2022 is an exciting time to be a House of the Dragon is set to come out very soon. It's the perfect time to get a refresher on why its predecessor, Game of Thrones, was so successful: the amazing cast of characters.
The series has always had a knack for making every character in their massive cast compelling or at the very least, memorable. Some of the show's characters only needed a single episode to leave their mark on both the main cast and audiences alike.
Frey Musician (The Coldplay Cameo)
Will Champion's cameo might be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it-moment, but those who caught it while airing were very pleased. He is among the band that foreshadows the end for Robb Stark by playing the somber Rains of Castamere. He also fires bolts into the young king's chest alongside the rest of the Freys once the actual betrayal starts.
Despite having no dialogue, the fact that a celebrity was such a big fan and used their connections to basically shoot one of the most beloved characters of the show must be a dream come true for the Coldplay drummer. It’s a memorable appearance for both Coldplay and Game of Thrones fans. He may not have had a name, but he was right there for the moment that shocked fans everywhere.
Roslin Frey
Yet another Red Wedding entry, Roslin Frey is the bride-to-be of everybody's third favorite Tully, Edmure. Though the fans know Edmure to be a decent man, Roslin herself does not. She is incredibly frightened and jumpy at all the hardened soldiers around her. Edmund smartly notices that and comforts her with his words.
Roslin Frey showcases that not every Frey is completely irredeemable. The actress Alexandra Dowling gives fans a vulnerable performance showing how powerless a lot of young women are in medieval society. Surprisingly, Edmure and Roslin are some of the few innocent survivors of the Red Wedding, which does show that the writers are willing to give fans a break from all the tragedy.
Will
The first glimpse of Westeros fans gets came from this pale young lad and his unfortunate end. Bronson Webb's portrayal of Will as a broken man who knows he is doomed is a great start to the series. Before all those noble houses started fighting over that iron chair, the white walkers are the first conflict to introduce themselves, and they aren't playing around.
The death of Will's comrades is a grim introduction to the darker forces lurking in this world. It’s a brilliant way to foreshadow the dark forces in Westeros without being too on the nose. Sadly, Will’s warnings being dismissed as ramblings by none other than Ned Stark, a fan favorite, gives the audience an idea of how harsh this world is.
Maester Cressen
Played by Oliver Ford Davies, Maester Cressen is built up as a long-time servant to the Baratheons. Despite Maester Cressen's dire warnings and advice about the Red Priestess, however, Stannis stubbornly refuses to hear his words. In a desperate final act, Maester Cressen hatches a plot to take Melisandre with him in death and fails miserably.
Maester Cressen showcases to the audience that Ned's death isn't just for show. Even if a character seems important, they aren’t any safer from the chopping block, regardless of screentime. His brief appearance is a great way to establish the grasp Melisandre has over Stannis and the stranger powers at play within the series. It shows the audience just how powerful magic is in an otherwise realistic setting.
Camping Lannister Soldiers (The Ed Sheeran Cameo)
To be perfectly frank, Ed Sheeran's appearance was a bit distracting. A famous singer showing up in a gritty fantasy show is going to take anybody out of the moment for a few seconds. But looking past the cameo, audiences got one of the most heartwarming scenes for the Lannister army.
All the soldiers in this scene represent one important thing. The fact that not every Lannister soldier Arya fights are ruthless pillagers and murderers. Many of them were peasant boys drafted into war by their lords and sent to die, the same as any other soldier. This softens the viewer’s hearts against the previously faceless army, as it did for the much colder Arya.
Maggy the Frog
The character that launched a thousand theories for Cersei's end. Jodhi May's role as Maggy the Frog gives fans an insight into Cersei's backstory. Although she appears to be a mundane hermit at first glance, her prophecies are far more sinister. It is Maggy the Frog who predicts that Cersei will outlive all of her children.
Despite her facade of apathy, Cersei was scared by the witch's prophecy. That's why her love for her children is so strong. She fears the prophecy coming true even in adulthood, and that has influenced all her actions in the show since. Maggy the Frog was a masterful portrayal of how even mundane magic can be terrifying. She represents how unnatural magic is to those unfamiliar with it, and the dangers of prophecy.
Mag the Mighty
In contrast to Maggy the Frog, this Mag is menacing in a completely different way. Neil Fingleton gives us a brief yet incredibly memorable appearance as Mag the Mighty during the siege of The Wall. Mag is the first sight of a living myth seen by the Night's Watch, and his final charge is both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Mance Rayder’s somber reminder that Mag was the last of his kind shows the audience how bleak the world is even for legendary figures such as Mag. On the other hand, Jon’s rebuttal about Grenn, Mag's killer, being a simple farmer shows us how even the most low-key of heroes like Grenn deserve better than the hand they were dealt. It's a small hope that humanity can stand against the White Walkers.
Karsi
Karsi (played by Birgitte Hjort Sørense) exemplifies the most positive qualities of a true Northener. She is a born fighter who speaks through her actions just as much as her words, a necessity in the harsh North. Much like Jon Snow, she is a leader who does not let petty grudges get in the way of survival.
Karsi shows that pragmatism and kindness do not have to be mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, that makes her death at the hands of wight children all the more horrifying. Her appearance is a reminder that there are heroes outside of the main cast. By having Karsi fall to the undead, it shows the audiences that even heroes fall to the White Walkers.
Farmer (and Sally)
Finbar Lynch plays a kind farmer who invites Sandor and Arya into his home. Along with his daughter Sally (Trixiebell Harrowell), the two characters act as a moral event horizon for Sandor and Arya's odd friendship. The farmer and his daughter represent the decent folk in Westeros who do not care for the war.
Despite all the intrigue and epic battles, it is the peasants who suffer unseen in the background. It asks the audience the question of how much value kindness has in Westeros. The Hound's decision to rob this poor family ultimately cost them their lives. And yet, the Hound burying their bodies later on cement his path to redemption. Sometimes, the minor characters of Westeros reveal the biggest changes in the narrative.
Brother Ray
Speaking of characters who change The Hound's outlook and die for it, Ian McShane plays Brother Ray, the character who finally shows The Hound why caring matters despite how awful everything is. Brother Ray is a war veteran who turned to the cloth. He is a wise leader who leads decent people. For that, he gets murdered by thieves and traitors.
While Karsi's death represents the futility against mythical evil, Brother Ray's death represents the mundane evil of mankind. Brother Ray's death reminds both Sandor and the audiences of why it's so easy to be cynical about humanity in such a cruel world. However, Sandor choosing to honor Brother Ray's memory is what finally sets him on the path towards true redemption.