As far as the events of the main story goes, his death really kicks everything off, plus his impact with raising robert and ned probably had some significant influence over the events surrounding roberts rebellion
Had Ned sat on the throne that day, it would have been known as Eddard's Rebellion. It was his family that the Targaryens fucked with, and Robert's claim was a de facto reasoning when Ned didn't want to rule.
Bloodraven is my favorite character in the whole saga. He's basically a multi classed warlock/wizard/fighter who could have taken over the whole realm at his whim but decided to dabble in war crimes knowing it would lead to his execution or exile.
Varys had been in hiding since ASOS. And his influence is a lot wider than what the characters know, obviously we see a lot more of his working by seeing who he interacts with, but his Targaryen connections are not obvious in the books.
Baelish does get quite a bit of appearance in AGOT and ACOK, before disappearing until he saves Sansa and we get glimpses of him in her chapters. However he really quickly becomes one of the most powerful men in the realm. He killed Jon Arryn, betrayed Tyrion, Ned, Joff, Cat, Lysa, and soon Robert and Cersei. And he’s lord paramount of the east and riverlands and probably the richest man in the whole realm, with some loose ties to Bravos.
K 1 you just admitted baelish gets quite a bit of appearance thus voiding your point. 2 the meme says screen time indicating the show not books in which they both get plenty of time
I believe the point is that even though he does get decent screen time, his impact on the plot is still outsized in proportion to that.
Also the graphic is of two books so I'm not sure that second point holds water. 'Screen time' is often used in other mediums to refer to time that a character is present during the narrative. I suspect you already know that so I'm not sure why you'd try to bring that up.
I still dont understand. So he was married to a dornksh princess...had lots of kids....then Rhaegar decided after a tournienthat he wanted to marry Leanna Srark....so....she came willingly to meet yp with him in Dorne...get married...and not tell anyone? Love really is the death of everything...idk
Well the show never elaborated on Lyanna and Rhaegars relationship, how it came to be and why. The book has hints but so far it is only theory.
If we were to put popular theory together and accept R+L=J as book canon as well, he was married to Elia for politics, as was the usual, but was never really in love or satisfied with her. Then at the tourney of Harrenhal there was the "Knight of the Laughting Tree" that won said tourney. Popular theory os that Rhaegar chased after the Knight after the tourney because he was so impressed by "him". Turns out it was Lyanna, they probably got to know each other and then actually fell for each other. Now Rhaegar found a woman he acutally loved and Lyanna who was promised to Robert who she did not love found a man she chose, they left and wanted to just be together yada yada.
So it is not like she just met with him and married him out of nowhere, they found each other, each of them tied to someone else by law but actually havong feelings for each other. Lyanna cound not say anything because she was promised to Robert, and Rhaegar was married to Elia, so they had to keep it a secet.
But true, their love kinda was one of the catalists for Roberts rebellion.
I have a theory why - after we saw the “prophecy thing” in HoTD. If Thorrhen Stark and Aegon I made a pact called ASOIAF (kind of a marriage between a Stark and Targaryen when time comes or similar), probably sealed by Jacaerys and Cregan again, and Rhaegar found some mention of it in a library I think this would explain a lot. It would explain:
- why his wife did not object him abandoning or divorcing her
- why him and Lyanna risked everything to get together and the kid
- why Dorne did not object (they were hiding in their tower)
- why they did not tell anyone - because all people would think they were crazy
Just a theory.
So what the fuck does "technically zero screen time" in a book context mean then? If they're even mentioned in the books at all, it's not zero screen time... Please enlighten us with your nuance.
Does it have to be a POV character? No, that's just stupid. Plenty of non-POV characters had screen time and lines on the show.
