15 Most Prominent Game Of Thrones Characters (Yet To Appear In The Show)

4. Arianne Martell - 151 Mentions

The adaptation of the Dorne storyline has undeniably been the television series' biggest misstep. In an attempt to create powerful new female characters, it's writers instead introduced three annoying and interchangeable Sand Snakes and beefed up the character of Ellaria Sand, turning the four into would-be child murderers despite Oberyn Martell's authoritative statement that 'we don't kill little girls in Dorne'. Its reception forced its termination early on in the most recent season, meaning that Doran Martell and Areo Hotah were done a great injustice by how minor and insignificant their on-screen roles ended up becoming.

The biggest injustice of them all is that one of the book's most intriguing female characters, Arianne Martell, Doran's daughter and heir given that Dornish lines of succession are not gender specific, was cut altogether. Her rebellion against her father is similar to the one undertaken by Ellaria and her daughters given that it is inspired by her belief that he is weak-willed and reluctant to undertake any retribution for Oberyn, but involves attempting to crown Myrcella as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms under this rule rather than outright murdering her. Her seductive and manipulative nature is revealed as she recruits Kingsguard knight Arys Oakheart (himself a notable absentee from the series given his 103 mentions and POV character status) and renowned knight Gerold 'Darkstar' Dayne to her cause.

The plan fails when Doran reveals his hand as a Targaryen loyalist who had intended to marry his daughter to Viserys, but establishes Arianne as a well-written character and major player in the events to come in the Winds of Winter, whose presence on-screen has been and will remain sorely missed.