3. The Deaths Of Mago And Rakharo
In The Books Both Rakharo and Mago are relatively minor characters in the books, but both are still alive as of the end of A Dance With Dragons, the fifth title in the series. Mago is initially a khas of Jhogo, one of Khal Drogos bloodriders, in the first book. Daenerys prevents him from raping a woman, Eroeh, before he becomes bloodrider to Jhogo, a warrior who becomes a self-appointed Khal after Drogo falls ill. He takes back Eroeh, raping and murdering her to incur Danaerys wrath before disappearing with Jhogos new khalasar, which is the same khalasar that later encounters Daenerys in A Dance With Dragons. Rakharo serves as a loyal bloodrider to Daenerys, remaining by her side, albeit in the background, for much of the series, though he is sent on occasional assignments.
In The Series Mago (Ivalio Dimitrov) is a background character throughout the first season of the show, before he objects to Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) refusal to allow him to take his share of women as spoils of war, insulting her in the process. Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) takes umbrage at his wife being spoken to in such a way, challenging and brutally killing Mago. The role of Rakharo (Elyes Gabel) is enhanced in the series, serving as a composite of all three of Daenerys bloodriders. He displays his loyalty in a number of scenes throughout the first season, whipping her brother Viserys and apprehending an assassin sent to kill her, amongst other things. Following Drogos death, he stays by Daenerys side in the Red Waste, before he is sent on a scouting mission from which he fails to return alive his severed head being found in the saddle bag of his horse.
Reaction The two deaths are understandable in the context of the television show Magos served to show Drogos commitment to Daenerys whilst Rakharos served to show how hostile and dangerous the world is to Daenerys and her people after Drogos death, though it was probably written in to allow Elyes Gabel to leave the show, as he had secured a more significant role in Body Of Proof. The impulsiveness of the writers to create these dramatic moments could have an adverse effect on the show a few seasons down the line, though Rakharo has been replaced in everything but name by the original character of Kovarro (Steven Cole) and the role of Mago (which author George R.R. Martin has said will become important) can easily be taken by another character when the show catches up to the books.