Westeros and why

[StannisBamfatheon]

I'll get it started.

Favorite: House Stark

The obvious choice but the right one. Seemingly they are the most noble, genuine, true to each other, and least interested in playing "the game of thrones." In the words of DB Weiss they are the family that kind of ties the whole story together, and that you want them to succeed despite their many sufferings. Also the Starks and the Kings of Winter have a long history of being total badasses, Bran the builder, Ned during Robert's Rebellion, Robb Stark repeatedly getting the better of Tywin Lannister, they are proven warriors. Lastly the aesthetics of the house are just super cool, the direwolf sigil, their words "winter is coming" being the only house motto I can think of that isn't a boast, the worship of the old gods, there's just alot to like about House Stark.

Least Favorite: House Greyjoy/ironborn

They are imho the great cowards of Westeros. With the exception of maybe Theon saving Bran and Jeyne Pool I can't think of a single instance of a Greyjoy performing a selfless act. They fashion themselves great stewards of the sea and master pirates yet choose to pillage the North for pinecones then go south to Lannisport or elsewhere where presumably better plunder awaits. They only attack the North once Robb has departed with virtually the entirety of the regions military power. They never give pitched battle only "reaving" until a true fighting force other than fishermen show up to shoo them away. I just think they have a tremendously overblown sense of self worth and have never done anything to help Westeros at large.

[Prince Doran Martell]

Favorites: Stark & Martell

Stark for all the obvious reasons. Martell because they didn't enter centerstage in the books until aSoS/aFfC but they were referenced a lot before then, and I was always curious to learn more about them. Plus Oberyn Martell is a total badass and Doran Martell is a cunning mastermind.

Least Favorites: Frey and Bolton

They're traitors and untrustworthy.

[StarkSupporter]

Favorite: House Stark

I choose this user name for a reason. The moment that Ned explains to Bran why he has to kill Gared, because the Starks are of the North and follow the Old Gods, I was sold. Then we meet the rest of the Stark family, and I liked them all (Cat is not a Stark). Then there are all the usual reasons for me to like the Starks.

Least Favorite: House Tyrell

I dislike them because, IMO Mace seems to be looking to make his house more than that it is. He is an incompetent oaf. He is trying to make Margaery the queen, by selling her off to anyone with a crown. Margaery is also in on this scheming, so she gets my hatred. She is more than willing to run to the next man that promises to make her queen. Then there is Loras, I would have liked him, but he was way to arrogant when Jaime tried to offer him advice, and from my perspective make sure that Loras didn't turn out like Jaime did. Garlan seemed okay, and so does Willas, but I think that is only because we don't know enough about either of them. Olenna is cool, so she gets a pass. Again I don't like the Tyrells because they are definitely overreaching their station, and are willing to do anything to achieve this.

[Lord Paramount of Essos]

WORST : the freys :devil:

[Aussie50]

Favourites:

House Targaryen - I love their madness, their insane vanity and their domination of fucking dragons

House Stark - although the overly honorable ones bore me

House Lannister - they're all such witty cunts :)

Least Favourites:

The Greyjoy's - for obvious reasons

The Frey's

[Darth Visenya]

Favourites:

House Targaryen - I love their madness, their insane vanity and their domination of fucking dragons

House Stark - although the overly honorable ones bore me

House Lannister - they're all such witty cunts :)

Least Favourites:

The Greyjoy's - for obvious reasons

The Frey's

Exactly this, although I would like to add House Baratheon to my most hated list too.

[Aussie50]

I was going to add the Baratheons but then I remembered that Robert was actually one of my favourites in the first book/season and Gendry's not bad either, even if he's technically not considered a Baratheon I guess.

[erolyn]

I agree with OP 100%. Could not have said it better.

[assjfjgjsgjljljglgjfjsduar]

Favorite: House Stark, obviously. Most of my favorite characters are Starks and I like the general history and attitude of the house.

Least Favorite: House Tyrell. Despite having some interesting people in it, this house seems full of faithless opportunists. Thumbs down.

[clairvoyantcat]

Favorite house: House Lannister

I don't exactly root for all of them, but I love the dynamic between the four major characters in the house.

House Baratheon

All of the three brothers are fantastic characters,

Least favorite: House Bolton

Some of the most horrible people in Westeros, and not even in an interesting kind of way.

Greyjoys

Why the hell does the rest of Westeros tolerate these assholes? Euron is the only interesting one of the bunch.

[StannisBamfatheon]

I would also throw in despite their disfunctionality House Baratheon as a favorite. If you couldn't tell from my user name and picture I'm also a huuuuuuge Stannis fan and am really pulling for him in the North against the axis of evil(frey, bolton, lannister tri fecta of horrible doom). He's steadfast, proven military commander(remember fair isle Victarion?) and the only King who gave a damn about the Night's watch in their hour of need. I also like Robert alot for very different reasons. I know he gets some hate for being kinda dumb and being a drunkard. But people almost hold it against him that he loved Lyanna so much, it's like come on guys you've never had feelings for someone that weren't reciprocated? I just think it would be really fun to getta a couple flagons of Ale with Robert and hangout, though I'm sure his drunk chats would always circle back to something involving his warhammer or a tavern wench.

[Only Fire and Blood?]

Favourite = Targaryens. Mainly for their pride and tempers and yet most of them Dany and Rhaegar have this inate ability to inspire tremendous loyalty among their followers. Also they have dragons which sums it all up.

