While HBO’s Game of Thrones adapted much of A Song of Ice and Fire, several important characters never made it to the screen. With The Winds of Winter still unfinished, these missing figures could significantly shape the book’s storyline in ways the show never explored.
Some of these characters could change the fates of major players, while others could offer deeper, more complex versions of key events. Here are five A Song of Ice and Fire characters who never appeared on-screen but could have a massive impact in The Winds of Winter.
1. Lady Stoneheart – Catelyn Stark’s Revenge Lives On
Who is she?
- Catelyn Stark, resurrected after the Red Wedding, now leads the Brotherhood Without Banners.
- Far more ruthless than her living self, she is consumed by vengeance against the Freys and Lannisters.
Why she matters in The Winds of Winter
- In A Dance with Dragons, Lady Stoneheart commands Brienne to bring Jaime Lannister to justice.
- This storyline could radically change Jaime’s arc, possibly leading to his death or redemption.
- Instead of Arya killing Walder Frey, as in the show, Lady Stoneheart might personally exact revenge.
How the show changed this: Game of Thrones completely cut Lady Stoneheart, likely to keep the focus on Arya and Sansa’s revenge arcs.
2. Young Griff – Another Targaryen Contender for the Throne
Who is he?
- Claims to be Aegon VI Targaryen, the supposed son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell.
- Raised in secret by Jon Connington, he now leads an army to claim the Iron Throne.
Why he matters in The Winds of Winter
- His claim challenges Daenerys’ legitimacy as the last Targaryen, adding a new layer to the fight for Westeros.
- If Aegon VI gains enough power, he could force Daenerys to take more extreme actions, potentially foreshadowing her downfall in a way that feels more natural than the show’s version.
How the show changed this: Game of Thrones ignored Young Griff entirely, making Daenerys the only Targaryen heir.
3. Arianne Martell – The Dorne Story’s Missing Piece
Who is she?
- Princess of Dorne, daughter of Prince Doran Martell.
- A politically ambitious and strategic leader, far more active than her father.
Why she matters in The Winds of Winter
- In preview chapters, Arianne is traveling to meet Young Griff, potentially aligning Dorne with his claim.
- She could become a key player in the Targaryen struggle, giving the Martells a more significant role than they had in the show.
- Her cunning and diplomatic skills could make her a wild card in Westeros’ power struggles.
How the show changed this: The Dorne plotline was drastically simplified, and Arianne was cut entirely, reducing Dorne’s political relevance.
4. Victarion Greyjoy – A Dangerous Player in Daenerys’ Future
Who is he?
- Brother of Euron Greyjoy, a fierce warrior and experienced naval commander.
- A brutal but loyal follower of the Drowned God, with ambitions to claim Daenerys as his queen.
Why he matters in The Winds of Winter
- Victarion is traveling to Daenerys with the artifact Dragonbinder, a horn said to control dragons.
- Unlike the show’s chaotic version of Euron, Victarion is a serious naval power and could become a major ally or enemy to Daenerys.
- His planned betrayal of Euron could drastically alter who controls the Ironborn fleet.
How the show changed this: Game of Thrones merged Victarion and Euron, creating a version of Euron that lacked the mysticism and strategy of his book counterpart.
5. Jeyne Poole – A Forgotten Stark Impersonator
Who is she?
- Sansa Stark’s childhood best friend, briefly seen in the first book.
- In the books, she is forced to impersonate Arya Stark and marry Ramsay Bolton in a cruel political scheme.
Why she matters in The Winds of Winter
- Jeyne undergoes much of the torment Sansa suffered in the show, but her survival raises different questions.
- Theon Greyjoy helps her escape, meaning she holds key knowledge about the Boltons’ weaknesses.
- She could become a political pawn in the North, with factions using her “Arya Stark” identity to justify claims to Winterfell.
How the show changed this: Game of Thrones gave Jeyne’s storyline to Sansa, drastically altering both characters’ arcs.
Why These Characters Matter
Each of these missing characters adds depth, political intrigue, and unexplored consequences to A Song of Ice and Fire. The Winds of Winter may take Westeros in a very different direction than the show did, with:
- Lady Stoneheart driving the Stark family’s revenge.
- Young Griff challenging Daenerys for Targaryen rule.
- Arianne Martell bringing Dorne back into the fight.
- Victarion Greyjoy arriving with the power to control dragons.
- Jeyne Poole influencing Northern alliances.
If these long-awaited storylines unfold as expected, The Winds of Winter could offer a much richer and more complex conclusion than Game of Thrones ever did.
