Random Abandoned Plot Threads From Game Of Thrones (25 items)

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  (#1) Did Jon Snow's True Identity Even Matter?

  In the penultimate episode of the series, Varys writes letters to unknown recipients revealing Jon Snow's true identity. Drogon burned Varys for his treason, but it felt like somehow, Jon's true lineage would come to light on a larger scale. 

  That doesn't happen. Jon repeatedly refuses the throne when Tyrion suggests he go for it. Even after Jon slays his lover/aunt Dany, he does not want to rule. As the counsel decides who will rule the Seven Kingdoms, Jon Snow's true parentage is never discussed. What was the point? Isn't the secret existence of a Targaryen who served as honorably as Jon a better story than, say, Bran the Broken's?
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  (#2) What Exactly Did The White Walkers Want?

  Audiences discovered that the Children of the Forest created the White Walkers as a means to protect themselves from the First Men. Unfortunately, their magical experiment backfired on them, and the White Walkers turned into entities of destruction. 

  Given how greatly the mystery around the White Walkers was built throughout the series, it feels off that there was never any answer as to what they truly wanted. What was the Night King's goal? Where the wights simply looking out for Number One, or did they want to destroy man for more involved reasons?
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  (#3) What Was The Significance Of The Spirals?

  Since the first episode of the series, audiences witnessed the White Walkers create disturbing spirals out of their victims' bodies. Theories abounded as to what the significance of these spirals were in the show, but as the series wrapped up, it turned out they were mostly just there to be creepy.
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  (#4) What About All Those Wight Babies In The North?

  In the series, Craster gives his male sons to the Night King. These infants are turned into lil' baby wights, and that is all we learned about them. Did these baby wights grow up super fast and serve under the Night King during "The Long Night"? Did they instantly perish like the rest of the wight soldiers if they weren't fighting? Or are there still a bunch of prepubescent wights still wandering around the North?

  Whatever their fate, it felt like a big element to introduce, and it had absolutely no payoff. 
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  (#5) What Was The Point Of The Valonqar Prophecy?

  In Season 5, we flashed-back to Cersei as a teenager and her encounter with fortune teller Maggy the Frog. Maggy correctly predicted that Cersei would have three children - and that all three of them would perish - and also said that a younger, more beautiful queen would take her place. There is another part of the prediction from the books that didn't make the series, but fans were still psyched about it: the prediction that Cersei would have someone "choke the life from" her. This person was said to be a "valonqar," which is High Valarian for "little brother."

  After Daenarys burns down all of King's Landing in Season 8 episode 5 ("The Bells"), Cersei perishes in the Red Keep with her brother Jaime. Fans of prophecy were upset. What was the point of including all of the other aspects of the prophecy if this part wasn't going to come true? Sure, you could stretch it and say technically she does die in the arms of a younger brother, but he absolutely did not strangle her. It felt like a disservice to such a prominent character. 
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  (#6) What Were Jaqen H’Ghar And The Faceless Men Doing In Westeros?

  The character arc of Jaqen H’ghar in Game of Thrones is one of the most difficult to track because it’s impossible to know how many Jaqens have played a role in the story. As a member of the Faceless Men, the original “Jaqen” that Arya Stark encounters in Season 1 is merely wearing one of his many faces, and there’s no telling if the Jaqen she encounters in Braavos is the same individual.

  Such as it is, concrete answers about the character of Jaqen H’ghar - including what his purpose in Westeros was and what mission he may have been fulfilling for the Faceless Men - have been few and far between. Arya leaves the House of Black and White firmly in her past as she sails west of Westeros in the series finale, so Jaqen's origin story will forever remain a mystery. 
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  (#7) Why Did Howland Reed Never Show His Face Until The End?

  From the very first appearance of Meera and Jojen Reed in Season 3 of Game of Thrones - and from the first mention of House Reed in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels long before that - the appearance of their father, Howland, was hotly anticipated. After all, Howland is the only surviving member of the party Ned Stark took with him to “rescue” Lyanna from the Tower of Joy, and thus the only living individual in the story to know the true story of Jon Snow’s origins firsthand. 

