Do we like them?

Do we like Varys?

A character from Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Our score: 7 out of 10. A scheming, slippery mouthpiece for the realm's common folk. He's more trustworthy than most of Westeros's court, though you'd never know what he's really up to.

Varys is a former slave from Lys who rises to Master of Whisperers, running a network of informants known as 'little birds' across the Seven Kingdoms. He sits on the small council, advising whoever holds the Iron Throne with a smile and a perfumed, gentle manner.

He plays a long game of loyalty to 'the realm' rather than to any one king. That makes him hard to read: he flatters the powerful, trades secrets and manipulates events, yet his stated aim is peace and good government. Sharp wit and a very good sense of when to talk and when to stay silent make him one of the show's most entertaining schemers.

We score him a 7. He is no saint, since he lies for a living and has few qualms about the means he uses. But his goals are mostly decent and he consistently picks the ruler he believes will serve the people best. Even when we don't like his methods, he is easier to back than most players in the game of thrones.