In 2011, HBO releasedGame of Thrones, their television adaptation of theSong of Ice and Firenovels byGeorge R. R. Martin. It became a dominant force in 2010s popular culture and kickstarted a new era of fantasy TV shows thanks to its high-quality writing, especially concerning its characters. Each of them was a morally complex and multifaceted person with understandable wants and needs, which often made it hard to side with one over the other in the never-ending web of political intrigues and warmongering.
While everyone remembers the long story arcs that played out over the show’s eight-season run, attention should be given to the characters who managed to leave an impression in just one season. Sometimes these characters were big movers and shakers in the narrative, while others were more localized in their impact. Regardless,they left strong impressions thanks to the actions they took, the dialogue they spoke, and the amazing actorswho brought them to life.
Game Of Thrones
Played by Mackenzie Crook
When Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) infiltrates the Wildlings to try and learn the plans of their King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder (Ciarán Hinds), the one who trusts him the least is Orell (Mackenzie Crook). A Warg who can slip into the skin of an eagle, he accompanies Jon on Tormund Giantsbane’s (Kristofer Hivju) vanguard force for the attack on Castle Black as a scout, and to keep an eye on Jon. Part of his resentment also comes from unrequited love towards the red-headed spearwife Ygitte (Rose Leslie).
Orell acted as a foil for Jon and did the job admirably. His quotes about alliances of convenience are quite apt for most of thecharacters inGame of Thrones,who only do something if it will benefit them, and further highlight the conflict Jon has in Season 3 between his Night’s Watch vows and the freedom of the Wildlings. He’s also the second Warg introduced after Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright), which allows the audience to explore this branch of magic further.
Played by Yuri Kolokolnikov
Following Orell’s death and Jon’s return to the Night’s Watch, Tormund’s raiders meet up with a group of cannibalistic Thenns led by their Magnar, Styr (Yuri Kolokolnikov). With these reinforcements, the Wildlings begin raiding villages in the Gift to spread terror before they launch their attack on Castle Black. Styr even spares the life of a young boy named Olly (Brenock O’Connor) so that he can tell the Night’s Watch of how they butchered his village.
Styr’s role in the show is to be another Wildling mini-boss for the battle at Castle Black, but damn if he doesn’t fit that role effectively.Much of that comes from Kolokolnikov’s performance: he exudes an air of power and monstrous intentthat makes Styr feel less like a human and more like a force of destruction and death. It’s also a chance to show the differences between the various Wildling factions.
8Qhorin Halfhand
Played by Simon Armstrong
During the Great Ranging, Lord Commander Geor Mormont (James Cosmo) met up with Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) of the Shadowtower to track down Mance Rayder’s war camp and figure out his plans. Jon requests to join him on a scouting mission, which leads to Jon meeting Ygritte, and both his and Qhorin’s capture by the Lord of Bones (Edward DoglianiandRoss O’Henness). Realizing that Jon has a chance to win the Wildling’s trust, Qhorin stages a fight between the two and allows Jon to kill him.
Qhorin’s screentime might be short, but he still manages to become one of thebest members of the Night’s Watch. He is utterly committed to the Watch and acts as a mentor to Jon, educating him on the hard but important truths that the Watch’s work is thankless but necessary for those south of the Wall. Armstrong’s performance helps sell him as a grizzled veteran of many hard years who isn’t afraid to die so long as his death has meaning.
7Greatjon Umber
Played by Clive Mantle
When Robb Stark (Richard Madden) calls the Northern Lords to march south to rescue his father, Eddard (Sean Bean), he has to convince them that he is worthy of respect despite his youth. His greatest challenge comes from the Lord of the Last Hearth, Greatjon Umber (Clive Mantle), who attempts to boast his way into leading Robb’s vanguard. When Robb refuses to back down and calls him an Oathbreaker, his Dire Wolf, Grey Wind, bites off two of the Greatjon’s fingers when he nearly draws his sword, earning the mighty lord’s respect and undying loyalty.
Greatjon is the perfect Northern Lord: he’s big, boastful, proud, but loyal and honest at his core. He becomes a staunch supporter of Robb and is always seen by his side, offering words of encouragement and strategic advice, and is the first to declare Robb the King in the North. Mantle’s performance also helped make the Greatjon memorable, especially his booming and infectious laugh.
6The Spice King
Played by Nicholas Blane
When Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her desperate khalasar arrive at the ancient city of Qarth, they are met by the city’s leaders, known as The Thirteen. One among them speaks to Daenerys in the common tongue and identifies himself as a trader in spices (Nicholas Blane), since his name is too long and complicated for foreigners to pronounce. Despite Daenerys' entitled negotiation skills, she is brought into the city by Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie), and has several more conversations with the Spice King in an attempt to get his help in claiming the Iron Throne.
The Spice King was hands down the best part of the Qarthstoryline ofGame of ThronesSeason 2due to Blane’s memorable performance and his intelligence. He provides Daenerys with a much-needed wake-up call: she can’t just order everyone around because she has royal blood or baby dragons, especially if she has nothing to offer them in exchange. Blane does such a beautiful job giving the Spice King flamboyance and sass, which makes his dressing down of Daenerys more satisfying, especially with how animated his hands are.