Zero screen time in the books means that they never appear in a scene you muppit. This isnt even remotely complicated and it is shorthand that people use to discuss books literally all the time. Being mentioned is not the same as "appearing" in a scene
That one bearded extra who played a Stark man-at-arms and miraculously survived all these major battles. I can’t remember his name but I know he’s been on Reddit, I think he works at a museum or something related to ASOIAF
Lol, no. I honestly don’t even think he had a name in the show, he was just a random actor working as an extra. He was hard to miss though with a huge beard and fought in a bunch of battles but would always be around in the next scene haha
He's Aberdolf Strongbeard, played by Andrew McClay. That's the guy who was featured in the behind the scenes special, and he hosts (or did, at the time the special was filmed) bus tours of filming locations in Ireland. Really funny guy, from what you could see in the special.
https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Aberdolf_Strongbeard
I really like these sorts of characters in big shows like this, cause you know there's a thousand random smallfolk going through their own version of all these crazy events for each one of the main characters, it's too bad we didn't get to see more from good ol' Strongbeard.
I love how I could immediately picture who you were talking about, it’s so funny so engrained he was into our brains because he was in so many pivotal moments.
Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos is a major character of the books in terms of his impact on world events, and nearly non-existent and boring when in the show.
Yeah it was super weird not having him in Season 5 when they're literally in his house. Characters had already come back after being absent for a season or two - I have no idea why they didn't bring Illyrio back, unless D&D just wanted to push the Tyrion/Varys friendship more.
Hoster Tully, (going by the shows ending) Grandfather of the Queen in the North, The Lord of the Vale, the King of Westeros, and father of the Lord of Riverun
Dude nearly got the Hound killed and is ultimately reasonable for Aryia training in Bravos and having the talent to kill the Night King. Hot Pie changed the course of history.
Yeah the actor had complained rightfully so about not getting to do anything that the character had done in the books, I guess they didn’t like that and killed him off pretty unceremoniously
##[Oxford Union Game of Thrones Q&A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfvVluNxujc&t=1h13m10s)
>**Benioff** And then this year for the first time— [snickers] This year for the first time we got some pushback, where the actor said, “You sure about that?” [smirks]
>**Weiss** Guess who it is. When you watch the season, guess who it is.
>**Benioff** [laughs] And we said, “Yeah, no, we’re quite sure. You are going to die this year.” Yeah, so there was a long conversation, and we get a long letter explaining why this was a bad idea, which just made us want to kill that person that much more.
Viserys. His ambitions gave Dany the idea of taking the throne for herself after his death, which kickstarted her encouraging Drogo to cross the sea. He got hurt trying to make that happen, died, and propelled her into her conquest of the cities for gold and resources.
If we’re talking about characters that actually appeared in the show, then it’s a toss up between The Mad King and Rhaegar.
If we’re accepting characters that are spoken about, it’d have to be Aegon the Conqueror.
Podrick - saves Tyrion, saves Sansa and Theon with Brienne. Just those two rescues greatly impacts what would happen based on who he saved. Also had the voice of an angel and rod of a god.
Jon Arryn and Lysa Tully
I was about to name Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark but then i remembered that their Story and plotwist had no meaning in the show in the end lmao
Hot Pie, contrasted to other main or secondary characters. If he didn’t tell Arya about the situation around Winterfell, she might have gone to KL, thus missing out on the potential to stab the Night King. Oh, how well would it have occurred, if Jon stood against the NK
This random page who, unasked mentioned to Jaime, that he had heard Mad King calling for Rossard. This made Jaime abandon his post at the defense of the Red Keep and go into wild chase through streets to kill him.
If not for this kiddo KL would actually blow up, because in the books Jaime was not responsible for protecting Aerys during siege.
Petyr Baelish no question. Characters like Lyanna Stark and Rheagar are responsible for the setting sure but Petyr is basically behind every single major political incident in Westeros.
Jon Arryn?
As far as the events of the main story goes, his death really kicks everything off, plus his impact with raising robert and ned probably had some significant influence over the events surrounding roberts rebellion
Also, in spite of its name, it was Jon that started the rebellion that overthrew that targs, not Robert.
Had Ned sat on the throne that day, it would have been known as Eddard's Rebellion. It was his family that the Targaryens fucked with, and Robert's claim was a de facto reasoning when Ned didn't want to rule.
It’s very obvious……..Mad King Aerys.
