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A Song of Ice and Fire has hundreds of great personalities, but Game of Thrones still invented characters who do not exist in George R. R. Martin’s books. You might assume that most of the original characters created exclusively for the show are just minor figures who barely matter, but that is only true for a portion of these figures. While rare, some GoT originals expand the World of Westeros and leave an impact on the story as a whole, to the point of achieving fan favorite status (to an extent). In the most important cases, these characters might even add perspectives not explored by the books.

Everybody knows and celebrates Tyrion, Ned, Jamie, Arya, and so on, but let’s highlight a few unique creations who helped shape the show’s identity in their own right. They might only appear in a handful of episodes, or debut fairly late in the series, but Game of Thrones would not be the same without them. So, let’s go over the greatest GoT original characters who do not appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.

9. Karsi

Her Brief Appearance Is One Of The Most Striking Moments In The Fifth Season

Karsi game of thrones birgitte hjort sorensen

Karsi prominently featured in Game of Thrones

Karsi game of thrones scene carrying companion

First appearance in the series: Hardome (Episode 8, Season 5)
Actress: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen

Created solely for the HBO series, Karsi embodies the dangers posed by the Long Night. She stands for her tribe when Lord Commander Jon Snow and Tormund offer aid to the Free Folks against the White Walkers, yet in that same fifth season, she falls on screen in one of its most unforgettable scenes in the series.

Karsi not only humanizes the Free Folks but also highlights the peril of the Long Night, as her final appearance shows her turned into a White Walker after her death. Even in that state, she cannot harm children, revealing a kind heart and clear concern for elders and youngsters alike, traits that deepen audience empathy for her.

8. Olly

One Of The Catalysts For The Growth Of A Series Protagonist

First appearance in the series: Breaker of Chains (Episode 3, Season 4)
Actor: Brenock O’Connor

By betraying Jon Snow, Olly stands as one of the best original characters in Game Of Thrones. After raiders from the Free Folks destroy his village, he finds refuge with the Night’s Watch, grows into Jon’s trusted aide, and ultimately personifies the unrest born from the commander’s pact with those same Free Folks, unrest that erupts in a mutiny and, for a time, ends Jon’s life.

In one of Game of Thrones’ most memorable moments, Olly thrusts the fatal blade into Jon just before Melisandre revives the Lord Commander. While the series never fully explores the motives of every guardsman who joins the coup, Olly channels their anger and sense of betrayal; his subsequent execution at Jon’s order both avenges the act and sharpens the commander’s resolve as a sterner leader.

7. Lady Crane

An Actress, She Is One Of The Most Talented Characters Not In The Game Of Thrones Books

Lady Crane as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones

games of thrones lady crane talking to arya

First appearance in the series: The Door (Episode 5, Season 6)
Actress: Essie Davis

During one of Game of Thrones’ sixth-season highlights, Lady Crane emerges as a pivot for Arya Stark’s growth. Presented as an itinerant actress who depicts Cersei Lannister in a Braavosi troupe, she is marked for death by Arya yet eventually wins clemency when the novice assassin bonds with her over the dramatic craft of performance.

Later, Lady Crane shelters Arya after she is wounded, though the actress soon falls victim to the Waif. Their brief relationship rekindles Arya’s thirst for vengeance, and Crane’s nuanced portrayal of Cersei allows audiences to grasp fresh facets of the queen’s complex villainy, effects that cement the actress’s impact on Arya’s narrative even in death.

6. Brother Ray

In Game Of Thrones, This Series-Original Character Serves As A Catalyst For Redemption

Brother Ray featured prominently in a Game of Thrones scene

games of thrones brother ray ian mcshane

First appearance in the series: The Broken Man (Episode 6, Season 7)
Actor: Ian McShane

Absent from the novels, Brother Ray ranks among HBO’s original Game of Thrones characters. A veteran of the War of the Ninepenny Kings, he abandons bloodshed to follow the Faith of the Seven and, by giving Sandor Clegane a chance at honest, peaceful labor, becomes a living emblem of redemption in the harsh, relentless brutality of Westeros.

Regretting his violent past as a soldier, he trusts that a future of kindness is possible and that one’s sins can be forgiven, a moral stance at odds with the cruelty that dominates Westeros. His brutal death propels the Hound back into bloodshed, yet the warrior reveals he absorbed Ray’s lesson by later calling the fallen healer a friend.

