10 Awesome TV Characters Who Only Appear In One Episode

Ian McShane starring in Game of Thrones makes so much sense it's a wonder he never landed a more substantial role than the one he got, but even so his one-episode turn as reformed soldier Brother Ray was an opportunity he relished at every turn. 

Making perfect use of McShane's penchant for profanity and big speeches, Ray tentatively befriends a wounded Hound (Rory McCann) and tells tales of pacifism and faith, believing wholeheartedly that there are larger forces at work in Westeros than the men fighting for the throne. 

Of course, a man committed to peace and hope was never going to last on a show as hopeless as Game of Thrones, but through McShane's performance and his effect on The Hound, he certainly gave the impression of someone designed for greater things. His time was brief, but he left a powerful, assured impression.