10 Best Game of Thrones Characters Who Were Only in 1 Season (& What Happened to Them)

Game of Thrones is known for its gigantic cast of characters. Every archetype was included, which made for a very dense show throughout its eight seasons. Everybody knows of Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark — but some may have forgotten a few of the important characters who weren’t around nearly as long as the now-iconic residents of Westeros.

While many characters had sprawling arcs across numerous seasons, others certainly did not. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as many characters with small roles in only one season proved to be nearly as important as those who made it until the very end to see Drogon melt the Iron Throne down to nothing more than a pile of smoldering metal.

10. Viserys Targaryen

Failed To Live Up To His Namesake

Not all great characters are good people, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to Viserys Targaryen — son of Aerys II Targaryen, the Mad King. Unlike his older brother Rhaegar — or even his namesake, Viserys I Targaryen — Viserys was a cruel, misogynistic coward whose primary goal was to sell off his sister, Daenerys, in exchange for a Dothraki army to use to take back the Iron Throne for his family.

Viserys overstepped his boundaries and wore out his welcome quickly, however, when Khal Drogo — leader of the Dothraki — genuinely fell in love with Daenerys. After scolding Drogo for taking too long in claiming Westeros for him, Drogo gave him a crown of gold — molten gold, which killed the son of Aerys almost instantly. Viserys never made it out of Season 1, meanwhile, his sister went on to be one of the more important figures in Game of Thrones.

9. Illyrio Mopatis

An Important Targaryen Supporter

Similar to Viserys, Illyrio was not necessarily a great person. After all, he’s the man who brokered the deal between Viserys and Khal Drogo to sell Daenerys. With that said, he was a staunch supporter of the Targaryens and may be one of the most important characters in Game of Thrones‘ first season, despite only appearing in two episodes.

Illyrio threw the wedding for Daenerys and Drogo and presented the future Queen of Westeros with the three eggs that would eventually hatch her dragons – Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. He also introduced Daenerys to Jorah Mormont, who would prove to be her most loyal supporter before eventually dying in the Battle of Winterfell in an attempt to protect her. The last time viewers see Illyrio, he’s sharing a secret conversation with Varys that Arya Stark overhears. While Varys and Tyrion eventually hunker down in his home in Pentos during Season 5, little is known regarding Illyrio’s ultimate fate.

8. Karsi

Provided An Emotional Punch In Season 5

One of the few Game of Thrones characters who made a deep impact despite only appearing in one episode, Karsi was a wildling warrior who was instrumental in striking a truce between the wildlings and the Night’s Watch. With Tormund’s word, she backs Jon Snow’s plans to unite the two factions in the war against the relentless Night King and his army of undead.

While that is powerful in its own right, Karsi also packs an extremely emotional punch for the episode she appears in, Season 5’s “Hardhome.” She fights alongside Jon Snow after they’re ambushed by a wave of wights before coming across several undead children. Upon seeing them, Karsi seems to lose the will to fight, and she is quickly killed by the children. This sudden change of heart teases much more about the character that viewers unfortunately never got to explore. Her empathy, unfortunately, led to her death, which, in turn, led to her role among the thousands in the Night King’s undead army.

7. Mag the Mighty

A Horrifying Peek at the Giant Culture

Mag the Mighty was the first true look viewers got at just how powerful the giants of the far North were in Game of Thrones. Eventually, the powerful Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun — or Wun Wun, for short — would prove an extremely necessary ally for Jon Snow as the last of the giants, but before that alliance was forged, Mag the Mighty was the giant with the most pedigree.

During the Battle for the Wall in Game of Thrones‘s critically-acclaimed fourth season, Mag charged the gates of the Wall following the death of another giant, but was met by the terrified heroes Grenn, Donnel Hill, Cooper, and three other members of the Night’s Watch. Following the battle, Mag’s body is found alongside those he fought, who successfully fended the fearsome giant off and held the gate.

6. Kinvara

She Believed In Daenerys — Though That May Have Been Misguided

Knvara appeared during the Season 6 episode “The Door” to speak with Tyrion and Varys and proclaim Daenerys as the “one who was promised” — referencing the legend of Azor Ahai and the prince who was promised. She’s the first to acknowledge that the legend translates to either “prince” or “princess,” which seemed to prop up Daenerys as the legendary hero reborn. However, it was Arya Stark who ended up saving the world from the Night King, so it’s more than possible Kinvara misinterpreted the signs the Red God provided for her — similar to another red priestess, Melisandre.

