HBO’s Game Of Thrones had some absolutely amazing characters throughout its history, and while many of the core characters are established in the opening season, many others join the journey throughout. Many amazing characters are established later on in the show and they instantly make an incredible impact.
Some characters last for a long time, while others have a much shorter existence (such is the life on GOT!) but they all make a terrific impact eventually. Because there is so much death within the world of Westeros, it’s not a surprise that the cast consistently changes.
New characters come and go, and that is the beauty of this show, which is written so well that you’re made to care for every character. Here are the 10 best characters from Game Of Thrones, that never appeared in the first season.
Yara Greyjoy
We kickstart the list with Yara Greyjoy, who was certainly a fun character on the show. She was one of the toughest females in the history of Game Of Thrones (which is some achievement,) and she had a very interesting storyline throughout the series.
While her brother, Theon, was well developed right from the start, Yara joined the show in season two and was developed from there. She was stronger than Theon, both mentally and physically, and had no shortage of confidence, which made her a real threat throughout.
Melisandre
Better known as ‘The Red Woman,’ Melisandre was another very important character in Game Of Thrones. She brings a mystical element to the show that offers a unique storyline as she tries to use her powers to help fight evil, eventually succeeding in that quest.
While she is very cryptic at times and is tough to work out, that mystery is something that adds a different dynamic to the show. She might jump from person to person in terms of who she backs and helps, but she certainly makes an impact each time.
Ramsay Bolton
It’s hard to call Ramsay Bolton a ‘great’ character, simply because of everything that he did throughout the show, which made him arguably the most hated person of the series. From how he treated Sansa Stark to what he did to Theon Greyjoy, Ramsay was just pure evil.
Every great series needs a character like Ramsay, who is just vile in every way, and he was that for Game Of Thrones. He intensified the plot and took it to a whole new level, and his death was a brutally horrific one that gave him a fitting ending.
Margaery Tyrell
Unlike most characters in Game Of Thrones, Margaery Tyrell did seem to be a genuinely nice person. Perhaps that niceness was her downfall, as she ends up in some pretty torrid situations, but she is also incredibly cunning and smart behind her gorgeous appearance.
While she might just seem like a young lady playing Queen, Margaery is incredibly intelligent and she puts in many traps for others to fall into. She tries to help the less fortunate, unlike others who gain power, which makes her a genuinely nice character.
Missandei
She may have entered the show a slave and had a very gory death, but Missandei had a very memorable stint on the show as an advisor to Daenerys Targaryen. She’s one of the kindest and most loving characters on the entire show and is simply a nice person.
Her relationship with Greyworm is one of the best in the series, and there’s no doubt that she’s incredibly loyal to her Queen. Missandei also bursts out with some very funny moments occasionally as well, which makes her an even better character, as those moments are so unexpected.
Oberyn Martell
What an impact Oberyn Martell had on Game Of Thrones in such a little time. He joined the show in season four and immediately it was clear that Oberyn was out for blood. He wanted to get revenge on the Lannister family, and he was prepared to take them down from the inside.
His legendary fight with The Mountain is one of the shows greatest scenes, with his death not only being unexpected, but absolutely brutal. While his time on the show was cut quite short, he did manage a very memorable run, making him one of the best characters.
The Night King
There are plenty of villains throughout Game Of Thrones, and one of those (arguably the best) just so happens to be The Night King. The leader of the White Walkers, he is someone who simply has an aura about him that makes him instantly cool.
Despite the fact he was looking to simply take over and destroy the entire world, he just oozed cool. Perhaps it’s his unique look or the incredible power that he possesses, but either way, the Night King is one of the most memorable characters from the show.
Ygritte
Ygritte joined the show in the second season, and she instantly made an incredible impact. Becoming popular with fans for her classic catchphrase, “You know nothing, Jon Snow,” Ygritte took no prisoners. She was an incredible fighter and certainly taught Jon a lot of things about life.
He became a man with Ygritte and their relationship, although forbidden due to who they represented, was one of the best in Game Of Thrones history. She was an incredible character who fans were bitterly sad to see go, but her emotional death just meant she was even more beloved in the end.
Tormund Giantsbane
Tormund Giantsbane was a killing machine. Anyone that stood in his path was always going to struggle to be alive after meeting him, as Tormund was an absolute animal. However, the writers quickly developed Tormund from being more than just a great warrior.
Tormund’s obsession and love of Brienne was something that brought a lot of joy to audiences in darker episodes, which is something he did a lot on the show. Even in the craziest situations, Tormund would always be able to find a way to laugh and crack up a joke with someone, which made him seem even crazier than he already was.
Brienne Of Tarth
She fought a bear with a wooden sword. What more do you need to know about Brienne Of Tarth for her to warrant this spot on the list? She’s a key character in the show and is bitterly loyal to a fault. She provides humor, emotion, and some amazing fight scenes making her a character nobody will ever forget.
While Tormund never managed to woo Brienne Of Tarth, she ended up in a romantic storyline with Jamie Lannister. Sadly for her, that all ended in heartbreak, but her final season plot is one of the best in the season as she officially becomes a knight, which is a very emotional moment.
