The grimdark world of Westeros is built on wars and grudges won by bloody battles between rivals. Some of the best rivalries have exploded beyond the tv shows to become so popular that they have made a mark in television history.

Here are five popular rivalries from HBO’s Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, with emphasis on brutality and the level of infamy surrounding it before and after the world received them.

1. Sandor vs. Gregor Clegane

A still from Game of Thrones | Credit: HBO

One of the most long-awaited feuds was between Sandor “the Hound” Clegane and his older brother Gregor “the Mountain” Clegane. Gregor disfigured Clegane from his childhood by burning his face, resulting in the younger brother being terrified of both flames and his older brother.

Season 8’s The Bells finally delivered the duel between the two as King’s Landing was collapsing around them. We got a zombified Mountain facing off against a battered Hound before Sandor tackles Gregor into dragonfire.

2. Oberyn Martell vs. Gregor Clegane

Fans of Game of Thrones have this rivalry etched in memory for its infamous line: “You r*ped her, you murdered her,” that was screamed out by Oberyn. Gregor had brutally r*ped and murdered Oberyn’s sister Elia Martell during Robert’s Rebellion, pushing Oberyn to be Tyrion Lannister’s champion in a trial by combat to fight the Mountain.

The duel itself in the episode The Mountain and the Viper is filled with twists despite its short run, ending in one of the most scarring scenes in a battle. In the attempt to get the Mountain to confess, the large Gregor trips Oberyn and displays his skill with his bare hands.

3. Jon Snow vs. Ramsay Bolton

A still from Game of Thrones | Credit: HBO

Battle of the Bastards will go down as one of, if not the best, episodes in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton are polar opposite visions of Northern leadership, with Ramsay being a sadistic usurper. The episode sees Jon leading a small force to retake Winterfell from Bolton.

The battle is brutal and visceral, from its on-screen visual violence and sound design, creating a claustrophobic chaos. Jon ultimately defeats Ramsay in single combat inside Winterfell, repeatedly pummelling him and letting his own starving hounds devour him.

4. Rhaenyra Targaryen vs. Alicent Hightower

In  House of the Dragon, the central conflict is between Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. Starting off as close friends, they are driven apart after Alicent is pushed by her father to marry King Viserys. This breeds resentment in Rhaenyra as her position is undermined.

The show emphasizes two women trapped by patriarchal expectations, dubbing the battle between the two as Team Black vs. Team Green. Their rivalry is infamous for the grand way they try to undermine one another.

5. Ser Duncan the Tall vs. Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen

A still from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | Credit: HBO

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms brought a rivalry between a lowly hedge knight and a prince, out of chivalry, and needing to protect the weak. Ser Duncan the Tall attacks the sadistic Prince Aerion Targaryen when he breaks the fingers of a puppeteer. This sets into motion a path Ser Duncan is forced to take: a Trial of Seven.

The fight is a mass trial where each side has seven champions in one battle arena, attacking one another to the death. What resulted was chaos and dirt, with Dunk barely surviving the battle after physically dragging a beaten-up Aerion to force him to surrender.

Across all three series, the rivalries that became the most popular were those that resonated with people the most. Themes of vengeance, deep personal stakes, and built-up anticipation paid off the best.

All aforementioned shows are streaming on HBO Max in the U.S.
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