One thing is certain, however, and that is she did indeed have a link to the Red God. She makes this clear to the skeptical Varys, asking him if he remembers the words he heard emitted from a fire when he was tortured and made a eunuch. In a very uncharacteristic moment, Varys is left speechless — which was very uncommon for the Spider. For this monumental feat alone, Kinvara gets a nod.

5. Brother Ray

Everything That’s Good About Westeros — Which Is What Got Him Killed

Brother Ray was a breath of fresh air in the Game of Thrones universe. Portrayed by the always great Ian McShane, Ray offered an extremely positive outlook on life in Westeros despite death lingering around every corner. Most notably, Ray helped rehabilitate Sandor “The Hound” Clegane back from near-death, returning the fan favorite character to the audience.

Unfortunately, a positive outlook only takes one so far in Game of Thrones. After a couple of rogue Brotherhood Without Banners knights caught wind of The Hound’s newfound community, Ray was hanged by the neck while the rest of his followers were slaughtered. Thankfully, The Hound acted quickly to right this wrong by killing the murderers with little trouble. Ray was another one-and-done in Game of Thrones, but left an impact by bringing The Hound back to our TV screens.

4. Howland Reed

A Legendary Character Who Deserved More Screen Time

Howland Reed was one of Ned Stark’s closest allies during Robert’s Rebellion, and stories had spread far and wide about his prowess with a sword. In Season 6, audiences finally got their first glimpse at Howland as he accompanied Ned to the Tower of Joy in Dorne during one of Bran Stark’s visions. Originally thought to have just accompanied Ned to the Tower, it would turn out he played a far larger role in what happened that day.

It had been said that Ned Stark took on the dual-wielding knight Arthur Dayne — believed by many to be the greatest knight to ever live — all on his own. Bran grew up believing his father had killed Dayne on his own, but when viewing the past using the powers of the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran saw that it was actually Reed who killed Dayne by stabbing him in the back to save Ned. Game of Thrones never followed up with this character in the present day, and he’s believed to still be living during the events of the show. Viewers did, however, get to meet his children, Meera and Jojen, as they aided Bran in reaching his destiny in the far North.

3. Khal Drogo

One Of the Most Ruthless Warriors In Game Of Thrones

Originally believed warrior with no remorse or empathy, Drogo proved to be much more than that during his relationship with Daenerys Targaryen. While still very problematic at certain times, his relationship with Daenerys did result in her growing into the powerful woman viewers would follow for the next eight seasons. Drogo was loyal to Daenerys above all else and helped her understand how to command with an iron fist.

Unfortunately, he was killed by a brutal wound that eventually became infected. While the wound itself wasn’t fatal, it was treated by a slave woman named Mirri Maz Duur to purposely result in his death. For this transgression, Daenerys burned Mirri Maz Duur to death in Drogo’s funeral pyre — the same pyre that birthed her three dragons. She then went on to name the biggest, fiercest dragon Drogon — a tribute to her late Dothraki husband.

2. Robert Baratheon

Once A Fierce Warrior, Ended up A Shell Of His Former Self

Robert Baratheon was the first king viewers met in Game of Thrones, after having led Robert’s Rebellion against the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen roughly 17 years before the series began. Once a brick wall of a man and an unflinching warrior, Robert is portly and out of practice by the time Game of Thrones begins. He’d much rather drink and hunt than deal with the Seven Kingdoms or give his wife, Cersei Lannister, any attention.

Robert’s general existence in Game of Thrones may have ultimately been the result of a coping mechanism following the death of his true love, Lyanna Stark, during the events of his rebellion. Still, it did him no favors when he let his guard down while on a hunt, getting gored to death by a boar. Many believe Cersei had her cousin provide the king with strong wine to impair his judgment while on the hunt, which aided in his death.

1. Oberyn Martell

Oberyn Was the Standout In Game Of Thrones’ Best Season

For many, Oberyn Martell was the absolute best aspect of what is largely considered to be the best season of Game of Thrones. His story partially drove the season’s narrative, as he arrived in King’s Landing for one reason: to seek revenge on the Lannisters, who were at fault for the death of his sister, Elia, and her two children. When Tyrion needed a champion to take on Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane, Oberyn was more than willing to fight for him — after all, it was The Mountain who physically killed his sister, under the orders of Tywin Lannister.

Unfortunately, Oberyn got far too cocky in his battle with The Mountain. When he had the win in the palm of his hand, he attempted to goad Clegane into outing Tywin as the man who gave the orders that resulted in the unlawful murder of his sister and her children. The Mountain did ultimately admit that he was the one who committed these atrocities — but unfortunately, by that point, his thumbs were already a few inches into Oberyn’s eyes. Within seconds, the Red Viper of Dorne’s head was crushed like a grape, and the best part of Season 4 was gone for good.