She wanted to be THE Queen. Not just a queen. That line from Season 2 basically tells you everything you need to know about Margaery Tyrell, but somehow, we still argue about whether she was a saint or a sociopath.
Honestly? She was probably neither.
The "Queen Tyrell" everyone remembers from Game of Thrones—the one with the smirk and the daring necklines—is a masterclass in soft power. While characters like Cersei Lannister were busy using fear and wildfire to get their way, Margaery was playing a much longer, much smarter game. She understood something that almost no one else in King’s Landing did: power is a performance.
The PR Queen of King’s Landing
You've seen the scenes. Margaery walking into an orphanage in Flea Bottom. Margaery handing out bread to the hungry. To Cersei, this was disgusting "commoner work." To Margaery, it was a bulletproof vest.
She wasn't just being nice. She was building a brand.
By the time she married Joffrey, she was the most popular person in the city. Think about that for a second. In a city that recently tried to tear the royal family apart in a riot, the people were suddenly cheering for a Tyrell. That isn't luck; it’s calculated PR. Even when she admitted to the High Sparrow in Season 6 that she "made sure to be seen" doing her good works, it didn't necessarily mean she didn't care. It just meant she was pragmatic. She knew that a kind act that nobody sees doesn't buy you political leverage.
Why Cersei Was Terrified of Her
Most people think Cersei hated Margaery because she was younger and prettier. Sure, the "Valonqar" prophecy (which predicted a younger, more beautiful queen would cast Cersei down) played a role in the paranoia. But the real threat was that Margaery was better at the game.
📖 Related: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
Cersei ruled through intimidation. Margaery ruled through aspiration.
She was a mirror. When she was with Renly Baratheon, she was the supportive, progressive wife who didn't mind his "proclivities." With Joffrey, she was the "cool girl" who pretended to be turned on by his crossbow. With Tommen, she was the gentle, motherly figure he never had. She gave people exactly what they wanted so she could get exactly what she needed.
It’s easy to call this manipulation. It is. But in the world of Westeros, manipulation is a survival skill.
The Book vs. Show Divide
Here is where things get kinda tricky for the "Queen Tyrell" fans. In George R.R. Martin’s books, Margaery is much more of a mystery. Since she isn't a POV (Point of View) character, we only see her through the eyes of people like Sansa and Cersei.
- Sansa sees her as a savior. A girl who brings her lemon cakes and promises her a life at Highgarden.
- Cersei sees her as a devious slut. Cersei’s chapters are filled with wild accusations about Margaery’s "moon tea" (contraceptive) use and secret affairs.
- The reality? Probably somewhere in the middle.
In the show, Natalie Dormer played Margaery as a fully-formed political operative. In the books, she’s younger—only about 16. There’s a real debate among book readers about whether Margaery is actually the mastermind or if she’s just a very well-trained puppet for her grandmother, Olenna Tyrell. The Queen of Thorns definitely pulled the strings, but the show gave Margaery the agency to be a partner in the crime rather than just a pawn.
The High Sparrow Misstep
If Margaery was so smart, why did she end up in a dungeon?
👉 See also: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
Basically, she underestimated the High Sparrow. She was used to dealing with people who wanted things—power, money, sex. You can negotiate with people like that. You can't negotiate with a fanatic. When Cersei armed the Faith Militant, she broke the rules of the game, and Margaery got caught in the crossfire because of her brother Loras.
But even then, she almost won.
Her "conversion" to the Faith was a stroke of genius. She managed to get herself released, secure her brother’s future (or so she thought), and align herself with the crown’s new moral authority. She outplayed Cersei yet again.
The only reason she died is that she didn't realize Cersei was willing to flip the entire board and blow up the room.
That Final Look
The most heartbreaking part of Margaery’s death in the Great Sept of Baelor isn't the explosion itself. It’s the fact that she was the only one who saw it coming.
She looked at the empty seat where Cersei should have been. She looked at the High Sparrow and told him they needed to leave. She was the smartest person in the room until the very last second. But in the end, her reliance on the "rules" of political maneuvering was her undoing. She expected a trial, a scandal, or a legal battle. She didn't expect a terrorist attack.
✨ Don't miss: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
What You Can Learn From the Rose of Highgarden
Margaery Tyrell's arc is basically a textbook on "Soft Power 101." If you're looking for the actionable takeaway from her story, it’s this:
- Popularity is Protection: In any hierarchy, the person the "commoners" love is harder to get rid of than the person they fear.
- Adaptability is Everything: Being able to change your personality to fit your audience isn't "fake"; in a high-stakes environment, it's essential.
- Watch the Outsiders: Margaery was great at playing the court, but she failed to account for the wildcard (Cersei’s madness) and the outsider (the High Sparrow).
She remains one of the few characters who was actually good at being a queen. She would have been a great one, too—if she hadn't been playing a game with people who were willing to burn the kingdom down just to stand on top of the ashes.
If you want to understand the Tyrell legacy better, look at how Olenna reacts after Margaery's death. The Rose didn't just die; it took the entire stability of the Seven Kingdoms with it.
Next time you rewatch, pay attention to her gowns. They change from the light, flowy Highgarden styles to the armored, structured King's Landing looks. Even her clothes were part of the strategy.
Don't just watch the dragons. Watch the people who don't need them to rule. That was Margaery.