In the early seasons of Game of Thrones (2011-2019), we got to see Theon Greyjoy’s (Alfie Allen) rudeness, the struggle he faced with his identification as a Stark rather than a Greyjoy, the wish to show his father that he too was a real Greyjoy and the final point of his mistake, betraying the Starks.
Then comes his punishment saga. We see that he was no more Theon Greyjoy, he was ‘Reek‘. He was tortured both physically and mentally and was way beyond rescue under the control of Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon). There was no hope for him at all. Even when Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) tries to rescue him he was not able to overcome his mental state of being ‘Reek’. The way out seemed so bleak.
Then arrived Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), as a captive bride of Ramsay. Sansa was the light at the end of the tunnel called ‘Reek’. When Sansa was assaulted by Ramsay on the night of their wedding, there comes a tiny glimpse of ‘Theon Greyjoy’ who makes up his mind that he must save Sansa once and for all. Jumping from the walls of Winterfell, begins Theon’s redemption arc.
He still got a long way to go. He accepts that Yara is the one who is fit to rule the Iron Islands. But when Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk) captures Yara, his fear once again overcomes him and there was a minor glitch in the path of his redemption. When Jon Snow (Kit Harington) made him remember that he can be both a Greyjoy and a Stark and when he fights to take control of the remaining Iron Islanders for Yara, his redemption resumes again.
Once he saved Yara, he did not choose to go to the Iron Islands. He wanted to go to Winterfell. The place where all began. The place we met Theon Greyjoy for the first time. He chose loyalty in Winterfell over the safety in Iron Islands. He was on his way to his end, we all knew. When he entered Winterfell and Sansa hugged him, that’s the moment we all realised that Theon was always a Stark. The final words he ever heard were, ‘Theon, you were a good man. Thank you!‘ from Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright).
That was all he ever wanted. To be a Stark, protect his family called the Starks and die for Winterfell. He did the same. And when Sansa placed the Wolf-shaped pin, the sigil of House Stark, over Theon’s body, that was the end of one of best ever characters written for TV.
For Theon!
What is dead may never die.
the ironborn
Read more from zigarthanda on Instagram too!