5. Myranda

Capable Of Cruel Acts, She Is One Of The Most Notable Original Characters Of Game Of Thrones

First appearance in the series: The Bear and the Maiden Fair (Episode 7, Season 3)
Actress: Charlotte Hope

Being one of Ramsay Bolton’s closest allies, Myranda is a character created for the Game Of Thrones series. Through her abusive and vicious relationship with Ramsay, she is not merely a victim of manipulation but takes an active role in his wicked deeds. Myranda’s unstable behavior grows even clearer when Sansa Stark returns to Winterfell.

Under the shadow of the Boltons, others fear Myranda, who proves as merciless as her partner, as shown by her treatment of Theon Greyjoy after he becomes Reek. Yet her death exposes that Ramsay viewed her as disposable as anyone else. Thus, she was crafted to advance other characters, including Ramsay himself, Sansa, and Theon.

4. Karl Tanner

He Is One Of The Most Sadistic Characters Who is Not In The Game Of Thrones Books

Karl Tanner game of thrones sitting on throne

Karl Tanner with Bran Stark, Hodor and the Reed siblings in Game of Thrones

game of thrones The man on the right is Karl Tanner, portrayed by actor Burn Gorman, a former criminal and a mutineer from the Night's Watch

First appearance in the series: (Episode Walk Of Punishment 3, Season 3)
Actor: Burn Gorman

By betraying the Night’s Watch, Karl Tanner becomes one of the most violent figures in Game of Thrones. He kills two key characters, Craster and Mormont, during a mutiny at Craster’s Keep, and his threat serves as the spark that pushes Jon to take charge and later become Lord Commander. His extreme cruelty makes him one of the show’s most despised figures.

Before that, Karl had been a throat-cutter in Flea Bottom before joining the Night’s Watch. Even as a brother of the order, he strayed from its values, and this drift intensified after he deserted, letting his true nature bloom. Though he headlines several shocking scenes, it is the fallout from his acts that steers the plot down compelling paths.

3. Locke

Through His Violent Deeds, He Ranks Among The Greatest Villains In Game Of Thrones

game of thrones rains of castamere locke threatening talisa maegyr

Locke in the spotlight in Game of Thrones

First appearance in the series: Dark Wings, Dark Words (Episode 2, Season 3)
Actor: Noah Taylor

As one of the Boltons’ strongest allies, he is a series character absent from the Game of Thrones novels. Unlike most men in Westeros, who chase gold and glory, Locke delights in the pain of those he dislikes. His cruelty is clear when he forces Brienne to fight a bear without the armor or weapons she needs.

The character also severs Jaime Lannister’s right hand, robbing him of his sword skill and ending his identity as the realm’s finest duelist. Locke is therefore essential to the show’s narrative because his actions link Jaime and Brienne and significantly weaken the Kingslayer, ultimately leading to his own violent demise at Hodor’s hands while Bran Stark controls the gentle giant.

2. Ros

One Of The Most Important Game Of Thrones Characters Because She Touches Many Storylines

game of thrones valar morghulis, ros covering her bruise

First appearance in the series: The Winter Is Coming (Episode 1, Season 1)
Actress: Esmé Bianco

Playing a key role in the early seasons, Ros is a major Game of Thrones figure absent from the books. She represents the marginalized class in Westeros, starting the series with little influence while working for Petyr Baelish in King’s Landing, yet gaining power through her wit and by leveraging ties with those in authority.

Through her talks with Littlefinger, she delivers exposition to the audience, discussing his schemes to seize more power in Westeros. She also interacts with other characters like Tyrion and Theon. Exploited and manipulated, she suffers one of the most brutal deaths in Game of Thrones when Joffrey Baratheon, one of the show’s prime villains, executes her.

1. Talisa Maegyr

The Most Relevant Game Of Thrones Character Who Is Not In The Novels

Talisa and Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones

Robb Stark and Talisa getting interrupted in Game of Thrones

First appearance in the series: Garden Of Bones (Episode 4, Season 2)
Actress: Oona Chaplin

Introduced as Robb Stark’s love interest, Talisa Maegyr meets one of the show’s most tragic ends. Replacing Jeyne Westerling’s role, she was invented to streamline the plot and evoke deeper empathy from viewers through an intense romance. Though her time on screen is brief, the impact of her death ripples far and wide through the story.

A battlefield healer, she draws Robb’s attention with her skill and willingness to speak her mind, even when criticizing him. Their relationship unfolds, revealing a more intimate and vulnerable side to both characters. Guided by love, their marriage violates their pact with the Frey family and leads to the tragedy that strikes House Stark in one of Game of Thrones’ most memorable scenes.

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