critically acclaimed six-season run. The series finale of both shows aired a week apart, and fans could not stop drawing comparisons between the fantasy drama and political satire comedy.
In a way, Game Of Thrones and Veep are very similar. They both deal with power struggles, one in a fantasy world and the other in real life. Even though there's less bloodshed in Veep, someone's career is always on the chopping block. Let's see how Selina and her team stack up against the Houses of Westeros.
Selina Meyer: House Targaryen
Both Game Of Thrones and Veep had a strong female character at their core. Selina had a promising political career and a real shot at becoming the first woman president. Daenerys started out as a timid young woman who grew to be a formidable queen, freeing slaves and scorching her enemies with the dragons she commanded.
Despite their potential, both women eventually let their thirst for power come before anything else. Selena sacrificed her staff and her daughter to win the presidency, while Daenerys succumbed to Targaryen madness that led to her burning King's Landing.
Gary Walsh: House Mormont
Selina and Daenerys had something else in common: a loyal companion whose romantic feelings for them were never reciprocated. Gary was so devoted to Selina that he attended her funeral even after she framed him for her corruption. In Dany's case, Jorah Mormont's strong but unrequited feelings for his queen led him to defy orders that would've ended his exile.
Gary and Jorah both had fathers who were ashamed of them, and they were both willing to go to great lengths to maintain a close relationship with women they ired.
Amy Brookheimer: House Lannister
Even though there was a Baratheon on the Iron Throne, the Lannisters held a lot of influence in King's Landing, with Jaime in the Kingsguard and Cersei as Robert's queen.
Likewise, it's Amy who drives Selina's campaign and keeps her istration running. Like the Lannisters, she's not technically in charge, but her backstabby instinct and skills as a political operative are in high demand in DC for a reason: she would plot the Red Wedding if it could flip Ohio.
Dan Egan: House Baelish
Amy isn't the only member of Selina's team with a competitive streak. Dan runs on ambition and gives no damns about switching sides. The Game Of Thrones character he most resembles is Littlefinger, who almost schemes his way to the Iron Throne.
Littlefinger's real name is Petyr Baelish, a member of a minor house that served under House Arryn. In addition to Machiavellian instincts, Littlefinger creeps on Sansa, much like Dan tries to creep on 20-something interns.
Jonah Ryan: House Frey
Much like the Freys, nobody respects Jonah, not even when he was running for president. Sure, the real players will find a way to use him, but the universal contempt the rest of Washington has for them after his numerous scandals, fumbles, and simply disgusting behavior means he is ultimately expendable.
Lecherous, uncouth, and untrustworthy, his closest brush with real power comes through a notorious campaign that only brings further disgrace on a name that few believed could sink any lower.
Mike McClintock: House Tyrell
After years of thankless labor, Mike was unceremoniously fired from Selina's team for causing a scandal. Luckily he had other things going on in his life besides work, like spending time with his wife and twin daughters. He had a taste for the finer things in life, like the boat he tried so hard to sell, artisanal cheeses, and sunny vacations, and that's why we think he'd be a great fit for House Tyrell, whose capital at Highgarden was among the most beautiful and cultured in the Seven Kingdoms.
While perhaps only the Tyrell patriarch Lord Mace is quite as daft as dear Mike, he is definitely the White House staffer most likely to be known for his gardening rather than his skill at arms.
Sue Wilson: Maesters Of The Citadel
The Maesters of the Citadel were the intellectuals of Westeros, whose responsibilities included tending to the ill, educating students, and sending letters by raven. They played an essential role in the Seven Kingdoms disionately advising the potentates of the realm amid the bloodshed and the power struggles.
The Maesters' modern-day equivalent is the competent civil servant, which is just like Sue. Sue wears many hats in Selina's office and always does her job instead of letting personal vendettas get in the way. She handles all the correspondence, keeps herself out of all the drama, and may be the only person who actually knows everything that's going on. She's so good at what she does, she's the only character who keeps her position after Selina loses the presidency.
Ben Cafferty: The Night's Watch
Ben was a valued member of Selena's team and a top strategist in Washington. No matter how hard he tried to escape the Beltway, he always got roped into thankless service, and we can see why: he had the most experience and basically held everything together.
He also suffers and is miserable in doing so, much like the men of the Night's Watch, who are unfairly burdened with the very survival of humanity. Then again, as Ben said, "It's not the job that's depressing. It's life." We can easily picture him atop the Wall, moaning and griping as he faces down another crisis that no one else could be bothered with.
Kent Davidson: The Faceless Men
Kent is more than just the top pollster, he is a man who has given up any sense of identity and ion in service of his omnipresent and otherwise inscrutable God, the numbers.
While he may not go so far as to literally skinning the faces of the dead to conceal his former self, few who know him would entirely rule that out.
Richard T. Splett: House Stark
Richard spent most of his time working for Selena as the incompetent assistant until he revealed his expertise in electoral math. It wasn't the only skill he had been hiding. It turns out he also has great political instincts.
The series finale revealed that Richard was elected President in 2040 and served two marked by accomplishments that won him the Nobel Peace Prize. Selena's presidency was underwhelming in comparison. As the long-hidden underdog who emerged victorious, Richard is for sure a Stark.