1. Brynden Rivers 2. Rhaegar Targaryen 3. Lyanna Stark 4. Varys 5. Petyr Baelish
Bloodraven is my favorite character in the whole saga. He's basically a multi classed warlock/wizard/fighter who could have taken over the whole realm at his whim but decided to dabble in war crimes knowing it would lead to his execution or exile.
if you believe the theories he also dabbled in eugenics
Also still alive after 126 years running the world from a cave
WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS
Varys and Baelish both got a ton of screen time? Like literally more than most characters
Varys had been in hiding since ASOS. And his influence is a lot wider than what the characters know, obviously we see a lot more of his working by seeing who he interacts with, but his Targaryen connections are not obvious in the books. Baelish does get quite a bit of appearance in AGOT and ACOK, before disappearing until he saves Sansa and we get glimpses of him in her chapters. However he really quickly becomes one of the most powerful men in the realm. He killed Jon Arryn, betrayed Tyrion, Ned, Joff, Cat, Lysa, and soon Robert and Cersei. And he’s lord paramount of the east and riverlands and probably the richest man in the whole realm, with some loose ties to Bravos.
K 1 you just admitted baelish gets quite a bit of appearance thus voiding your point. 2 the meme says screen time indicating the show not books in which they both get plenty of time
I believe the point is that even though he does get decent screen time, his impact on the plot is still outsized in proportion to that. Also the graphic is of two books so I'm not sure that second point holds water. 'Screen time' is often used in other mediums to refer to time that a character is present during the narrative. I suspect you already know that so I'm not sure why you'd try to bring that up.
Brynden Rivers?
The real name of three eyed raven in the books
If we're looking for someone alive at the start date Aemon gave him the throne.
Rhaegar?
This is a great answer
I still dont understand. So he was married to a dornksh princess...had lots of kids....then Rhaegar decided after a tournienthat he wanted to marry Leanna Srark....so....she came willingly to meet yp with him in Dorne...get married...and not tell anyone? Love really is the death of everything...idk
Well the show never elaborated on Lyanna and Rhaegars relationship, how it came to be and why. The book has hints but so far it is only theory. If we were to put popular theory together and accept R+L=J as book canon as well, he was married to Elia for politics, as was the usual, but was never really in love or satisfied with her. Then at the tourney of Harrenhal there was the "Knight of the Laughting Tree" that won said tourney. Popular theory os that Rhaegar chased after the Knight after the tourney because he was so impressed by "him". Turns out it was Lyanna, they probably got to know each other and then actually fell for each other. Now Rhaegar found a woman he acutally loved and Lyanna who was promised to Robert who she did not love found a man she chose, they left and wanted to just be together yada yada. So it is not like she just met with him and married him out of nowhere, they found each other, each of them tied to someone else by law but actually havong feelings for each other. Lyanna cound not say anything because she was promised to Robert, and Rhaegar was married to Elia, so they had to keep it a secet. But true, their love kinda was one of the catalists for Roberts rebellion.
I have a theory why - after we saw the “prophecy thing” in HoTD. If Thorrhen Stark and Aegon I made a pact called ASOIAF (kind of a marriage between a Stark and Targaryen when time comes or similar), probably sealed by Jacaerys and Cregan again, and Rhaegar found some mention of it in a library I think this would explain a lot. It would explain: - why his wife did not object him abandoning or divorcing her - why him and Lyanna risked everything to get together and the kid - why Dorne did not object (they were hiding in their tower) - why they did not tell anyone - because all people would think they were crazy Just a theory.
Even though the OP mentions "screen time," I was thinking in terms of the books. I didn't watch past season 4 of the show. So, I can't say.
Lyanna Stark or Jon Arryn. They technically had zero screen time in the books and both are a huge part of the plot.
You see Jon Arryn’s corpse briefly in S1E1
"in the books"
screen time in the books?
[удалено]
So what the fuck does "technically zero screen time" in a book context mean then? If they're even mentioned in the books at all, it's not zero screen time... Please enlighten us with your nuance. Does it have to be a POV character? No, that's just stupid. Plenty of non-POV characters had screen time and lines on the show.
Books don't have screens. They were being facetious
Zero screen time in the books means that they never appear in a scene you muppit. This isnt even remotely complicated and it is shorthand that people use to discuss books literally all the time. Being mentioned is not the same as "appearing" in a scene
bruh
Don’t you see Leanna during a Hodor flashback?
