Game Of Thrones: 5 Key Characters That Appear To Have Been Cut From Season 5

4. Wyman Manderly

Throughout the books, a number of Northern Lords, vassals of House Stark, have been introduced, with the vast majority fighting alongside Robb Stark during the War of the Five Kings. This eventually resulted in Robb's death at the Red Wedding, depicted in season three of the television series. Three of the more significant Lords have been depicted on screen - Rickard Karstark, who was executed by Robb after trying to kill the captive Jaime Lannister, 'Greatjon' Umber, who has been missing in action since his vocal support of Robb's cause in season one (following the loss of several fingers) and Roose Bolton, the treacherous individual that seizes the Lordship of the North (and its houses) through his involvement in the aforementioned Red Wedding. The most notable absentee has been Wyman Manderly, the immensely rotund lord of White Harbour (the North's main port), who admittedly does not fight at his liege lord's side, instead sending a son who also falls victim to the actions of Roose Bolton. He only appears in person in the books when Davos Seaworth approaches him as an envoy of Stannis Baratheon, seeking his support. Though he stages Davos' execution in an attempt to prove his loyalty to House Bolton and the Iron Throne, he instead offers the 'Onion Knight' his support if he can locate Rickon Stark, who he learns to be alive (and not dead as the rest of the world is led to believe by Theon Greyjoy's actions) following the capture of a Greyjoy squire, Wex Pyke. It's hard to see how his role (that of a Northern Lord covertly supporting the Stark cause) could be filled by any other existing character, unless the Greatjon is brought back into the fold. Given the lack of any new characters in the North this season, however, it could be that Wyman (and some of his great character moments, such as the infamous Frey Pies scene) are being held back for season six, with season five instead focusing almost exclusively on Stannis' actions at The Wall.