25 ways Star Wars is better than Game of Thrones

17. The underdogs and underappreciated heroes

Both Game of Thrones and Star Wars have underdogs and underappreciated heroes. That’s essentially the crux of both worlds, really — underdogs and unlikely heroes fighting for a chance.

The most notable underdog in Game of Thrones is Jon Snow. In the first season, all we knew was that he was the bastard son of Winterfell’s Lord Ned Stark and his dream was to join the Night’s Watch like his uncle. By the end of the series, we learned his true parentage, which technically made him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

There’s also Gendry, King Robert Baratheon’s bastard but technically his only heir — another contender to the Iron Throne. Though he doesn’t take up that challenge nor does he win Arya Stark’s heart, Gendry does become lord of Storm’s End, his father’s ancestral home. Then there’s Brienna of Tarth, an unlikely yet also the most underappreciated heroine of Game of Thrones. Few other characters in the series are as loyal and trustworthy as she.

Technically, Bran Stark could be considered an underdog since he was never an actual contender in the game of thrones yet becomes the winner of the Iron Throne. But we don’t want to get into King Bran.

Star Wars, however, is all about the plights of the underdogs and unlikely heroes. Luke Skywalker is the quintessential underdog — he starts off as a simple farm boy who gets thrust into the galactic spotlight after discovering his true parentage, learning the ways of his Force sensitivity and teaming up with his long-lost sister to defeat the evil Galactic Empire. He also becomes a powerful Jedi.

His journey is echoed in the backstory of his father Anakin Skywalker before he became Darth Vader, and Rey, who also evolved into a powerful Jedi after discovering her parentage and being trained in the Force.

When it comes to underappreciated heroes, Star Wars has plenty — from the Ewoks and starfighter squadrons to Mace Windu and Count Dooku. Yes, Dooku is a tiny bit of a hero in his own way. Perhaps the most underappreciated heroes are Padme’s handmaidens, whose courage and loyalty are unmatched.

Thankfully, they’re finally getting the appreciation they deserve with E.K. Johnston’s Padme trilogy of books, which explore events before and between the prequel films. The reverence for the handmaidens goes a step further when we remember they were all just teen girls, including Queen Padme Amidala, when they pledged their lives and loyalty.