15 Dead Game Of Thrones Characters (That Are Still Alive In The Books)

15. Rakharo

Remember, once upon a time, when Daenerys Targaryen had an entire Dothraki khalasar at her disposal following the death of her beloved Khal Drogo and the subsequent birth of her dragons? No explanation was ever given as to why said khalasar seemed to disappear from her entourage when the eunuch Unsullied were sourced to serve as her army.

To the show writers credit, they hid this purge well by killing off the notable Dothraki characters beforehand, even though most of them have continued living in Martin's novels, where few of them have done anything of note for some time now.

One of the first to go was Rakharo, one of the three bloodriders given to Dany by Drogo following their wedding. He functioned as a composite character of sorts, having lines whilst his two compatriots lingered in the background.

The first episode of the second season, however, saw him become a victim of scheduling, as actor Elyes Gabel opted to leave the series following his acquisition of a meatier role on Body Of Proof (a decision he probably regrets given that series' cancellation and Game of Thrones' continued success). 

Following a scouting mission that sees all three bloodriders sent out in search of civilisation as Dany and company linger in the wilderness, his horse returned minus a rider, but with a decapitated head in the saddlebag.

Rakharo was almost immediately replaced by a suspiciously similar substitute 'bloodrider with lines' in the form of Kovarro, though he has been missing in action since the end of the second season without a convenient death to explain his disappearance.