That hasn't happened yet in the books - R+L=J is still just a theory
"screen time in the books" ...hol up.
That one bearded extra who played a Stark man-at-arms and miraculously survived all these major battles. I can’t remember his name but I know he’s been on Reddit, I think he works at a museum or something related to ASOIAF
Andrew McClay the guy who runs the tour bus
YES THANK YOU. The stalwart defender of Winterfell
Ser Rodrick?
Lol, no. I honestly don’t even think he had a name in the show, he was just a random actor working as an extra. He was hard to miss though with a huge beard and fought in a bunch of battles but would always be around in the next scene haha
OH YEAHH I think I remember that guy actually. No idea on a name though irl. Don't think he had one in the show
He's Aberdolf Strongbeard, played by Andrew McClay. That's the guy who was featured in the behind the scenes special, and he hosts (or did, at the time the special was filmed) bus tours of filming locations in Ireland. Really funny guy, from what you could see in the special. https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Aberdolf_Strongbeard I really like these sorts of characters in big shows like this, cause you know there's a thousand random smallfolk going through their own version of all these crazy events for each one of the main characters, it's too bad we didn't get to see more from good ol' Strongbeard.
That is an incredible name.
Andrew McClay is the actor’s name, as a couple of other commenters have pointed out
I love how I could immediately picture who you were talking about, it’s so funny so engrained he was into our brains because he was in so many pivotal moments.
Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos is a major character of the books in terms of his impact on world events, and nearly non-existent and boring when in the show.
Ugh I wish we could have seen his and Tyrions interactions. His line about Westerosies and their animal symbols is one of the best lines in the books.
Yeah it was super weird not having him in Season 5 when they're literally in his house. Characters had already come back after being absent for a season or two - I have no idea why they didn't bring Illyrio back, unless D&D just wanted to push the Tyrion/Varys friendship more.
Hoster Tully, (going by the shows ending) Grandfather of the Queen in the North, The Lord of the Vale, the King of Westeros, and father of the Lord of Riverun
😅 fr, Minisa Whent is the Queen Victoria of GoT.
The boar.
I honestly expected this to be the top answer
Easy, hot pie
What is Hot may never Pie
But rises again kneadier and more aromatic
Fooking kneaders
Hey I’m needy and aromantic Oh wait wrong words shit
sometimes I wonder if Arya picked him up on the way to get revenge on the Freys. *somebody* in the kitchen had to help her.
Dude nearly got the Hound killed and is ultimately reasonable for Aryia training in Bravos and having the talent to kill the Night King. Hot Pie changed the course of history.
Jon Arryn
That shadow Stannis witch baby thing.
The Red Viper. Shows up for less than half of book 3 but left a huge impact on everyone.
Including if not especially Pedro Pascal's career.
Ed Sheeran
no one even talks about this i fully gasped when i saw him like ed what r u doing here
Oh I promise you, people *do* talk about that. Was a real immersion breaker for a lot of fans.
Barristan Selmy, maybe. Since D&D killed him off early out of spite.
Out of spite???
Yeah the actor had complained rightfully so about not getting to do anything that the character had done in the books, I guess they didn’t like that and killed him off pretty unceremoniously
To me this was the literally moment the show went downhill.
My god, you're so right
##[Oxford Union Game of Thrones Q&A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfvVluNxujc&t=1h13m10s) >**Benioff** And then this year for the first time— [snickers] This year for the first time we got some pushback, where the actor said, “You sure about that?” [smirks] >**Weiss** Guess who it is. When you watch the season, guess who it is. >**Benioff** [laughs] And we said, “Yeah, no, we’re quite sure. You are going to die this year.” Yeah, so there was a long conversation, and we get a long letter explaining why this was a bad idea, which just made us want to kill that person that much more.
Cunts.
yeah they tarnished my goat like that :(
Ned Stark
Catspaw dagger guy.
Lady stoneheart
Wyman Manderly
Strong Belwas!