Least favourite = Boltons. Sadistic people and exploit others for their own gain and will stop at nothing to gain power including killing their own king.

[White Rabbit]

Favorite: House Stark (no surprises). They really care about some very unpopular principles like honour or honesty. I think it's rather unusual in Westeros.

Least favorite: Bolton. Bunch of traitors. And their sigil is just awful. Oh, come on, red and pink TOGETHER? :stunned:

[Edmure Floppy-Fish Tully]

The OP said 'major houses', so Freys don't apply, and Bolton claim to be a 'major house' is really fickle - especially if the Stark are also in.

Favourite: House Tully. They are... I dunno, somewhat more 'human' than the rest (along with the Starks)? I don't know how to explain it, but the Tullys move something inside of me, strong emotions of the positive kind. Cat's scenes are very strong in that sense (her reunion with Hoster in AGoT was just beautiful).

Plus they are hot redheads.

Plus they had Hoster and Brynden, two sexy motherlovers. Plus Cat and Edmure :)

Lysa... I pity her, but that's about it.

House Baratheon is a strong contender as well, on the grounds of sheer awesomeness.

The ones I dislike: Greyjoy - they are plunderers, murderers, rapists... and proud of it. 'The Old Way', indeed.

[Yuri Targaryen]

For major houses:

Favourite - Stark. They're a lovely family. I'm reading AGOT again and it makes me like them even more.

Least favourite - Greyjoy. What horrible, horrible people they are. A bunch of backward and coward thieves (that's for the Ironborns as a whole). And Euron and Victarion are on the same league of Ramsay and Gregor. They're really disgusting.

Amongst the minor houses, I don't have a favourite, but for the least favourite, no surprises: Frey and Bolton. Hope they'll get extinct.

[StannisBamfatheon]

Interesting to see how many Greyjoy haters there are, and in my opinion rightfully so. Its kinda puzzling then why GRRM gives them so much love, including about 25% of AFFC. That trend seems like it's only going to continue what with Damphair returning as a POV in winds of winter, and Victarion sailing to meet his "bride" And when I put bride in air quotes I'm talking like Lucille Bluth air quotes from arrested development. I think the fanbase would be severely let down if any of the ironborn were to ride a dragon or take part in the battle for westeros against the others considering how awful they've been to the country at large. The ironborn are that bully in school that will only pick on somebody when they're a foot shorter and 50 pounds lighter.

[Stannis the Stern]

Favourite Houses

House Baratheon - Has/d two of the most bad ass characters as their members, Stannis the Just and Robert the Great.

House Bolton - By far has the most interesting members than any other house in the Seven Kingdoms (IMHO). Roose is your Hannibal Lecter and Ramsay your Alex Delarge. A wonderous combination.

Least Favourite

House Targaryen - Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Daenerys? Her alone makes me have such a passionate hatred for the Targaryen family. Oh, and then there's her batshit crazy father and her douchy brother Rhaegar.

I found House Martell pretty boring as well. Prince Doran and Oberyn are awesome characters is just that the rest of the family members are just huge and complete bores. But since they don't generate as much hate characters like the Targaryens, that's good enough not to put them on the list.

[cortchuzska]

Least favorite: Starks. So well-intentioned, and honourable to a fault - and their good, honourable intentions always turning for the worst

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

Honorable mention: Targaryens

They are just creepy.

Favorite: Martells. They are so different from the other houses; care about each other, care about their people, much more open minded and their plots are not that clear. Very intriguing.

Honorable mention: Greyjoys. They are sort of outcasts, everyone looks down on them.

[RhaenysBee]

Favorites:

Targaryen - Just admit. These guys know something. They ruled for 300 years. They had dragons? So? Show me one person who would not use the advantage he was born with? I despise Viserys, and Daenerys starts to think a little too much of herself she becomes the 'Dragon Queen', but I love Rhaegar.

Martell - They appreciate family and they are cunning and deadly. Like mafia. I like most of the characters, except for Arianne and Obara and Lady Nym. Tyene and Ellaria are okay, Quentyn is an idiot, but I love the Doran-Oberyn-Elia trio.

Lannister - They appreciate family, they know how to use their power. For them it's money. For Targaryens it's dragons. So what? I... don't love... but I respect Tywin a lot and Kevan too. Lancel is just Lancel. Cersei is pathetic, Jaime is pathetic in the beginning but then he really grows into it and from FfC on I love him, Tyrion is great throughout GoT and CoK, but from the point he marries Sansa it's like a downfall. From the moment of killing Tywin, I was done with him. He is also damn annoying in DwD.

Least Favorites:

Greyjoy - They are just idiots. Simply, merely idiots. They like to think much more of themselves than what they actually are. They don't respect family. I practically hate all Greyjoys.

Tyrell - They like to think they are the new Lannisters. But they lack the spirit, the values and the determination and the character to be the new lions. I'm indifferent to most of the characters and I like Olenna a lot.

Baratheon - Idiots. Good for nothing, full of themselves idiots. And they also lack respect for family. Renly and Stannis... please... and Robert... yeah he is a good warrior and funny to read about, but for goodness' sake, what sort of a person is he? Like a sulking 16 year old, his whole life.

[998]

favorites:

martell. i like dorne, seems like an interesting place.

starks. the "good guys" or as close as it gets.

least favorites:

targaryen. seem too arrogant. their words betray their viciousness.

greyjoy. as others said, they are just bullies.