5Syrio Forel
Played by Miltos Yerolemou
Realizing that he won’t be able to stop his wild young daughter, Arya (Maisie Williams), from learning how to fight, Eddard Stark (Sebastian Croft,Robert Aramayo, andSean Bean) hires Syrio Forel (Miltos Yerolemou) to be her instructor. As the former First Sword of the Free City of Braavos, Syrio is an unrivalled master of the Waterdance, a Braavosi fighting style that focuses on speed and precise thrusts. Sadly, Syrio’s skills couldn’t best the heavy armour of Ser Merryn Trant (Ian Beattie), whom he duelled to allow Arya time to escape during the Lannister’s takeover.
Syrio is the first introduction to the mysterious and influential Free City of Braavos, andhe brings a level of elegance and professionalism to the chaotic world of King’s Landing. His lessons to Arya aren’t just about how to wield the blade, but also how to see through the lies people mask themselves with, which saves her life many times once she is forced to go on the run. He’s also quite the badass swordsman, taking down four Lannister guards with a wooden training sword without breaking a sweat.
4Brother Ray
Played by Ian McShane
In his youth, Brother Ray (Ian McShane) was a soldier who followed every order given, regardless of how cruel it was. Eventually, he couldn’t take the guilt, so he became a septon and committed himself to peace and rebuilding a broken world. He rescues a near-dead Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann) afterhis battle with Brienne of Tarth(Gwendoline Christie), nurses him back to health, and recruits him to help Ray and his community build a sept.
Ray only appears in a single episode before he is killed off, but he owns every scene thanks to McShane’s performance. He gives Ray a sense of warmth and wisdom befitting of a man who has experienced so much hardship yet somehow finds peace, and you genuinely believe him when he talks about it never being too late for redemption. It’s just a shame that such a talented actor is tossed away so Sandor can go back to his old murderous ways.
3Khal Drogo
Played by Jason Momoa
Among the Dothraki khalasar, none is as large as the one led by the undefeated warrior, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa). He marries Daenerys Targaryen in exchange for providing her brother, Viserys (Harry Lloyd), with an army, but first brings Daenerys back to the holy city of Vaes Dothrak to receive a prophecy. During the journey, Daenerys and Drogo’s relationship evolves from treating her as a vessel for sex to a genuine relationship of mutual love and respect.
It is impressive how the show manages to turn a brutal warlord who destroys villages and assaults women into a contender forGame of Thrones' best husband (though that doesn’t speak well for the world as a whole).His moments with Daenerys are genuinely tender and as romantic as a show like this can be, made even better because of Momoa’s ability to speak the fictional Dothraki language with such earnestness. Of course, he is still a badass warlord, and Momoa ensured that Drogo got one badass fight before he was killed off.
2Robert Baratheon
Played by Mark Addy
When Prince Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding) ran off with Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi), and Mad King Aerys II Targaryen (David Rintoul) murdered Brandon and Rickon Stark(Wayne Foskett), Lyanna’s betrothed, Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), declared rebellion alongside her brother, Eddard, and their foster father, Jon Arryn (John Standing). The rebels won and, due to his Targaryen ancestry, Robert was chosen to be the new king. Unfortunately, grief over losing Lyanna, and a loveless marriage to Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) saw him fall into a deep depression.
Robert Baratheon is a wonderfully written characterwho shows that just because someone is a great fighter, that doesn’t mean they make a great leader. His apathy towards ruling allowed for corruption to take hold, and he wanted so little to do with his wife that he didn’t realize that their children weren’t his, but the products of incest between Cersei and her twin, Ser Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Yet his negative traits are also balanced out by his shrewd military mind, his love for Eddard, and how he takes life in good humor, which demonstrates Martin’s love of the human heart in conflict with itself.
1Oberyn Martell
Played by Pedro Pascal
As the younger brother of Prince Doran Martell (Alexander Siddig), Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) was free to travel the world to sharpen his mind, hone his skills in battle, and make love to any man or woman he wished. Yet his greatest ambition is to avenge the cruel death of his sister, Elia, and her children, Rhaenys and Aegon Targareyn, all of whom were killed by Ser Gregor Clegane (Conan Stevens, Ian Whyte, andHafþór Júlíus Björnsson). When King’s Landing offers Dorne a seat on the Small Council, Oberyn accepts the position on his brother’s behalf, allowing him to get close to Gregor and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), who gave the Mountain that Rides his orders.
Oberyn Martell becameGame of Thrones’breakout characterthanks to his infectious charismaand the deadly instincts masked behind a dashing smile. He is a man ruled by his passions and intends to always live life to its fullest, be that in the embrace of a beautiful lover, writing poetry for his daughters, or killing his enemies. Pascal’s performance is phenomenal: you never know what Oberyn is going to do in any scene, and in an instant, he can switch between amusement and violence.
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