  Howland is missing in action up until the series finale, where he has somehow made his way on the great counsel who voted Bran in as King. He is never truly introduced, but fans believe he is the unknown man in between Gendry and Sam. 
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  (#8) What Was The Situation In Dorne?

  The Seven Kingdoms are massive, and some regions have been cut out of the Game of Thrones plot in order to save space in the story. While the semi-autonomous land of Dorne plays a part in several seasons of the series - and has a huge role in the books - all that groundwork appears to be for naught, as the Dornish were basically written out of the show. 

  When Ellaria Sand leads a coup against Doran Martell and takes over as ruler of Dorne, it read like a set-up for Dorne to become a major power player in Westeros. Instead, the Dornish arc ends with Ellaria and the Sand Snakes being unceremoniously slain by Euron Greyjoy and Cersei Lannister. There’s no way of knowing what the political situation looks like in Dorne now, and no time left in Game of Thrones to provide answers. 
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  (#9) Where Did The Direwolves And Dragon Eggs Come From?

  In its first season, Game of Thrones distinguished itself from other medieval dramas through the inclusion of some rather fantastical elements, chief among them the Stark direwolves and Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons. Both sets of creatures enter the story in rather fateful fashion, and there’s long been a lingering question of who, if anyone, sent these magical pets into the lives of the show's protagonists.

  The six direwolf pups show up south of the Wall just in time to be adopted by the six Stark children, but there’s never been any indication that the Three-Eyed Raven, or anyone else, influenced their arrival. Illyrio Mopatis gifts Daenerys three dragon eggs at her wedding to Khal Drogo, but he never mentions where he got them. The origins of the direwolves and dragons seem integral to the plot of A Song of Ice and Fire, but they're never revealed in the show. 
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  (#10) Why Did The White Walkers Not Slay Sam In Season 2?

  The final episode of Game of Thrones’ second season, “Valar Morghulis,” ends with a horrific scene: the White Walkers and their army marching to slay the Night’s Watch on the Fist of the First Men. That scene also includes a rather cryptic moment in which the White Walkers appear to purposefully ignore Samwell Tarly and allow him to escape unharmed, but this plot thread was not picked up again.

  With neither Sam nor any other character ever mentioning how strange it was that he was spared and no further hints of Sam’s greater significance other than his ultimate role as Grand Maester, it seems more likely that this scene has been misinterpreted and the White Walkers actually didn’t notice Sam. It would appear that Sam is really good at hiding behind rocks.
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  (#11) How Was Daario Naharis Doing In Essos?

  Daenerys Targaryen’s story arc as the ruler of Meereen is all about learning the responsibilities of leadership, but that’s seemingly left behind the second Essos is in her rearview mirror. Daenerys leaves her paramour Daario Naharis in charge of overseeing the transition to a representative Meereenese government, and then sets sail to Westeros, never to think or inquire about Daario and the fate of Meereen again.

  Even if Dany asked for an update on Meereen offscreen, the creative minds behind Game of Thrones haven’t deemed such information as necessary to the plotline. The series finale barely covered its bases with covering all of Westeros, so it isn't surprising that all Essos plotlines were ultimately neglected. 
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  (#12) Why Did Rhaegar Name Both His Sons ‘Aegon’?

  One of the longest-held secrets of A Song of Ice and Fire was revealed at the end of Season 7: Jon Snow is actually the trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, and his name is Aegon Targaryen. Though the revelation of Jon’s parentage had long been suspected by fans, his true name struck many as surprising, especially considering Prince Rhaegar’s first son was also named Aegon.

  In the show, that child was viciously slain by Gregor Clegane, but in the books, he’s still (allegedly) alive and actively pursuing his claim as Aegon VI, which further complicates the situation. While the so-called first Aegon didn't show up in Game of Thrones, and viewers will never get a clear answer regarding Rhaegar’s naming choice. 
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  (#13) Where Was Dorne's Army?

