8 Missing Characters From A Song Of Ice And Fire That Should Have Appeared In Game Of Thrones

Tyrion is revealed to be aware of more just than Jon Connington's true identity; the youngest Lannister sibling surmises that Jon's "son" Young Griff, is none other than Prince Aegon Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar and the rightful heir to the Seven Kingdoms.

Sound familiar? In the show, Aegon's storyline is passed to Jon Snow, who is revealed as Aegon Targaryen with a few minor differences. Jon is Rhaegar's son by Ned Stark's sister Lyanna, Aegon is Rhaegar's son with Princess Elia Martell; he is believed to have brutally murdered along with his mother and sister by the sadistic Gregor Clegane.

The controversial nature of Aegon's re-appearance would have made for a compelling narrative in itself; his status as a Targaryen is questioned as the world accepts the version that he died years ago. As such he is labelled a pretender by many characters in the books.

His omission is all the more frustrating when one considers that Jon's storyline could have still happened with Aegon making an appearance as they have different mothers. The power struggle posed by three Targaryens, with wildly different backstories and all with legitimate claims to the Iron Throne would have made for god tier fantasy viewing.

Factor in the Targaryens legendary status as dragon riders and the narrative possibilities grow more tantalizing. Would Jon and Aegon's Targaryen blood have secured one of Daenerys' dragons for themselves? Opposing Targaryen armies with a titanic dragon for each faction? Passing up such an opportunity was borderline criminal.