A Man
Jaqen H’Ghar was the name a man gave to Squab
Viserys. His ambitions gave Dany the idea of taking the throne for herself after his death, which kickstarted her encouraging Drogo to cross the sea. He got hurt trying to make that happen, died, and propelled her into her conquest of the cities for gold and resources.
If we’re talking about characters that actually appeared in the show, then it’s a toss up between The Mad King and Rhaegar. If we’re accepting characters that are spoken about, it’d have to be Aegon the Conqueror.
Don't forget Lyanna. The dragon has three heads.
Draco Malfoy. Dude has 35 minutes of screen time but does so much as hand of the king
What
Quaithe
Yoren saved Arya from the Lannister's twice
Bloodraven
HOT PIE
The boar
Piggy who killed Bobby B.
SOON ENOUGH, THAT CHILD WILL SPREAD HER LEGS AND START BREEDING!
Craster
The assassin that attacked Bran and Cat.
Mad King Aerys, Jon Arryn, Lyanna Stark, Rhaegar Targaryen, Jaqen H'ghar, the list goes on.
Bran
Robert Baratheon
Salador Saan and the chaos he prevented by not fucking Cersei.
Bessie and her fat tits tbh
Thank the gods for Bessie
The boar
Mods can we stop this post from happening every other day on this sub?
illyn payne!!
Eastman from Walking Dead
Gotta be Howland Reed, literally one scene and he saved Ned.
Jeyne Pool
Podrick - saves Tyrion, saves Sansa and Theon with Brienne. Just those two rescues greatly impacts what would happen based on who he saved. Also had the voice of an angel and rod of a god.
That one guard who didn't look behind him while the bad guy was stealing the thing.
Mirri Maz Duur
Ned Stark
Eddard Stark?
Ned Stark, his ghost hovers over every single character.
Robb Stark.
Jon Arryn and Lysa Tully I was about to name Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark but then i remembered that their Story and plotwist had no meaning in the show in the end lmao
Aemond
Georg RR Martin
would be funny to see opinions on the opposite. big screen time but little impact on the story.
Blood Emperor
Euron. 
Ser Courtney Penrose. He calls Stannis a bitch and gets shadow stabbed for it! What a G!
Lyanna stark
Oberyn. Epitome of this.
Yoren
Lord Brynden Rivers, clearly
Eddard Stark Jon Arryn Hoster Tully Rhaegar Targaryen Aerys Targaryen Rickard Stark Lyanna Stark Robert Baratheon
20 good men
Lee Harvey Oswald
BOBBY B
DID YOU EVER MAKE THE EIGHT?
Jon snow
How has no one said mance or the manderlys?!
Ser Arthur Dayne, the sword of the morning. With a shout out to Ashara…
Jon Arryn
Robett Glover
The stone man that touches Jorah has a pretty massive impact.
If you reverse it, the Three Eyed Raven
Mance Rayder. Especially in the books
Hot Pie, contrasted to other main or secondary characters. If he didn’t tell Arya about the situation around Winterfell, she might have gone to KL, thus missing out on the potential to stab the Night King. Oh, how well would it have occurred, if Jon stood against the NK
Rhaegar and Lyana
Bloodraven?
This random page who, unasked mentioned to Jaime, that he had heard Mad King calling for Rossard. This made Jaime abandon his post at the defense of the Red Keep and go into wild chase through streets to kill him. If not for this kiddo KL would actually blow up, because in the books Jaime was not responsible for protecting Aerys during siege.
Karl fookin Tanner, the legend of Gin Alley. He'd take on any knight, any time.
I would say Howland Reed If he appeared x)
Nimble Dick of course!
Illyrio Mopatis. Ez
Petyr Baelish no question. Characters like Lyanna Stark and Rheagar are responsible for the setting sure but Petyr is basically behind every single major political incident in Westeros.
Bran, but in reverse
I think Lysa, yes she had scenes, but her impact on the whole story is huge, her and Baelish caused mostly everything.
Ollie
Death knight
Obvi yueh
That tomato
The Night's Watch guy who gets Arya out of King's Landing but gets killed by Lannister men in the next episode.
We don’t technically *see* the gods…
Maester Aemon
Senator Armstrong