Ramsay and Joffrey Must Wait: This Mastermind Trickster Was The Real Game of Thrones Villain All Along

The fantasy world created by George R. R. Martin is filled with thrilling battles, brutal betrayals, and political maneuvering that often lead to huge wars and the loss of thousands of innocent lives. However terrible the characters' actions and their outcomes are, they also make the story of Game of Thrones incredibly compelling to follow.

Even though the show ended four years ago, fans are still passionately discussing the plot, and one of the big questions they try to answer is who is responsible for most of the terrible events that took place in Westeros after the death of King Robert Baratheon.

Joffrey may be the most obvious suspect, but he was only a pawn in a larger game being played on the fields of the fantasy realm.

Many would think that the piece on the chessboard was controlled by Cersei Lannister, the Queen Regent who took the Iron Throne after the death of her children. However, Cersei always sought to protect and preserve her family's power, and though her actions led to the death of many in Westeros, she did not actually have as much power to influence things, as she obeyed her father Tywin until his death.

Tywin, the head of House Lannister, was a shrewd and calculating leader who always aimed to maintain his family's legacy and power in a rather brutal manner. The lord played a strategic game, using his wealth and influence to forge alliances and eliminate threats.

He was no stranger to the most ruthless methods of political maneuvering. During the War of the Five Kings, for example, the Lannister masterminded the Red Wedding — the murder of the head of House Stark, Robb, his mother, and his pregnant wife. In one fell swoop, Tywin destroyed the 'boy who had never lost a battle.'

And yet, the most insidious villain, according to many fans, is Petyr Baelish, also known as Littlefinger.

At the beginning of Game of Thrones, Petyr positioned himself as a trusted advisor and confidant to the major players in the Seven Kingdoms. He wormed his way into Eddard Stark's confidence when he arrived in the capital, while also negotiating with the Lannisters.

Littlefinger used his intelligence and knowledge of people's weaknesses to manipulate and deceive those around him. He thrived in an environment where disorder allowed him to use the situation to his advantage, and his ultimate goal was chaos, rather than power.

Many fans believe that Petyr was responsible for the War of the Five Kings, as he knew how to stop the conflict but deliberately plunged the country into anarchy.

Source: Reddit