  Yara Greyjoy was supposed to make her way to Dorne to grab Dorne's army for Daenerys Targaryen. Unfortunately, Yara and her crew were captured by Euron Greyjoy, leaving their mission incomplete. Are the troops of Dorne still waiting for Yara to scoop them up? Or did she just leave them there as she sat on the counsel electing Bran Stark as king in the series finale?

  In the Season 8 premiere, Dany blamed Tyrion for losing Dorne during an argument. In reality, Euron never got to Dorne, and chances are without any rulers, it devolved into some sort of chaos the series never addressed. 
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  (#14) Where Did Quaithe Come From, And Where Did She Go?

  The apparition known as Quaithe is a mysterious character from her first appearance to her last, and we didn't get any answers as to her ambiguous origins. Reportedly a shadowbinder hailing from Asshai, Quaithe shows up in just two episodes of the series’ second season, brief scenes in which she gives valuable advice to Jorah Mormont. Then, she’s never heard from again.

  In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Quaithe interacts with Daenerys Targaryen herself on multiple occasions, albeit through the form of an astral projection rather than in-person encounters. The show version of the character served her small purpose, however, and we didn't get any more cryptic clues or ambiguous answers from Quaithe. 
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  (#15) What Was The Point Of Kinvara?

  In Season 6, red priestess Kinvara makes her way to Meereen. She tells Tyrion that Daenerys fulfills the whole "Prince that was Promised" prophecy. While this still could be true, it is strange that this is literally the only scene she is in. It seems like she is simply an example of an exposition character who got thrown on the backburner.
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  (#16) What Was Going On In Riverrun?

  After Arya Stark slays Walder Frey and co. at the end of Season 6 (and the opener of Season 7), the people of Riverrun are left without a ruler. Back when Robb Stark was alive, well, and in charge, he took control of the Riverlands. Edmure Tully magically shows up during the series finale - somehow released from his imprisonment during the Red Wedding - but he makes no mention about the state of his home. 
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  (#17) Why Weren't There Been More Shadow Babies?

  During Season 7 episode 3, Melisandre says she was taking off to Volantis in Essos after introducing Jon Snow to Dany, and she was MIA until her fiery return during the final battle against the White Walkers. In case you forgot, Melisandre gives birth to a horrifying shadow entity in Season 2, episode 4, which kills Renly Baratheon. 

  In the books, Melisandre uses this ability more than once, and why wouldn't she? She has plenty of king's blood on hand, and a seemingly unkillable entity that can end your enemies' lives would likely have come in handy during "The Long Night."
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  (#18) What Happened With Robin Arryn?

  At the end of Season 6, child ruler Robin Arryn agrees to send his troops to the North to help the Starks take back Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton. While the Vale could have attmpted to take the North for the Vale, Robin's bannermen seem to just go along with it and bend the knee for Jon Snow, despite their former teat-suckling leader's status. 

  We don't know what Robin's reaction was to his bannermen abandoning the Vale. What has the brattish ruler been up to? Throwing more things out the Moon Door just for fun?  There was a disturbing theory going around that Robin Arryn could end up on the Iron Throne, but fortunately, he only showed up as part of the counsel of Lords and Ladies during the series finale. Like many of the other kingdoms, the state of the Vale was not addressed.
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  (#19) Why Wasn't Ser Ilyn Payne Still On Arya's List?

  Arya vowed to end Ser Illyn Payne's life after he swung down the axe on her father's neck back in Season 1. As Arya repeated her list of names, fans noticed in Season 5 that Llyn Payne was missing. Unfortunately, the actor who plays Payne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (and successfully treated), so he was quietly exited from the show.

  We're glad actor Wilko Johnson made his health a priority, but now that he is back to performing, it would have been cool to see his character come back into the fold. After the Hound cautions Arya not to be driven by revenge during Season 8 episode 5 ("The Bells"), Arya gives up on her list completely and ends up sailing west of Westeros as the series ends.
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  (#20) Where Did Illyrio Mopatis Go?

