--- title: Math Finds the Most Important Game of Thrones Character description: Number-crunchers performed statistical analysis of the sprawling fantasy canonical: https://time.com/4278875/mathematics-game-of-thrones-character/ author: Entertainment Weekly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-01T05:25:59.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:55:58.527Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Math Finds the Most Important 'Game of Thrones' Character og:description: Number-crunchers performed statistical analysis of the sprawling fantasy og:url: https://time.com/4278875/mathematics-game-of-thrones-character/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt87c757b270dbf246/69888d4ce20a877647a90374/ap_182340316464.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3156 og:image:height: 1775 og:image:alt: Peter Dinklage og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Math Finds the Most Important 'Game of Thrones' Character twitter:description: Number-crunchers performed statistical analysis of the sprawling fantasy twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt87c757b270dbf246/69888d4ce20a877647a90374/ap_182340316464.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Mathematicians Calculate the Most Important _Game of Thrones_ Character > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Game of Thrones: Season 6 Trailer (HBO) [Watch (HLS stream): Game of Thrones: Season 6 Trailer (HBO)](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dXCn4TPA.m3u8) (1:41)  _Published 2016-03-27_ by [Oliver Gettell / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Oliver Gettell / Entertainment Weekly Apr 1, 2016 5:25 AM UTC  This photo provided by HBO shows Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on trial in a scene from season 4 of 'Game of Thrones' This photo provided by HBO shows Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on trial in a scene from season 4 of 'Game of Thrones' Helen Sloan—AP by [Oliver Gettell / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Oliver Gettell / Entertainment Weekly Apr 1, 2016 5:25 AM UTC Ever since a certain character [lost his head](http://www.ew.com/article/2011/06/12/game-of-thrones-death) in King’s Landing, it’s been difficult to pin down just who the real protagonist of _Game of Thrones_ is. Now some number-crunchers at Macalester College have performed statistical analysis of George R.R. Martin’s sprawling fantasy to do just that. For their research paper “Network of Thrones,” math professor Andrew J. Beveridge and undergraduate Jie Shan mapped out the complex relationships between characters in _A Storm of Swords_, which is the third book in Martin’s series and the inspiration for the third and fourth seasons of the HBO adaptation. Using principles of network science, they examined such factors as how many people each character is connected to, how often they interact with others, and how important the people they’re connected to are. “In our network, three characters stand out consistently: Tyrion, Jon, and Sansa,” the paper reads. And the winner? “Acting as the Hand of the King, Tyrion is thrust into the center of the political machinations of the capitol city,” Beveridge and Shan write. “Our analysis suggests that he is the true protagonist of the book.” Of course, the _Game of Thrones_ saga is [far from over](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/21/game-thrones-season-6-best), so time will tell how their findings hold up. For more insights, read the full “Network of Thrones” research paper [in _Math Horizons_](http://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Mathhorizons/NetworkofThrones%20%281%29.pdf). [_This article originally appeared on Ew.com_](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/31/game-of-thrones-math-most-important-character) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] He's gone. We're the only ones who matter and everything they've taken from us we're going to take back and more. [ MUSIC ] The great victory I saw in the flames, all of it was a lie. [ MUSIC ] Everyone of. Poor and powerless yet we can overthrow an empire [ MUSIC ] You're in the great game now and the great game is terrifying. [ MUSIC ] Order your men to step aside or there will be violence. I choose violence. [ MUSIC ] I've never been much of a fighter. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Apologies for what you're about to see. 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