Yes, time to cast your vote for the most scheming, conniving, disgusting, monstrous, treacherous evil-doer on HBO's Game of Thrones. A few years ago, this choice would have been an easier one. It would have come down to a battle between the abusive Viserys, the heartless Joffrey, and Joffrey's vain, ruthless uncle/father Jaime Lannister.
In Season 2, Joffrey became even crueler, Theon betrayed Robb and murdered innocent children, Craster raped his daughter-wives, Pyat Pree stole Dany's dragons while Xaro Xhoan Daxos held a bloody coup to take over Qarth, and Melisandre birthed a shadow-assassin. Winterfell was put to the torch and an army of the snowy undead marched on The Night's Watch.
Season 3 upped the ante, and flooded the arena with even more villainy as Tywin Lannister, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton all played a role in murdering Robb -- along with his pregnant wife and his mother -- at The Twins during his uncle Edmure's wedding. Furthermore, Jaime found himself mutilated at the hands of a hunter named Locke, the "godly" Craster continued to be a horrid prick, Ramsay Snow tortured Theon in every way possible (admitting it was basically just for the hell of it), and Littlefinger showed us more of his merciless side by delivering Ros into Joffrey's hands.
So who should it be? Some might say that Joffrey is still the reigning champ. Although tamed a bit by Margaery (and Tywin) this past season, he's still insurmountably wicked.
And is it even possible to separate any of the three Red Wedding conspirators? Tywin was the architect, Roose was the traitor, and Walder was the twisted, laughing face. However, Walder, already having been deplorable, was the one who violated the sacred "guest right" by gleefully slaughtering the Starks in his hall.
Still, Roose was the one to slide the final knife into Robb's chest, uttering those haunting words...
Some villains have already left us; having been either scalded to death by molten gold, turned to ashes by dragon fire, or burned alive by... wait. Now that I think of it, Daenerys seems to be the best when it comes to dispatching her enemies. She's already gone through three or four of them. It does make you wonder how she'll fare down the line should she ever cross paths with the Lannisters.
So who's the worst of the worst? Who gets the top prize for being the lowest of the low? If there's one thing Game of Thrones isn't short on, it's atrocity and scoundrelism.
Vote now. Powered by dragons! Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler, IGN at mattfowler, and Facebook at Facebook.com/Showrenity.