  For a character who only appeared in two episodes of the show's first season, Illyrio Mopatis has made a massive impact on the plot of Game of Thrones. He’s the one that brokers a marriage between Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, thus sending her on her heroic journey. He’s also the one who gifts her with three dragon eggs at the wedding ceremony. As a close ally of Varys, Mopatis is set up as one of the chief behind-the-scenes influencers in Westeros - but he never appears again.

  In the A Song of Ice and Fire books, Illyrio remains active in Westerosi affairs and plays host to Tyrion Lannister when he travels to Essos. But in the show, he’s left out of the picture entirely.
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  (#21) Does Anyone Care About Edmure Tully?

  Of all the characters who haven’t already been slain in Game of Thrones, Edmure Tully has had one of the roughest story arcs. After spending the early seasons of the show being ridiculed by his own family members, Edmure ends up imprisoned by the Freys on his own wedding night, a ceremony that goes down in history as the “Red Wedding.”

  Edmure pops up again in Season 6, still under the internment of Walder Frey. His niece, Arya Stark, slays Walder and the bulk of the Frey household shortly thereafter, but she doesn’t make a point of freeing Edmure from captivity. It seems that Arya - like many Game of Thrones viewers - has simply forgotten that her uncle Edmure exists.

  Viewers were surprised to see him pop up during the series finale, but we didn't learn anything about his imprisonment. Instead, he gives a brief comedic pitch as to why he should be named king and Sansa curtly tells him to sit down. 
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  (#22) Did Brynden Tully Really Perish?

  So many characters perish onscreen in Game of Thrones that it’s difficult to accept that any offscreen passings are legitimate. Indeed, countless characters have reappeared suddenly after being declared missing in action. Catelyn Stark’s favorite brother, Brynden “the Blackfish” Tully, has long been discussed as a candidate for undeath after his disappearance in Season 6. 

  An anonymous Lannister soldier reports Tully’s passing to Jaime Lannister during the siege of Riverrun, which seems to leave plenty of room for a half-truth. But viewers never found out if this report on his demise was accurate or not. 
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  (#23) Whatever Happened To Salladhor Saan, Davos’s Pirate Buddy?

  From Seasons 2 to 4 of Game of Thrones, Salladhor Saan fills the role of Davos Seaworth’s only real friend and his comedic foil. As one of the most prominent pirates of the Narrow Sea, Saan serves as a link to Davos’s past as a smuggler, until Davos convinces him to go legit at the end of Season 4 by joining Stannis Baratheon’s campaign north of the Wall. Saan reluctantly agrees - and then never shows up in the series again.

  It might seem logical to assume that Saan either perished in the fight or abandoned Stannis’s cause to return to piracy, but the fact that Davos never mentions his friend’s departure is odd.
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  (#24) Whatever Happened To Those Blue-Lipped Warlocks Bent On Revenge?

  In Season 2 of Game of Thrones, a band of blue-lipped warlocks send Daenerys Targaryen on a vision quest and try to take her dragons, only to find themselves on the wrong end of her first “Dracarys” moment. Daenerys’ dragons incinerate the leader of the warlocks, Pyat Pree, and a bunch of his underlings, but they fail to snuff out the entire movement.

  The warlocks show up again in the next season when a blue-lipped child tries to slay Daenerys, only to be stopped by Barristan Selmy. Then, they disappear from the story entirely, apparently content with one attempt at revenge before fading into the background forever. In the books, many of the warlocks end up enslaved and de-tongued by Euron Greyjoy, but that plotline does not make an appearance in the TV series. 
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  (#25) Whatever Happened To That Religious Uprising?

  The middle seasons of Game of Thrones feature plenty of conflicts within King’s Landing, but none burn more intently than the fight of influence between Cersei Lannister and the Faith of the Seven. Cersei’s on-again, off-again relationship with the church results in the recreation of the Faith Militant that ultimately rises up against her - until she enacts her revenge by detonating the Sept of Baelor.

  Cersei’s heinous act takes the life of the High Septon, Lancel Lannister, and most prominent members of the Faith Militant, but it’s impossible for her to have wiped out an entire religious movement with one act of terror. That appears to be exactly what happened, though, as there were no faith-based repercussions for the destruction of the sept. 

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