Theon Greyjoy’s redemption arc comes to an end on Game of Thrones

Theon Greyjoy has been through a lot on Game of Thrones and a redemption journey that led him back to where it all began, Winterfell.

If a character has survived up to this point on Game of Thrones, they have undoubtedly been through a lot. Theon Greyjoy was put through some of the worst situations on the series. Just like Jaime Lannister, Theon’s storyline is all about his redemption. It’s just that for Theon, the path to redemption has been a little less straightforward.

For both Jaime and Theon, a major part of their redemption arcs run through Winterfell and the battle with the army of the undead. However, while it was assumed Jaime would survive the battle, dying fighting for the Starks also felt like the inevitable end of Theon’s journey.

Winterfell was the beginning for Theon, in more ways than one. It was where he was raised as Ned’s ward, but also the site of his act of betrayal against Robb in season 2. Taking Winterfell and turning against the Starks in favor of his biological family was the start of Theon’s fall. It reached its lowest point when he burns two farm boys and passes them off as Bran and Rickon Stark.

That eventually leads to three seasons of Theon being tortured by Ramsay Bolton. He ends up broken down both emotionally and physically to the point where he no longer sees himself as Theon, but as Reek, Ramsay’s loyal servant. Even when his sister, Yara, mounts a rescue operation, Reek won’t leave.

It takes until season 5 of Game of Thrones for Reek to remember, or at least start to remember, that he is Theon Greyjoy. And it is seeing Sansa Stark, back in Winterfell but now being tortured by Ramsay, that kicks off Theon’s redemption arc.

The end of season 5 saw Theon help Sansa escape Winterfell. He decided in season 6 that his path was to return to the Iron Islands and help Yara rule. But, the arrival of crazy uncle Euron sends them running to Dany. And when Euron catches up to Yara and Theon in season 7, Theon’s PTSD prevents him from saving his sister, instead choosing to run away.

A talk from Jon Snow reboots Theon’s redemption story as he is told by Jon that Theon can be both Stark and Greyjoy, something we saw play out in the first two episodes of Game of Thrones season 8 when Theon rescued Yara from Euron in the premiere and then return to Winterfell once more to help the Starks in episode 2. A drastic change from the last time Theon entered Winterfell in season 2 to claim the castle for the Greyjoys, he is there to make up for his past mistakes, pledging his support to Sansa.

In the battle, Theon volunteers to protect Bran in the Godswood, the place where back in season 1, Theon promised Robb he would always protect Bran. In a fitting end, Theon’s Game of Thrones journey ends when he dies protecting Bran, running directly at the Night King.

Taking Jon’s words to heart, Theon has become both Stark and Greyjoy.

Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4 airs Sunday, May 5 at 9 p.m. ET.